Morrison’s Lobsters

This is a no-​frill, real deal seafood place. Do not expect service or fancy table, menu is limited but lobsters are great. The seats are outsides, BYOB. CAUTION: OPENS ONLY IN SUMMER SEASON. If you are not sure, call before you go. For the second time, I tried to go in late September, I saw it was noted as «open» in Unilocal but it was closed.

The service was poor. They advertised as clams but was steamers. The steamers had a lot of sand plus some were dead and had a horrible taste! The only good thing was the lobster roll. The oysters were small not worth the price. The previous lobster house I went to went out of business. Not worth the price or quality you pay for.

Lobster, steamers, and chowder were worth the drive up from Boston! So delicious! Kind of hard to find if you’re not looking for it, because it is tucked in a neighborhood behind a house, but the food is worth the excursion.

Omg why would anyone in their right mind pay $ 17 for a stale hot bun with 2 oz of lobster mixed with costco mayonnaise and a kids sized bag of lays potato chips? Go to the nearest gas station, buy a hot dog and a bag of chips and you’ll have a better meal and will save yourself $ 15 per person at least.
We were in town visiting friends and offered to take them to dinner and they took us to this place and the experience was shocking. Like not in a good way. I’m still totally flabbergasted that our bill for the worst meal ever came out to $ 90. I saw other patrons eating puny hot dog sandwiches with chips off of paper plates so didn’t bother paying attention to prices (I was busy running around with our 10– month old) so I nearly fell over when the tab for our four shitty sandwiches and pieces of corn (no butter even) came to $ 90. And I was actively still hungry afterwards. And totally shocked. We could’ve had a really good meal for that amount of money. I’m still in shock. That was my first and last lobster roll ever.

This place was exactly how I pictured a New England seafood restaurant, right down to the lawn chairs on the pier. The lobster roll was meaty and delicious, but the top prize went to the steamers. The best I have had outside of the Manchester by the sea/​Essex/​Ipswitch area.
This shack and pier is easy to miss (it is nestled down a driveway behind a house), but is a must visit. Also, it is BYOB, so don’t forget your cooler!

Good lobster on small stale hot dog roll with a bag of chips for $ 15.99! The smallest lobster roll I have ever seen! Waitress nice but doesn’t do much including not bringing a napkin with your lobster roll. But she doesn’t have to «earn» her tip because 15% tip is included in the bill if you read the small sandwich board on the table, she did NOT point it out on the check or verbally. Disappointing to say the least considering I’m in Maine and can get a much better and less expensive lobster roll in upstate NY with a beautiful setting on a lake!
And to use the restroom you have to walk through the «kitchen»!

Despite the quaint and charming setting of tables on a wharf with live lobster tanks, my suggestion is to walk away — wait — run away. The lobster bisque had no lobster or lobster flavor and was remarkably similar to Campbell’s tomato soup. The very expensive lobster rolls ($ 15.99) were anything from impressive in size. Served in a stale hot dog bun instead of a properly grilled with butter bun, they were also disappointing in taste — resembling old lobster, not the fresh and tasty rolls we were craving. No tap water, just over priced plastic water. Store made sides. Then, the audacity to automatically add 15% for a lunch experience I would like soon to forget.

Had a $ 5 lobster roll and calamari. Red prepared the calamari and it melted in your mouth. I’ve also never had a lobster roll that cheap that tasted that good! Would definitely go back!

Hostess was rude, waitress was nice. They were all disorganized. Extremely disappointed in my $ 15 take-​out lobster roll, pretty skimpy though the meat was fresh, an untoasted bun. It’s the grilled bun that really makes a lobster roll, IMO. Clam chowder had lots of fresh clams but had an off taste like it might have been made with sour milk.

FRESH, FRESH, FRESH. The best steamed lobster you will ever try. My family and I sat outside for lunch. All I have to say is you have to try it for yourself

Maine Lobster. In Maine.
That pretty much sums up Morrison’s lobsters. It’s really just a dock that juts out into the river. You get patio furniture, disposable plates, and scrumptious red delights pulled out of the Atlantic Ocean. There’s fishermen working at the dock next door, and really nothing else other than lobster and chowder or lobster bisque. But its good food.
Really though, if it were bad, they must be doing something seriously wrong. The lobster’s fresh and local, and that’s all it really is.
We had a lobster roll since that’s a far more convenient way to eat. It was great! It was kind of pricey, but hey, it’s lobster!

Don’t bother, poor service, over priced for what they offered. Paid $ 75 for two 1 ½ pound lobsters and a lobster roll with two cokes. I quess they know their service is lousy because they automaticly add 15% gratuity. I love a quaint road side restaurant, but you get No Frills and pay full service restaurant prices. Would NEVER go back.

HORRIBLE! Waitress was full of attitude, food was below average, and they include 15−20% tip with your order! Oh! Don’t forget about $ 3.50 set up charge for anything you steam. Will not be coming back. Just wanted to warn my Unilocalers because I’ve always had good experience thanks to them. 2 stars because of average steamers.

