The Clam Shack isn't just a restaurant, it's a Kennebunkport institution. We've been coming here for years, and no matter how many lobster rolls we try elsewhere, we always end up comparing them to this one. The lobster roll is an all-time great. Huge chunks of fresh lobster, served exactly the way it should be, letting the quality of the seafood do all the talking. No gimmicks, no unnecessary extras, just an absolutely perfect Maine lobster roll. Yes, there's usually a line. Yes, finding a place to sit can be part of the adventure. And yes, it's worth every minute. This place is the OG classic that every other lobster shack is chasing. If you're visiting Kennebunkport and only have time for one meal, make it The Clam Shack. It's a bucket-list lobster roll and one of those rare places that actually lives up to the hype read more

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The lobster on the rolls are served cold but the bread was warm. We were told that's the way they do it in Maine?? However I was happy that it was big chunks of lobster and nothing else. These rolls were round and not very big. Although I liked both the bread and the lobster, I felt the portion size was not very big compared to what we had elsewhere. We also had a Blueberry Hand Pie (empanada). I would highly recommend it. It was bursting with blueberry flavor. They have stand up seating along the marina and lots of table benches out front. read more

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The hype is real! This lobster roll is THE best! Butter & Mayo .... yes please! The blueberry handpies are made fresh daily with a tender pastry that is just right The outdoor picnic area has a great vibe. The place is spotless and the workers are busy and friendly. read more

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Great food! I enjoyed the chowder tremendously. Our server was very friendly and prompt. She was very attentive to refilling our water and tea without having to ask. Which I appreciate!! Loved the relaxed vibe of the restaurant. Comfortable and not stuffy. I'd highly recommend this place if you're looking for a nice lunch or dinner. read more

Definitely a Kennebunkport staple! I got the grilled cheese and then a cheeseburger and fries another night. Safe option for those of us who don't like seafood. The food isn't amazing, but it's good and workers are nice and service is quick. Good place to sit and eat in the midst of shopping and exploring the town. read more

The Clam Shack - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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Loved the food and cute Al Fresco seating. What a great experience. Highly recommend.

While in Kennebunkport Maine you have to get the Lobstah!!! If you are hungry one little lobster isn't going to cut it. So get some great Fried Clams!!! This place is a tourist trap but we had to go. It was a long wait to get the lobster but we didn't have anywhere to go read more

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The Clam Shack in Kennebunk is definitely worth a stop if you're chasing lobster rolls in Maine. I went with the butter lobster roll, and it came packed with whole pieces of claw, knuckle and tail on a different type of bun. The Reilly Roll is baked fresh daily and is soft and slightly sweet. Simple, tasty, and satisfying. There were no lines and only a short wait, which made the experience easy and relaxed. The roll itself was good, though not quite as unforgettable as some of the others I've tried on this trip--that's the only reason for 4 stars (4.3) instead of 5. Still, it's a solid spot right by the water with fresh, quality lobster and a true Maine vibe. read more

The Clam Shack - The outside benches were packed. There's tables and chairs if you walk between the shack and the market. No one here. This is the view - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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Lobster roll is delicious, pricey but worth trying once. Fries are good. The fried clams are good if you like fried food. Ordering is a bit confusing (the guy also had a thick accent) but I thought I was getting clams on the shell but they were fried. Very cute patio and inside. Cool to see the lobster tanks and great location on the main road. read more

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Tourist trap! This place was such a disappointment. Waited in a 20 minute line to get the smallest lobster roll I've ever had. It says there supposed to have 5 ounces of meat. Mine had 3 ounces at best and the bread was just so so. Overall it was a decent sandwich but it was so small. Considering the price and the long line, I couldnt help feeling incredibly ripped off (and disappointed). Fries were lukewarm, the blueberry handpie was mediocre and the clam cake was the worst bite of food I've had in a year. It was terrible. The two star rating I gave it was solely due to the very nice and kind staff. Very friendly bunch. They were great. If you're visiting the area, you're much better off at the Landing Store in Kennebunk. For the same price you'll get a roll with 4-5 times more lobster meat. read more

The Clam Shack - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Decent, but did it for the experience. Nice people working. Shared a lobster roll box for 3 to try out and was enough.

