Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    McLaughlin's Lobster Shack

    3.7 (140 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    McLaughlin's Lobster Shack Photos

    Business Info

    MCLAUGHLIN'S LOBSTER SHACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like McLaughlin's Lobster Shack

    Recommended Reviews - McLaughlin's Lobster Shack

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    View...I should have taken good pictures

    Wonderful lobster meal...huge chunks of lobster meat in a butter roll and the full lobster was cut so that eating is was super easy. The service was perfect. The view from upstairs was beautiful.

    Onion rings part of the Seafood Platter
    John D.

    Shack Attack Family-owned restaurant that's been slinging some of Maine's finest foods since 1956. They've recently moved from a smaller location near the ocean, to a bit more inland until much bigger digs. The Good: *Outdoor seating *Friendly service *Local beers on-tap, as well as a full bar. *Private parking lot *Good meaty and tasty lobstah roll. My only complaint was the fries seemed frozen and not very good ones. *Quahog Clam Chowdah was fantastic and maybe the best one we tried on our trip to Maine. The Meh: *No longer oceanside, but they are adjacent to an estuary of sorts. *Seasonal business so check to make sure they're open; usually May - October is the general timeframe, but don't quote me on that. The Ugly: *That fried Seafood Platter was good but eventually all that fried food starts to kinda taste the same. Conclusion: Great lobstah roll with friendly service and in an interesting location.

    Haddock tacos
    Linda R.

    They've moved up the street a bit from their old location at the Islesboro ferry. Now there is great indoor seating, a full menu of seafood and nice parking. Order and pay at the downstairs counter/bar, get your table number and pick your seat. Food is delivered to your table. I had the haddock tacos and they were delicious. Scallop basket was also very good. High marks for the onion rings. Great view from the second floor seating area!

    Lobster roll (cold), at McLaughlin's Lobster Shack in Lincolnville, ME.
    Tom D.

    Stopped in for takeout lunch with the wife yesterday. She had a cold lobster roll, I went with the haddock. Lobster roll was excellent, haddock was alright (they forgot to throw tarter sauce in the the takeout bag). My wife wanted coleslaw with her lunch, but it wasn't included in the meal, so that set me back another 5 bucks. We both liked the coleslaw, but the fries would've been a lot better if they had been hand cut instead of frozen. Not overly impressed with our lunch yesterday, other than the lobster roll. That's it, not much more to say.

    The view from McLaughlin's.
    Bruno B.

    McLaughlin's is the real deal. Right on the working waterfront, you can go around back and see the lobsters fresh from the ocean. The interior is exactly what you would expect, picnic red-and-white plastic tablecloths, fish nets, tiki lights, sea captain sculptures, etc. The food comes out pretty fast. We got the lobster rolls and fries, cuz what else are you going to get? I was instructed that the lobster chowder is an East Coast thing that isn't like the cioppino that I love from SF, so I skipped it. The buns had that lovely buttery crunch followed by softness, and the lobster was incredible. It wasn't buttery or mayo-y, both of which I only want in small quantities. You get a lot of chunks of lobster, it was super delicious and simple and perfect. The fries were fries, and the coleslaw wasn't very good, kinda watery. But you're here for the lobster roll!

    Shel D.

    On the upside this place has a great queer o meter score - the staff was super nice. 10! On the downside - there was a little bit not too great with the dinner. What we got: shore dinner - lobster, steamers, fish chowder, fries, cornbread, and Cole slaw. Side order onion rings 1 bottle water $75 plus tip It was about $15 more than we paid the day before and the lobster was 1.15 lbs not 1.25. The lobster and steamers were over boiled about 3 min too long and sadly they were on the chewy side. Don't get me wrong, I ate it but it had def hit the start of bouncy. The chowder is good - it's the thin kind so don't be expecting a creamy NE kind. It's a thinner stewish kind but flavorful. The cornbread was a corner piece and most of it dry - the flavour was good! I'm guessing the middle pieces were great. The French fries and Cole slaw were also good! They use hunts ketchup which I don't like, but that's a me thang. Finally the onion rings - they were hot and crispy but that's where the compliments end. I found them bland and uneventful, which was too and bc they were hot and crispy! So much potential. Well all in all I wouldn't go back. Maybe it was an off night but for $75 I expect to fully enjoy 85%+ of a meal. This one fell short for me. Cheers!

