11 Best Restaurants in Boothbay Harbor, The Mid-Coast Region

Stop in at this cute little house next to the boardwalk and order an ice-cream cone to enjoy at a nearby picnic table or as you stroll along the waterfront. You'll probably want to make it a two-scooper, so you can try at least two of the many flavors, all made right here in Boothbay Harbor. Favorites include coffee Heath bar, blueberry cheesecake, pistachio, rum raisin, and cinnamon gingersnap. You can go all in with a hot fudge sundae or a banana split, too.

The namesake of this shack first got the idea to set up shop when her father posed the simple question: “Where can you buy a quick lobster roll in Boothbay Harbor?” Unable to answer, Shannon’s Unshelled was born, and the shack is now beloved for its grilled, buttered buns stuffed with whole lobsters and served with a side of garlicky, sea-salted, drawn butter.

Located at Linekin Bay Resort, this casual, mostly outdoor restaurant offers a serene waterside setting coupled with fresh lobster rolls, haddock BLTs, mussels, crab cakes, crudo yellowfin tuna, fish tacos, and clams linguine. There are plenty of meat, gluten-free, and vegan options, too. The resort and the restaurant are only a few minutes' drive east of downtown Boothbay Harbor, but the chill atmosphere seems a million miles away. There's often live music on weekends.

Austrian-born chef-owner Karin Guerin dishes up intriguing, tapas-style small plates—from mojito ginger wings to Madagascar beef skewers—as well as full-size risotto, vegetarian, vegan, and seafood entrées. Be sure to try the fried oysters in vichyssoise sauce with flying-fish roe. On a fine summer day, the open-air rooftop and bar is a wonderful spot to dine.

This is the real deal—a working lobster wharf where fishermen unload their catch to be sold at the on-site fish market or incorporated into the lobster rolls, crab rolls, or fried seafood dishes that are served to diners on the dock and in the enclosed dining room. If you opt for the steamed lobster dinner, you get to choose your crustacean from a saltwater tank. There's live music every Friday and weekends. And if you're an oyster fan, head here for your fill of buck-a-shuck oysters Friday and Saturday evening. The view across the boat-filled harbor isn't bad, either.

Stop in here for a hot or cold coffee drink, a smoothie, or fresh juice. If you'd like to linger for a while, take your drink upstairs and settle in with your laptop.

Yachts in the marina nose right up against the outdoor dining deck, and large windows frame the harbor in the elegant indoor dining room and casual bar. Complementing the views are the exceptional sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and tacos served at lunch and the oysters, lobster, sushi, and steaks served at dinner. If it's a special occasion, go for the ultimate surf-and-turf meal: a 10-ounce Wagyu strip steak with butter-poached lobster.

Just up the hill from the harbor, this goodie-filled shop is the ideal place to pick up picnic supplies. Large, made-to-order sandwiches (the chicken salad with apples and cranberries is divine) come on a choice of freshly baked breads, including sourdough, anadama, and three-Italian cheese. What's more, every sandwich is accompanied by a pickle—and a chocolate! The shop stocks a great selection of cheeses and wines, and there are plenty of baked treats for dessert, too. A daily menu of prepared entrées and soups would also be perfect for supper at your cottage.

You just might want to eat dessert first when you spy the display case of cheesecakes, mousses, and profiteroles. But there are lots of savory temptations, too, including a large selection of sushi, tacos (lobster, shrimp, octopus, or haddock), and land and sea dinner entrées. There's no outdoor dining, but the outer dining room has windows overlooking the harbor.

Tucked above a shop in downtown Boothbay Harbor, this smart-casual restaurant combines attentive service with well-prepared, traditional Italian cuisine. Choose from antipasti, salads, and house-made pastas, as well as such secondi as osso buco and veal scallopine.

On Southport Island, across an old-fashioned swing bridge from Boothbay Harbor and overlooking the waters of Townsend Gut, this lively local favorite often has waits for its tables on summer weekends. Head inside or sit at a picnic table out on the dock, where you can watch lobstermen deliver their catch while enjoying a lunch or dinner featuring one of the well-prepared seafood dishes, many of them fried. There's live music on Friday and Saturday afternoon.