"Take me to the pilot, lead me through the chamber Take me to the pilot, I am but a stranger" (Elton John) Our convention committee was in town celebrating last summer's successful event after years of planning. Five of us headed for lovely Kennebunkport, but where should we meet for lunch? Choosing a lunch spot could've taken all afternoon, but a trusted local steered us toward the Pilot House. So that's where we met up -- and it ended up being a terrific lunch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It has a scenic location in a harbor on the Kennebunk River, where the whole waterfront is dotted with boats.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The big dining room is equally pretty with colorful nautical flags covering the ceiling and maritime décor everywhere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Pilot House was packed, I mean pretty much every table and every barstool, but after a short wait a table opened up for us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server, Carley was great- with a super nice attitude and quick water glass delivery. Pilot House's menu has plenty of seafood options among its appetizers, soups, salads, baskets, sandwiches, and entrees. I went with their Fish Tacos ($19) - "Golden fried haddock, red cabbage slaw, queso fresco & house made candied jalapeño aioli. Served on flour tortillas". I asked Carley if I could get the fish grilled instead of fried, and that was no problem. I loved the tacos; the fish was plentiful, flaky and tender and that jalapeño aioli was excellent. One of the other meals at our table included an interesting one. Ever hear of a Haddock Reuben? It was $21.00 for a marble rye sandwich with fried haddock, coleslaw, 1000 Island & Swiss cheese. Not a morsel was left behind. Two of us went with a Fried Baby Shrimp Basket ($24), a huge feast of golden fried baby shrimp, French fries, coleslaw & cocktail sauce. We were seated in the far-right side of the dining room by a bank of windows, and I noticed what looked like a huge yacht connected to the restaurant by a walkway. Turns out there is a restaurant bar up there. I so wanted to scoot up there for a few photos, but it wasn't open for the season yet. Oh well, maybe next time. Just another reason to visit the Pilot Hose because the food and dining experience were top-notch. read more

See all

The Pilot house to me is very similar to several other restaurants down here in the dock square area, both in menu and in reliability. They have all your standard seafare bar food, as well as some other options. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love the variety in vibes depending on where you sit. The restaurant has 3 floors, with the upstairs feeling more upscale in vibe and the downstairs more family oriented.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]In the warm months, they also have seating on the big boat outside, which is super fun.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I always bring out of owners here just for this boat vibe alone. The drinks definitely taste like they are made using premade mixes, and purées, so their price tag feels very high for what you get. The food is definitely average, with some items better than others. The clam chowder is THICK but it has exceptional flavor. The fried pickles are solid. All in all, I would highly suggest coming in the summer to grab a beer or drink on the boat while sharing some apps with friends, but skip it if you are looking for a high quality meal that will leave you wanting to return for dinner. read more

Came in here for lunch while in town. I had a lobster roll which was good and had nice flavoring. Friend had the clam chowder which didn't care for and said it was bland. Server was polite and helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We ate outside on back patio overlooking the boat seating and the marina. Nice atmosphere[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. read more

See all

The owner has some anger issues. He accused us of calling his staff a**holes and came over to scream at us in the parking lot! He told us to leave after refusing to let us talk to the employee who complained. We were all shocked! We never said anything to the staff, and had pleasant interactions with them. It was very confusing and disappointing. The owner should consider hiring people to run the business and take a back seat. He clearly has no people skills. read more

I had a cup of clam chowder here today around 2:30pm. When it was served, it was lukewarm at best. I asked to have it nuked in the microwave and when she brought me out a new bowl, it was warmer but not hot. It was thick, but extremely bland with large potato chunks but not very many clams. I tried adding pepper, but it still tasted like paste. I only ate half of the cup, if that, and now my stomach is starting to revolt. Do not get the clam chowder! read more

The greeters were wonderful. Our waitress, Delaney, was wonderful. The food..... disgusting. The clams and scallops were obviously pre fried and then microwaved for service. They were rubbery and seriously overcooked. In this location there should be nothing but fresh fried. The food arrived so fast I knew it wasn't fried fresh. They obviously care about turnaround over quality. The inadequacy of the kitchen is evident. read more

My first time at The Pilot House, and I was pleasantly surprised. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance and environment were really nice and open--you can tell it was recently renovated from the old setup.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were seated upstairs, which has a completely different vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered a Bloody Mary and initially thought it just didn't have enough alcohol--turns out there was none at all, even though I was ID'd. Others in my party also felt like their drinks had little to no alcohol. The food portions were big, and everything came out fresh and hot. A little pricey, but that's probably expected given the location. Overall, the food was delicious, and I'd potentially come back. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Chicken Cesar Sandwhich - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