The lobster rolls were great! Although they're on burger buns instead of the traditional toast, the quality of the lobster, cooked to soft perfection, and butter made for a great dish. I got fried scallops as well which were also excellent, especially with some of their spicy cocktail sauce (pre-packaged but still good). The fries were a little burnt and cold but that was the only bad thing about the meal. I also could have done without the coleslaw, I'm just not a fan of the dish though. Service was friendly and prompt. Line was about 5 minutes long and the wait for food was 10 minutes maybe. It was a beautiful sunny day and perfect for sitting on the patio. The main thing that keeps me from leaving a 5 star review is the price. The lobster roll box was $38. With scallops ($24), and a beer, it was $78 for this meal for myself, before tip. Me and my girlfriend spent almost $200 between the two of us to eat here. It was very good but yikes at the price tab. read more

This was our first visit to town and heard great things about this place so we stopped by. There was already a line at 11am but lines moved quickly. We had the lobster roll and fried haddock sandwich. Both very good. Great coleslaw too. They have plenty of outdoor picnic tables. read more

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Hm. Pretty subpar lobster rolls on a hamburger bun. The whole menu left a lot to the imagination. Uninspired.

We were enjoying the coast of Maine and stopped in here when some others were not open mid week. I thought this place was just average and the least favorite we had. You get a 5 oz lobster roll, fries, and coleslaw for $34. Footbridge is about $6 more, but you get a much larger sandwich on toasted bread vs a cold hamburger bun. With all the tour buses with seniors around, I would consider this place a blue plate special. There are other places off the main drag doing it better. read more

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Frankly, a mediocre lobster roll. The lobster was fine, but I feel like it could have been dressed a little better with some more mayo and seasoning. And the burger bun as opposed to a traditional NE roll was an interesting choice. Not the worst lobster roll I've ever had, but def not the best. read more

The Clam Shack - Blueberry Pie - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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Great and fast service! We saw this place on YouTube. It's very good. We got 1/2 pint of the clam strips and 2 lobster rolls. They were okay. Certainly not the best in the nation as advertised. The clam strips weren't very hot when we got them. We enjoyed the tartar and cocktail sauces. This place is pretty expensive. Our lunch was what is listed plus a bottle of water and a soda. $112 with tip. It's a decent place, the lobster rolls have pieces from all parts of the lobster, which is nice. They are very meaty and filling. The butter and mayo were pretty skimpy. read more

The Clam Shack - The line. - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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I don't know how they do it, but this was the best lobster roll I've had during my northeast coast vacation. I ordered it with butter and mayo. Perfect amount of mayo, just enough to complement the lobster. Speaking of lobster, the pieces were large and plenty. Order at "The Shack," get a buzzer, pick up at a window when ready. Plenty of tables to sit around and beer on draft. read more

The Clam Shack - Lobster Rolls, clam strips, and clam chowder. All very good. - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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I LOVE seafood and have eaten it in several places around the states, but none of them compared to The Clam shack!! Their lobster roll was the best of the 5 I had eaten on our 2 week east coast adventure. The lobster meat was tender and the butter and mayo was just enough. We also shared the fried clams. They were perfectly fried and not greasy at all. We topped our lunch off with a yummy blueberry pie! Even though we were there on a busy three day weekend, we were able to find a place to sit and eat outside. Don't let the long lines deter you. We were waaay back, but their system is quick and efficient. We had our food in time to eat and get back on our tour bus. I have to go back to the east coast just to have another one of The Clam Shack's lobster rolls! read more

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If you want the best casual seafood of your summer vacation, look no further than The Clam Shack in Kennebunk, Maine. This was in our sights even before we left Manhattan for Maine. Its reputation preceded it, and our expectations were high. All of those were exceeded. It's casual so don't show up expecting sit down service with the good silverware. Rather expect friendly and prompt service that gets you exactly what you came to Maine for: QUALITY LOBSTER! Lobster rolls are great, and we had to try the chowder, even though it was fairly warm out. We were not disappointed. The blueberry handpie is also worth getting. We didn't ask if they were locally made with blueberries being in season. The taste reassured us we did not have to ask. The market price of lobster dictates the price of the rolls. I believe it was about $31 bucks when we went. It was worth it. Sit outside and enjoy Summer in New England with an experience like The Clam Shack! read more

