ahannas Posted August 12, 2018 #1 Share Posted August 12, 2018 My wife and I will soon be on a 2-week Canada/NE cruise. We stop in Boston, Portland and Bar Harbor, then up to Canada. At some point we'd like to go to a nice restaurant for some serious lobster. We're hoping to find a place not too far from the pier. Anyone know a place you could recommend? Yeah, I know. The ship's dining room will probably offer one of those anemic little half-lobsters one night but we figure "Who wants to go to costal New Englsnd and not get 'real' lobster? I mean, what's the point?:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted August 12, 2018 #2 Share Posted August 12, 2018 In Portland, you can get some really "serious" lobster in either "nice" places or more "rustic" places, the rustic places have better prices, but less fancy dinnerware. Nice places: Boone's Fish House & Oyster Room Street & Co. Eventide Oyster Scales More rustic: Becky's Diner Portland Lobster Co High Roller Lobster Gilbert's Chowder House Been to all, all great, but then again, they are serving the best lobster available, Maine. Lobster rolls, fried lobster, grilled lobster, steamed lobster, ravioli, linguini, diavolo, just about any way you'd like it. Most of the "rustic" ones are open for lunch, some of the nicer ones only for dinner. Eventide and Boone's are two open for lunch. And if you miss Eventide in Portland, there is another near Fenway in Boston. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailBadtheSinner Posted August 12, 2018 #3 Share Posted August 12, 2018 In Bar Harbor. a very short walk from the tender docks is Stewmwns Lobster Pound. Eat on the waterfront, inside or out, not too fancy. Check out the gallery. SBtS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted August 12, 2018 #4 Share Posted August 12, 2018 In Boston it's a short walk from the pier to Yankee Lobster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted August 12, 2018 #5 Share Posted August 12, 2018 In Boston it's a short walk from the pier to Yankee Lobster. Great place, but I'd schedule a bit off hours, as I've found it wicked packed at lunch time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Aurora Posted August 12, 2018 #6 Share Posted August 12, 2018 Earlier this summer we were in Bar Harbor twice (B2B cruises) and both times had wonderful lobster at 59 Cottage. They are located at 59 Cottage Street about half a block from the main tourist drag. Wonderful food with interesting seasonal cocktails. In addition to Yankee Lobster, there is a Legal Harbourside a little farther walk from the Boston pier. Be forewarned -- it also is very crowded at lunch. If you are stopping in Halifax when in Canada, last fall and again earlier this summer we had simply wonderful lobster rolls at this small place inside Goldwater Seafoods. You eat outside with plastic flatware but the lobster rolls are some of the best ever. Two sizes of lobster rolls and if you want you can add wonderful fresh salads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted August 13, 2018 #7 Share Posted August 13, 2018 You can make a reservation at Legal's, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirsty_r Posted August 13, 2018 #8 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Are lobster rolls the recommended dish or are there other specialities to look out for? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted August 13, 2018 #9 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Are lobster rolls the recommended dish or are there other specialities to look out for? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Lobster rolls are great for a quick bite on the go. For a sit down meal, I prefer warm lobster dishes, and just about any way it's served is fine with me. The best places don't overdo the sauces on the pasta dishes, to let the lobster shine. Steamed lobster is the classic, but a whole "bug" is somewhat intimidating to those who've never done it, and can get messy if you're an amateur. Some places do "lazy man's lobster" which is a full steamed lobster that has been removed from the shell for you. Any lobster dish should include knuckle and claw meat, as I think this is the best part of the lobster. Deep fried lobster can be excellent, if done with a light batter, but some can get smothered with a "corn dog" type batter that really takes away from the experience. Boone's in Portland does a lobster roll with the full meat (tail, knuckles, claws) from a 1-1/4 lb lobster, which is a huge amount of meat to put into a roll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirsty_r Posted August 13, 2018 #10 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Boone’s sounds amazing!!! Mmmmm! Thank you for the advice. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scm200 Posted August 13, 2018 #11 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Legal is very overpriced - get your lobster in Maine or Canada I am trying the place on Cottage Street when I get to Bar Harbor next week or the week after (BTB on Veendam) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted August 13, 2018 #12 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Boone’s sounds amazing!!! Mmmmm! Thank you for the advice. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Boone's used to be a Portland landmark, if a bit dated as a restaurant, and went out of business a few years back. New owner Harding Lee Smith is an award winning chef (though by all accounts he is a right b*****d to work for), owns 4 "room" restaurants in Portland: Corner Room: Italian Front Room: New American Comfort Food Grill Room: Steakhouse, but so much more Boone's Fish House & Oyster Room: Seafood and raw bar All are great, all are open for lunch and dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted August 13, 2018 #13 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Legals is priced like any good seafood restaurant and has tables with great views of the water. Fresh seafood shouldn't be cheap. I'm not a fan of Legal's in general, but for walking distance from the ship, it's either Yankee (no atmosphere) or Legal's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted August 13, 2018 #14 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Legals is priced like any good seafood restaurant and has tables with great views of the water. Fresh seafood shouldn't be cheap. I'm not a fan of Legal's in general, but for walking distance from the ship, it's either Yankee (no atmosphere) or Legal's. Gotta agree with all your points. As far as price, with kids living in Boston and Quincy, we are down there regularly, and we find that Portland's prices are equal or higher than Boston. Good food, with good presentation, and locally sourced ingredients tend to be costly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted August 14, 2018 #15 Share Posted August 14, 2018 There are lots of restaurants in the Halifax waterfront area which serve lobster. Murphy's on the waterfront is large and specializes in lobster. It is not a fine dining atmosphere but it is difficult to mess up fresh boiled lobster. The Bluenose II restaurant is more like a diner but apparently does a good job with lobster at a good price. More upscale would be McKelvie's or the Five Fishermen. https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurants-g154976-Halifax_Halifax_Region_Nova_Scotia.