Red’s Eats

You cannot find a better lobster roll in New England. Often long lines but waits are minimized by efficient order-​taking and food preparation.

While vacationing from Minnesota, we found Red’s Eats. Standing in a line that was going to be at least 30 minutes long, we pondered going elsewhere. That woulda been a big mistake.
The lobster rolls were the best we had during our week in Maine, but even more incredible, were their scallops. I’ve never had such tender and huge scallops.
We couldn’t stop ourselves from doubling back at the end of the week, going out of our way to eat there a second time.
Bravo Red’s!

Well worth the wait! I was raised in wiscasset and remember Reds Eats when it was just a hot dog stand. Oh my how you have grown! Debbie and Cindy are truly amazing owners. The menu items are perfect every time I order… I honestly can’t weigh in on the lobster roll debate (I’m a vegetarian), however anyone who’s ordered it with me has been exceptionally impressed.
Reds sits overlooking the sheepscot bay. A wonderful view to enjoy your meal. The always spotless area of the out door space should be mentioned. It’s nice to see an establishment that really cares about the appearance, quality of food, and of course their customers.
Nothing is more «Maine» than Red’s!
I highly suggest you stop in and check them out!
Tip: Evening hours equal less lines so check them out then if your trying to avoid the rush!

This REALLY is the BEST lobster roll I’ve ever had. Be prepared for a long line, but trust that it will be worth it. The lobster rolls are massive, with at least a pound of lobster added to each. Can’t go to Maine without hitting up this spot.
This place is CASH ONLY, but they do have an ATM right around the corner.

This is our second consecutive year traveling up the coast of Maine single handily reducing the lobster population one day at a time. We visited Red’s Eats last year and there was no way we would not visit again on this trip, plus just after eating at Shannon’s it was a perfect time to do a test taste. Both places were perfect for a lobster roll. Red’s roll was $ 19.95 and has so much lobster you have to eat some off the top before eating the roll. No doubt they do lobster rolls better than almost anyone in Maine. Shannon’s roll was just as good and was $ 2 less, but had less lobster than Red’s.

They have absolutely every right to claim having The Worlds Best Lobster Roll! This quaint little shack in beautiful Wiscasset, Maine is as picturesque as you see in the movies. We actually took a two hour detour to head on out to this tiny little town in order to partake in above mentioned lobster roll. Luckily for us we had no wait when we visited at 4pm on a Thursday afternoon however, I would’ve happily waited the hour that most people have mentioned in previous reviews. Not only was this by far this best lobster roll we’ve had on our New England adventures, it was the largest, freshest, and most plentiful. At only $ 22, it was worth every dime. In fact I would’ve happily paid more.
Not only was the food amazing the service was just as incredible. I believe one of the lovely Gagnon family members was behind the counter and she couldn’t have been more friendly and appreciative of how far we had come to visit her little shack.
A+++ for the lobster roll and an equal rating for the service!

Since it’s Autumn, most of the Red Eat’s menu items were «out for the season» when I approached the window to order. They supposedly close for the winter. Although it was cold out, the line was wrapped around the red little shack. The wait was long because they only have one window, in which people walk up to order, then re-​approach the same window to pick-​up their food when their number is called. This is possibly why the wait is long.
I wanted to try the fried clams & crab cakes, but they were out. I opted for their famous lobster roll & a side of French fries. The lobster roll was $ 22.50 since the market price was raised. The fries and lobster roll together was $ 27.58.
It was quickly ready, so I walked to the back patio to pick a seat.
There was a lot of lobster on the roll, yes. The lobster was cold, and from my understanding… Thats actually called a «lobster salad roll» that originated in New England. In my personal opinion, the lobster would’ve tasted much better warm.
The drawn butter is made local, and it’s contained in a cup on the side. The French fries complemented it well, and the toasted and buttered roll for the lobster sandwich gave it a much better flavor and texture.
Lady at the counter was efficient and kind.

The line was around the corner and down the street; so, of course, we HAD to stop! Hands down, this is the BEST lobster roll I have EVER had. We watched these gigantic rolls coming out of the kitchen and wisely decided to split a roll and an order of sweet potato fries with a side of blue cheese dip. The lobster roll was piled high with fresh, warm, succulent lobster and served with fresh melted butter from a local dairy. The fries were perfectly crispy and the dip was tangy and blue-cheesy…the perfect complement.
I can’t say enough about Red’s…yes, I’m sure you can get cheaper rolls elsewhere, but if a lobster roll is what you crave, you won’t get better. Red’s Eats is perfection on a bun.
P. s. We couldn’t say no to homemade whoopie pies, and, thankfully, we didn’t! This much moist, creamy, chocolaty goodness HAS to be tried to be believed!
P. s.s. As I write this, we are in Portland, Maine, 45 miles from Red’s, and we are planning to drive back tomorrow because we are only in Maine three more days and I absolutely LOVE Red’s!

