Fresh boiled Wells lobster.
Wells is considered a coastal resort area, meaning quite a few restaurants are closed during the long winter months.

But there are also a fair few winter-hardy establishments, thank the powers that be—because nothing tastes like summer in the middle of January like a Maine lobster roll.

From seasonal seafood shacks to casual, table service restaurants with full bar service, Wells offers folks a wide array of lobster roll options—all made with freshly picked Maine lobster and done up according to house style.

Map of Lobster Rolls Near Wells, Maine

These restaurants all offer some of the best lobster rolls around. If you’re looking for your next favorite seafood spot, check out this list of Wells locations:

Billy’s Chowder House

Billy’s is a local fixture in Wells, situated halfway down Mile Road in the middle of the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge & Tidal marsh.

Open year-round and featuring a full bar, Billy’s is casual and comfortable, with a view from every table.

The lobster rolls here are renowned—a grilled hot dog roll loaded with lobster meat mixed with a little mayo—and it comes with fries and a pickle.

Oh, and you can get either a Junior Roll or opt to double the meat with a Large—but why would you ever get a smaller one?

Location: 216 Mile Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Billy’s Chowder House

Mike’s Clam Shack

Since 1991, Mike’s has been providing “Good Food, Good Spirits, and Great Company” to their loyal customer base.

With abundant seating—including plenty of space at the bar—Mike’s menu is just as plentiful, as is the fresh-picked meat in the lobster roll.

Huge claws and chunks of tail meat dressed in mayonnaise, all packed into a grilled, split-top bun.

Location: 1150 Post Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Mike’s Clam Shack

Maine Diner

Often featured in New England culinary write-ups and local news stories, the Maine Diner is open year-round and is kind of like a local celebrity—not just for the breakfast fare, either.

The lobster rolls here are iconic—and you’ll have some decisions to make. Will it be the Dale Arnold (hot lobster meat in a grilled roll served with drawn butter) or the Classic Fresh Maine Lobster Roll (cold, mixed with mayo)? There’s even a lobster grilled cheese—my personal favorite.

Location: 2265 Post Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Maine Diner

The New England House Seafood & Sports Bar

All of the seafood at The New England House is wild-caught, locally—fresh as fresh can be.

Featuring a bar, inside dining, and outdoor seating on the deck with another bar, this spot features a creative twist on the classic Maine crustacean sandwich; the familiar split-top bun or brioche roll is replaced with a large, fluffy croissant, and your lobster meat is tossed lightly with mayo before being gently sandwiched.

Served with choice of chips, pasta salad, potato salad, or coleslaw.

Location: 124 Post Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: The New England House Seafood & Sports Bar

Litchfield’s Bar & Grill

Another year-round local institution, Litchfield’s is kind of like the Cheers of Wells; it’s where the locals go.

But all are welcome here, no matter what your license plate says…so put on a bib and prepare to have your mind blown with Litchfield’s lobster roll options.

Choose between a Hot Buttered version (chunks of lobster sautéed in butter served hot in a grilled hot dog roll), the New England Lobster Roll (chilled lobster tossed with mayo in a grilled hot dog roll), or the Monstah Lobstah Sub (an entire pound of chilled meat tossed with mayo in a toasted baguette sub roll with lettuce and tomato).

No need to ask which one I’d order…

Location: 2135 Post Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Litchfield’s Bar & Grill

Bull & Claw

Whether you’re ordering one just for you, or opting for the Giant Two-Foot Lobster Roll (better known as “Lobster Lover’s Lust,” and serves 2-3!), a lobster roll at the year-round Bull & Claw is an experience.

Lightly dressed with mayo and served on green leaf lettuce, the two-footer includes the meat from three entire lobsters packed into a fresh-baked baguette, while the smaller version is served on a grilled hot dog roll.

Location: 2270 Post Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Bull & Claw

Bitter End

This is one of my favorite spots for a cocktail and a nibble—like Bitter End’s signature lobster roll sliders.

Open all year and featuring indoor and outdoor (in-season) dining, this diminutive restaurant does everything a little differently, and with style.

Rather than a lobster roll, BE does lobster sliders—bite-sized versions of the classic Maine favorite, lightly tossed in mayo, on house-made biscuits.

Location: 2118 Post Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Bitter End

Forbes Restaurant

Located at Lafayette’s Oceanfront Resort, Forbes has been in business since 1921, every May through October.

The lobster rolls here are an authentic Maine treat—a grilled, split-top hot dog roll filled to the breaking point with claw and tail meat, and then a slather of mayo on top (if you wish). Served with fries, this is the real deal.

Location: 427 Mile Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Forbes Restaurant

Wells Beach Lobster Pound

The seasonal Wells Beach Lobster Pound has been in business since 1959 and is a combination lobster pound, fish market, and restaurant.

The menu is quite expansive—it even includes Gifford’s ice cream for dessert—and the lobster rolls are impressive.

You can get it chilled with mayo or hot with drawn butter, served on a toasted hot dog roll with homemade chips.

Location: 321 Webhannet Dr, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Wells Beach Lobster Pound

Fisherman’s Catch

Fisherman’s Catch is a seasonal favorite, offering limited indoor dining, plentiful outdoor seating, live music—and amazing options for your Maine lobster roll experience.

Start with the traditional classic with mayo and lettuce on a grilled hot dog roll…then add crispy bacon, hot drawn butter, or lemon truffle chive aioli (or all three). And they all come with kettle chips and a pickle, to boot.

Location: 134 Harbor Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Fisherman’s Catch

Spinnaker’s Seafood Restaurant

Located at the corner of Route One and the access road to Moody Beach, seasonal Spinnaker’s is the perfect casual eatery for the whole family—especially if you love lobster rolls.

You have options here, too; Spinnaker’s roll is a hefty serving of chilled meat on a toasted roll—and you can choose a side of warm butter, lemon aioli, or chipotle lime aioli. Comes with kettle chips; fries are an upcharge.

Location: 139 Post Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Spinnaker’s Seafood Restaurant

Hobb’s Harborside Restaurant

Delicious fare with breathtaking views, seasonal Hobb’s is located plop in the middle of Wells Harbor.

And if you are jonesing for a lobster roll, be sure to come for lunch, as it isn’t on the dinner menu.

Served with house-made chips and a pickle, the Hobb’s lobster roll tosses the meat in a bit of mayo and folds it into a grilled New England-style roll.

Location: 352 Harbor Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Hobb’s Harborside Restaurant

Brown’s Clam Shanty

While they do have indoor seating, there are plenty of outdoor tables at this popular seasonal spot—and what better way to enjoy the flavors of Maine than in the fresh sea air?

Brown’s lobster roll—the ULTIMATE flavor of Maine—consists of four ounces of fresh-picked meat, dressed with your choice of drawn butter or mayo, in a grilled hot dog bun.

Location: 198 Post Rd, Wells, ME 04090
Website: Brown’s Clam Shanty