Young's Lobster Pound

(7/27/25) my brother brought me here for my first dining experience here and MY OH MY it will definitely not be my last time here!! Fantastic seafood!!! Fresh right off the lobster boats! We had their steamed lobsters, clams, corn on the cob, and it’s “bring your own drinks” or they offer fountain drinks. I love the atmosphere here. You can place your order and watch the entire process of how they select, weigh, prep, cook, and plate your orders. It is quite an impressive production line they’ve got set up here! There’s seating indoors and the outdoor seating includes ground-level, a second-level deck overlooking the Bay, and picnic tables out front. Plenty of parking spaces. Located conveniently off Route 1. I’ve driven by this lobster pound so many times it’s a sin that I’ve never stopped by here before today! The employees here are amazing and the owner came by twice to check on us and chat with us. This is by far my best experience at a Maine seafood eatery! (I am a year round Maine resident. Highly recommend!!

Great place to buy your seafood. Good prices and quality food. We got lobsters, shrimp and clams, and cooked them ourselves. Great prices. Lobster was good, but the shrimp were large and delicious. Friends got prepared food, and enjoyed it for the price. It hard to beat the freshness. Staff was friendly, although it’s noisy so hard to hear at times.

Atmosphere is absolutely amazing. Food is even better, fresh lobster straight out of the seawater? What more can you ask for. Clams, muscles, lobster, and shrimp all in a bucket fresh steamed in the salt water. As tasty as it gets. The view is absolutely worth it too!

Located right on the river, the seafood is the freshest. Plenty of table space upstairs or out on a dock, but when the boats are unloading, the only access to the riverside tables is through the front door. Gluten-free buns available for the lobster and crab rolls.

Went here on a Sunday evening in August and it was very busy and came highly recommended however they were out of mussels and replaced them with clams and when I complained to the manager he said “he likes clams better” with no apology or offer to replace them with something else. The lobster and clams were overly salty, the clams were gritty, and the chowder was subpar. The location is pretty cool with a good view of the harbor, the crabs and lobsters in the building where you order, and lots of outdoor seating.

We go to Young’s lobster every year in the summer time as a family tradition. However, this is the first time we had a bad taste in our mouths(not one single thing) which made us write this review and give up our tradition. It is Saturday and it is busy we understand. The person who took our order was rude, while we were waiting for our food we got kicked out rudely. Four of our grilled sandwiches had fish which tasted dry and more importantly the buns were so burned that you could not taste fish at all.

Incredible place. Outdoor deck has spectacular views of Belfast. One of the best lobster rolls you can get in Maine, served with style. This is truly a lobster pound, but you can buy all kinds of fresh seafood. The interior is nice and chaotic, with staff members hollering seemingly random numbers to customers (ours was thirteen thousand forty five) and crowds milling about aimlessly. Truly a uniquely entertaining and highly memorable experience!

At the mouthful of the passagassawakeag river sits the historic Youngs Lobster Pound. Simple in frame, proud in heritage, unmatched in feeding the local Belfast community lobster. The setup is simple. Drive down a gravel road to a parking lot that accommodates about 40 cars. Park and proceed to a large barn. Enter, and on the right, you pick, and they cook your lobster (they have other things on the menu) but stick with lobster. On the left are rows of tanks with fresh live lobsters swimming around. A single staircase leads to the floor above for the indoor seating. Walk around it and proceed to where the outdoor picnic tables are overlooking the town of Belfast Maine. This is the quintessential, New England, picture book setting for a picnic with the added bonus that the picnic features LOBSTER!!! You can get softshell up to about 2 lbs in weight. Hardshell till about 4.5 lbs in weight. It's a matter of preference. Just get some. They boil it for you, crack the shell, pair it with salty clarified butter, and serve on simple aluminum foil trays. You sit by the ocean, eating with your fingers, dunking the sweet lobster tpail in the hot butter, and counting your blessings!!! There are other things on the menu that are also great. But it is called Young's LOBSTER pound!!!

