Maine Lobster Roll Tour

My mom and I both love lobster rolls. Now that I go to college in New England, I knew I had to explore the Maine coast in search of the best lobster roll.

There are two main variations of lobster rolls, Connecticut style and Maine style. I tend to prefer Connecticut style, which is served with warm lobster dressed in butter. Maine style is cold, and the lobster is dressed with mayonnaise and various herbs.

The Clam Shack

Our first stop was The Clam Shack, located in Kennebunkport. This quaint seaside restaurant is known for both their lobster roll and their fried clam strips. The first thing we noticed about the lobster roll was the different bun. Rather than the usual top-split bun, The Clam Shack uses a round bun. The roll had large pieces of fresh lobster, however it was slightly tough to chew as they were mainly claw pieces. For us, the highlight of The Clam Shack was their clam strips and their Maine blueberry handpie, along with the beautiful view. The Clam Shack is located right on the water, and we ate watching boats sailing into the harbor.

Five Islands Lobster Co.

We then headed to Five Islands Lobster Co., which overlooks the working wharf of Georgetown, Maine. The lobster rolls were generously filled with buttery, tender lobster caught mere meters away. The bun was toasted in butter and held together nicely. We also enjoyed the whole lobster here too, which we chose inside the restaurant and was cooked to order. Although Five Islands is slightly remote, this was one of the most beautiful places I have eaten at. Small wooded islets with trees dotted the wharf, and we ate watching fishermen bringing in fresh seafood.

Bite Into Maine

The final stop on our lobster roll tour was the Bite into Maine food truck. They have multiple locations in Maine - we ate at their location in Fort Williams Park. The Maine style lobster roll was lightly dressed in mayonnaise, which let the delicate sweetness of the lobster shine. The sprinkle of chives provided a nice bite and freshness to the roll. Bite into Maine had the best top-split buns, which were toasty and pillowy.

Finally, my favorite lobster roll! The Connecticut style lobster roll was generously stuffed with perfectly warmed lobster in butter. The lobster was fresh and sweet, and I enjoyed the mix of claw and tail meat.

I didn’t think it was possible, but I got lobstered out! Lobster rolls are a quintessential east coast summer treat, so make sure to try one on your next visit.