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damikaan Posted August 15, 2018 #16 Share Posted August 15, 2018 We haven't been yet, so I can't speak to the quality, but in Sept. we are doing a Lucky Catch Cruises excursion in Portland. You go out on a lobster boat and help catch lobster, then you can buy one and take it to the Portland Lobster Company and for a fee they will cook it for you and provide side dishes. You can't get much fresher than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny AZ Girl Posted August 19, 2018 #17 Share Posted August 19, 2018 My DH is not a lobster fan, but I am. I would love to try a fresh, whole lobster while on the Snowbird Migration cruise in October 2019. I keep seeing "Market Price" on restaurant menus. I know this varies, but if we go to a "lobster shack" type of place, what kind of actual price range should we expect to pay? And where would you recommend? I am hoping for Portland or Bar Harbor and would prefer a casual eatery. Outside on a picnic table would suit me just fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted August 19, 2018 #18 Share Posted August 19, 2018 My DH is not a lobster fan, but I am. I would love to try a fresh, whole lobster while on the Snowbird Migration cruise in October 2019. I keep seeing "Market Price" on restaurant menus. I know this varies, but if we go to a "lobster shack" type of place, what kind of actual price range should we expect to pay? And where would you recommend? I am hoping for Portland or Bar Harbor and would prefer a casual eatery. Outside on a picnic table would suit me just fine! Going with past seasons, market price in October for a "lobster shack" 1-1/4 lb lobster meal would be $25-30. I buy the same lobster for $8-9 and steam it myself, so its been a while since we've sat down in a restaurant for a "bug". Portland Lobster Co is good, and convenient to the pier. Becky's Diner does a nice lobster dinner as well, just down Commercial St. from the pier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny AZ Girl Posted August 19, 2018 #19 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Going with past seasons, market price in October for a "lobster shack" 1-1/4 lb lobster meal would be $25-30. I buy the same lobster for $8-9 and steam it myself, so its been a while since we've sat down in a restaurant for a "bug". Portland Lobster Co is good, and convenient to the pier. Becky's Diner does a nice lobster dinner as well, just down Commercial St. from the pier. Thanks! I will keep that in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailBadtheSinner Posted August 19, 2018 #20 Share Posted August 19, 2018 My DH is not a lobster fan, but I am. I would love to try a fresh, whole lobster while on the Snowbird Migration cruise in October 2019. I keep seeing "Market Price" on restaurant menus. I know this varies, but if we go to a "lobster shack" type of place, what kind of actual price range should we expect to pay? And where would you recommend? I am hoping for Portland or Bar Harbor and would prefer a casual eatery. Outside on a picnic table would suit me just fine! There are a number of "lobster shacks" near Bar Harbor. All but one requires transportation to/from. The one "lobster shack" within walking distance of the tender dock is Stewmans Lobster Pound; read post #3. Of the "lobster shacks" that require transportation to/from, depending on when you are visiting, you could use the Island Explorer to get to/from some of them. The downside to using IE is the amount of time it will take out of your visit. Here's a pix of a "lobster shack" that is right on a IE route source: TripAdvisor SBtS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BklynBoy8 Posted August 20, 2018 #21 Share Posted August 20, 2018 We twice on our visits stopped at Finback Ale House on Cottage Street off of Main Street. We had the best Lobster Roll and Lobster Platter ever had. How sweet the meat was almost didn't want to dip the Lobster into the Dawn Butter. Then we walked and enjoyed all the shops around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann ns Posted August 20, 2018 #22 Share Posted August 20, 2018 So lobster are called bugs in Maine too! There is a truck at Peggy's Cove near Halifax which cooks live lobster to order. When I saw it in July I think they were charging something like $15 or $18. We were paying $8 Canadian a pound from the fishermen in May and June when they were in season where I live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuvKruzn Posted August 20, 2018 #23 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Any tips for best lobster in Rockland, ME or Corner Brook, NS? Sent from my SM-T813 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyGoldberg Posted August 29, 2018 #24 Share Posted August 29, 2018 Lobster prices have plummeted since the China tariffs were put in place. Good for lobster eaters, not so good for Maine lobstermen/women. Consider it a kindness to eat as much as you can stand on the U.S. side! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phabric Posted November 4, 2018 #25 Share Posted November 4, 2018 On 8/12/2018 at 1:56 PM, ahannas said: My wife and I will soon be on a 2-week Canada/NE cruise. We stop in Boston, Portland and Bar Harbor, then up to Canada. At some point we'd like to go to a nice restaurant for some serious lobster. We're hoping to find a place not too far from the pier. Anyone know a place you could recommend? Yeah, I know. The ship's dining room will probably offer one of those anemic little half-lobsters one night but we figure "Who wants to go to costal New Englsnd and not get 'real' lobster? I mean, what's the point?:o Did you find any lobster places near the Ports while on your Cruise? We plan on doing a New England/Canada Cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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