J’s Oyster

We’ve been here twice. Once in winter years ago and the second time today. Two complete different experiences, both a great time. Quaint seafood “dive” bar on the Portland harbor. Friendly service; feels like a local bar. Since we were there in June this year we saw a lot of outdoor seating we didn’t last time. The allure is the inside though. Small, cozy, and friendly. I do have to say that the steamers were a bit dirtier today. That’s my only critique. Can’t wait to come back!

Good lobster roll with fresh meat. The roll is about 5 oz for 35 bucks. Comes with potato chips. Served with melted butter, as well as mayo, on the side. The bakers dozen oysters were delicious. Good service with some local beers on tap. A homey place with a decent atmosphere. Good service. Would go again.

Every time we stop at J’s I am impressed with the freshness and quality of our food. Tonight we had a dozen oysters, lobster BLT and shrimp scampi. All were delicious. Service was friendly and we never felt rushed to finish our meal. I am really looking forward to our next visit.

Been coming to Portland from Long Island, NY for close to 30 years. 1st time, I walked in on a Sunday and had a great lunch along with a few drinks and conversation with alot of the locals. The same is true everytime I come back. Try to get up there 3-4 times a year, nothing has changed. Great food, awesome staff and engaging conversation with locals and those who are enjoying their 1st experience at J's. See you in 2 weeks.

Popular spot. Thank goodness we walked from the hotel because we watched so many cars struggling with parking. Oysters were delicious. Service waa good. Wait was about 40 mins, which is average around here.

The food here was so good! This was my first time having a lobster roll in Maine. I did have a cold here. It had a lot of meat in it and it was actually pretty good. I did love the server that we had. She was super nice and very helpful and made sure that I were drinks were always refilled. She was a character and I really loved her! I'm mad I forgot her name though 😞. I had the original lobster roll, my friend had the original officer role as well. And then they had the oysters which they said were amazing. Some of the best that they had. My mom had Lee tuna salad salad and my aunt had the shrimp salad. They both look super huge like it could have been for two people. The only thing that was a little bit of an issue was the wait time and then the fact that it was kind of tight on the inside. Back home. We will call this place almost like a hole in a wall kind of place where it's like. Really tight knit but the food is amazing. It's kind of like that feel. Had a ginger ale to drink. It was a little off but I didn't care. I didn't come there for that. The lobster roll was good. They gave us butter and mayo packets for it. I used both. Definitely a messy meal lol.

I had the Lobster BLT and Baker's Dozen Ostyers. Both were great. I still am at a loss on how potato chips go with expensive seafood but seems to be a regional thing. Lobster and a bag of store bought potato chips seems to be the norm.

Came back on a Friday night for the last day of happy hour oysters for the month of February, $1 each, and it was so busy. BF had the shrimp scampi and I had the scallops with linguine, and both were fantastic! We also shared a regular order of steamer clams and were quite disappointed; the clams were incredibly sandy. Will not be ordering it again.

One of our favorites for years. Great vibe, great location, great food. Our favorites are the steamers and clam chowder, but everything else looks really good too!

A gem in busy touristy Portland. Sometimes there's a long wait, often there's a short wait. But once in a while we're lucky and get in no problem. I always come here when I'm in the area for some no frills seafood at a great price. Ideal if you're going for something casual. Everyone is bound to find something they like on the menu. Personal favs are the seafood bouillabaisse which is served loaded with seafood and very flavorful! The baked dishes are always super rich and satisfying. Service is quick and friendly!

The best meal we had while in Portland. The food was very good. The service was great. The place has a cool vibe. We were happy with our decision to have lunch here.

J's is a place I to go to every time I'm in Portland. It's like a law. Good food, good service. Very low key.

A nice unassuming seafood restaurant on the harbor. The patio dining has a view of the boats docked but there isn't a full sea view. I loved it. My inaugural meal was the Seafood Bouillabaisse - lobster, shrimp, scallops, haddock, mussels, clams, and crab meat tossed in a light marinara sauce over shells with parmesan cheese.

