Maine Seafood Review: Acadia & Portland Lobster

Many travelers rave about The Travelin Lobster, LLC, so I made sure to check it out 🦞. I went in hoping to catch my own lobster, but that option wasn’t available—still, the prices were surprisingly budget-friendly. I ordered a 1.5lb lobster plus a bottle of blueberry soda, and the total came to just $26, a great deal for fresh Maine seafood 🍹. Next up was Blaze’s grilled lobster, which I’d call the best lobster I’ve ever had 🔥. It was packed with rich buttery and milky flavors that seeped into every tender chunk of meat, and even the side of roasted baby potatoes was a hit—perfectly seasoned and full of flavor 🥔. The spot is in Acadia National Park’s Village Center, where the small town buzzes with energy. After the meal, I wandered to nearby souvenir shops to pick up a little memento, then grabbed another soda; the whole experience (food + souvenir + drink) cost around $70, and it was totally worth it for the taste and convenience 🏞️. Then there’s the popular ISF Trading Market in Portland, a bustling wholesale-style spot 🛒. I got a sashimi platter, salted sea urchin, and a serving of rice with nori, all for roughly $50. Eating there was easy—they have seating right on-site—and there were even staff who spoke Chinese, which was helpful. Most diners seemed to be Chinese too, making it feel a bit like a familiar spot abroad 🇨🇳. Unfortunately, the sea urchin was a total letdown. Maybe it was just an off day for quality, but it was overly salty and fishy, with none of the sweet, fresh taste you expect from good urchin 🐡. On the bright side, the sashimi platter was fantastic—especially the salmon, which was way more flavorful and aromatic than what you get at most sushi restaurants. If I go back, I’ll definitely stick to just the salmon 🐠. Over at Lobster Co. in Portland, their lobster roll cost about $35 🥐. It was on the small side, though to be fair, lobster rolls rarely taste bad. That said, I probably won’t order a roll there again. It seems like most places use claw meat for their rolls, and the upper part of the claw just doesn’t have the same juicy, sweet texture as other parts of the lobster 🦞. The shop’s upsides? It has a live band playing, a lovely ocean view, and stays open late—great for evening bites 🎶. The music was nice, though I did get hit on by an older guy, which was a slight awkward detour 😅. Last but not least, Figures 11-12 show a lobster roll from a spot near Acadia, priced around $45 📸. It was bigger and tastier than the one in Portland, but I stand by my thought: if you’re in Maine, skip the rolls and go for whole lobsters instead—you get way more of that fresh, succulent meat you’re there for! #Maine #InternationalStudentLife #Portland #AcadiaFood #BarHarbor #Lobster #BostonLobster #Seafood #MaineLobster #TravelEats #FoodieAdventure #CoastalEats #SeafoodReview #LobsterRoll #AcadiaNationalPark