This place is known for its line, so we got there about 10 minutes before 11AM and were second in line. By the time they opened at 11:40AM the line was stretched around the corner and almost down the bridge. Even once we ordered, the wait for the food wasn’t short, but at least we know they make it fresh.
We ordered onion rings, fried scallops, and a lobster roll. The fried things here are battered in a heavier batter than I typically like and it doesn’t result in a light, crisp fry. It ended up being heavier and more dense. I liked the scallops (once I removed about half the batter) and the lobster roll was pretty darn good. The portion of lobster was generous and tasted very fresh, but the bread from the Clam Shack in Kennebunk was better than the bread at Red’s Eats.
There is plenty of seating in the back patio and two tables in front of the shack. Even though it’s slow going, the staff is really friendly and they make cute announcements over the speaker. I would come back here because the food was good and it was a fun experience. But next time I wouldn’t get the onion rings because I don’t like how heavy the batter is.

While some may be upset by a $ 20 lobster roll we were more than happy to pay. There is more than an entire lobsters worth of meat in each roll and let’s face it, if you go to a fancy seafood place you are going to pay more for a lobster still in the shell!
Reds serves their lobster rolls with just a kiss of mayo and then a side of butter so you can dip some of the meat. Since the roll is way to big to eat by picking it up this is a great idea!
We will definitely be back next year!

We ordered lobster rolls, fish and chips, and a whoopie pie.
The lobster rolls came with very generous portions; the fish and chips were very fresh and also came with generous portions, and the whoopie pie tasted home made.
I highly recommend for anybody who is travelling around the area to stop by this place.

Another lobster adventure FOR SOMEONE ELSE!
With a shellfish allergy I tackled the «the boss burger». This was a juicy tender burger topped with a large onion ring, blue cheese dressing, large tomato and lettuce. The combination blended well, and the juice from the burger patty dripped on the wax paper throughout the meal.
Someone else enjoyed her lobster roll and proclaimed this was the best EVER!
I wouldn’t know. The last time I ate lobster, I had allergic reactions for a six weeks.
Be adventurous and try the whole menu!
I would return despite the hour wait

Lobster is my favorite food that it is a wonder how I ended up marrying someone with shellfish allergies. Maine has been on the top of my list of states I have yet to visit so when said hubby said he was being sent to NH for work, I jumped at the chance to tag along for the price of airfare and food.
Although we only had enough time for a day trip to Maine, I definitely wanted to make the most of every minute and immediately started planning my trip around food. I am not self proclaimed «Will Travel For Food» Unilocaler for nothing. Originally planning on grabbing a lobster roll in Portland, I was sold when both my cousin from Boston and my Maine loving friend recommended it and who can resist the «Best Lobster Roll in Maine». With over a whole lobster in each roll, it really does live up to the hype. Yes, a full lobster in the roll as it was flanked with ½ a tail on both ends of the roll. You have a choice to have it with butter or with mayo. I always like it with butter as it brings out the sweetness in the meat but I recommend dipping the meat in the warm butter and then putting back in roll for a bite vs pouring it on as the butter solidifies too quickly as it hits the cool lobster meat.
We arrived 10 min after they opened hoping that we would have the same luck as we did the day before at Clam Box. Nope, still an hour wait but worth every minute. For those who have shellfish allergies, there is a good option for you too. The Boss Burger or any burger for that matter with beef ground daily by a local market in nearby Damascott so fresh that some compare it to filet mignon on a bun. Final verdict, juicy, flavorful, and disappeared faster than me and my lobster roll

All lobster fans must visit Red’s at some point in their lifetime. I feel so lucky to have experienced Red’s not only once, but twice this summer. My visit in late May was actually the very first time I have ever passed through Wiscasset and saw a reasonably short line in front of the little corner shack. I quickly pulled over to park and take advantage of the short wait. I was absolutely amazed by my very first Red’s lobster roll. It is certainly more than one whole lobster piled on and I couldn’t even see the bread hiding underneath. The lobster meat is so fresh, tender, and delicious. Choose from butter or mayo on the side.
Today we arrived just as the line was forming at 11:30 am. It was really hot today and we practically melted in the line. The line does tend to move rather slowly, but trust me it’s worth the wait. Red’s has only one window that serves both orders and pickup. It may seem a rather inadequate system to serve the immense crowds, but I think it is just another part of Red’s unique charm and character.
Yes, they do offer other choices besides lobster and have a rather large menu including burgers, fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc. I am not sure if these items are worth the long line, but the lobster roll certainly is. There is outdoor seating available on the porch out back with a view overlooking the beautiful Sheepscot River. A few tables can be found down close to the bank of the river too.
Everything you have heard about Red’s is true and you must give it a try — Just be prepared for the long wait.