Temp closed in March 2024. (I need to add these additional characters so that Yelp posts this)

Great food and fun place all around. The male server with the blond hair and earring was really nice and provided excellent service. I will be back.

Clams - oysters and all the good stuff! A cool location on the pier with inside and outside areas. The service was pretty quick and the staff knew their stuff. A good stop in the area.

Lobster roll just how we like it. Great bread to manatee ratio, no Mayo mess situation just the food you want on a lobster roll. Amazing clam chowder Great shrimp cocktail Tell you what, stellar oysters. Love the big wrap around bar, great views on the wharf. Super cool spots right by the windows to watch the boats coming and going. The bartenders were all amazing. Quick easy to order and get our food which left more time for us to spend together. They checked in us a lot. This is a good down home seafood spot no frills and all good food.

Came here solo a week ago and this place didn't disappoint. I was staying in Standish and I drove to town and took a chance. Not sure if they have reservations, but I just walked in on a Saturday night. They were able to accommodate me at the bar and I didn't have to wait at all. The food was fresh and delicious. Yes, I ate all that by myself. Plenty of paid parking spaces in lots nearby. Would definitely come back if in town.

Quaint seafood restaurant on the water with outside seating. Very small inside with a bar in the middle. GET the martinis, they are strong and delicious and they do a side car of the rest of your martini. Best priced martini in the old port. Great service but really busy in summer and fall. It's loud and more casual but the prices are still kinda high. We got oysters and they were okay, they are pre shucked so not as cold as I like. The steamers were super gritty but you got a lot for the price. My lobster scampi was really good with a huge portion of lobster but it was cooked just a little to long. Overall food was decent but not amazing. I would come back to sit at the bar, get a martini and an app.

Delicious food, good service and a lovely view! Family members had enjoyed an anniversary dinner here last August so when we visited them this year, they took us to Portland for a day of shopping, exploring the area and lunch. We were seated outdoors at a mesh metal table with a nice view of the harbor. My chair was very uncomfortable with such narrow arms that I had marks on my outer thighs afterwards and I am a small woman. I chose the seafood casserole and everyone else ordered the same thing. We had a choice of coleslaw or salad and we call chose the salad. The salad was fresh, crisp and I loved that the dressing came in packets (Newman's Own) so that you could control the amount you used. Lunch was perfect! Lobster, shrimp, scallops, haddock & crab... all amazingly fresh, flavorful and tender! We were all greatly impressed and finished every bite. Too full on our seafood feast, we declined to order lunch. Our waitress was attentive and helpful and we appreciated her friendly welcome. Other patrons had rather large dogs with them, one of which continuously barked so loudly it was ear-splitting, so be prepared for this possibility if dining outdoors as there is no recourse for it. Excellent food, service and ambiance! Would definitely recommend and plan to eat here again when next we are in the area! A+

This is definitely the go to for fresh seafood. The foods are not cheap by any means but they are very fresh and their staffs are super nice. When we were there, they were out of clams for their lobster meal so they offered us a discount. Overall we had a great time and don't forget about sitting outdoor with water view!

J's Oyster is the best. It cannot be replaced. I lived in Yarmouth in the late 80"s and ate here often. I brought my husband here about 20 years ago and we talk about it all the time and wish we lived closer. We live in NJ now. It is the number one ( on a long list) of things that would have us move to Maine. I miss J's Oyster on a daily basis and wish there was a chain, if only possible. Don't give up, don't sell!! Marion Loh, NJ

We ate here on the recommendation of the boat captain from our sunset cruise while we were in Portland. It was FANTASTIC! We had about a 20 minute wait on a Friday night, which was not bad. My hubs and I both got the seafood casserole which was by far one of the best things I ate while in Portland. It was full of scallops, shrimp, haddock and crabmeat while topped with lobster dressing. It came with a side salad, which was so fresh and pretty large for a side. My hubs got Oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer. He said it was fantastic. We ended the night with turtle cheesecake and also a slice of turtle cake. The cheesecake was definitely the better of the two. When back in Portland, we will eat here again!!