See all

Two bars, two levels, good food at a decent price. What more could you ask for. The food and the the service were great. We will be back.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]I love the local charm of the Pilot House Restaurant![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's a beautiful bar and seating arrangement on the first floor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lots of boat decorations to make it extra nautical.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is a second floor, which feels more like a restaurant lounge with wide open spaces.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]You can also dine on top of a docked boat, which is connected to the second floor of the Pilot House.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My friend and I got cocktails and fried fish bites. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Absolutely delicious and a great atmosphere to enjoy with company![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

See all

I ate at the Pilot House for the first time during my last trip to Maine. [[HIGHLIGHT]]What a wonderful place![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I went with a large party and we were seated upstairs, there were huge windows with beautiful views, the space was large and beautifully decorated.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] All 18 people I was with loved their meal, the service was excellent especially with such a huge group. We will be eating here again on our next visit as well! read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Chicken fried rice - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Went here for a private event and was perfect place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Huge venue with large windows overlooking the water.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance was perfect and were able to have platters of snacks- pizzas, shrimp, fries.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great for a centralized buffet and perfect to hold tons or people.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Really loved this spot and recommend read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Snacks and drinks - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

See all

Had a meal here today 4/18/26 not very busy I had scallops and my wife had hadock.1,haddock had enough oil in it to change the oil in your car French fries were the same scallops had zero flavor small and as greasy as the fries no alcohol all for the tune of 105.00 without tip what a fucking ripoff will never go there again!!!!!!!! read more

Friendly staff, fluffy fish and chips. So delicious. Perfect start to my Maine vacation.

Booked a boat tour and asked for a good local spot to eat. Pointed me to Pilot House and was glad I took the recommendation. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Interior decor and views from second floor were amazing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food was great and pricing was fair considering the location. Check them out when you're in the area. read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Lovely location! We were able to bring our dog up and sit on the porch.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lovely view of the harbor![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff were very friendly and our server was great! We had coconut shrimp (yum!), fish tacos and fried clams. Highly recommend! read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great atmosphere and friendly staff.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We had a very comfortable visit on the second floor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The prices were very reasonable. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Warm inviting atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food was delicious & our waitress delightful. Recommend it to anyone who wants the local vibe. read more

First time experiencing The Pilot House was and the food was delicious! I had the Baked Haddock, while my boyfriend got the Baked Mac n' Cheese w/ Chicken. Both were absolutely to die for :) Service was great and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the restaurant was decorated for the holidays -- beautiful![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Baked Mac and Cheese w/ Chicken - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

We came here for our 65th wedding anniversary dinner. the staff was exceptional .Our server she was the best. Barb was very pleasant and made sure we had eveything we needed. also took her time with putting in our entree so we could enjoy our salad. The sirloin strip steak dinner was exceptional. Thank You for the surprise gift when we got back to our BnB. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We recommend this restaurant it is a beautiful place for decor and food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]We would most deffinatinately go back. Paul and Edith read more

The clam chowder and steamers were good. Average compared to like placed. The ambiance was bright and clean. Wendy our server provided excellent service. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - The Pilot House - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice view.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking in the back. Good service. Haddock sandwich was not that tasty. Caesar salad needed more dressing. I was glad they had sweet potato fries on the menu. Prices at the restaurant are higher than on the Web. I won't rush back. read more

Had to wait 20 minutes even though the place was deserted. The food was gross, overpriced, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the washrooms were filthy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Such a bad experience. read more

This restaurant deserves 5*. Lobster roll flight of three different sandwiches a great choice. Large chunks of really fresh lobster.Bread toasted perfectly. Add a cup of clam chowder for a perfect meal. read more

Enjoyed a nice lunch here while in town for a work trip. The construction is a bit distracting but it will be exciting to see what the new building looks like when it's completed. Most of our group ordered the lobster roll because, Maine. There was a relatively large piece of shell hidden in mine, but otherwise it was delicious. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Lobster roll. - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Fine eatin'. Truly. Better than Opie would get from Ain't Bea. All food was created with expert perfection. Everything is great about this place. Band too. Thursday at 8:45pm is "Kareoke." That's great too. read more

