The Slipway Restaurant

Great casual place to eat or grab a drink. It’s right on the water so there’s plenty of views whether you’re just looking to catch up with an old friend or just unwind after a long day.

For me, the laid-back, calm outside atmosphere reminds me why I love Maine. I had an amazing haddock sandwich overloaded with beautiful, flaky fish- I even took some home! Crispy fries, and excellent service, too. Great hidden gem! I will be back.

Food was good, seating is nice with a great view. Oysters were fantastic and a good beer selection. Clam chowder was not the best I have had for being on the coast of Maine.

Last summer I went here and was treated like royalty as my previous review stated, which is why we went back. Now I realize we are in the middle of COVID-19 and things have changed, but the things that have changed have nothing to do with COVID. First of all we were greeted by a hostess who couldn't even look us in the eyes. Plopped down at a bar table because we didn't have reservations, and the bartender took our order, yet it didn't matter because everyone else got their food before us.(Our wait for our food was one hour) Our drinks were never filled back up, within that hour of waiting, and we were thirsty...was thinking about ordering a real drink after my ginger ale, but the bartender NEVER came back. When I went up to pay the bill, he apologized and said that the place was just very busy. I should have taken pictures of the empty tables around him, but I did not. I will not go back. This place has changed for the worse. Let the rich folk pay their prices...and eat their cold clams, not me!

oh man i love this place. beautiful setting, perfectly cooked seafood, great service.

So, the atmosphere is fantastic. It's right on the water and you definitely feel like your on vacation here. FYI, We live here year round. The service is also great. We had a very charming local wait on us, who was very attentive. The problem is the food. The menu is extremely limited. The portions are very small and the cost is high. If you are looking for a great Waterview experience, this isn't it.

Beautiful setting at the head of the inlet. The food was worth the wait. The sunset was a bonus.

My family are long time residents of Maine. Decades in fact. I’ve been coming to visit them regularly over the years. They introduced me to the Slipway, and I instantly fell in love. Always been a pleasure to sit outside and enjoy the delicious food and drinks. That is with the exception of this past Saturday. We arrived a little after noon and saw the waiter opening umbrellas. He said hello, yelled inside that a four top had arrived and then gave us instructions on what two tables we were allowed to sit at. (The entire pier was open) After he came back out, my aunt who has lived in Maine for maybe over 40 years asked him politely if we could sit out on the pier. (What’s the point of going to the Slipway and not sit outside?). His response was insanely rude. “No” was basically the answer. He apparently gave us the instructions in the first place. Then he proceeded to insult my aunt with a dig at her sunglasses. Suffice to say we ended up leaving and heading to our other favorite restaurant in Rockland. But considering we were nothing but polite, it was absolutely shocking. Slipway, I would love to talk to you about this since your waiter has truly offended and upset your biggest fans.

This place is permanently closed, it is a ghost town, too bad, nice location. Rode my bike here for nothing, oh well, beautiful area for a ride

You can find The Slipway at 24 Public Lndg, Thomaston, ME 04861 - this is the small building near the entry of the pier right next to the boat ramp. There's plenty of parking but during busy months (the Season) you may need to park above and walk down to the restaurant. This is one of those very typical seafood shacks you see along the coast of Maine serving lobster, fried fish and oysters. We were exploring the local landmarks and dropped into Thomaston and our local friend suggested this as a good place for lunch. We were there in mid-September just before the restaurant and much of the are shuts down for the off-season. We sat outside as tables extend from the restaurant out along each side of the pier. The shorline was pretty muddy as we stopped during low tide, so not much of a view - I'm sure it's better at high tide. The food here is all fresh and really, hard to go wrong with any of it. We each ordered the fish-and-chips - in Maine the fish is haddock rather than the more atypical cod. Ended up with 5 pieces of delicately fried fish that were perfectly cooked, still juicy on the inside, on a pile of hand-cut fries with a container of tarter sauce (cocktail sauce is also an option). I'd say the food above average and about what I would expect for the location. Service was very good with a very attentive server - they were out of a few things including the draft beer we would have been interested in so demurred to water. I think this is a great location for a quick lunch.

Stay closed if you can't do it right. We have been a Slipway customer for over 10 years. We want to remain one and support your business but the disappointments keep coming. You need to properly staff your restaurant so food doesn't take 1.5 hrs to get to the table. You need to be generous with the bar drinks. A two-finger pour for a $12 glass of wine is stingy. Your waitstaff are trying so hard but have to apologize continuously for everything from not enough silverware to the slow kitchen. Get yourself some GOOD management and change the menu to reflect your capabilities of being a seasonal restaurant. Or stay open year-round and do it right!

