6 Delicious Seafood Restaurants in Boothbay, Maine
Boothbay, Maine is a quaint little coastal community that's tucked on a land jutting just northeast of Portland and southeast of Augusta. Its closeness to these two more bustling towns, paired with its beautiful harbor and working waterfront, has made it a pretty popular vacation destination in recent years. First, by Maine and regional locals, and today, by visitors coming in from more far-flung states and even countries.
There's a lot to love here, but if you're new to town, one thing you might need help with is knowing just where to grab a good, authentic seafood meal. This is, after all, the so-called "Boating Capital of New England" and that harbor truly does come alive mornings and nights with fresh catches.
So here's our look of some of the very best places you can feast on such a fresh catch during your stay in town:
1. Boothbay Lobster Wharf
97 Atlantic Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
Boothbay Lobster Wharf is a working wharf and restaurant, which means they have their own lobster boats and guests can enjoy a drink as they watch fishermen unload their lobster hauls. You can even pick out your own desired Maine lobster from the onsite saltwater tanks and then feast on the very freshest of seafood dinners.
Boothbay Lobster Wharf has a large menu of seafood-based items, including housemade chowders and sandwiches. They also have a full bar with many local beers on tap.
2. The Thistle Inn
55 Oak St, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
Looking for a more upscale dining experience in Boothbay? Head on down to The Thistle Inn where you can enjoy more refined dining in a historic setting. This restaurant is located within a renovated and retrofitted former sea captain's home that was originally built in 1861. As you might expect from a business that sits within a historic Maine home, the menu here is all highlighting local fare to the nth degree.
Feast on their Lazy Lobster entree that features butter-poached Atlantic edge lobster, lemon risotto, corn, and asparagus with a port reduction.
3. Robinson's Wharf & Tug's Pub
20 Hendricks Hill Rd, Southport, ME 04576
If you want to rub elbows with locals and enjoy some good entertainment with your dinner, then make sure to visit Robinson's Wharf & Tug's Pub. This combo business features live music every Friday during winter and both weekend nights during the summer, allowing guests to enjoy fresh seafood dishes while jamming out to local bands.
This is also a great choice for families as Robinson's Wharf & Tug's Pub features a sizable children's menu with both seafood and non-seafood options.
4. Shannon's Unshelled
798 Wiscasset Rd, Boothbay, ME 04537
You can't visit Maine without having at least one lobster roll! And if you're going to have a lobster roll, then you should have one from the best. That best comes from Shannon's Unshelled, a hip walk-up seafood shack that shows great things come wrapped up in small packages.
Their signature lobster roll comes overloaded with succulent lobster claws and tail meat that comes lightly dressed in butter and served with a side of lemon. Simple. Perfect. You're going to want another.
5. Boathouse Bistro Tapas Bar & Restaurant
12 By-Way, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
For a more upscale casual lunch or dinner at the harbor, consider a visit to Boathouse Bistro Tapas Bar & Restaurant. This restaurant features three lovely stories that look out over the harbor -- two of which feature outdoor decks offering patio dining that's perfect in the summer weather.
As their name would suggest, this spot specializes in tapas, which are small inventive dishes that make it easy to try different seafood options and flavors.
6. Bet's Famous Fish Fry
Rte 27- off the town square, Boothbay, ME 04537
Want something really casual? Something that really screams local and seafood? Look no further than Bet's Fish Fry. This cash-only, no-reservations, no-fuss place is only open for three hours at lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and only does basically two things: Fish and fries.
But they sure do that right! Go here for some of the best fried locally fish in the region (just make sure to grab cash beforehand).
Where to Stay
Consider pairing your Boothbay culinary adventures with a stay through Cottage Connection. Here, you will find a curated selection of well-maintained Boothbay Maine vacation homes that range from the quaint romantic cottage to spacious waterfront retreats ideal for large family groups. These spots offer that perfect coastal Maine homebase at which to begin your day at and then later, after a long day of adventuring the coast and feasting on the best Maine seafood, to come back and unwind at.
Choose a waterfront option like the Ledgemere, and you can watch the sun rise over the ocean from the private deck area. This location even welcomes small dogs so that you can enjoy some of those gorgeous Maine trails and coastline walks with your canine companion!
Or maybe you might want to book at Duck Inn and enjoy a larger property with waterfront and provided kayaks and rowboats with which you can explore the water at your own leisure.
These two and other properties by Cottage Connection are all just a short distance from the harbors and downtown businesses of Boothbay Maine, where you will find all of those fantastic Maine seafood options as well as other great businesses.
Plan Your Maine Seafood Getaway Today
Sometimes, when it comes to vacations, you have to let your belly take the lead! In Boothbay Maine, that is really, really easy as there are so many fantastic dining options here that range from the laid-back fish fry shack to the upscale waterfront dining.
This is the type of place that you're going to want to plan a long weekend at, think at least three to four days, just so that you have enough time to sample all of the standout seafood restaurants here! Not to mention the time to explore the harbor and really take in all of Maine's coastline and visit unique places like Squirrel Island.
Learn more about all that this corner of Maine has to offer by checking our other blogs about the area, and be sure to book your dream getaway with Cottage Connection!
