This place is really cute, a staple to Portland, ME that's for sure. The staff is friendly and very attentive, Ally took amazing care of us and was very knowledgeable with the menu & items. She made our visit very enjoyable, it's always nice to have people who love what they do care for others who visit. The food was lovely as well, we tried 3 different chowders and the most amazing lobster rolls and had a lovely time. We ate our food before we could capture pictures but we will for sure be back when visiting Maine again! Thank you Ally & crew at GCH! read more

This was our first time here and it was good. We each got a roll - lobster and Maine crab, as well as a chowder. The food was good, but somewhat expensive we felt. The tap was broken so there was no craft beer available, so definitely a bummer. Our waitress was quick and prompt and it was nice to sit outside and enjoy the lovely weather. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Maine crabmeat roll (bottom) and lobster roll (top) - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Came all the way to Maine to have amazing clam chowder and lobster and this place did not disappoint! We ordered the super seafood large chowder and it genuinely had seafood in every bite. The chowder is definitely the best I've had coming from the west coast. We also ordered the Maine lobster dinner and the lobster was amazing- perfectly cooked, plenty of meat, and juicy. It came with a side of fries and coleslaw and the fries were also sooo good. Our server was really nice and food did not take long to come out! Plenty of seats inside even for our party of 10. Loved this place, definitely recommend! read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

We're Mainers who are forced to live elsewhere for our jobs/family and so when we get back to visit we are excited to eat good, Maine seafood. Boy we messed up picking Gilbert's Chowder house for lunch! I ordered the mussels. They were supposed to come in a broth with butter, white wine, onions and garlic. They came in what could best be described as lemon dish water. Zero taste. It was a shame because the mussels were big and gorgeous. The onion sat on top still basically raw. It was horrible. My parter had the fish chowder which was just ok. I hesitated to complain to the staff as they were busy behind the bar bitching about a customer who had walked in while we were there to complain about his carry out meal from the night before. They dismissed him with barely an apology. They were beyond rude. There are sooooo many batter options in Portlands Old Port to get fantastic seafood. Skip this place. (And skip Portland Lobster Co. unless you want an overpriced, under stuffed lobster roll in a restaurant with a jimmy buffet spring break vibe. So not Maine.) read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Criminal treatment of gorgeous mussels - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Visiting from LA, I got a sticker shock when ordering Maine lobster here in Portland, Maine. It's so much cheaper! I ordered a twin with two sides for $39. Granted they're not as big as the New England/Boston lobster, but the meat is softer and sweeter. I prefer eating it without any mayo or butter. It's that fresh and delicious. Another insane value item on the menu is their seafood chowder. I heard a customer exclaim "Wow it's so big". Will definitely get that next time! Very friendly and homey staff. Lovely town and people, the Mainers. read more

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I loooooove coming in here! I make it in probably 6 times a year & it's soooo perfect every time! The staff absolutely crushes it! Matt, the manager, is a cool hand Luke. The guy totally gets it, and he does a great job relating to his customers & his staff! Allie is a rockstar! Amanda crushes it!! Katie is hysterical! Like. Honestly. The staff is amazing! My food go tos are always the clam chowder & the supah seafood chowdah! They're both straight fire! When Portland goes "all foodie," etc., Gilbert's is the steady eddy where you always wanna come & hang out. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Painkiller made by the fabulous Abby! - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Best meal I had in Portland! I wish there was more than 5 stars. Great, great chowder!!!! We all wish we got a bigger bowl! The crab melt was fierce and AMAZING!!!! I could eat there over and over again! Hands up for the waitresses working, busy but calm energy while being for hospitable! read more

Great food for a tourist price in downtown. Small cozy place with a parking lot next door ( that isn't cheap minimum 2 hrs for $27.) The lobster BLT was the winner. read more

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Food! Best chowder I have ever tasted. And the lobster meal .... Mwah!!!! Love love love it!! read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Gilbert's Chowder House. - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Never goes wrong. Food is so good and blazing fast! Service is friendly and full of Maine Charm!! Like most places on Old Port it has Portland charms that is welcoming and warm. Fun place to come back to. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Super Seafood Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Truly great clam chowder. And on the never ending search for good whole-belly fried clams, the ones at Gilbert's were among the best I've had in a long time. I ordered an additional serving. Yum. Also very cool, genuine atmosphere. read more

