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    The Clam Shack

    3.7 (940 reviews)
    PriceySeafood
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    The Clam Shack Photos

    THE CLAM SHACK ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - The Clam Shack

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    Marie P.

    Definitely a Kennebunkport staple! I got the grilled cheese and then a cheeseburger and fries another night. Safe option for those of us who don't like seafood. The food isn't amazing, but it's good and workers are nice and service is quick. Good place to sit and eat in the midst of shopping and exploring the town.

    Jennifer M.

    While in Kennebunkport Maine you have to get the Lobstah!!! If you are hungry one little lobster isn't going to cut it. So get some great Fried Clams!!! This place is a tourist trap but we had to go. It was a long wait to get the lobster but we didn't have anywhere to go

    The outside benches were packed. There's tables and chairs if you walk between the shack and the market. No one here. This is the view
    Peter N.

    The Clam Shack in Kennebunk is definitely worth a stop if you're chasing lobster rolls in Maine. I went with the butter lobster roll, and it came packed with whole pieces of claw, knuckle and tail on a different type of bun. The Reilly Roll is baked fresh daily and is soft and slightly sweet. Simple, tasty, and satisfying. There were no lines and only a short wait, which made the experience easy and relaxed. The roll itself was good, though not quite as unforgettable as some of the others I've tried on this trip--that's the only reason for 4 stars (4.3) instead of 5. Still, it's a solid spot right by the water with fresh, quality lobster and a true Maine vibe.

    Megan N.

    Lobster roll is delicious, pricey but worth trying once. Fries are good. The fried clams are good if you like fried food. Ordering is a bit confusing (the guy also had a thick accent) but I thought I was getting clams on the shell but they were fried. Very cute patio and inside. Cool to see the lobster tanks and great location on the main road.

    Tourist trap! This place was such a disappointment. Waited in a 20 minute line to get the smallest lobster roll I've ever had. It says there supposed to have 5 ounces of meat. Mine had 3 ounces at best and the bread was just so so. Overall it was a decent sandwich but it was so small. Considering the price and the long line, I couldnt help feeling incredibly ripped off (and disappointed). Fries were lukewarm, the blueberry handpie was mediocre and the clam cake was the worst bite of food I've had in a year. It was terrible. The two star rating I gave it was solely due to the very nice and kind staff. Very friendly bunch. They were great. If you're visiting the area, you're much better off at the Landing Store in Kennebunk. For the same price you'll get a roll with 4-5 times more lobster meat.

    Audrey R.

    This was our first visit to town and heard great things about this place so we stopped by. There was already a line at 11am but lines moved quickly. We had the lobster roll and fried haddock sandwich. Both very good. Great coleslaw too. They have plenty of outdoor picnic tables.

    Cold Lobster Roll
    Brennan B.

    We were enjoying the coast of Maine and stopped in here when some others were not open mid week. I thought this place was just average and the least favorite we had. You get a 5 oz lobster roll, fries, and coleslaw for $34. Footbridge is about $6 more, but you get a much larger sandwich on toasted bread vs a cold hamburger bun. With all the tour buses with seniors around, I would consider this place a blue plate special. There are other places off the main drag doing it better.

    Blueberry Pie
    Russell J.

    Frankly, a mediocre lobster roll. The lobster was fine, but I feel like it could have been dressed a little better with some more mayo and seasoning. And the burger bun as opposed to a traditional NE roll was an interesting choice. Not the worst lobster roll I've ever had, but def not the best.

    The line.
    Dustin E.

    Great and fast service! We saw this place on YouTube. It's very good. We got 1/2 pint of the clam strips and 2 lobster rolls. They were okay. Certainly not the best in the nation as advertised. The clam strips weren't very hot when we got them. We enjoyed the tartar and cocktail sauces. This place is pretty expensive. Our lunch was what is listed plus a bottle of water and a soda. $112 with tip. It's a decent place, the lobster rolls have pieces from all parts of the lobster, which is nice. They are very meaty and filling. The butter and mayo were pretty skimpy.

    Lobster Rolls, clam strips, and clam chowder.  All very good.
    Michael F.

    I don't know how they do it, but this was the best lobster roll I've had during my northeast coast vacation. I ordered it with butter and mayo. Perfect amount of mayo, just enough to complement the lobster. Speaking of lobster, the pieces were large and plenty. Order at "The Shack," get a buzzer, pick up at a window when ready. Plenty of tables to sit around and beer on draft.

    Lobster roll and fried clams
    Nickola B.

    I LOVE seafood and have eaten it in several places around the states, but none of them compared to The Clam shack!! Their lobster roll was the best of the 5 I had eaten on our 2 week east coast adventure. The lobster meat was tender and the butter and mayo was just enough. We also shared the fried clams. They were perfectly fried and not greasy at all. We topped our lunch off with a yummy blueberry pie! Even though we were there on a busy three day weekend, we were able to find a place to sit and eat outside. Don't let the long lines deter you. We were waaay back, but their system is quick and efficient. We had our food in time to eat and get back on our tour bus. I have to go back to the east coast just to have another one of The Clam Shack's lobster rolls!

