The Travelin Lobster

I wanted to come here strictly because I'm a firm believer that the small little "hole in the wall" places are the best. This place has a really cool ambiance with outdoor seating and a fire pit.

Food: The Hot lobster roll sandwich was Amazing!!! A little pricey for $16 but well worth it. We also ordered the Single combo ($17) with a whole lobster, clams and the sweetest corn I have ever had. I'm not a huge lobster fan so that was ok. The clams were average.

So why the 5 Stars? Because the attention to customer service/satisfaction is what ALL businesses should strive for. From the moment that I drove into the parking lot I felt welcome. I would absolutely come here again.

Realized I didn't write a yelp review from my trip last summer 2023, Hot Lobster Roll & Blueberry Pie with ice cream!

The best meal!

This place was yummy. After seeing so many reviews about this place before heading to Acadia we knew we had to try it. It didn't disappoint. We were there in the fall so we didn't see the updated fall hours. We barely made it on time. Even though we were there for closing time the staff didn't rush us. I guess the out door seating arrangement helps with that.

The kids loved eating lobster!

This place was a golden treat to find after hiking Acadia mountain. The weather was perfect outside and they have really cool ambiance -- surrounded by trees, lots of picnic tables with umbrellas for shade or fire pit for warmth. Everything is outdoors for this place. There are two parking lots on either side of the restaurant.

They have an extensive menu! We ordered the lobster roll (small), lobster panini, pound of mussels, blueberry and ice cream. Everything was delicious, fresh, and amazing! Absolutely worth the wait if there's a bit of a line.

We can't believe we almost didn't go here because of the distance from our Airbnb in Bar Harbor to here, but we're so glad we did!

100/10 the BEST hot lobster roll I have ever had!!! Not only was it the most delicious but it was a huge portion and I didn't even order the large full size roll!! No other restaurant has even come close to their lobster rolls. Their lobster bisque was fire too! I don't live in Maine but when I come here again I will make sure to visit again. It's mostly outdoor seating so be sure to bring lawn chairs if it gets busy. I tried many lobster rolls in Maine and this spot is hands down the best roll I had in Maine and the best one I've had hands down. You won't be disappointed coming here!

Y'all. If you're in the Bar Harbor area or simply planning your trip to Acadia National Park, hold up a sec.

Make it a priority to come here. Hands down the best lobster roll we had in the area. Fact.

Heck, the fact that I'm not even from Maine and located in Seattle, yet writing this review is a testament of how good this place is.

My friends and I came here after hiking around Acadia, and we ordered:

Lobster Roll
Clam Chowder Bread Bowl
Blueberry Pie

The lobster roll was the best we had in Maine. Just take a look at the photo: it was PACKED and THICCC (with 3 c's) with lobster. The lobster tasted fresh and so good - my only qualm was that the bun was a hotdog bun and not the toasted brioche, but the lobster easily overcompensated for that issue.

The bread bowl was phenomenal. The bread ain't your usual sourdough, but it was toasted and almost resembled a garlic bread. The chowder was delicious too, especially after a gloomy day in Maine.

The blueberry pie is not pictured, but rightfully so, as we devoured it! A perfect way to wrap up a hearty meal.

Y'all. I'm still salivating over this place. This place needs more recognition for its delicious food. Great food, great ambiance, great people - what more can you ask for? Make an effort to stop by this place if you're ever in Maine!

By chance, a woman overheard me asking about lobster pounds to dine at and she highly recommended The Travelin Lobster which is a shack with a long line of customers located outside of downtown Bar Harbor. Now that I've eaten there, I can see why the lines are long. Here's what we had:

A Dozen Oysters ($2.50 each) 6 Petit Manan and 6 Bar Harbor Blondes
Freedom's Edge Cider
The Downeast Feast: 5 - 1 1/4 lb lobsters, mussels, clams, corn on the cob & melted butter
Clam Chowder
Hot Lobster Roll (small for $26), comes with Miss Vickies Potato Chips
Blueberry Pie topped with Udder Heaven Blueberry Ice Cream

Everything we ate tasted fresh and delicious. Usually, when I order mussels, I get 2 or 3 bad/off tasting ones, but not here. Although clams were meaty (due to growing in cold water), they were sandy....crunch, crunch.

