7 Maine Seafood Dishes That Are Totally Overrated And 7 Worth Every Single Bite

Growing up in a small coastal town in Maine, seafood wasn’t just something we ate—it was part of who we were.

From lobster boats pulling into the harbor at dawn to clam shacks bustling on summer afternoons, I’ve spent years exploring the full spectrum of Maine’s seafood scene. I’ve tried it all: upscale lobster dinners, roadside fried clams, and everything in between.

But here’s the truth—not all of it lives up to the hype. Some dishes are wildly overrated, while others are local gems that rarely get the spotlight. As a true Mainer, I’m here to tell it like it is.

1. OVERRATED: Tourist-Trap Lobster Rolls

Nothing burns me up like watching visitors shell out $30 for mediocre lobster rolls at places with lighthouse decorations and gift shops attached! These tourist traps often serve skimpy portions of not-so-fresh lobster drowning in mayo on stale buns.

Last summer, my cousin from California visited and insisted on trying one at a famous spot near Bar Harbor. The disappointment on her face said everything – the meat was rubbery and cold, hardly the transcendent experience she’d seen on travel shows.

Real Mainers know the best rolls come from unassuming shacks where the lobster was swimming that morning and the butter is melted to perfection.

2. WORTH IT: Fresh-Caught Steamer Clams

Steamers might look weird to outsiders with their long siphons and dirty shells, but they’re absolute magic when prepared right. The ritual alone is worth experiencing – the gentle pull to remove the skin, the quick broth bath, then the butter dunk before that sweet, tender bite.

My grandfather taught me to dig for steamers at age seven. We’d wade into the mudflats at low tide, feeling for their hiding spots with our toes. Hours later, we’d feast on our harvest, laughing as butter dripped down our chins.

Forget fancy presentations – true steamers need only sea water, steam, and melted butter to create pure coastal bliss.

3. OVERRATED: Fancy Restaurant Seafood Stew

Ever paid $40 for a seafood stew that’s mostly broth and vegetables? I’ve fallen for this trap more times than I care to admit! These high-end concoctions often mask mediocre seafood with excessive herbs.

The worst offender was at a swanky Portland restaurant where I took my date. The menu promised a bounty of local treasures, but I needed a magnifying glass to find the three shrimp and single scallop floating in tomato broth. Meanwhile, my wallet felt significantly lighter!

Fancy restaurants seem to think that calling something “cioppino” or “bouillabaisse” justifies skimping on the actual seafood that makes these dishes special.

4. WORTH IT: Roadside Fried Clams

The humble fried clam shack represents Maine’s soul better than any white-tablecloth establishment. These unassuming roadside spots serve whole-belly clams with crispy, golden coatings that shatter perfectly with each bite, revealing sweet, briny treasures inside.

My family’s summer tradition involves hitting our favorite shack in Wiscasset after beach days. We’d arrive sandy and sunburned, devouring paper boats of fried clams before they could cool. The contrast between the crunchy exterior and tender belly creates textural perfection.

Skip the fancy places and look for weathered buildings with hand-painted signs and picnic tables – that’s where clam magic happens!

5. OVERRATED: Lobster Mac and Cheese

Sacrilege alert! Lobster mac and cheese might sound like heaven, but it’s often the biggest waste of good lobster meat imaginable. The delicate sweetness gets completely overwhelmed by rich cheese sauce and breadcrumbs.

At my friend’s wedding, they served individual copper pots of this trendy dish. The cheese completely masked what makes Maine lobster special.

Lobster deserves better than being a luxury garnish! This dish exists purely to justify charging $28 for what’s essentially fancy mac and cheese.

6. WORTH IT: Traditional Lobster Bake

Nothing captures Maine’s essence better than a proper lobster bake on the beach as the sun sets. Layers of seaweed covering lobsters, clams, corn, and potatoes, all cooking together in a pit of hot rocks – it’s communal dining at its finest!

My most treasured memory is my grandparents’ 50th anniversary celebration. Four generations gathered around as steam billowed from beneath the tarp, revealing bright red lobsters nestled among golden corn. We cracked shells with rocks, laughing as the sea breeze carried away our worries.

The mingling of flavors – sweet corn, briny clams, tender lobster – creates an experience that’s quintessentially Maine.

7. OVERRATED: Lobster Poutine

Lobster poutine represents everything wrong with modern seafood trends – taking something perfect (both lobster AND poutine) and creating a mismatched monstrosity. The delicate lobster flavor gets completely lost under gravy and cheese curds!

A trendy gastropub in Portland convinced me to try their version last fall. At $24, I expected something transcendent, but found soggy fries topped with congealed cheese and suspiciously chewy lobster chunks that had clearly been frozen. The gravy had an odd fishy aftertaste that ruined everything.

