Maine Eats · region guide · checked October 2026
Greater Portland & Casco Bay: lobster shacks & dairy bars
10 lobster shacks and roll stops, 10 dairy bars and 6 red snapper and Italian stops in Maine's Greater Portland & Casco Bay region, each checked in business in October 2026 against a 2025 or 2026 source, plus the 1,120 restaurants in the app's directory here.
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About this region
The Greater Portland & Casco Bay region is Cumberland County. Of the 1,120 places to eat and drink the app knows here, the most are in Portland, South Portland and Brunswick. Our hand-checked lists have 44 places here; the towns with the most are Portland (23), South Portland (6) and Scarborough (4). The most common kinds of place are Bar & Pub (211), Coffee & Café (141) and Bakery & Sweets (117). The longest at the same address is Black Point Inn in Prouts Neck (Scarborough), there since 1878.
How we draw it: the Maine Office of Tourism's Greater Portland & Casco Bay region, on county lines. Counties: Cumberland. A place is in it when its town is in one of those counties. Town pages here: Portland, South Portland, Brunswick, Scarborough, Westbrook, Cape Elizabeth, Freeport.
Where to eat in the Greater Portland & Casco Bay region
The 12 towns here with the most places to eat and drink by the app's count; each link opens the web search for that town alone.
Lobster shacks & rolls in the Greater Portland & Casco Bay region
10 places, by town. The statewide guide has 37.
Bite Into Maine
1000 Shore Rd, Cape Elizabeth
Lobster rollSeasonal Known for: lobster roll · Season: April to early November · At this address since 2011
Lobster roll food truck in Fort Williams Park by Portland Head Light, window service only; the business also runs shops in Portland and Scarborough.
The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
225 Two Lights Rd, Cape Elizabeth
Lobster shackLobster rollClam shackSeasonal Known for: lobster dinner; lobster roll; fried clams; clam cakes; clam chowder; lobster stew · Season: April 4 to October 25 (2026 season)
Seasonal lobster shack at the end of Two Lights Road with picnic tables on the rocks below the lighthouse; lobster dinners, rolls, fried clams and clam cakes.
Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster
36 Main St, South Freeport (Freeport)
Lobster shackLobster rollWhoopie piesSeasonal Known for: lobster roll; cooked lobsters; steamed clams; whoopie pie · Season: May to October (last day of the 2026 season: Columbus Day, Oct. 12) · At this address since 1970
Family-run lunch counter and lobster pound on the South Freeport working waterfront; lobster rolls, cooked lobsters and its own whoopie pies, BYOB.
Cook's Lobster & Ale House
68 Garrison Cove Rd, Bailey Island (Harpswell)
Lobster shack Known for: lobster; lobster roll; clam chowder · At this address since 1955
Waterfront lobster house on Garrison Cove next to the Cribstone Bridge, grown from a 1955 take-out stand; stays open through the winter.
Eventide Oyster Co.
86 Middle St, Portland
James Beard winnerLobster rollOyster bar Known for: oysters; brown butter lobster roll · At this address since 2012
Big Tree Hospitality's oyster bar in the Old Port, known for its raw bar and a brown-butter lobster roll.
James Beard: Best Chef: Northeast 2017 (winner): Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co.; Best Chef: Northeast 2015 (nominee): Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co.; Best Chef: Northeast 2016 (nominee): Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co.
Luke's Lobster Portland Pier
60 Portland Pier, Portland
Lobster roll Known for: lobster roll; crab roll; steamed clams
Luke's Lobster's flagship restaurant on a working pier, serving its split-top lobster rolls with views of the lobster boats.
Portland Lobster Co.
180 Commercial St, Portland
Lobster shackLobster rollSeasonal Known for: lobster roll; steamed lobster dinner; clam chowder; steamers; fried clams; crab roll · Season: seasonal; check before you go
Seasonal waterfront deck on Commercial Street with steamed lobster dinners, lobster and crab rolls, fried clams and live music.
The Highroller Lobster Co.
104 Exchange St, Portland
Lobster rollRed snappers Known for: lobster roll; lobster roll with butter or flavored mayo; 'The Red Snappah' foot-long red hot dog; corn-dog-battered red snapper
Old Port lobster roll restaurant that grew out of a 2015 food cart; rolls come with mayo variations or butter.
Bayley's Lobster Pound
9 Avenue 6, Pine Point (Scarborough)
Lobster shackLobster roll Known for: lobster roll; lobsters
Fourth-generation lobster pound and fish market on the Pine Point waterfront, with the Bait Shed restaurant on its dock; the family credits itself with some of Maine's first lobster rolls.
SoPo Seafood
171 Ocean St, South Portland
Lobster rollOyster bar Known for: raw bar; lobster roll; lobster bisque
South Portland seafood market and raw bar with a full lunch and dinner menu built on Gulf of Maine catches; Maine lobster is always on the menu.
Clam shacks in the Greater Portland & Casco Bay region
4 places, by town. The statewide guide has 11.