Loved this place. The workers seemed a bit harsh when we first arrived, but they ended up being really awesome and friendly. The food was excellent!

I kept hearing great things about this place and saw that they got good reviews, so naturally I wanted to try them out. The one thing I always hear about Portland, Maine is that you have to try their lobster rolls. So that's what I set out to do. I really enjoyed the location and vibe of Js. The employees were friendly and the place was lively. I sat around the bar area and got to witness one of the employees opening and preparing the oysters. That was pretty cool. Now when it came to my lobster roll, I hate to say it but I was immensely disappointed and underwhelmed. The best part of the sandwich was the roasted hotdog bun it came on. The lobster meat was cold and the sandwich overall was bland. I even tried the shrimp scampi my friend ordered and her food was kind of bland as well, better than my meal but still bland. Overall, this place was raved about so much. Maybe my expectations were too high, but regardless the experience fell flat. I do not think my lobster roll was worth the $28. I don't think I would come here again, at least not before exploring the other options in the area.

I met some of the kindest and down to earth locals while enjoying my dining experience at J's. Helen in particular was so memorable. I hope to venture back one day.

Our first visit to Maine was amazing!!! We tried several food places but J's was recommended by friends and it was sooooo good and our server Kimmie was awesome.. she gave us such great service. I can't wait to go back in a few months.

Wonderful food and great service. Laney was extremely helpful guiding us through the menu. Cant wait to come back and visit

It's ok....nothing spectacular. Had their clam chowder , shrimp gnocchi & steam lobster.

I hate to leave an amazing review because I want to keep this place my little secret! Small bar and restaurant- indoor outdoor seating. Great service and drunks. I mean drinks. Haha and the food when my brother is the chef is incredible. It's a good idea to ask who made what each visit- because either it's going to be really good, or it's going to be so freaking good your eyes roll and you moan mmmmmygahd.

Great oysters and good service! Highly recommend to add this to your list of places to eat!

Blueberry beer on tap was decent but tasted like regular beer. Could hardly taste the blueberry. It was quality but nothing special. I have had better blueberry microbrews beer but all the way from Ellicottville, NY. The oysters are different than what some may think as you have to peel them off properly and then soak it in the water and then dip in lemon butter sauce and eat it . It is easy to accidentally leave some sand on the oysters even after cleaning it but otherwise they are fresh and good. I enjoyed my seafood casserole. Coleslaw was on point. I also tried their fish sandwich which was eh . The mac and cheese was good. The lobster from the lobster dinner was good but relatives of mine felt the lobster was not big enough for the price. I felt that maybe they weren't accounting for inflation and such enough. The staff was very nice- both women who served my group and the 4 year veteran staffer who picked up our plates too. I can see why some people have hype for this place. While I liked some things a lot, I don't sense it is a must have first choice for me. I would only know for sure if I had more time to explore and take it all in. Seems like a nice place to live during the summer but winter months maybe not so much. . .

We decided to just walk around Portland last night and have bites at different restaurants. I was craving oysters, and even though we are pretty local we had never tried J's. I'm so glad we did. The bar was a little slow with the drinks, but it was a Friday night. The waitress was very friendly. We got the bakers dozen oysters and their short ribs. The food was amazing! Definitely will be back.

While vacationing in Portland we came here twice because of delicious steamed clams. On our first visit we had a bucket of steamed clams, green salad and a hamburger. And the second time we had steamed clams, baker's dozen oysters, and a BLT sandwich. Everything was delicious. Good service.

Tiny place! Long wait. Good food. We had to go on our last night in town despite the monsoon rain! We waited outside under a tent for nearly an hour before bri g allowed in, but once we were, we feasted on oysters, chowder, drank some good local cider and left satisfied! I'd go again next time I'm in town.

Nice waterfront restaurant with some great seafood options. Didn't have the best weather when I was here but it's got a great view of the pier. Would recommend the broiled haddock and the sea salt caramel cake for dessert!