Are you looking for a genuine lobster experience in Maine? Well, Young's is the place to go. What a great time we had! Actually, I can't believe they don't have five stars. Anybody who gave these people bad reviews should seriously reconsider and go back. The atmosphere was amazing and the men working in the kitchen were amazing and we were able to bring our own drinks. It was just really a great experience. We tried lobster rolls everywhere else we could and they just couldn't live up to Young's lobster pound! We came all the way from California and there are no regrets going to Young's lobster Pound. We liked it so much we all got sweatshirts! If you actually want a real experience with delicious lobster, then go to Young's lobster Pound. Forget about those touristy traps over in Belfast and Bar Harbor! I highly recommend Young's

Best meal I had in Maine! It's right on the water and super casual- you can bring any additional food/drinks/whatever, eat outside or upstairs at picnic tables. It's fun to just wander around while waiting for your food to be ready. It's also not expensive. I got a lobster, corn on the cob, and coleslaw. One of the staff helped me pick a lobster out of the tank. After it and the corn were cooked, he expertly sliced the lobster in a few places that made eating a breeze- didn't even need any special tools. For those who don't like seafood, there are a few options. My husband reported that the chicken sandwich was solid, and he would try the steak tips option.

Great spot for super fresh seafood. This place is a no frills order as is and super fresh food right on the water. It's order at the counter and byob so keep that in mind if you want something more than a soda. Also it is not a place you are going to order a fried clam plate. They don't do fried anything which I kind of appreciate. I ordered a haddock sandwich and shared steamers. I'd go back for that sandwich for sure. Was a fun surprise when asked If I wanted mayo or tartar sauce. Tarter all the way!

Our first time here. Incredible deal on a bucket for 2: 2 lobsters, 2 corn on cob, 2lb steamers, 2lb mussels for $80. Huge amount of food. Only complaint was everything a bit salty for my taste. Maybe they boil it all in sea water? People in the know brought their own wine and beer, table cloths to cover the not too clean picnic tables and even silver ware. Great view on water. Down and dirty lobster pound no frills. Good experience.

This is a total tourist TRAP! My husband and went and we got 1 lobster with streamer, a bowl (horrible clam chowder, it was fish soup for $25.00) and a sandwich. It was over $90.00. I do not recommend this place! They even charge you an extra fee if you want to do take out.

No frills but tasty reasonable prices. One of the lowest prices for lobster around the area.

Food was great. Self service was a little confusing. I was able to park close to the picnic table which really helped my handicap relative.

Can't beat the price and freshness. Many options. There is coleslaw and corn sides which are great! Bring your own potato salad, beer or wine, and picnic tablecloth (or just wipe to wipe off the picnic tables... they keep them pretty clean) to complete the meal. Very nice experience and friendly staff. There are clean bathrooms inside too.

You can't beat the location - amazing outdoor seating. Lobster roll was expensive, but good. They LOADED it with fresh, made to order lobster so I'd say it was worth it. Clam chowder was also expensive and not great in my opinion, but it was also loaded with a lot of clam meat. They don't scrimp on the meat! Staff was friendly and welcoming. It was fun to stroll around the facility while we waited for our food.

LOCATION: Young's Lobster Pound and Seafood Restaurant is located off Route 1, and as expected for a lobster pound, connected to a harbor. EXPERIENCE: I came across Young's Lobster Pound and Seafood Restaurant during an early summer afternoon just as they were opening for prepared food service. Since Young's harvests, sells, and prepares lobsters a visit is an ideal way to experience Maine culture and food. A variety of freshly prepared shellfish and lobster combinations are on the menu. Lobster and shellfish are plucked from one of many aquarium tanks at the pound. Fish dishes and rolls (including lobster rolls) are available too. AMBIANCE: An interior dining area upstairs allows customers to dine while overlooking Belfast Bay. This was fortuitous for us, as a torrential downpour began shortly after our arrival, making a visit to a roadside lobster roll joint far less attractive. That said, harbor front picnic tables are also available. Another benefit of making Young's your destination, rather than a roadside shack, is the availability of a conventional bathroom for guests to wash their hands before and after enjoying their seafood platters. SERVICE: Service is efficient. There is a system for taking and preparing orders made at the counter and online. TIPS: One benefit of the food ordering and preparation process at Young's is that opportunity to see platters and combinations as they are picked up may help you decide what to order yourself ! Take out orders can be submitted online via TOAST, making it easy to plan to swing by Young 's at just the right time.

This place is an unusual lobster pound. Good unusual. So many lobsters in all those tanks is amazing. The upstairs picnic tables are unusually unstable. But the food and the view is worth it.