I started my journey in Maine for a camping trip at Baxter state park. On the way home to NY my Son and I were craving lobster. We searched the Internet for the best lobster roll in Maine and the article we chose listed Red’s Eats as #1. Boy were they right on the money. The line might be long but it is well worth the wait. The lobster was amazing and the portion was bigger than I have ever seen at a lobster restaurant. The staff really knows what they are doing and they have a great place. We will be back each year!

Went to Red’s on a rainy day but toughed it out since we really wanted to try what everyone has been talking about. We were in line for about an hour and the workers were very nice to offer their umbrellas to us. Once ordered, we received our food within 5 minutes. We got two lobster rolls and an order of onion rings.
These lobster rolls are huge. I had to eat about half the lobster meat before I could even see the roll. My thoughts were that the lobster meat was a bit more chewy than I would have liked. It was also kind of damp and pretty bland. The bread itself was good, it tasted buttery. Onion rings were not that good. Overall, I did not think it was worth waiting in line for an hour while it was raining a bit. I think people like it a lot because it’s huge, but it’s just lacking the flavor that I was looking for.

We got to Red’s around 11:15 on a Wednesday morning and ended having to wait about an hour in line. We placed our order of 1 lobster roll and a half pint of fried clams. Waited about 5 minutes for our food and were done eating by 12:30.
We punished our food. The lobster roll was so good. It’s a whole lobster stuffed into a buttery toasted hotdog bun and it is so good. The meat is chilled and it’s piled up and practically falling everywhere. It’s more like a cup of lobster meat with a toast side because you really don’t get much bread which I really liked. It comes with either mayo or butter. We got the butter but I don’t think it really needs anything. Maybe some old bay but that’s the Maryland girl in me talking.
The fried clams were awesome. Huge, meaty, delicious. Came with house tartar or cocktail. I got both and both were so good.
Worth the wait in line. Def stop by here if you’re in town or on the way to Acadia national Park like we were.

Stumbled upon this on our way back from lighthouses. Claimed to be the best lobster roll in Maine so it was a given that we had to try this.
The size of lobster on the roll would practically make it the best roll in Maine, but it doesn’t just stop at the size. The quality of lobster is amazing as well as the homemade butter you get on the side. The lobster is fresh, huge and the roll’s just right. The lobster takes over the dish as opposed to an overwhelming taste of bread and butter.
Can’t wait to come back to Maine and eat it again.

I’ve known about this place for years. Living in Maine, how could you not? It is regularly written up in nationally recognized publications as having the best Maine Lobster Roll. As I was taking a staycation this week, I thought what better time to take a ride up the coast and see what all the fuss was about.
First, the location is unique. It’s a small roadside stand right on the corner of Route 1. There is a small seating area behind the stand and some additional picnic tables across the road along the water.
The place is busy. We were there on a Tuesday in late May, before peak season. Arriving 10 minutes before opening and we were still about 4−5^th in line. Rumor has it the wait can be more than an hour in the summer. Crazy, right? But, the staff was in good spirits and very sweet!
Now, to be honest, lobster rolls are not my thing. I like my lobster hot. But, when in Rome, right? So, I ordered one and wow, it lived up to its reputation! While I don’t get lobster rolls, I’m often with people who do and just from a visible comparison, the quantity of meat on this roll was well above most I’ve seen. And, really, that’s what it’s about with this meal. It’s just that — cold fresh picked lobster piled high on a perfectly toasted split top hot dog roll. You can have your choice of hot drawn butter or mayo on the side. Simple as that! Price varies depending on the market, but the quantity of lobster on this roll is worth it — at the very least because you don’t have to get it out of the shell yourself!

Incredibly pleased and happy that the folks down at Lie-​Neilson recommended this place to us. After a long day of watching the hubs drool over fancy hand tools, he promised me a lobster roll on the way back to the city. We were in the middle of nowhere with NO internet access but luckily the locals knew which way to lead us. Seems like even the locals like to stop by Red’s and not just travel channel shows and other media outlets. This place is well-​known and yet I hadn’t really heard of them until that day. It was a good day. :)
We had the famous lobster roll with over a pound of lobster meat, fried clams, and the blueberry cake. The lobster roll was $ 26 at the time due to market price. Bummer. But we weren’t disappointed in the lobster not one bit and definitely thought it was worth the money even at $ 26. The clams were recommended by a regular and we are so happy we ordered it. I had never had delicious batter like that before; it was sweet, lightly crispy, with nice fresh clams. Would highly recommend getting that. We were beyond full with those two items alone. Again, the lobster roll was stuffed with fresh, huge chunks of lobster. They did not skimp out one bit. That in itself could be an entire meal plus some.
Unfortunately, the blueberry cake wasn’t as appetizing. I think it was premade and refridgerated. Wish it wasn’t raining because there is a nice view in the back patio. We’ll be back as soon as we can as this is the best lobster roll we’ve ever had. We also want to try out their scallops and crab roll. :)
P. S. The lady owner and other folks working are so sweet and humble. They treated us like regulars. Thanks a bunch, ya’ll!

Decent, but over hyped. Bön appetit mes amis