The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
225 Two Lights Rd, Cape Elizabeth; listed above
Clam Bar
199 West Commercial St, Portland
Clam shackSeasonal Known for: clams · Season: seasonal; check before you go · At this address since 2023
Seasonal clam shack at the west end of Commercial Street, open Thursday to Monday.
Gilbert's Chowder House
92 Commercial St, Portland
Clam shack Known for: clam chowder; clam cakes; fried haddock sandwich
Casual waterfront chowder house on Commercial Street that specializes in clam chowder, with clam cakes and fried seafood.
Ken's Place
207 Pine Point Rd, Scarborough
Clam shackSeasonal Known for: fried clams; clam strips; clam roll; clam chowder; lobster roll; fried oysters · Season: about late March to late October (2026: opened around March 20, last day October 25)
Seasonal seafood stand on the road to Pine Point Beach, serving fried clams (batter or crumbs), clam rolls and chowder since its roadside-stand start in 1927.
Red snappers & Italians in the Greater Portland & Casco Bay region
6 places, by town. The statewide guide has 11.
Amato's
71 India St, Portland
Maine Italians Known for: Maine Italian sandwich
The India Street shop of the chain that claims to have originated the Maine Italian sandwich.
Anania's
606 Washington Ave, Portland
Maine Italians Known for: Maine Italian sandwich
Washington Avenue variety store known for Maine Italians, the last Anania's still open; its former manager bought it in 2025 and kept making Italians.
Room for Improvement
41 Wharf St, Portland
Red snappers Known for: red snapper hot dogs
Old Port bar whose 'Snappy Hour' puts its red snapper dogs (classic, kraut and cheese) at half price Sunday to Thursday evenings.
The Highroller Lobster Co.
104 Exchange St, Portland; listed above
The Thirsty Pig
37 Exchange St, Portland
Red snappers Known for: red snapper hot dog; build-your-own hot dogs
Old Port hot dog bar where you pick a dog, including a 9-inch red snapper, and a topping style.
DiPietro's Market
385 Cottage Rd, South Portland
Maine Italians Known for: Maine Italian sandwich; pizza
Family Italian market and deli on Cottage Road that makes Maine Italians and ready-to-go meals.
Whoopie pies & donuts in the Greater Portland & Casco Bay region
6 places, by town. The statewide guide has 16.
Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster
36 Main St, South Freeport (Freeport); listed above
The Holy Donut
177 Commercial St, Portland
Potato donuts Known for: Maine potato doughnuts · A branch of The Holy Donut, Portland (194 Park Ave)
Old Port waterfront shop of the Maine potato doughnut bakery.
The Holy Donut
194 Park Ave, Portland
Potato donuts Known for: Maine potato doughnuts; maple bacon doughnut
Park Avenue shop of the Portland bakery that makes its doughnuts with Maine potatoes.
Two Fat Cats Bakery
195 Lancaster St, Portland
Whoopie pies Known for: whoopie pies; pies
Portland bakery known for whoopie pies (it runs a whoopie-pie-of-the-month club) and fruit pies.
The Holy Donut
398 Route 1, Scarborough
Potato donuts Known for: Maine potato doughnuts · A branch of The Holy Donut, Portland (194 Park Ave)
Route 1 shop of the Portland potato doughnut bakery.
Cape Whoopies
185 Cottage Rd, South Portland
Whoopie pies Known for: gourmet whoopie pies made with butter; seasonal whoopie pie assortments
South Portland whoopie pie bakery, launched through the Fork Food Lab incubator, making butter-based gourmet whoopie pies in rotating flavors; it invites visitors to the bakery and ships nationwide.
Diners in the Greater Portland & Casco Bay region
4 places, by town. The statewide guide has 13.
Becky's Diner
390 Commercial St, Portland
Diner Known for: blueberry pancakes; corned beef hash; fried clams; lobster roll · At this address since 1991
Working-waterfront diner on Commercial Street open from 5 a.m., with all-day breakfast and seafood plates.
Miss Portland Diner
140 Marginal Way, Portland
Diner Known for: blueberry pancakes; sausage gravy biscuits; omelets · At this address since 2008
Restored 1949 Worcester lunch car with a dining room annex, serving breakfast and lunch.
The Porthole
20 Custom House Wharf, Portland
Diner Known for: Twin Lobster Dinner; breakfast
Diner-style restaurant on Custom House Wharf, serving breakfast and Casco Bay seafood; it came through the December 2025 wharf fire across the way.
Q Street Diner
9 Q St, South Portland
Diner Known for: eggs; pancakes
Neighborhood breakfast-and-lunch diner in South Portland, open Wednesday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Oyster bars in the Greater Portland & Casco Bay region
3 places, by town. The statewide guide has 10.
Eventide Oyster Co.
86 Middle St, Portland; listed above
J's Oyster
5 Portland Pier, Portland
Oyster bar Known for: oysters; lobster roll
Long-running waterfront raw bar on Portland Pier, first come first served, known for oysters and lobster rolls.