Some fusion experiments should remain in the lab. This is one Maine “delicacy” that needs to crawl back into the ocean.

8. WORTH IT: Fresh-Shucked Oysters

Maine’s cold, clean waters produce oysters with a crispness and minerality that puts other regions to shame. Damariscotta River oysters, in particular, offer the perfect balance of brine, sweetness, and that distinctive cucumber finish.

My first raw oyster experience came from a weathered oyster farmer at the Brunswick farmers’ market. He shucked one right there, explaining how to appreciate the liquor before slurping. That initial taste – pure ocean essence – changed my understanding of freshness forever.

Forget the fancy mignonettes and cocktail sauces. True Maine oysters need only a squeeze of lemon to highlight their natural perfection, best enjoyed within sight of the waters they came from.

9. OVERRATED: Lobster Ice Cream

Whoever invented lobster ice cream deserves a special place in culinary prison! This gimmicky concoction exists solely for Instagram and dares, not actual enjoyment. The jarring combination of sweet cream and fishy chunks creates a taste memory you’ll unfortunately never forget.

My brave nephew convinced me to try it at a Bar Harbor ice cream shop last summer. The texture was even worse than the flavor – little chewy bits of lobster meat frozen into vanilla ice cream. We both spat it out after one bite, much to the amusement of watching tourists.

Some boundaries exist for good reasons. Lobster and dessert should maintain a respectful distance from each other at all times!

10. WORTH IT: Fresh Haddock Chowder

While clam chowder gets all the glory, a proper Maine haddock chowder delivers comfort in a bowl like nothing else. The delicate white fish holds its shape while absorbing the rich, smoky flavors of salt pork and onions.

During the blizzard of ’98, when power was out for days, my neighbor brought over a pot of haddock chowder cooked on her woodstove. We huddled by candlelight, savoring each spoonful of that creamy concoction, the fish caught by her husband just before the storm hit.

Look for chowder that’s not too thick – real Maine versions should be creamy but still pour from a spoon, never standing-spoon-thick like those cornstarch-laden tourist versions.

11. OVERRATED: Blueberry-Crusted Seafood

Blueberry-crusted anything represents Maine’s identity crisis on a plate. Yes, we grow amazing wild blueberries AND have fantastic seafood, but that doesn’t mean they belong together! These forced marriages of ingredients appear on menus trying too hard to scream “MAINE!”

My worst dining experience involved blueberry-crusted scallops at a Kennebunkport restaurant. The poor scallops were perfectly good before someone decided to coat them in a cloyingly sweet blueberry mixture. The beautiful caramelization scallops deserve was replaced by burned fruit and confusion.

Some flavor combinations exist only to separate tourists from their money. This unholy alliance tops that list!

12. WORTH IT: Perfectly Grilled Swordfish

Maine-caught swordfish, simply grilled over hardwood with nothing but salt, pepper, and lemon, delivers a seafood experience that needs no embellishment. The meaty steak-like texture satisfies in a way delicate white fish can’t match.

My uncle, a commercial fisherman, taught me to grill swordfish when I was twelve. “Hot grill, cold fish, don’t touch it until it releases naturally,” he’d say. That patience results in perfect grill marks and moist, flavorful fish that flakes into large, satisfying chunks.

Beware restaurants that drown swordfish in sauces – quality fish needs minimal intervention. Just look for that distinctive pinkish-gray color that indicates freshness.

13. OVERRATED: Anything Calling Itself ‘Lobster Bisque’

The term “lobster bisque” has been stretched beyond recognition in Maine restaurants. What should be a rich, complex soup made from slow-simmered shells has devolved into glorified cream soup with lobster extract and food coloring.

My biggest disappointment came at a famous midcoast restaurant where $16 bought a bowl of orange-tinted cream with microscopic lobster bits. The server proudly called it “award-winning,” but the only award it deserved was for “Most Convincing Lobster Impersonation by a Dairy Product.”

Real bisque requires hours of labor and actual lobster bodies. If your bisque arrives in under 10 minutes or is unnaturally orange, you’re being served liquid deception!

14. WORTH IT: Classic Maine Fish Sandwich

The humble fish sandwich – fresh haddock lightly breaded and fried, served on a squishy bun with nothing but tartar sauce and maybe lettuce – represents Maine’s unpretentious food culture perfectly. No fancy aioli or microgreens needed!

My favorite comes from a gas station convenience store (seriously!) in a tiny fishing village. The owner’s wife batters each piece to order, and the fish is so fresh it practically jumps from the fryer to your bun. During fishing season, the line stretches out the door.

Forget the elaborate seafood towers and $40 entrees. This $8 sandwich delivers more authentic Maine flavor than most high-end restaurants ever could.