    Menu
    Mark M.

    If you want the best casual seafood of your summer vacation, look no further than The Clam Shack in Kennebunk, Maine. This was in our sights even before we left Manhattan for Maine. Its reputation preceded it, and our expectations were high. All of those were exceeded. It's casual so don't show up expecting sit down service with the good silverware. Rather expect friendly and prompt service that gets you exactly what you came to Maine for: QUALITY LOBSTER! Lobster rolls are great, and we had to try the chowder, even though it was fairly warm out. We were not disappointed. The blueberry handpie is also worth getting. We didn't ask if they were locally made with blueberries being in season. The taste reassured us we did not have to ask. The market price of lobster dictates the price of the rolls. I believe it was about $31 bucks when we went. It was worth it. Sit outside and enjoy Summer in New England with an experience like The Clam Shack!

    Zachary P.

    Hands down MUST try if you're in Kennebunkport or just passing through. I'm pretty sure the lobsters go straight from the boat and onto the roll at this place. Line is usually pretty long, mainly because it's in such a unique spot. A lot of history tied to this restaurant. Check it out!!

    Lobster roll box

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    3 years ago

    We visit at least once a year from Boston and make sure to stop at the Clam Shack for the lobster roll and fried clams. LOVE LOVE!!!!

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    3 years ago

    The sea scallops were ok, but the whole belly clams had way too much seasoning, they were so salty. I couldn't even eat them. :(

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    4 years ago

    Not overly impressed for the food was a rip off and just okay. Triple the cost due to tourist traffic indeed.

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    3 years ago

    Great whole belly fried clams! Used to get them when we visited my grandparents in Massachusetts and Maine. What a treat!

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    4 years ago

    At 2:30 in the afternoon, they're out of CLAMS! Prices are exorbitant. Food is greasy and subpar. My advice is to skip it.

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    Page 8 of 24

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    Cape Pier Chowder House

    Cape Pier Chowder House

    4.1
    (218 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    We loved it so much we went twice on our trip…read more Our first visit, we ordered the clam strips, a 1.5 lb lobster, and the chowder. Lobster was perfectly cooked and delish. The fried seafood is lightly breaded and crispy without feeling oily and heavy. Day 2 was a lobster, the clam/calamari basket and steamers. All were equally as wonderful as our first visit. I was honestly floored by all. The view is incredible. Staff are all hustling and super nice. The husband of the owner came out to chat with us and didn't rush us even though we were eating past the time they technically closed. They seem like great people. My only critique is I wish they had metal lobster forks instead of plastic ones because I find they break easily. But that's all!

    Onion rings are awesome!!…read more Unfortunately I had a bowl of lobster stew with an enormous amount of lobster meat in it. I was so excited & then I tasted the cream based broth with Old bay seasoning which I didn't really like but worse than that the enormous amount of lobster meat was not tender it was down right chewy. So much so I couldn't eat it. If I had not taken it home to eat & had it there I would have returned it. I 'm bummed wasting good money on a chewy lobster stew. I assume the owner was the extremely nice woman taking my order I hope she responds to my review & makes an exchange for something else to eat next time I come in. I will try the clam chowder & fried scallops next.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Fried Oysters, Haddock and Clam Chowder
    Fried Oysters, Haddock and Clam Chowder
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    The Boathouse Restaurant

    The Boathouse Restaurant

    3.8
    (303 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$$

    I am so happy we took a little pit stop at the Boathouse during our day trip to Kennebunkport. We…read moresat on a high top right on a deck overlooking the water. The view was incredible and they had lots of umbrellas to keep the hot sun off you while you are dining. We originally stopped to get a quick snack but our baby ended up getting hungry, so our quick stop turned into a full blown stop. The staff were super understanding and showed my husband a private corner near the entrance where he could change our baby's diaper. They also were very chill about me taking an extra moment to feed our baby. It was truly the best (and most scenic) place to regroup and take an hour to get a snack and care for the baby. We ended up ordering oysters and a poke bowl. The oysters were super tasty and fresh. The poke bowl was loaded with fish and veggies, but the rice was obviously a day old and was a bit hard and clumpy. The sauce on the poke bowl was also a bit salty. I ordered an Aperol spritz, which was perfect and complimented the sunny beach vibes well.

    Visited on our first night in town and snagged a beautiful table on the porch. Service was so…read morefriendly and the oyster selection was great and they were very good. My husband had a lobster fried rice with shrimp and scallops for dinner which he really liked and I had a whole lobster which was very enjoyable. Very nice way to start off our trip.

    Photos
    The Boathouse Restaurant
    Kids chicken tenders
    Kids chicken tenders
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    The Clam Shack - seafood - Updated July 2026

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