We stopped by to try out the new digs since the last time we were here was in the old building, and the schooner was still floating nearby. The new building is much much bigger, having two floors and offering beautiful views from their large windows. When entering, you'll be coming in near their bar area, which is both busy and loud, and of to the right is a dining area that shares in the noise. The 2nd floor is substantially quieter, has its own bar, a nice seating area, and dining tables. I recommend putting for the 2nd floor. The food was very, very good, and the menu choices should satisfy most anyone's taste. The schooner is now a permanent attachment to the building and connected with an inclined walkway. It has a nice bar area with limited munchies and great views. It's a great spot to wait for your table or just to pop in for a fun experience. I don't recommend the schooner for those with mobility issues. There is plenty of parking available their prices seem reasonable considering the quality and portion sizes of the items and the novelty and setting within Kennybunkport. If you found this review helpful, please let me know by tapping the thumbs up. Thanks! read more

See all

I rate this a 3.7. Only came for the bar so I can not rate the food at the moment, I'm sorry. But I went on the boat and ordered a beer, the total time was 5 mins to get my beer which is great. Only problem is boats are meant for the ocean, not the parking lot next to the ocean. A little disappointed, but the boat was awesome to drink on and explore. But #WhereIsMyCapatin. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Nothing special. Good chowder but haddock was tasteless. Potato's were cold. Don't recommend. Very disappointing.

Ive had so much fun on vacation this week on the boat. Frank was my favorite bartender, so friendly, and welcoming. We loved It so much we came every night. Vicki, Bob and Sue were also wonderful. Great drinks and food :) read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute ambiance but concrete floors make it pretty loud.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is flavorless and left me very unsatisfied. If you're a tourist, there's better places to spend your money! read more

Uninspired. Just plain not very good. Certainly not worth what was charged. I mean one could say that it was competent but who goes out to eat for competent. If you are in Kennebunkport there are a lot better places to go. Try Allison's, Ryan's or, really, any other place. read more

Always great service, great locals and many laughs!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Miss the old pilot house but the new will soon become the old and as always Pilot house never disappoints.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

My favorite is the fried Reuben haddock sandwich. Staff is very friendly even to the overwhelming tourists that flood Kennebunkport. One downside is that they do not answer the phone or it's been down for a while. I would like to order carry out without having to go inside and wait. Yelp should remove that option. read more

Clam Chowder and a Lobster Roll and of course a great beer for lunch. Maine Beer Company's Lunch IPA.

We read a few tough reviews about this place but gave it a shot. Wanted to sit outside but couple in front of us got the last table. Got a nice table next to the windows upstairs and got to listen to live music! Food, drinks and service were all outstanding. I got the broiled haddock sandwich and it was definitely the best fish sandwich I've ever had. If you're on the fence, go! read more

Best meal of our trip through Maine. [[HIGHLIGHT]]New building with a great atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Wonderful staff and prompt service. Highly recommend. read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Upstairs dining room. - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

We have walked by this place so many times through the years and finally decided to give it a try. Definitely has a more local feel about it and we loved that. The food was delicious and the prices were so reasonable and we did not leave with room to spare. Portions are great and we definitely plan to make this a regular spot to eat. Thank you for a great experience! read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Tater tot kegs - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

Not as good as it used to be. They are in a brand new space which is very nice, but the charm of the original building is missing. Service was good, we walked right in, no reservation and seated right away. We did have someone in our party with a dairy allergy and were basically told all of the food aside from the French fries had some kind of milk product in them, even the bun of and sandwich and batter for the fried fish. Seemed odd that you would choose to include dairy in virtually all aspects of your menu when food allergies are pretty common. Also it says something about being a scratch kitchen now, but that is obviously not the case, otherwise we would have been able to order more than just fries. Aside from the dairy allergy the rest of the food was your typical seafood restaurant. Good, not outstanding. read more

3.5 stars We came here on the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend and boy, was it crowded. We did find some parking in the back. The band they had playing in the tent was actually decent while we waited...when we put our name on the list, we were told it would be 30 min for inside and up to an hour outside. We said no preference, just whatever became first available. We happened to wait over an hour in the rain for an inside table. Inside, it was noisy and very crowded with people at the bar leaning on everyone's tables inside and outside (surely a covid spreader if I ever saw one). It took several minutes of servers walking by before being noticed ( I know everyone is short staffed lately, so I'm not knocking them for that). The food was very tasty and huge portions, however. We got the fried haddock sandwich for $13.95, one with potato salad and one with French fries and steaming on the inside. By the time we left, the crowd was already starting to think out. 2021 #72 read more

Pilot House Restaurant - Fried haddock sandwich w/ tatey salad - Seafood Near Me - Kennebunk, Maine

love it - the new place is gorgeous and the same familiar faces are there. I had a fantastic meal, drinks and the music was great!