I ordered the lobster roll. Let me tell you guys this was the yummiest lobster roll I've ever had so far. It was so fresh and it just melts in your mouth, the chips and pickled complement it nicely. The service was quick and the interior is very quirky. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Maine Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

The most comforting meal in a cold day. Loved all the chowder we got, but the seafood chowder was my favorite. It was loaded with all kinds of seafood. I didn't love the lobster bisque, I thought it was a bit too buttery for me but love that you can get a small size of everything to try different flavors. Based on location, the perfect stop if going off of the boat! read more

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My friend and I chose to have lunch here and ran j to another gal we know who said the lobster roll was excellent, she asked for it without mayo and I did the same. It was filled with cold lobster meat which was terrific. I dipped it in butter, and it was terrific! Served with chips, it was a little high, but no higher than anywhere else. My friend got the haddock fish and chips. She said her fish was flaky and delish. Her fries were excellent, and I know because I ate half of them. The blueberry pie she had was great and it came with a large mound of real whipped cream. Our server, Amanda, was a delight! Friendly, warm and so sweet. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Fish and lots of chips - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Cozy, down-home and warm relaxed ambience. Our server was not only fast and efficient, but very friendly and pleasant. Just know that you're going to get basically European-sized portions not American...for example, the fried calamari is strictly a one-person serving, and that person better not be particularly hungry. Ditto with the chowder, even the largest size---it had some nice chunks of lobster but was more of what I'd consider an appetizer size than an entree size at an entree price. (I did appreciate its strong bacon flavoring though, which is not that common in chowders.) The only decent sized entree we found was the fish and chips, and the fries while pre-cut are lightly battered making them much more enjoyable, not your usual tasteless/mushy-cardboard frozen fries. All of the food tasted fresh and was competently prepared, if a bit on the bland side but hey this is New England after all. The nice thing is that the menu prices are pretty reasonable, not inflated as one might expect in a touristy location like this. Overall though, this is a place I'd go to chill with a drink and a snack rather than have a full meal if you're actually hungry, unless you want to order at least two of everything---I guess you could also just try twice as many dishes as you would normally. So, don't get too excited by the menu pricing: you're gonna pay normal Maine tourist prices if you want a hearty meal, no way around it. 3 and 1/2 stars. read more

The clam chowder was amazing! So rich and creamy. The lobster rolls were good also. Ordered as takeout.

I decided to check this place out with my husband. We came here when it was about 105 degrees outside. It was VERY hot in the dining room. We decided to sit outside since it's by the water, and perhaps there was a bit of a breeze. I am sensitive to heat but my husband said he would not able to sit in the dining room so it wasn't just me, but that's probably the only reason why I need to deduct a star. It is a small thing for a lot of people but for me, it is quite hard on me at times and since I was in the heat all day, I just needed some place cool. The outside was still very hot but doable, and it was BUSY outside. Our server was great! She was quick, seemed like she'd been there for years (probably has, we didn't ask) and great with all the customers. I would have loved to have the chowder but again, it was way too hot. However, my husband did have the 'Seafood Chowder' in a Bread Bowl. He said it was absolutely delicious. He loved it and the portion was HUGE! I ordered the half-size 'House salad' and 'Steamed Mussels with Garlic Toast'. They were both delicious as well and also big portions. We were impressed! I would definitely recommend this place and would be back. The prices are great, the portions were big and in my opinion, way better than 'Highroller Lobster'. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Customer service is on point! We had the best waitress! Friendly and attentive! Ambiance is very casual. They have outdoor seating overlooking the port but we chose to stay inside it was more private as no one else was in there. The homemade fresh Maine blueberry pies are so good! You have to try them! They are currently in season and were decadent! Check out my photos! read more

