Discover the best places to eat in Midcoast Maine—from lobster shacks and seafood spots to charming bakeries, casual diners, and sweet ice cream shops. Coastal Maine is one of the most beautiful spots in the United States, with a thriving food scene to match. Explore where to eat along the midcoast of Maine with this trusted local dining guide. (Updated August 2025)
Guide: Where to Eat in Midcoast Maine: Best Restaurants, Lobster Shacks, Bakeries & Cafes (2025 Edition)
Coastal Maine is one of the most beautiful stretches in the United States, with food to match. Some of the best restaurants in Maine are also the best in the country.
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After years of exploring and eating my way from Biddeford to Rockland (and a few favorite detours), I’ve put together this trusted local guide to where to eat in Midcoast Maine in 2025. Every spot here has been personally visited, tasted, and approved, whether you’re planning a summer road trip or an off-season escape.
Along Route 1 and beyond, you’ll find timeless New England comfort foods like haddock chowder, buttery lobster rolls, and fried clams, alongside modern, seasonal menus that could hold their own in any big-city dining scene. From well-known destinations to hidden gems locals keep close, this Midcoast Maine restaurant guide has you covered.
And: Want to bring a little Maine home to your kitchen? You’ll love these recipes for New England-style fish chowder and authentic Maine crab rolls.
The view from Shaw’s in New Harbor, Maine
Best Restaurants in Southern Midcoast Maine: From Biddeford to Wiscasset
Fish & Whistle, Biddeford
Palace Diner, Biddeford
All the Portland Restaurants You Need to Know About
Portland, Maine isn’t just a great food city; it’s one of the best in the country. That’s why it deserves its own list. Follow this link to the Unpeeled Journal guide to all the best Portland restaurants, bakeries, and eateries.
Iconic Lobster Shacks and Seafood Spots Along the Midcoast
Up pretty coastal Route 1, you will find lots of charming towns, quiet and picturesque harbors, stunning ocean waves crashing against large granite rocks, and great food.
McLoon’s Lobster Shack, Thomaston
McLoon’s has been hailed as one of the top lobster shacks and lobster roll spots in Maine. Located on little Spruce Head Island, across from the area’s oldest working lobster wharf, McLoon’s makes a perfect spot to stop for lobster, as well as chowder, homemade pie, crab cakes, and other simple seafood.
The word is out on this midcoast charmer, though, which has gotten crazy popular. Though Red’s Eats in Wiscasset may boast the longest lobster roll lines in Maine, McLoon’s may be giving it a run for its money.
Pemaquid Seafood Co-Op, Bristol
Pemaquid Seafood Co-Op, located down a quiet residential street in New Harbor, offers a beautiful view of the river and harbor while serving simple seafood suppers like lobsters, clams, rolls, and fish, all served with sides like corn on the cob and slaw. The lobster rolls are particularly generous.
Red’s Eats, Wiscasset
Red’s Eats is hands-down the most famous lobster roll in all of Maine. In summer high season, lines regularly extend around the corner and down Main Street of scenic Wiscasset for the split roll stuffed with fresh lobster meat, served with mayo or butter.
Shaw’s Fish & Lobster Wharf, New Harbor
“Number 47!” “Number 82!” Having your number called over the megaphone at Shaw’s feels like winning the seafood lottery. Grab a seat on the outdoor deck overlooking one of the prettiest harbors in Maine and watch lobstermen return with their daily catch as you await your order of whole lobsters, fried seafood platters, beer, fries, and lots more. Head downstairs to pick out your exact lobster, if you’d like. The food is sometimes inconsistent — I don’t think they’ll be winning any culinary awards — but it sure is a nice view.
From Bath to Thomaston: More Midcoast Maine Favorites
The middle part of midcoast Maine is full of charming towns, restaurants, bakeries, and eateries. Here are some of the very best.
The Alna Store, Alna
The Alna Store’s rural, even somewhat remote, location hasn’t stopped it from gaining national recognition. It’s that good. It’s worth traveling a few extra miles (and making a reservation in advance) for this charming restaurant’s homey food, beautifully prepared in an open kitchen. Alna’s brunch is easily among the best in Maine, from blueberry pancakes to the eggs with creamy cacio e pepe-inspired grits. Dinner features seasonal, elegant-casual fare, often with Asian accents. Pick up some well-curated provisions from the grocery area.
The Contented Sole, New Harbor
Moody’s Diner, Waldoboro
Moody’s Diner sits along Route 1: a long, rather unattractive white building with dark green piping and a big, orange neon sign. Moody’s is the famous greasy spoon diner that feels like it’s been around forever. And it basically has (well, since 1927). The fourth-generation diner serves classic, unpretentious Maine diner fare. Get whatever chowder is on the menu, served with a fluffy biscuit. The pies are also excellent.
The Rooting Pig at Broad Arrow Farm, Bristol
Turn right near the Bristol swimmin’ hole and head up the little road to peaceful Rooting Pig, a charcuterie bar (but so much more) at Broad Arrow Farm. In addition to some of the best-prepared charcuterie, burgers, and pigs-in-blankets you have ever had, the Rooting Pig serves seasonal salads and other beautiful, seasonal food on an idyllic hill overlooking the farm, where you can visit the piglets before or after your meal. Editor’s note: The Rooting Pig is closed for the 2025 season, but anticipates reopening for Summer 2026.
