Cape Pier Chowder House

Arrived on the earlier side by 6pm on a Saturday night. Had to pay for parking $20. Short line, easily grabbed picnic table for 2 outside on the patio. Crab cakes were fine, didn’t love how fried they were. My husband liked his lobster. Overall food is fine, left feeling oily and full of fried food. View from this restaurant maybe the best part as it’s right on the water.

Cape Pier Chowder House is a coastal gem that delivers fresh, flavorful seafood with unbeatable harbor views. The clam chowder is packed with Maine flavor, served in a cozy, no-frills setting that feels authentically local. Friendly service and peaceful picnic tables make it the perfect spot to savor a classic New England meal by the water.

The prize at the end of the road! This was on my bucket list to eat at - Im so glad I did! Texas seafood is completely different and I wanted clams and haddock and chowder and boy! was my tummy happy! We shared the large combo, then ordered a basket of just clams and haddock. Made the trip down Hwy 1 worth it! Everything was cooked perfectly, fresh and delivered to the table still hot. No frills, eat outside and enjoy the water views.

Cute little place on the water. Not fancy by any means; you get a tray and wine comes in a plastic cup, however the crab cakes were really great, its dog friendly, prices were good, and the staff was pleasant. I read a lot about the parking so we got there around 4ish and had no trouble finding a spot. However, the lot is tiny so keep that in mind

If you're looking for great seafood at a reasonable price in the Kennebunkport area this is a terrific alternative. Located on a point overlooking the bay/ocean, this unpretentious lobster shack has all the usual favorites you'd find at any Maine lobster pound. Ordering is done inside the small building and seating is on a covered deck that stretches out across the water. I got a 2 lb lobster dinner for $42, but prices can vary based on current market conditions. This place is well worth the short trip out of town both for the food and the ambiance.

Clam strips were amazing, best I’ve had in a long time! Perfect spot for a casual laid back lunch. Husband got the cheeseburger and fries. Great view too!

The food was amazing the coating on the calamari was extremely thin the fries were crispy and I was tasting calamari not breading :-) the service was quick I got my food less than 5 minutes after ordering it they have a large variety of lobster from pound and a quarter all the way up to sometimes 4 and 5 lb lobsters. The one in the picture was 3 and 3/4 lb. And of course the clam chowder :-)

Drove out here to see the Goat Island Lighthouse from the shore. Once we were here, we decided to grab lunch. The Chowder House is a nice little seafood restaurant, a great lunch spot. Outdoor seating on the dock area is covered by a tent. So even though it had been raining all morning, we were still able to enjoy the view and atmosphere. Will definitely eat here again on our next trip.

This tiny gem is at the very tip of some portion of road that makes you think you are about to drive right into the water. The parking situation would have been awful if it wasn't for the awesome parking attendant which directed us where to park. The menu isn't large and most dishes are fried. Prices are very fair. Outdoor seating is pet friendly on a pier with coverage so you don't end up looking like a lobster before you leave. Staff friendliness is a 10/10. Popped in for lunch and got 3 bowls of the seafood chowder and a fried shrimp and calamari medium plate. Placed the order at the counter, got the number to put on the table. Got up from the table to go grab some condiments, came back to the food already delivered! Like ok chowder house ninjas, when did you manage to drop that off?! Seafood chowder simply overflowing with seafood. (As it should be!) not potatoes like some other places. Hotter than the sun so careful with that first bite, and even the 10th. Fried seafood was just perfection. Execution unbelievable. Breading light and crisp. Their tartar sauce.... I would buy by the bucket. Thus if you are in the area, stop by. If you aren't, then you need to pop this into your gps and go! Very quaint spot, tiny hidden gem with amazing food and fair prices!

Best seafood in southern Maine. This is our second trip to this remote chowder house on Bickford Island, northeast of Kennebunkport. Our first time was in 2021 and then again today. The best lobster rolls, fried clam strips and onion rings. Covered pier side dining with small inside eating area. Friendly and helpful chef and staff.