Always an expensive perfect meal. Fresh seafood cooked correctly. We go when we expect the best.

The location was beautiful, and the waitstaff were great, but that was it. Everything else was really disappointing, especially for the price. Very limited beer menu with only cans, no draft options. And the glass of wine we ordered was TINY -- definitely not a standard pour. Many items on the menu weren't available. We ordered the fried clam basket. We had high hopes, but what we got was a small handful of OK fried clams on top of a big pile of greasy french fries, in a small paper dish, after a VERY long wait...for $40 !?!? There are many other seafood restaurants in the area.

The ambiance, fresh and enthusiastic service and delicious food keep us coming back for fresh local food and happy times.

Dined at the slipway for a late lunch Labor Day weekend with my husband teen daughter. We were greeted very nicely by the wait staff. I would like to point out the rudeness by the man to have claimed to be the chef/owner. We were seated outside at our request, not realizing the table was an old spool with bolts sticking out the top and dirty. We got past that. Immediately after, someone who claimed to be the chef/owner rudely grabbed a chair from our table & obnoxiously & loudly dragged it away so he could sit with friends without asking us first. Where have manners & respect gone? I won't be going back ever again. That was douche baggery behavior that spoiled a lovely day.

Incredibly disappointed by the menu selections. Hopefully they will improve. Food was dull.

This spot is a must if you're in the area! The beautiful waterfront view is paired with exceptional service and fresh, seasonal food! I highly recommend the "Shore Plate" as it highlights the local cuisine. Additionally, the scallop ceviche and oysters the perfect appetizer! Returned for a second night in a row as we were so impressed and couldn't resist another night on the water. Again, super friendly service to accompany their delicious food options! We chose the scallop ceviche and mussels for our appetizer as well as the corn crab chowder and lobster entree with a round of refreshing drinks.

Although it would be better to see the menu ahead of time - we had a delicious meal! Burgers were fresh for us landlovers, and the shore dinner was fantastic for the seafood lover! Everything was hot and the outside dining was fantastic! Trip Advisor does not have the most current menu (our server said its 5 years old!) but it worked out!!

Found this place through Yelp and it was absolutely fantastic! Every single person in here could not have been more warm or kind and it goes without saying the food is amazing. Go here. One of my favorite meals I've ever had in Maine by a mile. This place is the jam. If I could give it ten stars I would. P.S. interior design is also on point.

This place is closed down despite what their answering machine, Yelp, and their website indicate. Bummer that we drove all the way out to find what looked like an abandoned building.

We visit Maine every few years and slipway has always been our favorite lunch, dinner or just drinks restaurant. Was just telling my husband that slipway and rhumb line in Camden are my favs. And just read that they have same owner. Makes sense. Pretty, breezy, elegant spot. Always friendly service too and good food. The screened in dining room also has a great feel to it.

This favorite spot was closed last summer. This year they are back with an abbreviated but appropriate menu. The dog friendly deck is a delight, their house wine is Gurnet Veltliner, their food is fabulous! Ashley, our server, was relaxed and kind.

Do not bother if you're not a local. Despite us calling to make a reservation a few days in advance and giving our details for the confirmation, apparently we weren't on the list. The lady at the front was very quick to dismiss us even before checking the so called list. The idea of being on the dock sounds lovely but the place looks a bit rundown. Menu options seemed limited as well. There's plenty of better places in the area.

Very strange place and unwelcoming for non locals...we called on a Thursday to book a table for 4 for Saturday, and the gentlemen who has taken the reservation confirmed the table for 6p. To our surprise, when we arrived with our 2 year old, they said they did not have us down because they did not call to confirm...this is like the Seinfeld episode with the car rental...they know how to take a reservation, no clue how to hold one...shame on you! The place looked nice but there's plenty similar around

Can't beat the location and view. Food was good and so was the beer. A little pricey for such a casual place but we enjoyed it.

Okay, we came or three days ago and I wanted to return again. However, I thought I would just look on yelp for the heck of it. There were reviews of bad service, small portions, etc. etc. we went back anyway. We started off with the steamers and they were so good we ordered second portion. Perfectly cooked, tasty, nice portion, steaming hot (duh). Just like the first time, the service was stellar. We then moved on to the halibut ceviche, and the fried haddock. The halibut ceviche, although diminutive, was outstanding! The fried haddock and french fries, both cooked in peanut oil, which is very expensive but the most healthy as far as fried food goes, were outstanding, and large enough to split. I am not sure what restaurant the other reviewers reviewing, but the Slipway we went to was excellent as to the ambience, service, and quality of the food.