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Hands down MUST try if you're in Kennebunkport or just passing through. I'm pretty sure the lobsters go straight from the boat and onto the roll at this place. Line is usually pretty long, mainly because it's in such a unique spot. A lot of history tied to this restaurant. Check it out!! read more

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I placed my order for my husband and I, 2 hot dogs and 1 french fry. and one onion ring. I waited 20 minutes with a buzzer, watching people that came after me check out ahead of me when I went to the window to question whether or not my order had gotten lost the girl said that other foods take less time to cook so I waited patiently when I received the food and got to my table , which was right next to the stand, I wasted $35 and I'll never do it again. This strikes me as being very sad considering I was a loyal customer and was treated so poorly. read more

Long lines on the weekend. I got a butter lobster roll but there was barely any butter on it, and the meat was cold. I thought it was going to be hot but maybe I was mistaken. The lobster was super fresh and yummy though. The fries were crispy but totally unsalted. the clam strips were great, not overly greasy at all. Overall it was very expensive, with a lobster roll box being $37 and just a lobster roll was $33. I've had lobster rolls with more meat elsewhere for less $. read more

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Good food , worth the wait. We had fresh seafood prepared as it should . I would go back . Not cheap but very good. Soups were excellent. Blueberry pie was exceptional. read more

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Very good seafood here. It is not cheap, ran about $100 for 3 people, but the food is really good. Very tasty lobster sandwich, probably around the best in the area. Might as well get the box since it's only a couple bucks more - the fries are fine, not great, and pickles and slaw are a nice addition. The blueberry handpies are good, but other restaurants have better blueberry sweets. read more

Poor excuse for a lobster roll. Dry lobster on a small, dry burger bun. Wouldn't recommend for the $34 price. (Twice what it was 8 months ago!! When we picked up our order, drinks were missing, so we had to go back to the order window. read more

Ya gotta hit the Clam Shack when you're in Kennebunkport, it's such an institution. Hit or miss how long the line is, on the Sunday afternoon we visited, it was quite the wait. On a nice day, the picnic seating is a very pleasant place to hang. The lobster rolls are a little unusual, and were not the best lobster rolls we had in town. On the positive side, they included some tail meat as well as the usual knuckle and claw, which was a fun change of pace. They also had just a bit of crunch from a few small pieces of finely diced celery, which was a nice subtle addition. The hamburger style rolls are ok, just very different than your usual Maine lobster roll. Liked their slaw, which came with the lunch box, very much. The fries were fine, nothing special. read more

Food was just ok but also overpriced Service was poor Greeting was unprofessional and not welcoming read more

This is my favorite spot to get a lobster roll on the East coast. Every time I'm in Boston I take a trip up to the quaint town of Kennebunkport and HAVE to stop here. Service is great, and the food is fresh! read more

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Extremely disappointed! Waited months to try this place out and it was probably the lowest rated lobster roll we had on our trip. (Tried 5 over a course of a week at different places) I'm no lobster roll expert, but the hamburger bun was different than the long hotdog like traditional buns we were getting before this visit. The bun did "not" have that melt in your mouth feeling from a great buttery bread bun with lobster. Overly chewy/gummy if you ask me. The portion size and amount of lobster was definitely lower in volume too. Felt like the roll was rushed and quickly served out. Probably because my line to get my food ordered was 20 people deep. The lobster was served cold even though I requested warmed up. No way in " " that roll was worth the price they were charging. Small portion aka think a can of small tuna. I also ordered a 1/2 pint of fried clams which were really good but placed sloppy and falling out of the container they were all over the place in the box. We were with a large group and the general consensus at the table was in agreement. So disappointing! Don't fall for tricks like YouTube and travel sites. Look around as "there" are so many places to try lobster out. read more

We came on a Friday around 11:30. There were about 15 people in line. The line moved fairly quickly. We ordered a lobster roll to split with BOTH (mayo + butter... IYKYK), a clam cake, fries and fresh lemonade. Our total was around $60... which was much less than everyone else around us. There were larger groups of friends and family and the totals being called out were averaging $150-$225 which is bananas for lunch where you are not actually being waited on. That being said, the food was great. I did have to add salt to the fries though. The lemonade was awesome - definitely order! We took our food to the inside area to sit at one of the few tables they have. Most of the tables are outside. P.s. if you order a lobster roll, you get a button with the style you ordered it in. read more