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This is my second time in Maine and second time coming back to Gilbert's. Dare I say I think they've gotten even better? I mean that seafood chowder wow! Full of seafood and flavor. Looks like maybe last time I never did the review because when I came to add it photos from last time popped up. None the less, this time got the lobster BLT and seafood chowder. That blt could've been 2 meals for me. So much lobster and delicious bacon. And the price was less than a typical lobster roll else where! Staff are always warm and welcoming. Patio is dog friendly. Even brought the dog a bowl of water! So sweet. Service was excellent. Wait time minimum. Outdoor patio is perfect especially with the pup. This place is a legend and I suggest you hit it up read more

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A very reasonably priced seafood restaurant in the heart of Portland. It's good quality for the price. The seafood chowder was very good with a decent amount of seafood with very creamy chowder. It came with lobster, haddock and shrimp. The seating outside is covered and you may get to enjoy some live music from next door. Our server was attentive even with the restaurant busy. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Super Seafood - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

I like the chowder here because they aren't trying to imitate the stereotypical chowder. Their chowder is bacon forward, so if that is going to offend your sensibilities then skip the chowder here. I am of the philosophy that bacon makes everything better, therefore I enjoyed the chowder very much. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Food portions are huge and delicious The chowder is a must get. I got it with the bread bowl. The blueberry cobbler is also top notch. Service was speedy and friendly. Plenty of seating indoor and outdoor read more

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I have been here quite a few times. This is not upscale fine dining but the food they serve is high quality and you can't beat the price. The lobster roll with chips is amazing and one of the cheaper ones in Portland. They have a deck in the summer which is great. They are of course known for their chowder which the clam is my favorite. Overall just know you aren't doing fancy here but the food is great! read more

Chowder dreams came true at Gilbert's Chowder House in Portland, Maine! We tried the 1/2 sandwich and small chowder combo and let's just say... it did not disappoint! Lobster grilled cheese + clam chowder Lobster BLT + corn chowder And of course, we had to try the blueberry pie! The clam chowder was hands down the best I've ever had -- rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. Everything else was delicious too, though we weren't big fans of the pie (but hey, you win some!). Definitely adding this spot to our must-return list next time we're in town! Friendly service and inside and outdoor seating. #PortlandMaineEats #GilbertsChowderHouse #SeafoodLovers #ClamChowderGoals #MaineEats #FoodieFinds #LobsterLife #CoastalCravings #ChowderLovers #TravelEats #GlobalEscapeTravel read more

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Ohhh, it's sooo good!!  Gilbert's Chowder House serves up a delicious creamy seafood chowder. Rich, velvety and loaded with generous chunks of seafood, perfectly seasoned, and super satisfying. It's the kind of dish you keep thinking about after you leave, and crave again & again!  Definitely a must-try if you're near Portland. Comfort food at its best!! read more

Must come to this chowder house we really enjoyed their clam chowder there oysters that were fried or bomb we also like their fish fried. It was good. I would recommend this place. It was definitely on par. We also love their blueberry pie. It was very good. I didn't think I would like it, but it was house made and so good. Good customer service and it was pretty fast for the most part. I think they do get overwhelmed with a lot of customers, but I think they did the best they can I would recommend this place for a really good seafood restaurant. The prices are around the same as local prices. They also have the Tabasco sauce on the table. I highly recommend using that for your clam chowder. It was actually really delicious. I found out in the end when other customers were using it. read more

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The chowder was thick and full of flavor the restaurant had the yesteryear's decor with bouys and tackle My wife got clam belly's and I got the lobster grilled cheese read more

We had to come here to try their award winning chowders, and they definitely lived up to the hype. We tried the seafood chili and clam chowder, both served in warm, fresh bread bowls. The seafood chili was hearty and packed with flavors, while the clam chowder was rich and creamy. Would recommend! read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I've been eating at Gilbert's for decades and it's consistently delicious. We stopped in during winter storm Fern and were one of two tables. The atmosphere is a throwback to old saloons in the Old Port with relics galore. The server Amanda couldn't have been more wonderful. Thank you for your kindness. The chowders were a perfect match for a blizzard eve. We'll be back after the snow melts! read more

This place has just the best and the most perfect lobster stew that ever had! Please don't waste your time any where else just come here, it's just what everyone needs to try, they have outdoors sits, a little bar area, they are not super crowded, the prices are just perfect, not expensive, they ate very fast in terms of serving which I love and admire from anywhere that they I go. read more