The seafood couldn't get much fresher than from here. Delicious! My wife and I both enjoyed a crab roll and they were stuffed with fresh crab. It was a good and windy day so we sat in our truck and enjoyed them. It would be nice if the proximity to the ocean reflected in the price making it a bit more affordable but on route 1 in Belfast, it's kind of expected. The rolls were made quick and the staff were friendly.

Great experience, the real deal. Lobster delicious, first time eating clams, not my thing but an experience. The lobster stew a bit tuff. The corn was very good and being from the Midwest I wasn't expecting corn that good.

Love it! BYOB Enjoy the lobsters clams and many more. Credit card is accepted What else?

A lobster roll that was not served on a regular hamburger bun. Very disappointing. Also, the environment was not at all appealing to eat in.

Loved our meal! We had the Bucket List for 3, which included a lobster each, plus some shrimp, oysters on the half shell, mussels, clams and corn on the cob. Just simply steamed, the way it should be, with butter, lemon, cocktail sauce and bibs lol. We brought beer and wine with us and had a great picnic on the bay. The crew working the place were very animated and friendly, definitely recommend for the kind of meal you would expect at a Maine lobster pound.

Ok. So this is a down and dirty lobster pound. Figuratively, not literally. it doesn't get much more authentic. The lobster was fresh and delicious. There are other offerings, but it was suggested we stick to lobster and that was what we were here for anyway! Here are some tips... What to bring: Drinks. BYOB beer and wine. I suggest a tablecloth...a picnic type, not a fancy type. If you bring your dog (which we did), you must sit outside on the deck. Shade is very limited (depending on the time of day). Be prepared with a hat and sunscreen in case all the shade is taken. If you bring wine, bring your own glass and if you want ice, bring it for your cup. For your dog... They must be on leash and bring water and bowl. Only well behaved dogs will be welcome and are not welcomed inside (up or down). Place your order at the live lobster tank and they will give you an order number. It will be called on the back deck and inside the building when ready. You pay when order is delivered at pick up counter. We ordered the "twin" lobster dinner (at lunch) so that we could each take one of them home. Bring a cooler. Ice is available for purchase. You can order more butter, but we found the amount supplied was plenty. It was a great choice. They offered to "crack" them for us and we took them up on that offer. It made eating much easier with less fuss. Bathroom are upstairs and were clean and supplied. No complaints. All in all, it was a great experience and I would happily come back. Next time a little more prepared!

So we were almost reaching Bar Harbor, but afraid what if all the restaurants closed? so we googled nearby restaurants while driving - and found this. yes, we were aware that restaurants in Bar Harbor Town are quite expensive - and read (while researching) that few local joints offer straight-out-of-the-sea lobsters/shrimp on a pound basis. it is that sort of restaurant (?) It's nothing fancy - a tried and true Maine lobster shack, built over the water with picnic tables and a gorgeous view of the harbor. it is a picnic-style lobster pound right on the water. When you reach here, you can see it's just one small section where they boil lobsters-shrimp and everything, and the rest of the sections- are where they keep their catches... we ordered- Seafood Sampler - I thought it would be more but just a few shrimps and 2 lobster tails (small) Grilled chicken Sandwich - amazing They have a sitting arrangement on the patio and upstairs and what a gorgeous view of the harbor - we spend our evening here watching the sunset.... a great stop...

The crabster roll was so good. It was so big. The seafood was so fresh! And the people who we talked to about lobsters were very kind and let us hold a 5 pound lobster! I highly recommend, it is the best meal we've had in Maine!

Best lobster roll I've ever had. Simple but beautiful spot. A little chaotic with ordering & waiting for our order but definitely worth it.

Great service! Tons of selection and it didn't disappoint! Very reasonably priced as well

The outdoor seating is refreshing. The lobster is cooked to order and the accompaniments are great! A must see!!

Amazing lobster roll - best we've had while here this season. LOTS of lobster meat and served with potato chips.

Mind blown!!! I asked an owner of a local antique shop if she had one day in Maine where would she eat lunch and she said YOUNG'S LOBSTER POUND and WOW it did not disappoint! We had the lobster roll, potato salad and coleslaw. Every bite was delicious. Everyone working there seemed to be having a really good time! We sat out on the deck and took in the beautiful view while eating our incredible meal. What a perfect Maine experience!

