Maine food: What to eat and drink in the Pine Tree State

16.12.2024 - 17:09 / lonelyplanet.com / New England

Dec 16, 2024 • 11 min read

The chilly waters off the coast of Maine are a bounty of delicious seafood.

You'll find fresh clams, kelp, scallops, crab, oysters, mussels, fish and of course the acclaimed Maine lobster. And while it is often celebrated for its world-famous delicacies from the sea, there’s much more to the state’s culinary scene than what’s pulled from the ocean.

Maine’s rich agricultural landscape provides a variety of farm-fresh produce, like wild blueberries, crisp apples and organic vegetables, as well as local favorites, like maple syrup and artisanal cheeses.

When you’re not exploring the 65 lighthouses or over 500 acres of state and national parks, here are the top ten local food and drinks to try in Maine.

You can't go to Maine without trying the fresh-out-of-the-water lobster. Maine is the largest lobster-producing state in the nation, with about 80% of America’s lobster coming from the coastline here, thanks to the combination of factors that keep lobster content, such as temperature, depth and food supply.

There are many popular ways to prepare lobster, including pie, chowder, bakes and even pizza. Aside from a classic steamed lobster, the most common dish is the famed lobster roll. The native New England dish is made up of juicy lobster meat tucked into a toasted bun, with a filling containing a variation of butter, mayonnaise, celery or scallion, depending on the state. The Pine Tree State uses mayonnaise in its version and serves the lobster cold. But the long debate over using drawn butter or mayonnaise in a lobster roll will continue to fuel heated discussions across New England.

Where to try it: You can find this delicacy just about anywhere in the great state – from fine dining establishments to roadside lobster shacks – and Portland, Maine, is particularly filled with restaurants offering the unofficial state food. Salt Yard Café, on the street level of Portland’s Canopy by Hilton Waterfront hotel in the heart of the Old Port, serves a lobster roll with truffle mayo, chives, lettuce, brioche and French fries. Meanwhile, the nearby Highroller Lobster Co. has a gluten-free bun option. (Check our guide to Portland, Maine for more.)

For a fresh spin on lobster, try Me Lon Togo, a West African restaurant in Rockland that has a cioppino featuring lobster and other local seafood that blends the bold flavors of West Africa with Maine’s seafood bounty.

Planning tip: Want to get adventurous? Book a ticket on a lobster boat to see the behind-the-scenes action of Maine lobstering. Lucky Catch Cruises offers a lobstering tour where you’ll learn how to haul up traps on Casco Bay. For those wanting to take the flavor of Maine home with you, you can order fresh lobster products (live lobster,