Super fresh seafood, great atmosphere, expedient service. This is not a cheap lobster shack so expect to pay standard "restaurant prices". We ate and drank like kings and queens and the bill ran about 50 bucks per person. Everyone left full and happy.

Note to self (and fellow Yelpers) -- visit this establishment IN. SEASON. My guy and I have been to Slipway many times, and always enjoyed the food, the service, and a seat by the water. On this recent occasion - well, we enjoyed a seat by the water. We visited on a Sunday afternoon a couple of week-ends after Labor Day, and found the outdoor deck closed -umbrellas down, and an ominous chair placed in the way to discourage patrons from venturing beyond the patio. It was a lovely day, and there were still outdoor tables available on the patio, so we opted to sit down for lunch. (The table we chose hadn't been cleaned.) We sat for a few minutes, and then a few more. Our server arrived, and we ordered our standard: wine by the glass, cheese plate, popcorn shrimp (why we made the trip in the first place -- those babies are like crack) - and a side salad. Our server warned us there was "a delay in the kitchen", and went off to get our wine. The wine arrived promptly. The rest of the meal -- not so much. We sat there for so long in fact, along with other diners, that we began to joke about it as a group. A few people left without being served. We all began to get cranky. FINALLY -- our plates came. The cheese plate (normally a fave) looked pitiful; a few tiny pieces of cheese, 4 crackers, a handful of nuts and a lone radish wilting in the sun. We were both too ravenous to say anything until we scarfed down our lunch. Food was tasty, but not up to standards, and NOT worth the almost 45 minute wait. Upon leaving, I mentioned the cheese plate's fail to our server. She said, "I'll certainly mention this to the kitchen." I got the feeling she'd said those words a lot that day. Moral of the story -- we'll return in the high season, when the place is in full swing, and the staff brings their A game.

Waterfront spot with outdoor space on a long dock. Very pleasant afternoon. Delicious hummus and vegetables, oysters, and haddock was perfect. Good drinks and great service. We had our small dog and were please d they allowed home to hang out on a leash under the table.

Absolutely best mussels and lightly fried oysters we've ever had! Too filled for their amazing blu-rhub pie so we'll have to come back. Dining outside on the deck was a plus!

Sorry to say but it is slipping away. Great fan over many years from port Clyde to Camden And then to Thomaston. Lamented year that wAs closed but last two times, just not up to snuff Fried clams was appetizer portion but at main course price Mussels good as always Too much competition to be complacent Sorry to write this

Beautiful view as the tide was going out, and the outside picnic benches were great for our large group of both adults and kids. 3 stars for the ambiance, 2 for the food. As a vegetarian I was dragged around to many non veggie friendly places while I was in Maine. The people I was with were super excited that they found a place that had listed a "vegetarian plate" on the menu. Usually I'm stuck with ordering sides and trying not to think about the cross contamination that's happening in the kitchen. The vegetarian plate had a plate full of beautiful vegetables and then some cooked tofu as well. The veggies were very yummy and I was excited to see more than just one type. The tofu needs a lot of work though as It tasted like it was warmed up fresh out of the watery box. Why not grill it and add some seasoning as well? I think there was a pesto on top of it, but I couldn't even taste it as the tofu was so mushy.

Lunch at The Slipway today. We all had the Fish and Chips. It was delicious! Just the right amount. The fish was fresh and perfectly cooked. The fresh radish that came on top was a fun,quirky addition!

This place is fantastic the food was delicious Oyster fried , cheese plate for lunch was just perfect. If you are close you can go and enjoy this beautiful restaurant

Been coming to Maine for 3+ years now. Essentially we come to eat lobster and enjoy price-friendly meals and turn off our email for a week. Honestly - not impressed. We ate at the Rockland Cafe yesterday and spent literally half as much as we did at the Slipway. The waitress was young, and very very nice. She was considerate, and incredibly thoughtful, but she was also terribly slow. She was also training - so I overlooked her slow speed. The beer came in small plastic cups, and was terribly overpriced for the volume of beer you received as a consumer. The appetizers; we had fried calamari and a dozen steamed clams. For $28 in total ($8.99 and $18.99) I was actually disappointed. The quality was good, but the price was horrendous. The calamari was maybe four mouthfuls, and the pound of clams was prepared well but expensive for the area. The actual entrees were okay, but again terribly overpriced. I had a fried haddock with a "lobster and corn salsa." The lady had the lobster dinner. My father had steamed oysters, and his girlfriend had what I had. The haddock was the size of my palm, and the salsa was anything but salsa. The oysters were great. The lobster dinner was one steamed lobster; cooked incredibly well, but overpriced at "market value," for $21.99. The food was great, however the prices were obviously gouging the tourists. A bill of $191 without tip for a pair of couples, while leaving hungry is just not acceptable. In total we ordered: Two draft beers One bottled beer One glass of wine One cocktail One appetizer One pound of steamed clams Two fried haddock specials One lobster dinner One steamed oyster dinner Best way to sum it up: overpriced and underportioned. We left hungry and spent double the amount we should have, if not more. Go to the Rockland Cafe, or anything in the Rockland area. Avoid this place unless their prices come down.