While waiting for the food, there is complimentary popcorn which we took advantage of. Seating is outdoors with shade or seats at the bar. There is one bathroom.

Paying by cash will give you a 5% discount. Yay!

We came here on the recommendation of someone we met at the Bar Harbor campground and I have to say I wish we were able to find and thank her for the recommendation! This was the best lobster our family could remember having and it was nicely priced for the times. We ordered:

Half dz. Petit Manan oysters
Half dz. Bar Harbor blondes (my fav).
Clam Chowder
Lobster roll
Bluberry Pie
Freedom's edge Cider

However, the big deal here was the Downeast Feast! It is literally big - huge! For about $100 you get five lobsters, a ton of mussels and clams and five corn on the cob served in a big metal washbucket. Served with a bunch of melted butter and lemons. Yeah, baby, this is what we were looking forward to in Maine! The lobster was perfectly prepared and we devoured the shellfish as well. Frankly, when we've been to other lobster places on either coast, east or west, we are always left wondering, "This was OK, but why the fuss over these big bugs?" Not this time! It was super fresh, tasty and a much different experience than we've had before, even though we've had fresh out of the tank lobster (I mean, sent to the West coast from Maine by jet and kept in a special multi-thousand gallon lobster pen). This was twice the food, half the cost and infinitely better tasting!

Oh, God, now I want to go back to Maine!

The other stuff was also pretty great. No duds (ie. closed shells) in the mussels and clams, and they tasted great as well. Sweet, sweet corn. Fresh oysters, all great!

The other star of the meal was the excellent staff at the TL. They were friendly, engaging and efficient. Once you get through the line (there is always a line) and sit down, it all happens pretty fast - but, they are not rushing you. it's just that you are not waiting for someone to come and take your order, etc. It all just rolls and the the folks are fun to talk with.

So, when within a hundred miles of this place, make the effort to come and treat yourself!

Bottom Line: Excellent lobster and fair prices at an outdoor eatery about 10 - 15 minutes from downtown Bar Harbor.

I can't imagine that there is a better place for Lobster on Mount Dessert Island whether it be a whole lobster or lobster roll. When my husband and I visited the Travelin' Lobster in May 2022 they weren't open so we vowed to return to Bar Harbor and try the Travelin' Lobster. In June 2023 we visited the Travelin' Lobster on an unseasonably cold, windy day and it was worth the wait!

Since the "feels like" temperature was in the 30s I started with a cup of Clam Chowder which was good. Then it was time for the headliners - I had the Grilled Cheese Lobster Pannini and my husband had the Classic Cold Lobster Roll. Both were excellent with huge chunks of lobster.

Travelin' Lobster is a roadside stand with outdoor seating. There is a bar, picnic tables and a few propane powered fire pits. We huddled around a fire pit and still froze. Had the weather been more typical for June I think we would have really enjoy the fun, casual atmosphere.

The employees were friendly. We paid with cash for a 5% discount. I can't imagine another trip to MDI without visiting Travelin' Lobster.

Oysters: Maine blonde was smooth and buttery. Yum! They were quickly snatched up and my brother said he could have gone for more. About $2.50 per oyster I think.

Free popcorn! Always a perk

Downeast Feast: $112 for five tails, five corns, mussels and clams.
Everyone felt this was worth it and got a lot of lobster. No one was left feeling they did not have enough. It easily fed four of us and we would have been fine if it was five.
It would have been nice to get a side of the bread rolls, but not necessary considering the amount.

Really solid service and place.

Tried a bite of the lueberry pie and ice cream and it was yummy as well!!

Everyone was satisfied. Thumbs up all around.

THIS PLACE!!! We stayed about a week up in Maine and tried a variety of different lobster serving establishments. This one topped the rest. It's a roadside spot, with a nice covered outdoor bar area and additional seating after you order at the window.

Ordered the lobster bisque which was packed with chunks of delicious lobster and I got a bonus claw on top, which was worth it. Other bisque I had nearby was 100% puréed no chunks which was very disappointing. I also ordered the Slaw Lobster Roll which has coleslaw and thousand island dressing which was loaded with tender lobster meat.

The restaurant is away from the bustle of downtown Bar Harbor but it is popular. I found it to be much more reasonably priced than other places we tried. Finally, the service was great! Would definitely recommend!