SoPo Seafood
171 Ocean St, South Portland; listed above
Dairy bars in the Greater Portland & Casco Bay region
10 places, by town. The statewide guide has 54.
Kettle Cove Creamery & Shack
2 Bowery Beach Rd, Cape Elizabeth
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: homemade hard ice cream; soft serve · Season: from about May
Seasonal Cape Elizabeth ice cream stand with more than 30 homemade hard-serve flavors plus soft serve.
Raymond's Frozen Custard
857 Roosevelt Trail, Casco
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: frozen custard; lobster roll; fried clams · Season: from late April
Frozen custard stand on Route 302 with a painted school bus for seating; also burgers, lobster rolls and fried clams.
Beals Old Fashioned Ice Cream
585 Main St, Gorham
Dairy bar Known for: homemade ice cream; teaberry ice cream
Original Gorham store of Beals, making about 100 old-fashioned ice cream recipes in small batches; also scoops in Portland.
B & R Dairy Bar
19 Portland Rd, Gray
Dairy bar Known for: homemade ice cream; soft serve
Gray dairy bar with about 30 homemade ice cream flavors plus soft serve.
Bresca & the Honey Bee
106 Outlet Rd, Sabbathday Lake (New Gloucester)
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: small-batch ice cream; sorbet · Season: opens Memorial Day weekend
Lakeside ice cream shack at Outlet Beach on Sabbathday Lake with small-batch, scratch-made flavors.
Toots Ice Cream
137 Walnut Hill Rd, North Yarmouth
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: homemade ice cream; goat-milk gelato · Season: seasonal; check before you go · At this address since 1998
Seasonal ice cream stand in a renovated rail car at Walnut Hill, making its own ice cream.
Lib's Dairy Treats
32 Auburn St, Portland
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: soft serve; Gifford's hard ice cream; sundaes; shakes · Season: early March into the fall (opened March 7 in 2026)
North Deering soft-serve and Gifford's ice cream stand that opens each March.
Red's Dairy Freeze
167 Cottage Rd, South Portland
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: soft serve; Boston sundae; Nor'easter · Season: early March to the end of the season
Seasonal soft-serve stand in South Portland's east end whose March opening is a local sign of spring.
Willard Scoops
429 Preble St, South Portland
Dairy bar Known for: homemade ice cream
South Portland ice cream shop with about 20 gourmet flavors.
Ice Cream Dugout
3 Storm Dr, North Windham (Windham)
Dairy barSeasonal Known for: Shaker Pond ice cream; baseball-themed sundaes · Season: Red Sox opening day to the end of the regular season
Baseball-themed outdoor ice cream stand off Route 302 in North Windham with 40-plus Shaker Pond flavors.
Icons and old favorites
Hand-checked places here that aren't in the guides above: James Beard honorees, long-running places, inns and bakeries.
Fore Street
288 Fore St, Portland
James Beard winner Known for: wood oven roasted mussels; turnspit roasted pork loin; Maine oysters · At this address since 1996
Wood-fired Old Port restaurant (brick hearth with oven, grill and turnspit) opened in 1996 by Dana Street and chef Sam Hayward; the menu changes daily.
James Beard: Best Chef: Northeast 2004 (winner): Sam Hayward, Fore Street; Outstanding Restaurateur 2026 (winner): Dana Street, for Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co. and others; Best Chef: Northeast 2002 (nominee): Sam Hayward, Fore Street; Best Chef: Northeast 2003 (nominee): Sam Hayward, Fore Street; Outstanding Restaurant 2009 (nominee): Fore Street
Norimoto Bakery
469 Stevens Ave, Portland
James Beard winner At this address since 2021
Atsuko Fujimoto's bakery on Stevens Avenue, walk-ins only.
James Beard: Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker 2024 (winner): Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery; Outstanding Baker 2022 (nominee): Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery
Scales
68 Commercial St, Portland
James Beard winner At this address since 2016
Dana Street's restaurant on Maine Wharf off Commercial Street, serving dinner nightly; sister to Fore Street and Street & Co.
James Beard: Outstanding Restaurateur 2026 (winner): Dana Street, for Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co. and others
Standard Baking Co.
75 Commercial St, Portland
James Beard winner Known for: baguette; croissant; morning bun
Dana Street's bakery, in the same building as Fore Street, baking breads and pastries daily.
James Beard: Outstanding Restaurateur 2026 (winner): Dana Street, for Fore Street, Scales, Standard Baking Co. and others; Outstanding Baker 2018 (nominee): Alison Pray, Standard Baking Co.
Zu Bakery
81 Clark St, Portland
James Beard winner Known for: croissants; sourdough bread; baguettes; focaccia · At this address since 2022
Barak Olins's small West End bakery, baking through the day with grain milled in house.
James Beard: Outstanding Bakery 2024 (winner): ZU Bakery
Black Point Inn
510 Black Point Rd, Prouts Neck (Scarborough)
Seasonal Season: dining May through October · At this address since 1878
Classic 1878 beachfront hotel on Prouts Neck; its Chart Room serves breakfast, lunch and dinner on the porch over Saco Bay in season.