We had biked all around Kennebunkport in the afternoon. Instead of the Dock area of downtown, I wanted to return to Cape Porpoise area for the views were so pretty. We wanted to go to a new restaurant there, but all seats were taken. So we instead did the Maine shack next door. Lobster roll is pure cold lobster meat (no sauce) on a toasted hot dog bun. We doctored up ours with a little siracha -mayo I mixed up from condiment table. Husband also had a cup of fish chowder. Personally, I prefer when New England shacks and restaurants do a little chef sauce or their own mayo, lemon, or butter/herbs something-sauce to their lobster rolls. But the views were pretty and amount of lobster good. So be it I blended a little sauce for our lobster rolls!

Cute little seafood shack at Cape Porpoise. Nice staff. Order at the window and the stuff is delivered to your table. I had an excellent fried haddock sandwich. The lobster roll, chowder, fried shrimp and fried clams were really good. The blueberry pie was OK. Prices were good, especially given the quality of the food. The big negative is the parking situation. The adjacent restaurant has glommed on to the entire parking lot surrounding the restaurant. Even though we arrived early and an anticipation of this, there was no nearby street parking. We wound up having to pay an exorbitant amount to park in the lot. The restaurant needs to fix this. I guess if you factor in the low prices, paying for parking isn't the end of the world, but it's annoying.

The vibes here were great. Loved the lady working! Lobster roll was traditional. Good outdoor seating.

Way off the beaten path, but worth the drive. Parking can be a challenge, since there is construction going on at the pier. Typical order at the counter and we'll bring your food when it's ready place. Very fresh seafood, clam chowder was excellent and haddock fish and chips dinner too. Decent craft beers on tap also. Nothing fancy, but prices are good for generous portions and quality food. Will probably be back this week again.

Cape Pier Chowder House was absolutely delicious! We ordered the chowder, fish and chips, crab cakes, and lobster roll. All were fantastic! The service was extremely friendly and very quick. We sat on the outside balcony with ocean views and ocean smells. It was quiet and clean. We had a lovely time, and if you are in this area, I highly recommend stopping in for lunch or dinner!

Food is excellent always fresh and delicious staff is great we have driven from new jersey to maine to have lunch there

Outstanding clam chowder! This was the last stop on a coastal Maine trip. Best lobster we had entire trip! Fried haddock also a great surprise. Staff were so kind, location w lighthouse view on patio, beautiful drive. Highly recommend!

Found this gem of restaurant in Cape Porpoise/Kennebunkport- what a special place- beautiful views, friendly service and the food was amazing! Awesome Lobster(4.5lb), best Fried Haddock we had in Maine and the Clam Chowder was excellent. Highly recommend Carpe Pier Chowder House. We rode EBikes from Kennbunk to Cape Pier amazing bike ride and the views of Cape Porpoise!

This place used to be great. Under new management I believe. The fried clams are terrible now. They tasted burnt and like the fryer oil needed to be changed. I brought this up with others on our beach and they all had the same experience recently. Everyone has been disappointed with their clams as of late. The lobster roll is still good however. Hopefully they can get things back up to snuff before the end of the summer.

Amazing!! This little gem gave us the vibes we were looking for! Off the beaten path, quiet and peaceful on a foggy day! We really enjoyed the fried oysters, and haddock as well as the clam chowder. It was light and not heavy. We would love to visit again!

We had the worst takeout there on 6/1/25. Fried clams were burnt and inedible. The fried shrimp were overcooked and stringy. I called them once we opened up our food at home and they offered a refund or do over but we were tired and didn't want to drive back. It was appalling to me that the cook and whoever packaged our food thought this was ok. It was so obviously overcooked. Dining out is expensive, especially seafood, and establishments should appreciate their customers and try to at least provide edible food. Sadly this is a favorite no more.

Cute little place I found! I only stopped to try the seafood chowder. It was ok. I will stop again to try some seafood. Its a cute spot, people were friendly and prices were as expected. I even met a couple locals that were really nice! I imagine its beautiful on a clear night to sit outside and view the sunset.