Round Top Ice Cream, Damariscotta
A destination ice cream parlor with dozens of flavors and a penchant for huge scoops. The hard-working young employees will indulge sampling as many flavors as you like. I always get the vanilla milkshake, or “frappe” in local parlance, super thick and wonderfully sweet. Sundaes are also popular.
Solo Pane + Pasticceria, Bath
This all-day Italian bakery from the team behind Portland’s Solo Italiano restaurant has fast become one of the top destinations along the midcoast for artisan bread, flaky pastries, coffee, and pizza. Buttery Italian pastries (like croissants, but call them cornetti) share counter space with sandwiches, bread loaves, and thin-crust sheet pan pizzas. Things sell out, so go early to get the best selection. Oh, and the cannoli are filled to order.
Water Street Kitchen & Bar, Wiscasset
Popular Water Street Kitchen has become a standby for riverside dining along the Maine midcoast. Order a spicy blackberry margarita as you peruse the solid menu of soups, salads, pastas, mains, and house-made desserts. The pastas are consistently good, and the haddock cakes top notch. Water Street is also open for lunch.
Camden, Rockland & Rockport: Northern Midcoast Dining Highlights
The small sister towns of Rockland and Rockport have an outsized ratio of good restaurants, some of the best restaurants in Maine, in fact. Neighboring (and it must be said, more touristy) Camden has some solid restaurants as well. Here’s where to go.
18 Central, Rockport
Tiny yet increasingly trendy and upscale Rockport boasts several excellent dining spots, starting with 18 Central oyster bar and grill. Locally-sourced crudos, fresh Maine oysters, mussels, and hearty land and sea mains (scallops, hanger steak, halibut) make for an excellent meal overlooking one of the midcoast’s prettiest harbors. Reservations taken by phone.
Bleecker & Greer, Rockport
Bleecker & Greer began as a butcher shop selling Maine-raised meats and poultry, but expanded in 2019 into a beautifully-restored 19th century schoolhouse that now includes a bakery, cafe, grocery, and deli. (You can also purchase wine and beer.) Perfect for picking up picnic provisions to take to the beach, or for grabbing a midday bite.
Long Grain, Camden
Nina June, Rockport
Primo, Rockland
Didn’t make a reservation months in advance? There is also a more casual lounge for walk-ins.
Suzuki’s Sushi, Rockland
Despite being one of the country’s leading seafood producers, Maine is notoriously short on good sushi. Thankfully, Rockland, Maine boasts jewel box restaurant Suzuki’s Restaurant. Even better, the restaurant is owned and operated by a female sushi chef — a rarity. Largely self-taught Keiko Suzuki Steinberger has been twice nominated for a James Beard award. Everything is fresh, with creative touches that still hew classic.
Bonus: Where to Eat on Monhegan Island
If your trip to Maine allows, take the ferry to the charming, artist-friendly island of Monhegan. No cars allowed, just your walking shoes (or the island taxi, a tricked-out golf cart). Dip your feet in the cold Atlantic water, peek in the still-operating one-room schoolhouse, take beautiful island hikes (favorites: the #1 coastline trail and #11 Cathedral Woods trail, where you can spot — or make — fairy houses), and nourish your inner artist. In between, Monhegan offers numerous food gems to keep you filled up and happy.
The Best Monhegan Island Lunch Spots
Have lunch at the Fish House, a waterfront spot for simple seafood lunches like lobster rolls and fresh fish tacos. Hunt sea glass on the shore as you wait for your name to be called, and enjoy the view. Nearby, the charming, sky-blue Palette Crêperie crêpe cart is a popular grab-and-go option.
The Trailing Yew is another good lunch option, with baked goods and simple, well-made fare like kale and noodle salads, avocado toast on homemade sourdough, and charcuterie.
Pizza, whole pies or slices, can be found at The Novelty, behind Monhegan House, and to the left up from the church. The Novelty also sells bottles of wine. Beer and beer-friendly food can be had at Monhegan Island Brewery.
The Best Coffee and Baked Goods on Monhegan
Muffins and cookies are top bets at the Barnacle, a popular first stop after disembarking from the ferry. Tiny Monhegan boasts its own coffee roastery, housed at the Mooring Chain Café, where you can sit for a cup of fresh Monhegan Coffee Roasters coffee. For overnight guests, the nightly pop-up cake sale at the Monhegan House inn, called Nite Nite Fatty’s, is a destination-worthy treat (FYI, Friday is pie night).
Where to Eat Dinner on Monhegan Island
Monhegan sees most of its visitors for the day only, but those who stay the night are rewarded with good, hearty dinners and a quieted-down island all to themselves. The best dinners on the island are served at Monhegan House and the Island Inn. Book in advance during high season.
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What do you think are the best Maine restaurants and food spots? Let us know in the comments.
4 comments
Sharon Setz
McLoons indeed has good food… but it is EVERY BIT as busy as Reds Eats. The traffic has RUINED our coastal community. We are overwhelmed with 300-400 extra cars a day streaming into our island. Please STOP writing about it. The first summer was great and even natives could catch a meal… now we are inundated with tourist and you can’t get near the place. Every local here wishes they never opened.
Unpeeled
Hi, Sharon. I am so, so sorry to hear that this has happened. I hate to think that this great place has lost some of its magic, and also that its success has created such disturbance for the neighbors. I will add a disclaimer to the article, and thank you for letting me know. I’ll keep an extra eye out for alternate options this summer. All the best.
Les
This comment is for the chowder which is delicious and was incredibly easy to make. five stars.
J. L.
Thanks for the great recommendations!