Views of the water with a no thrills pound. We came for lunch and got a lobster & clams meal and the lobster roll (hamburger roll instead). Gave us a number and came back in 20 mins. Lobster was wonderful. They cracked it for us. Lobster roll was full of meat. They take credit cards.

Average lobster pound. Nothing fancy at all. Rustic. Lobster and steamers good. Lobster stew , corn, average. Service was difficult. Very difficult to understand men working there. Hard to understand their system. Picnic tables were very rustic. Serve yourself.

This place is a lobster labor sweatshop, but in a good way. You got people churning and turning and clashing and boiling and fishing and selling lobster to you at a fast pace. But they got the deals and they know people come hungry. Good value for sure. One of the best we found in all of Maine. --boyfriend's review Nice spot to eat lobster on the water. Blueberry pie was OK. Lobster was really good. Clam chowder has lots of fresh pieces of large clam in it. -my review

Visited while on vacation in Maine...we ordered a lobster roll, lazy lobster in garlic butter and grilled halibut. Service was excellent and the food came out hot and delicious!! My favorite was the lazy lobster in garlic butter...I also used this sauce on my halibut...DELICIOUS!!! Plenty of tables outside and upstairs to sit at and enjoy the water views...Spectacular!!! Definitely will visit them again if ever back in Maine...give them a try!!

Beautiful view excellent food. Dog friendly. We sat at the picnic tables on the hill with our two Bernedoodles.

This is a great experience with a wonderful meal. There is nothing fancy. Lobster comes off the boat and you eat it. Service gets the job done with a smile. Highly recommend a hat to wear enjoy sitting on the dock to enjoy the view of the harbor. There is grilled chicken for us none lobster or crab eaters.

Rough and tough old fashioned sea food dock on a working water front, like eating at the guys house in the movie jaws lol. Clam chowder had gross clams and was too oily. Lobster sautee dinner perfectly done, lobster roll ok if somewhat bland. Fair portions of seafood for the price. Leave your uptight customer service expectations at the door these guys are working hard, but i've had better lobster dock meals in other parts of the region.

This is not a sit-down restaurant. It's a lobster pound operation that serves great, fresh food. I ordered 2 Maine Lobster rolls for my wife and I and when I got them back to our little cabin and unwrapped them it was incredible. The roll was stuffed to overflowing with chunks of fresh cooked lobster, tossed in a bit of mayo. Neither my wife or I was able to finish the roll and we kept it in our portable fridge/cooler and had it for lunch the next day on the road. Fantastic and highly recommended.

Fantastic spot. Fresh lobster cooked right. Fun place with real atmosphere. Bring your own beverages, sides, table cloth etc.

Great stop for a true lobster pound. Lobster was delicious. I would say skip the 22.00 chowder. Although it was tasty it isn't worth 22.00. Mostly potatoes and I know they do not cost much! To charge that price you need way more clams involved! I recommend stopping here. The view is also beautiful.

I lived in Belfast right after college in '02. I never visited this place until much later in life. I was touring my family through my old stomping grounds and we stumbled across Young's. What a place to visit and to enjoy the beautiful harbor picnic area seating. Just entering their lobster tank room is impressive. Ideally, you want to visit on a nice day so you can enjoy the outdoor seating and its BYOB. Food wise we've typically shared their 2 lobster sampler (see pic) which we've really enjoyed. You get an assortment of oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp and corn. They cut their lobster shells at key locations that make disassembly a breeze--no tools necessary! I've always really enjoyed eating their delicous lobster on the outside deck! We've also tried their lobster roll which didn't stand out from the crowd from what I remember. Overall, I think Youngs is a great stop if your traveling through the area and want to enjoy some harbor views of Belfast. I feel their menu is on the pricier end and their dishes don't come with some standard sides like other places. If you're headed to Acadia I'd wait for Thurstons so you could try their amazing blueberry cake.

Food is hard to beat for classic Maine seafood. Sit outside if you can, steep stairs inside for anyone over 50. Great view, on the water. Last visit the young man who waited on me had air pods in his ears. He rambled on and on and I thought maybe I just couldn't understand him. I couldn't figure out if he was talking to me or someone else. It was someone else, and he wasn't fully present. Was in a rush to get on with his call. I think I met a family member a few days earlier who was very cordial. He explained about the severe storm damage he sustained from the many storm that wShed away tons of his embankment. Its BYOB!!