This is an old establishment. Home spun. Every table has a roll of paper towels for napkins. There's a large sized tent for those wishing to eat outside. Lots of seafood choices there, mainly fried. We stopped for a quick lunch. I had a bowl of clam chowder; my wife had the haddock chowder. Both chowders were very good. Clam chowder was actually creamy-needed some additional salt, but still satisfying. Wife said the same thing about her chowder- good, just needed a dash or two of salt. Service is prompt & friendly. The main difficulty is parking. There is so much construction going on there, that there is very little space to park. Looks like the building project will go on for another year. Too bad. Good stop however. Might be easier to fast rope in if you're rich enough for a helicopter, or, park somewhere else and come in by electric bike if you're not staying too far away. Parking is the only drawback.

Amazing boiled lobster! Both the claw and the tail were cooked perfectly, which is rare when you cook it all at once together. I was disappointed neither of us got a female lobster with eggs but c'est la vie. Also loved the onion rings, which had a nice and very light breading. Fries and corn weren't bad either. Not as much of a fan of the Cole slaw. Food came out fairly fast and they had a nice outdoor dining section with tables overlooking the water. Indoor dining was also available. Parking is a little tough - we got the very last spot available and saw other cars circling around for a while. Overall, perfectly cooked and very fresh lobster! Highly recommend

The location is perfect with great views of Cape Porpoise Harbor and Goat Island Lighthouse. Parking can be tricky. Fish and chips are excellent and servings are large. Lobsters are right off the boat.

Wow wow wow. This may be a tourist trap for the views, but the chowder is out of this world! I ordered a cup of chowder and a crab cake. It was $8 and so so good. The chowder was perfect, maybe the best I've ever had? It was thick and had nice chunks of potato and clam. The crab cake was a little heavy on the filling but had excellent flavor. The staff was really nice and friendly. Pro tip - stick to the clam chowder. My friend at first ordered the lobster stew and it was nasty. The lobster was overcooked and the soup had separated and there was a layer of butter on top. Not good. But the chowder is amazing!!

The seafood chowder was by far outstanding with every bite you could taste lobster, scallops, and the texture of the chowder was fantastic. It did not have a bitter celery taste, or spicy taste of something you could not figure out in fact it was so good. We went there the first day we were in Maine and went on up into Portland and Bangor and on to Saint Andrews and made a point to come back four days later and have it again and it was fantastic the second trip.. the lady who owns this establishment was wonderful. We were there almost at closing time and they took care of us and the deep-fried oysters were delicious as well.. I hope we can make it back before her lease expires or she retires in the next 2 to 3 years..

The lobster was great. I had a full lobster. The plate with instructions was very helpful. Server was very cordial and friendly. Ambiance was casual. Prices are very reasonable. No wonder it's a popular place.

A wonderful refuge from the pouring rain. My husband and I split a lobster roll, and it was the best we've had yet! Big chunks of tender lobster, very little Mayo, on a soft, warm, buttery brioche bun. Their corn on the Cobb was excellent, too,

Great food and views staffed by nice people. Excellent chowder and lobster rolls looking out at Cape Porpoise.

We come to Maine every year and this is always the first days stop. Best lobster roll ever. Just be prepared for the parking lot people directing you how to park. It's a small lot but they squeeeeeze everyone in.

After a long day of hanging out at the beach we were excited to eat here with our large party. We rode our boat from goose rocks, docked it, and confidently walked towards the entrance of the restaurant. After taking a quick glance at the menu (6:57) we walked into the order room/station (7:01). We were unaware of the absurd close time and we were harshly informed that we could not be served even though they had closed one minute ago. It was very frustrating and not a great look for a restaurant in my opinion. We ended up going to another restaurant nearby. The funniest thing about this whole situation is that the clock is one minute behind and we were just on time to be the last ones to receive food for the night. But it's OK. We end up figuring out and went to an better restaurant nearby.