Day tripped in Portland and this was our final stop at the end of the evening. We saw the sign for chowder, lobster rolls and oysters and headed right in. We were seated promptly and dove right into the menu because we were hungry. I started with the clam chowder which was very good. No disappointment there. We also had the crab stuffed mushrooms and the oysters Rockefeller. Neither were very appetizing. The mushrooms lacked crab and were sprinkled with bacon. Now, bacon is my jam but why anyone would overpower the delicate flavor of the crab with bacon is beyond me. The oysters. Sigh. First, they were $12 for 3. But, whatever. They must be really good. Nope. No flavor whatsoever. My wife had the crabby Janice. I don't know what it was supposed to taste like but it should have been called spinach dip because it was packed with the leafy green. My guess is that they used canned crab, if any, because I never saw any lumps of crab meat. I ordered the cold lobster roll. It was edible. Lots of lobster meat. I like them both cold and warm so the fact the it was cold didn't bother me. However, one of our friends wanted it warm and was immediately told that wasn't an option. Another friend ordered the seafood Bouillabaisse. In terms of taste, it was the best dish that any of us ordered. He got down to the very end of the dish and found a long, nasty, brunette HAIR!!! At that point, we were done and immediately asked for the check. Oh. Let's not forget the server. She just wasn't very good. She seemed uninterested and wasn't very accommodating. She did make it a point to let us know that she does all the baking. Hopefully her baking is better than her wait service.

By far one of the worst seafood places. The oysters smelled and they were not served on ice. It was really warm inside. The food has gone downhill. The service we received was horrible. The lady serving us was rude, inconsiderate when we had a baby with us. I would not return.

Awesome experience! Friendly staff and outstanding service! Best place to have oysters and lobster! Best prices! Highly recommend!

Oysters were phenomenal, steamers divine! Fresh and delicious. The beer on tap was also excellent. Peak IPA was crisp and cold. The service was quick and the restaurant was busy. Highly recommend this restaurant. Situated on the wharf, the vibe is precisely what one would expect.

This was my friend's first time getting oysters. We got a dozen, and some chowder. The oysters were good, really well priced but nothing too crazy fantastic. Service was good, we grabbed a table by the window to have a nice view

The mussels were flavorful, fresh with a refreshing touch of lemon. Maine lobsters are good in general and hard to mess up - both the steamed and the cold lobster in the roll are lightly sweet and perfectly firm. Prices are reasonable here and restaurant has a small homey feel. The steamers that come with the lobster are a bit sandy.

Went to Scales, Luke's Lobster. J's oyster was the best tasting and best priced. Very friendly staff

Honest review from a tourist. Food is seasoned with mayo so, extremely bland and watery. It was very fresh so that's a plus but bland+expensive+fresh does not equal good. Service was average they were busy. Just felt like a local hangout/tourist trap. Do yourself a a favor bring your self some seasoning or just avoid. Maybe this is a traditional true to itself place but so are many other places in the area that season their food and are happy about tourist being there.

Don't bother to go to J's. Service was the worst experience I have ever received. Rude bartender, rude hostess. Brought a friend from the West Coast to experience Portland's waterfront. My West Coast buddy wanted to leave after we got seated because of our treatment...so we left and went to EVENTIDE and had a great experience. I don't recommend J's and won't recommend it to anyone.

Great outdoor seating right on the wharf. If you are looking for fresh seafood, this is the place. We had oysters, steamed clams, mussels, and lobster rolls. Everything was spot on and our server, Marina, was excellent. And don't forget to get a martini; the pour is great! Warning- if you park in the metered public parking, be sure to make it back before your time is up. The nailed me with a $63 ticket, ouch!

Too arrogant for me. Asked the hostess if they had happy hour oyster specials. She responded (arrogantly and laughing) 'We don't need to have specials, people come anyways'. Too many great restaurants to choose from that the Westin suggested. Including Boone's (their #1 suggestion) who BTW has great happy hour specials and much friendly staff .

Stayed in town for 3 days during a recent business trip, and came here twice for dinner. First visit was for oysters and crab-stuffed mushrooms, and the next night for the baked haddock. The haddock was amazing! Very light, fresh buttery flavor, tasty rice, definitely a large portion. The place is kind of small, and lots of locals, but everyone was very friendly. Next time I'm in touch, I'd come back and try some of the other options, all of which sounded tempting.