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Gilbert's Chowder House has a cozy, old-school nautical vibe--perfect on a chilly November night. We were seated right away, though I imagine it gets busy in the summer. We had the grilled cheese and chowder. The sandwich was thick, lightly grilled, and loaded with oozing cheese--delicious. The haddock and clam chowders were tasty, though perhaps not quite up to Massachusetts standards. Fries were disappointing, but the flaky, crispy onion rings were a standout. Our server was friendly, explained the chowder sizes, and checked in often. A cozy spot with solid chowder and some truly memorable onion rings. read more

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This chowdah haus has the most amazing chowder on the East Coast! Nice job Gilbert! And it's right in the heart of the Old Port. Our waitress was bubbly and kind and our food came out quickly. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was not amazing because the tables were way too close together... but I can honestly say the food made up for the tight squeeze. Trying to find a parking spot was a nightmare, but if you can just get in the door and get a seat, the food is worth it. read more

Ok this place has THE BEST chowder in all of New England. Definitely worth a trip. I couldn't make up my mind so I had to order the Clam and Seafood chowders; they were both good but the clam chowder was the best. Service was excellent too; we didn't have a long wait. Ambience was great - it is crowded on the inside but they do have an outdoor covered patio seating. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Chowder and Steamed Mussels - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Stopped here on a freezing cold day for a cup of clam chowder and to try a clam cake. The chowder was okay. The clam cake looked promising, nice and crispy brown. However, it was like glue inside and had no discernible clam flavor. I do not like being served food in paper/plastic containers in a restaurant if I am eating in. Even the tartar sauce was Ken's supermarket brand in a plastic single serve container. Not acceptable. The people working here were very nice though! read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Cup of clam chowder and a clam cake. - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

The BEST lobster roll I've ever had. I'm obsessed with this place and will forever stop by when I'm in Portland. Even though, the place was packed, the staff were super attentive. The vibes are exactly what you want from a beachside town. read more

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Chowder served lukewarm and was thick in a gluey way. I prefer chowder to be piping hot. The bread bowl was also pretty disappointing, it wasn't fresh sourdough by any means. The spot was a little run down and the vibe of the staff was a little weird. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood chowder - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

The seafood chowder was fantastic! Quaint location, right in the water. Friendly service and good prices! Definitely stop by if you're in Portland. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood chowder (medium) and clam strips - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Stopped in for lunch. After we were told to seat our selves... the three waitresses on duty gave us the side eye for at least 15 minutes before even approaching our table in an a not so busy restaurant. Based upon other's reviews I tried the lobster stew... BIG mistake... I order the large. I basically had two claws worth of meat in a broth that tasted exactly like condensed milk. Nothing else... two claws in condensed milk. For $23.95. It was far from tasty. By the time we got back to our hotel my stomach was VERY angry with me. We will not be back... ever. read more

Alyssa was phenominal so sweet so considerate service and connection. She will definitely make sure you're having a great time. She's great with your kids bring ehm over for an awesome time! The lobster BLT is really creamy and served cold in your classic BLT. The bar is so full of cool Nautical and local merchandise. So many questions about the history of these items. A great ice breaker with the employees and guests. That clam chowder is also a literal hug in a cup. So creamy-so filling and wonderfully made. Adding the oyster crackers takes another textural snap whilst soaking up the soup great little additive. Wonderful and loving experience! Highly recommend. read more

Another trip to Portland Maine and yet another 5 star review for Gilberts Chowder House! This time - after 15 years of enjoying Gilberts incredibly good food - we finally met one of the Gilbert family. I do not know his first name, but he was friendly and - for an owner of a very busy restaurant - he spent a lot of time talking to us. Bravo to this Gilbert and all the other Gilberts involved in making our many, many meals here fantastic! Is Gilberts fancy? No. There are no linen tablecloths, there is no expensive silverware or elegant glasses. But NONE OF THAT MATTERS! The food is outstanding, the service is fast and top notch and the atmosphere is fun and enjoyable every time we are there! A trip to Portland is not complete without some of Gilberts perfect chowder! Thank you, Gilberts, for giving us a place we like to call "our place!!!" read more