Visited off meal times and there was still a line. Saw some customer order live ones to go and packed it in a cooler. The normal wait of cooking a lobster, plus a few mins to sort the orders, it took about 25 mins to reach the picnic bench. They call the order number over the loud speakers for pick up. The numbers are drastically different to avoid confusion and bad hearing. The lobster was perfectly cooked and probably came from a boat 2 piers down. We watched boats come in and unload as we were waiting for our food. The lobster sizes are according to month/seasonal timing. Nothing better than ocean fresh lobster caught within a few hours and cooked. The blueberry pie was delicious during blueberry season. The order line was building once we started on the pie, so that prevented us from ordering more pie. Prices were better than the touristy side of the island and lobster definitely better. Plenty of seating choices with inside option for those windy days.

Best lobster I've ever tasted. Was thankful that one of the workers noticed we were a little unsure of how to order so he helped us out in such a friendly way. People behind us have been coming here from Texas since 1981 because they said it's the best place around! It's byob so don't forget to bring a bottle opener or cork screw (and wine glasses!)

You must go! It's not fancy but it sure is as fresh as you can get it! Darn good too! Seafood lovers place to go! We loved our lunch there.

Amazing and fresh. Would go again in a heart beat. So good. Dont pass it by. I got the lobster roll and a canned beverage.

The freshest of freshest lobster you can get! I went with a classic lobster roll, which looks like a burger. It comes with a packet of chips. There is ample parking and dine in space. I was grabbing lunch while on a road trip through Maine and stopped by for some food. The washrooms are clean. The service is friendly. The food is phenomenally fresh! 10/10 would recommend!

Cook the lobstah right in front of you. Bring it inside chop it up throw some mayo, lettuce and lobster on a toasted roll. What can be better? So fresh. Chips and pickles a little clam chowder (awesome) loved this spot.

We went here when driving through Belfast as Google seemed to say that it was the best place for lobster in the area and I have to say we were very underwhelmed. We both left still hungry even after paying around $70 for lunch. We knew that it would be pricier than any other lunch since lobster is expensive, but we really did not feel that we got as much food as we thought we would with what we were ordering. The lobster roll was pretty small and came with no sides whatsoever. The seafood sampler came with lobster, shrimp, and crab dip with chips. everything was OK, but honestly nothing special. Nothing really tasted like it had been seasoned at all. I am not sure if that is the vibe that they are going for with just having very fresh seafood and wanting you to taste that on its own, but we both prefer food a little bit more spiced up. Also, when we went, it was not very crowded and yet the workers at the counter were getting kind of crabby with people who were apparently not waiting for their orders in the right spot, even though it was just a big area and no one really knew where to go. Based on the bland taste, low quantities, and high prices, we will not be returning here and I do not think I would recommend it.

This is exactly what we had imagined when we planned our trip to Maine from Texas. It absolutely could not have been any better for our first meal out of Boston.

This is a great place if you want a simple and authentic seafood experience. Not to be missed if you are nearby.

One of the best grilled haddock sandwiches with light tartar sauce I ever had. Good chunk of haddock on a grilled bun with lettuce. Comes with chips and pickle. Ordered potato salad which was bare bones good. The only problem was that I did not order two sandwiches and I split it with my husband. A little hectic to order but worth it. Will return.

Over priced and extremely basic. I had the surf and turf and it basically was an overpriced boiled bug that wasn't even cleaned properly with some overcooked jerked beef.

Super disappointed in this place. The setting is lovely but the food is absurdly bad for the price point. Really enjoyed sitting on the benches and looking at the water. You can't really beat the location on the bay and the way they have it set up. But $25 for a bowl of chowder? This better be the best chowder of my life. Nope. They literally pour milk, salt, and oil on top of whatever you've ordered (lobster, clam, etc.) My friend's was inedibly salty, mine was just gross. Go somewhere else.

Wow....Let me start with wow. Probably the best mussels and lobster meal we've ever had. And that is saying a lot as we have enjoyed lobster meals across the east coast, including PEI, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. This was the freshest and most tender lobster we have ever had. Remember that this is not a sit down restaurant with service. You order at the main counter and then go up and grab a picnic table and await your order to be called. Regardless, best lobster and mussels!!! Highly recommend!