This is definitely a staple in the Portland area. Located on the dock in Old Port, J's has some of the freshest oysters around. Since it's summer, the place stays fairly busy. I was a party of one and was promptly seated at the bar. Waitress immediately took my drink order and showed me the board with the days specials. I opted for a Cajun haddock sandwich and of course, a half dozen oysters. Now when they are shucking them right in front of you, it's going to just taste fresh and amazing. While I waited for my sandwich, I devoured my oysters and accompanied it with a hot sauce highly recommended by the waitress. Once my haddock sandwich arrived, it took me no time to eat it. Everything is fresh, delicious, and oh so flavorful.

There are so many great places in Portland Maine, it is a serious food town. But J's Has stood out for decades. It is old school Portland on the water. Nothing fancy, the opposite of fancy, but good fresh seafood and excellent service, you can't beat it. If you want to go next-door to Dimillos, That is fine they are very good too, but make a trip over to J's For some old-school Portland seafood

This place is actually between a 3 & a 4. Usually my 4's are for great and 5's are for ridiculously amazing, but this place is not exactly a 3 either - 3 is a meh. I think if the price point was cheaper it would definitely rank higher bc the food is not cooked in a fancy way - it's really more homestyle. However, I understand that they're in a prime location and probably can't afford to charge any cheaper. The view we had that night was gorgeous though, the ambiance of looking out towards the water under a full moon was worth it. We tried the Pan Steamed mussels ($14), which had lots of garlic and butter so we loved it. We also tried the lobster scampi. The lobster scampi ($27) came with lots of little pieces of lobster - they were not stingy with the lobster, but it wasn't the juiciest lobster and the pasta flavouring was okay. Despite the extremely long wait due to a shortage of staff, the staff were very lovely, friendly, genuine, and customer-oriented.

I was disappointed with both the food and service at J's Oyster. This was my first time visiting Portland and also first time having a lobster roll. We came on a weekday afternoon, and the line was about 45 minutes. Luckily we were able to snag two seats at the bar. The bartenders who served us seemed very overwhelmed with managing orders, and we also felt that we were being rushed. I ordered a half dozen oysters and a lobster roll. The half dozen oysters were priced at $18, which I feel is over priced. I was also Underwhelmed with the lobster roll. It didn't taste bad, but it didn't wow me either. Overall it seems like J's Oyster is a tourist trap, and will likely avoid next time I'm in town.

This past summer, stopped by here on the last day of my Portland trip to have their oysters. So, this is a review of only their oysters. The day before, I was on the Maine Foodie Tour, and our tour guide, AJ, who works here, shared with us that this place has the freshest oysters. And, she was correct! ***In a rush? Skip to the end for my tips.*** My friend and I only had room in our stomachs for a dozen oysters and they were so fresh, big, juicy, and delicious! I'm so glad that we had a chance to stop by to try their oysters. It seems like in Maine, when they serve oysters, it comes with lemon and cocktail sauce with horseradish. Service was super fast and friendly. And, from the vibes of the other customers, everyone was warmly taken care of. If you are craving oysters, this place is a must! Tips: -There are no reservations, so if you are able to, come right when they open so that you don't have to wait. If you do come later, there will probably be a long wait. -Don't expect to find parking in their private lot because it's pretty small. I suggest doing metered parking and walking over.

This was our first stop on our trip and it kicked our vacation off perfectly. We had amazing service and enjoyed that this felt more like a locals place vs a tourist spot. Of course, we got oysters and lobster. Everything was delicious, our service was outstanding and we had a great visit!

Delicious food and great service! If you're in the downtown area this is the place to go!

Great food with a nice ambience. Service was good too! Definitely going back to this place!

Short wait and great service . Steamers were awesome oysters very good and lobster roll was good not great but we will be back another time !!

We love, love, love this spot! It's so Maine! Fresh food, chill but busy. Experienced staff. DO IT! New England at it's best without all the BS.