Are you kidding me? This little hole in the wall that isn't near anything at all (nixing the tourist trap comments) was phenomenal. The lobster stew was one of the best things I've ever eaten. Delicate, creamy, yummy. It was full of lobster too. No skimping here. The haddock was extremely fresh and delicious as a sandwich. I was very impressed and will be back.

Not open this time of the year but we have eaten there and it's exelent right on the water classic maine style

I've been going to Maine for almost 50 years, so I have my own favorite chowder places. Didn't expect much out of this even though my daughter and parents recommended highly. I was very wrong. Everything about this place was amazing. The fish and clam chowder were top notch, the service was awesome, and the view is outstanding. Definitely try this place when you're in the area.

Cape Porpoise is only about 5 miles from downtown Kennebunkport, but remains pretty much untouched by the tourism industry which has turned Kennebunkport into a total tourist trap. We first ate here in 1993, when Mimsy owned and operated a B&B in K'port. It hasn't changed. The harbor is still a working port, dotted with lobster boats. Great views. That's what you get by going there. Maine coast beauty and no douchebags with huge yachts. Be warned, though, because this is a working lobstering harbor, with the boats right there next to the restaurant, you might get a good whiff of lobster bait from time to time. Pungent. The food is average, you order inside and they bring it to your table. A bit pricey for fried seafood. They fry all seafood, you're not gonna get a grilled anything here. Freezer bag fries, deep-fried average crab cakes. You are here for the view, which is wonderful.

If you go out for lobster roll at one place in the greater Kennebunk area, it should be this one. This place was apparently a cafe for lobstermen in only, and it still looks like it. Very clean and simple decor. Very limited menu. No merch. But the best meal in Maine: lobster stew. Not bisque. Not chowder. But stew. Just massive chunks of lobster meat in a buttery broth. Heaven in a bowl. The Clam Shack has met its match.

Great location. Passable fried oysters and clams. Cole slaw doused with mayo. But $57 pre-tip for two beers, one clam roll, 5 oz fried oysters, minuscule serving of Cole slaw (not that we wanted even that much once we tasted it)....just not worth it.

So grateful to have received this recommendation before I left Kennebunkport. They described it to me as "divey but delicious" and that was definitely true! The lobster and crab rolls were so good - for sure the best in Kennebunkport (don't bother waiting in that long line in town for sub par rolls) . The crab cake could be skipped. Clam chowder is another must!

Good seafood and ambiance. Seafood soup was very tasty and nicely tucked away location by the Atlantic.

The best lobster roll and seafood chowder in the Kennebunkport area. Beautiful views of the bay on a top of delicious and fresh seafood

Solid Maine fried fare. Best around. Absolutely beautiful area. Food came out fast. Have no complaints

This will be a short review of the Chowder House because I simply don't want to say too much. The food here is really good and the location is in Cape Porpoise...one of my favorite places in Maine. Make a day trip out of it and check out the Bush complex -- it's right nearby!

This was one of the best meals I had on my weeklong trip through Maine. My only regret is we didn't order more! We had the whole belly clams, scallops, haddock chowder and seafood chowder, as well as blueberry pie. All were amazing, with the exception of the haddock chowder (too thin). The prices were also the cheapest of any comparable place we went to for these items, so a major plus there. If I lived nearby, I feel like I'd go for every meal I wanted seafood. Highly recommend for anyone in Maine.

Quintessential chowder house with beautiful views all around. Very dog friendly! Fish and chips were fresh and tasty. The staff and other diners were pleasant and service was great. Went in mid-May before summer rush, but could see parking being an issue in the summer.

The seafood here is top notch, you can taste the freshness. My friend and I got the lobster roll, a small order of the fried scallops, and a cup of clam chowder. Everything was delicious, especially the scallops. We sat outside and it was the perfect weather with a scenic view. Will come back if ever in New England.

Get their crab cakes!!! Their lobster is fresh and the fisherman are right next door. All very fresh with a great view of the water. You order at the counter and the food is promptly brought to you.