Went by June 20 2018 and sign on door says it will not open summer 2018. Real loss Has restaurant- Rhumb line in Camden

Opening night for 2016 was really disappointing. The owner is opening a new place up in Camden and is obviously preoccupied with that project. My sister ordered the calamari--about eight pieces of squid for $8.50. Ripoff. I ordered the steamers. They were teeny and muddy. The minimum legal size in Maine is two inches, and many of these were definitely not legal. At this small size, the stomachs break away from the valves as you're dipping them, and all you're left with is a teeny little valve. My fingers were all muddy, and the cleaning broth came in a ketchup side dish--not nearly enough for all that mud. The waitress was very accommodating when I sent back my steamers, so kudos to her.

Three stars because the atmosphere and location are amazing. Service was a bit awkward. We had reservations for eight people. We arrived on time and stood in the foyer for over ten minutes before we were greeted by the hostess. It was not terribly busy but we heard the excuse, "we are slammed tonight." Perhaps, hire more waitstaff during the busy season. Food was lukewarm, not great and overpriced. Lovely place, just don't go for the food or service.

Great lobster roll option in the Rockland/Thomaston area. Monk Nuggets and Popcorn shrimp are good too. Lots of beer choices, nice setting & generally good service. When vacationing in the Rockland area in July/Aug this is my goto lobster roll joint.

I hope that my experience was mediocre due to it being lunch time on a Monday, because the staff seemed friendly enough. I wanted to like this place, but every food item had something wrong with it. My girlfriend and I started with a cup of clam chowder each and the fried monk nuggets. It had only been about 15 minutes since we ordered, when the waitress apologized to us because the order hadn't reached the kitchen. The chowder came out cold, but had a decent amount of clams, and tasted ok. The monk nuggets were bland, and the sauce they came with were the only thing that made me want to eat them. We shared a lobster roll, which had an ok amount of meat in it. The taste of the lobster and roll were also bland. Nothing else to say, really. Definitely not the best lobster I've ever had. We ordered chocolate pecan pie with ice cream. They forgot the ice cream, which was too bad because the pie was terrible. Light, flavorless, and hardly any pecans. The location was the best part. Seating on a nice dock, and cool tables.

Food was fine but nothing remarkable. Pricey for small portions, slow service, wonky table, and plastic cups. My tuna special was essentially a small salad with 4 small bites of tuna. We just dropped $75 bucks on lunch for family of 4 (2 kids under 10) and everybody is still hungry. Won't be back. Edit: oh, and no Amex accepted.

We ate here on the recommendation of local friends. Even though it was not terribly busy, the kitchen service was slow. I take it that's not unusual, because I overheard someone at another table tell their guests to expect a wait. To their credit, the restaurant states that they are a "scratch kitchen." The food here is delicious. The daily specials were innovative (fresh anchovie crostini, for example). We went with traditional fish and chips and fried scallops baskets. The breading was light and crunchy and complemented the seafood rather than overwhelming. Overall, excellent. The restaurant is situated on the harbor so there is outdoor seating galore, and includes a lovely bar at the end of the wharf. The sunset/moonrise while we ate on a screened-in porch created wonderful ambiance. The perfect end to our Maine vacation.

Delicious fresh local seafood. Reasonable prices. Friendly staff. We had the lobster, shellfish linguine, fried oysters, seared scallops, a nice and strong dark and stormy, white wine, and blueberry-rhubarb pie (blue-rhu) with vanilla ice cream! It was all amazingly yummy.

