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58 best seafood shacks in New England, according to readers
We asked readers to name their favorite no-frills seafood shacks across New England — from lobster rolls on the coast to fried clams at small-town gems.
Fact: You haven’t really cherished a quintessential New England summer if it didn’t include a pit stop at a clam (or lobster, or seafood) shack — or even a road trip that explores a few shacks.
Sure, there will probably be a wait that involves a line that stretches outdoors, but that’s really the only con.
Consider the pros: You’ve arrived with saltwater in your hair after a day at the beach. Seagulls are calling out above. If you’re at a shack near the water, then there’s the sights and sounds of a delightful beach day in the background. And lastly, the line ends with you grabbing a paper box full of piping hot, golden fried seafood to snack on at an outside bench.
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It isn’t just the seafood, but the feel of a favorite no-frills shack that makes it a crucial part of a New England summer.
We asked readers to share their favorites and set some ground rules for what counted as a seafood shack.
It can have oceanfront property or sit off of Main Street. If it’s bigger and does have outdoor seating, that’s fine, too. But we were looking for mostly counter-service operations that serve fried seafood (clams, scallops, oysters), chowder, lobster, and maybe even whoopie pie.
Most of the 85 readers who shared their favorite seafood shacks followed the rules (thank you!), though quite a few casual restaurants made the cut. Since you can never have too few options when considering where to eat fried clams and other seafood, we kept them anyway.
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The list and map include 58 clam shacks — and not-really-clam-shacks-but-still-seafood restaurants — that go from Maine to Connecticut. Let the summer feasting begin.
Jump to: Connecticut | Maine | Massachusetts | New Hampshire | Rhode Island
Map: New England’s best seafood shacks 📍
Select a location and see what readers had to say about their favorite shack.
Full list: New England’s best seafood shacks 🦞
Connecticut
- Abbott’s – Noank, CT
- Captain Scotts – New London, CT
- Hank’s Dairy Bar – Plainfield, CT
- Lobster Landing – Clinton, CT
Maine
- Archie’s Lobster – Bass Harbor, ME
- Bagaduce Lunch – Penobscot, ME
- Billy’s Chowder House – Wells, ME
- Days – Yarmouth, ME
- Five Islands Lobster Company – Georgetown, ME
- Hodgdon Seafood – Seal Cove, ME
- Lobster Shack at Two Lights – Cape Elizabeth, ME
- Lunch On The Wharf – Corea, ME
- Mac’s Downeast Seafood – Auburn, ME
- McLoons Lobster Shack – Spruce Head Island, ME
- Red’s Eats – Wiscasset, ME
- Shannon’s Unshelled – Boothbay Harbor, ME
- South Bristol Fisherman’s Coop – South Bristol, ME
- The Clam Shack – Kennebunkport, ME
- The Gateway Lunts Lobster Pound – Trenton, ME
Massachusetts
- Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar – Eastham, MA
- Baxter’s – Hyannis, MA
- Bearskin Neck Bistro – Rockport, MA
- Belle Isle Seafood – Winthrop, MA
- Captain Frosty’s – Dennis, MA
- Chatham Fish Market – Chatham, MA
- Clam Box – Ipswich, MA
- Courthouse Seafood – East Cambridge, MA
- Essex Seafood – Essex, MA
- Green Harbor Lobster Pound – Marshfield, MA
- J. T. Farnhams – Essex, MA
- Joe’s On A Roll – Beverly, MA
- Kelly’s Roast Beef – Revere, MA (multiple locations)
- Kool Kone – Wareham, MA
- Kream ‘N Kone Restaurant – West Dennis, MA
- Lobster Pool – Rockport, MA
- Lobster Shanty – Salem, MA
- Mac’s Shack – Wellfleet, MA
- Moby Dick’s – Wellfleet, MA
- Raw Bar – Mashpee, MA
- Roht Marine – Marshfield, MA
- Ronnie’s – Charlton, MA
- Seafood Sam’s – Sandwich, MA
- Seafood Shanty – Bourne, MA
- Sesuit Harbor Cafe – Dennis, MA
- The Causeway – Gloucester, MA
- The Clam Box – Quincy, MA
- The Knack – Orleans, MA
- The Net Result – Vineyard Haven, MA
- Woodman’s – Essex, MA
- Woods Seafood – Plymouth, MA
- Yankee Lobster – Boston, MA
- Young’s Fish Market – Orleans, MA
New Hampshire
- BG’s Boathouse – Portsmouth, NH
- Ceal’s Clam Shack – Seabrook, NH
- Petey’s – Portsmouth, NH
- State Street Saloon – Portsmouth, NH
Rhode Island
- Dune Brothers – Providence, RI
- Monahan’s Clam Shack – Narragansett, RI
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