Want the authentic Maine lobster foodie experience? Then Morrison’s Lobster is THE place to go! Since finding this gem I have returned too many times over the last six years and have never been disappointed. If you’re expecting to be rushed through your meal by an owner looking for table-​turns this is not the place. Morrison’s is more like eating at home — if you had a deck on the Piscataqua River with an exceptional view of the Portsmouth cityscape! The is lobster-​in-​the-​rough at its best. Steamers, lobsters — whether whole or in rolls are what one expects when in Maine, corn on the cob served only if equally fresh and tasty.
On Badger Island, alongside the new Memorial Bridge, consistently excellent is the best way to describe the Morrison’s experience — outstanding food, equally pleasant service, spectacular views. The only negative, their 2013 season ends Labor Day weekend.

Casual atmosphere by the water. Menu is simple. The lobsters and clams were great and they ask that you separate your garbage and shells because they throw the shells back into the water. The soups are average. They charge a set-​up fee so keep that in mind. It didn’t blow my mind and the prices were not exceptionally cheap for Maine. Overall an average shack with a great location.

I am kind of unsure how to review a place like this, dropping a lobster into a pot is not exactly the hardest task. They do have a nice location for enjoying that lobster though, and they also have a nice setup so you know all of the food is fresh. The prices seem reasonable, but we still had a little bill shock at the end of the day, seafood adds up fast. We ordered a chowder too which we thought was good, but they admit they buy that stuff from the store and just reheat it. Overall I think this is a nice place to sit on the bay and eat some seafood, but don’t expect much more.

We love this kind of place. Very simple food (and delicious), BYOB, inexpensive, and a GREAT location. We sat eating lobster and steamers right on the river on a beautiful day — what more could you want. This was the last lobster we had on our trip and it was exactly the place we had been searching for — perfect ending.

I went back to Morrison’s for the first time this year. Service seemed better than I remember last year, but it’s still really laid back. If you’re not eating lobster or drinking soda, bring it. There’s parking, but it’s walking distance to Portsmouth and if want to check out the city, park in Portsmouth and walk over the bridge to Morrison’s.
It’s pricey, but a bit cheaper than Chauncey Creek or the Blue Claw. And the tip is included so remember that when you’re thinking about how much to tip.
Quick update (4÷21÷12): You can only walk to Morrison’s from Portsmouth when the bridge is there. In 2012 and probably much of 2013, they’re replacing the bridge so you can’t walk there from Portsmouth.

I finally made it to Morrison’s Lobsters!
It is more or less a small shack on the water with a big dock out on the water (see pics).
I agree with Don that the service is spotty. The owner woman is nice and all but it appears to be a 1 – 2 person run operation.
The menu is small. Very small.
–Lobsters, steamed.
–Lobster Roll w/​Chips ($ 13)
–Clam Chowder (Small $ 4.95 lg $ 6.95)
–Lobster Bisque
–Steamers
Sides are potato salad or slaw. That’s it. I did not see any bowwows on the menu.
I thought it was pretty pricey. We had 1 lobster roll and 2 chowders & 1 bottle water for $ 31.
Tax & tip are included in the price.
The setting on the water is just lovely.
PS As Don suggested, we parked in Portsmouth and walked over the bridge which was fun. We even got to see it go up and let the large boats pass. Cool!

Morrison’s Lobsters is a hidden gem tucked away on Badgers Island, which has outside seating out on a wooden deck along the banks of the Piscataqua River with great views of the Portsmouth skyline and the bridges. I was here for an UYE (Unofficial Unilocal Event), organized by Don W., which took place on a very hot sunny Sunday afternoon with the nice warm breeze from the water softly blowing at us. Ditto to Don W. and Rebecca O.‘s reviews.
The menu is simple, which offers lobsters, lobster rolls, hot dogs, chips, potato salad, cole slaw, lobster bisque, clam chowder, canned soda, and bottled water. Since no alcohol is served here, it’s BYOB! The waitress came outside to take our orders. I started out with a cup of half & half lobster bisque & clam chowder ($ 4.50) mixed together, which passed the «spoon test» and tasted decent. However, I’d get the lobster bisque by itself next time.
Most of my party ordered Lobsters (Market Price plus $ 3 steam and setup charge per person eating lobster) and no cheesy looking «plastic bibs» were provided like at many touristy establishments. I had a Lobster Roll with Cape Cod chips ($ 12), and a side of potato salad ($ 1), which was very good and tasty. I finished my can of Diet Coke and needed another one, but the waitress was nowhere around. Don W. graciously grabbed more melted butter for the lobster and another Diet Coke for me using an «honor system», later adding $ 1.50 to the check.
After we were finished with the meal, the waitress brought out the damages (check) and quickly left. Tax and 15 percent tip are included in the check, parties of 6 or more 20 percent tip included.
We tallied up the check plus additional tip and left the money on the counter since no one was around. The waitress came outside as we were leaving to say goodbye and retrieved the money on the counter.
Overall, I like this place since it’s not mobbed and I can enjoy my food in a relaxed and laid back setting and take in the great views of the Piscataqua River and the Portsmouth skyline.