Great location, very friendly with good food. We went on a chilly afternoon - ended up buying some great American Apparel long sleeved Slipway sweatshirts. Anyways, the popcorn shrimp were very good - lightly fried and super delicious, clam chowder was thicker than the usual in this area where cream and butter is not thickened. I prefer thicker chowder, so this was better than most and very flavorful. I also (of course!) had the lobster roll. It was in a hot dog roll (not grilled and not very moist). A good amount of large pieces of perfectly cooked lobster meat. Very little mayo. Not the best. I think this place would be great for dinner - the entrees sounded fantastic. Popcorn shrimp brought the rating up a star. Rating for lobster roll would be 2.5-3

Come to the Slipway to fulfill your Maine food hankerings: the Slipway offers excellent crab/lobster rolls, bisques, fried fish baskets (haddock, clams, even scallops). Plus the cocktails will make you raise your eyebrows. What more could a vacationer want? We had a delicious dinner at the Slipway during our summer exodus to Maine, starting off with delectable and delicate tuna tartare with mild Asian flavors that made the fish the star. Along with this came a roasted beet salad and popcorn shrimp. Listen to yelpers: the popcorn shrimp is addictive and it's fun to see the small Port Clyde shrimp used as a dish. The beet salad is really well thought out; I'll admit that during my first bite I though, "This is OK." But as I kept eating it, the refreshing vinaigrette and fresh produce really made me happy. I had the Poi Boy, which comes with a surfeit of lightly fried oysters and some great fries. It was so tasty - somehow fulfilling my craving for fried fish while still tasting like the ocean. The housemade tartare is excellent. And, one should never leave the Slipway without tasting the desserts. While eating the Royale - strawberry shortcake, with ice cream and juicy little Maine blueberries - I could have lingered for an hour, scooping up bits of strawberry and cream and eventually licking my bowl. We didn't leave a crumb of dinner untouched.

This must be the best location in Maine. Sure, standard calamari and sea-shanty grub, but seriously, a bar on a pier? It's just heavenly. And the service I had was great- fast, funny, and attentive. I'd give it 5 stars, but the food was not extraordinary or surprising, just fresh and good.

After waiting an hour and a half for our food we were sadly disappointed with the quality. The view and atmosphere are 5 star for sure, but the food and service have much to be desired. I had the calamari which was ok but not great. Others at the table tried the chicken Milanese which wasn't very impressive either. The shrimp basket was really good and cheese platter was good as an appetizer. My recommendation would be to hit this place for beer and apps and a great view, but wouldn't stick around for dinner.

Out of charater Poor service and a dry chicken sandwich Placing an order was potluck on what you actually got

We used to go here a lot and it was our favorite as of 3-4 years ago. The past few times we have gone, the service has typically been slow and the food was lacking. This past time, the service was average but the food wasn't great. Our clams were under cooked, the grilled cheese for our daughter was very crunchy, and our $14 scallop plate was comprised of 3 small scallops and a tiny salad. We loved going here because it's a beautiful deck and the food was always excellent, but the food has gone to average or below average and the prices are high.

Outdoor waterfront seating, check. Seafood, check. Booze, check. Friendly waitress, check. We had a great time last night...snacks and drinks on the deck while watching the tide come in. The mussels were so mmmmmm but I really loved the monk nuggets with chipotle mayo! The sangria was delicious and should be considered a must have.

I love this place. We just moved to Thomaston and this is our to go to place on the water for a Dark and Stormy and appetizers. Don't skip the paté!

Delighted Slipway is back after being closed in 2018. Known for seafood, don't overlook the the vegetable plate! It is extraordinary -- one of the best anywhere!

Sandy clAms food was not worth the price. Pretty spot but food was sub par. Overpriced and not good.

Off the beaten path for sure...and thanks be to God for that. Laid back dock that juts out on the river. Great fresh food..quick service ..Amy was great

Some of the best chowder we have had in Maine. Incredible... All the food was amazing. Super cute little place. Definitely recommend if in the area or driving through.

Awesome location, good layout for Covid-19 dining, mediocre service, inconsistent quality, way overpriced. The "local" cheese plate was two hunks of cheese, a sliver of another cheese, three small slices of ciabatta from the grocery store, and some carmelized onion relish. When we asked about the Aleppo pepper and chives advertised on the menu, they said, ah, well, we don't have those. Fourteen bucks. Local oysters on the half shell were outstanding -- but 6 for $14, in Maine! Haddock plate a generous and fresh portion, properly cooked, fries really good. Roasted beet salad for $12 was not as good as Whole Foods. Mussels farmed from PEI, that's okay, but 12 of them for another $14 with a weak wine and dijon sauce. With two decent glasses of wine, two good craft beers, two cocktails, bill with tip at $200 for 4, I'm underwhelmed. Try downtown Rockland, 4 miles away, with more choice, better quality, better pricing, better service.

The summer vegetarian plate was delicious, lots of fresh vegetables cooked & seasoned well. Desserts are well worth saving room for, whipped cream is homemade.