    Menu
    Jill I.

    Really great spot , nice water views and great staff . The baked haddock was cooked perfectly generous portion and so flavorful. The fried haddock was just as good crispy outside, flaky and flavorful inside. The onion rings were a nice addition to lunch but there were plenty of thick fries with the basket. The mushrooms were good, but did not seem to be made there. if I had to choose definitely would have gone with the onion rings. The coleslaw was a little better than average. I would most definitely get the baked haddock again or try the lobster which are in tanks on the deck. Nice spot not cheap but the portions are very generous so you get your money's worth Nd very nice to sit and watch the boats go by.

    The Lobster's Demise
    Steve K.

    Disclaimer: This review is from the perspective of a 100% non-seafood eater. I give them 4 stars because everyone else in my party of 6 raved about the freshness of the lobster and the haddock they all eagerly consumed. I give it a 1 star for my order of the bacon cheeseburger with onion rings. I was once again very disappointed in how seafood restaurants serve a basic burger. If you are going to offer it as a menu item, please learn how to cook and serve it properly. It was cooked so long there was no moisture left in the beef at all. And it was served on a dry bun with no sauce of any kind, no lettuce, no tomato, no pickles, nothing. There were ketchup packets in a bin but it didn't help. If I am ever in this amazing area again, I will drop my group here and go find someplace else for me.

    That's a mighty big lobster!
    Gina F.

    We were lucky enough to stay at an air bnb directly in front of this great place. Directions are simple enough-you walk through, a nice person takes your order, you go outside and find a table in the picnic area overlooking the water (or choose a table inside if you'd prefer), and then they call your number when your order is ready! Lobster roll was the best we've had on our vacation and the ala carts lobster was great as well!

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nicole W.
    243
    53
    202

    9 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 36
    Thanks 17
    Love this 34
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Tom D.
    1137
    880
    2418

    2 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 3

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of K R.
    0
    105
    30

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim M.
    0
    70
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S C.
    10
    31
    5

    2 years ago

    Great lobster rolls and onion rings. Take out as well as dine in Friendly service

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Morgan D.
    4
    138
    148

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Rob V.
    1
    26
    6

    3 years ago

    Awesome again. Usually get a lobster dinner. This time had a lobster roll. Beer served here! Very nice view and location.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Disappointed. Clam Chowder was watery and the worst that I have ever tasted. The lobster was forgettable.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The lobster tacos were delicious! service was great. We arrived close to closing time and never felt rushed.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Madi S.
    47
    9
    10

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ben T.
    6
    24
    7

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kathy B.
    64
    26
    29

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - McLaughlin's Lobster Shack

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Seafood 357 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Cafe Louis

    Cafe Louis

    4.5(21 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    Have been 3x to Cafe Louis betw Sept 2024 - Dec 2025. The first visit was on Labor Day Monday…read more2024...it was uh-mazing! I thought it was the bomb, esp the food and service. Have returned twice since then. As the menu is small and hasn't changed since my first visit, the charm has worn off. I usually share the roast half chicken plus 2-3 sides. The meal was absolutely flavorful on my first visit but not so much the last visit in Dec 2025. Maybe it was a bad night? I thought the flavors fell flat and service was not as attentive. I was celebrating the holidays by treating friends to dinner and had to wave down someone twice to order rounds of drinks. I will give any establishment 20 stars if they are paying attention as to whether your glass is half empty. For me, the food can be excellent or blah but excellent service can make or break a restaurant.

    First off the food was delicious. The question is what are you willing to ignore to enjoy it?…read moreStarting with cleanliness -- spider webs above our table and food stains on the walls. (See pics) Hospitality is completely absent. No one made eye contact for a prolonged period of time after we entered. Yes, it is a very small space, but there was one waiter and one bartender. Never received set ups. We rooted around in an exposed cabinet and snagged our own. And they don't carry any sodas whatsoever. So... enjoy the food but pack your patience and perhaps don't look too hard at the walls of the dining room.

    Photos
    Cafe Louis - Cozy interior

    Cozy interior

    Cafe Louis
    Cafe Louis - Inside view

    See all

    Inside view

    McLaughlin's Lobster Shack - seafood - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...