I've been going to the "chowdah house" since I was a little girl. Now that I'm older and not ordering chicken tenders anymore, I really enjoy their fresh seafood. Their fried haddock sandwich came with a big piece of fresh fish and with a side of their homemade tartar sauce. Delicious and cheap -- only $13 (just the sandwich) which is a steal! Shared some fries and coleslaw with the family. My brother who is gluten free got the salmon plate and also said it was delicious. Even better than the food is the setting. Chowder house sits at the end of Pier Road and right on the water where you can watch the lobster boat traffic go by. Only downside is that it closes at 7pm but not their fault -- due to supply issues and not having enough food. I recommend for tourists to come drive to Cape Porpoise, see the lighthouse and enjoy some fresh seafood!

Holy cow, this place is a staple if you are coming to town. Amazing food, great prices, spectacular views!The location is quite remote so if you're not from the area driving there is scenic. I found the area to be so beautiful, so different from what I am used to living in NY. I had New England clam chowder (Gluten-Free ) which was quite tasty indeed and a fillet of grilled salmon (also Gluten-Free ). Love this place and the people. Great atmosphere. I will definitely be back. I recommend!

Heads up... This place is closed in the off season... still a pretty ride to the point! I could add With some rating so a 2 it is for not keeping up with letting Yelpers know they are closed.

Excellent fried clams! Lobster roll was very good, plain Jane, the way I like it. However, it was pretty small. Lovely setting when it isn't jam packed.

Asked several locals for the best Lobster Rolls near KPT and I kid you not I received three responses: Cape Pier Chowder house (here), The Ramp, and Pier 77 - all next door to each other on Cape Porpoise Harbor. I arrived just before 11 am knowing it would get crowded when they opened. Sure enough, there was very limited parking. I ended up circling back to park on the street. I ordered a delicious New England Clam Chowder, a Lobster Roll that was cold (as advertised) on a toasted roll. That was a little disappointing as I wish it could have been warm/topped with hot butter. Still fresh and good. Washed that all down with an Allagash White Beer (when in Maine)! Wish I had time to scope out the other places and compare - really glad I went and the views of the harbor were fantastic.

Can't go wrong with fried fish! After a relaxing day at Goose Rocks beach, my husband and I came here for a late lunch. We ordered the small seafood combo and beer and it was definitely enough to satisfy the both of us.

It took two tries to get here because the parking is so bad. But very worth it! The clam cakes we fantastic. Haddock sandwich was the best one we have had all vacation! Someone in our party got the fried dinner combo and it was amazing. The fried lobster dinner was incredible. Everything that was fried was delicately battered so you didn't feel like crap after and the seafood was still the front flavor. The coleslaw was bland (I don't think Maine style coleslaw is for us). The blueberry pie was as expected for Maine; perfectly sweet with a light and buttery crust. The whoopie pies were good, maybe just a bit too cakey because that overpowered the cream filling a bit.

As a local Mainer, this place must be a tourist trap. The food is really mediocre. Worst lobster roll I have had, definitely was not fresh. Staff is nice though.

Been eating here in spring and fall since around 1982 (I think it had a slightly different name back then). Great location overseeing a working fishing peer, river, boats, etc. Nice view of Goat's Island light house in the open ocean. Parking is at a premium with a limited area (some reserved) serving a working peer, a restaurant and a place with cocktails, etc. Hard to get parking on a busy weekend when weather is nice. Food is typical Maine seafood, nothing fancy or pretentious. Just good ol', fish, shrimp, lobster, scallops with side of slaw and fries. What it does not have in pretentiousness it makes up for with well cooked, fresh food and a great view. Most seating is outside at picnic tables. Usually it has umbrellas at most of the tables (at least it used to) but the day we went it had been windy and they were not in sight. If sunny plan to wear sun screen. There is some indoor (limited) seating, but on a busy day I'd not expect it to be available.

Fried clam basket oh so good You order at the counter but they deliver which is perfect. Sitting outside surrounded by water, can it get any better!