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5 stars for blueberry hand pie & fried clams 2 stars for service 2 stars for lobster roll Blueberry hand pies are out of this world here! I wasn't expecting much, but after trying one, I bought 3 more to bring home. So flaky and not too sweet. Tastes just like a pie your grandma would make! The lobster roll is very underwhelming and the lobster meat doesn't taste fresh at all. While they do make their rolls in house, I felt it was pretty mid and dry. After placing my order, the girl at the counter gave me the wrong buzzer. My hubby and I were waiting at our table for the buzzer to ring for about 15 minutes. We didn't even question it because it seemed like a busy place. However a waitress came out and asked us if we had ordered a lobster roll set and fried clams and told us that we were given the wrong buzzer. Our food was definitely cold and I was pretty upset. The waitress felt the food from the bottom and nonchalantly said it should still be fine. I get back to my table to try and it was cold. I went back to the counter to ask for new food bc I came all the way from California!!! Luckily they were able to make us new fried clams and fries, but wished they gave us something else on the house for the inconvenience. The location is beautiful with tables overlooking the water, so picturesque!!! read more

The Clam Shack - Fried clams, lobster roll meal, blueberry hand pies - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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Incredibly fresh lobster - an entire lobster on a spec baked roll with butter, mayo, or both. The whole belly clams were the best I've had, great chowder, and a wild blueberry hand pie to top it off! amazing food! Engaged owner! read more

Love the clam belly on this place. The crunchiness from the outside and soft meat inside. The taste is phenomenal. The service is very good and quick. The ambience is nice. There's plenty of tables to choose. Love it here. read more

The Clam Shack - This is amazing! - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

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So this is the iconic place to get the best lobster roll. Only it wasn't. I wanted so bad for this to be the best roll I'd ever had. The service was okay considering how long the line was. All of the staff was pleasant. But the lobster wasn't fresh- I can get days old lobster in Kentucky. I can taste the difference. And it was cooked too long: chewy and rubbery. There was a lot of it- the hamburger bun style roll rather than hotdog bun was an interesting touch and gave the opportunity for more meat. I also enjoyed the both Mayo and butter option- it was surprisingly tasty combo. I bought my obligatory souvenir, took some photos and enjoyed the touristy bucket list experience, but the reason the Bush's chose this place, and the reason it was voted #1 has been lost a little somewhere along the way. read more

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I would say not the best taste with the Kaiser roll. Waited 30 minutes in line and not worth the hype. There are better lobster rolls in other areas. read more

The clam shack advertises the best lobster roll in Kennebunkport, and they absolutely live up to that. I had a lobster roll, fries, a blueberry pie, lobster knuckles, and fried clam, and cole slaw. Everything was absolutely spectacular. The Owner, Steve, is incredibly kind, and the service while ordering was fantastic and helpful. I could not recommend this place more. They have live HUGE lobsters being prepared fresh inside, they hand squeeze the lemonade, the blueberry pies are baked next door. Everything is local and amazing. The view of the patio overlooks the kennebunkport river, and the seating area is cleverly decorated with crab traps as the fence. 10000% recommend traveling to eat here read more

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Complete rip off. Lobster roll isn't even a roll! Sad! Lobster "roll" contained a tiny bit of lobster. Don't go here!

Although not my favorite lobster roll in Kennebunkport, The Clam Shack definitely delivers a fun experience. The gift shop is fun to peruse while you wait, the buttons they give you when you make your spread decision add some personalization to your order, and the location is right in the action. I wouldn't say lobster rolls (or buns in this case) always travel well, but TCS has it down and we took ours to go to enjoy on the beach. The blueberry hand pie was my number one from this spot!! read more

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It's a cute experience with ample seating and the wait for food was not long but please if you are here for a lobster roll go literally anywhere else. I've had lobster rolls all over Maine and Mass and this was by far the worst bar none. Lobster was so cold it almost seemed like it in the middle of thawing out from being frozen. There was no butter to be found. Very rubbery and the bun had no flavor. I am truly hoping that our orders were just badly mismanaged and this was outside the norm but it was actually shocking how bad they were considering the line and other reviews. There was also a hair in my coleslaw so that was just a bummer. The other patrons sitting near us eating the fried options seemed to enjoy their food so that seems to be the move. read more