Bob's Clam Hut — Restaurant in Kittery

Well, the tv show, "Diners, Drive Ins, And Dives" sure got it right with this place. It's just a nice, unassuming little building right next to The Kittery Trading Post. I ordered some fish chowder that was much to my liking. Creamy broth, but not a thick, pasty congealed blob that seems to be what so many restaurants serve as chowder these days. Plenty of potatoes and of course fish in it. A very satisfying chowder, but after sampling my son's clam chowder, I'd wished I'd opted for that. As good as the fish chowder was, the clam variety was even better. On my latest visit, I tried the lobster stew. WOW! Is it good! Celery, carrots, potatoes, and plenty of lobster, both large chunks and small pieces, along with a bit of cayenne pepper I think, gave it lots of flavor and a nice hint of heat The lady that took my order at the counter (you order and your number is called when it's ready), steered me right when I at first ordered one thing and she suggested a different combo, less expensive, that fit my request better. Thank you counter lady! I had a split platter with clams fried Bob's way, his mom, Lillian's way, and oysters. All delicious, sweet, fresh and tender. Bob's and Lillian's way use slightly different methods of coating. Both wonderful and equally good to my tastes! My son rightfully noted that the clams he and I had were cooked to absolute perfection, with no greasiness AT ALL. Even picking up the clams & oysters with your fingers left no oil on them. I'll be returning soon when my sister & I come up to visit my brother after the Christmas holidays. This was a...

This restaurant used to be a bi-yearly destination for my family and friends. Sadly the food was overpriced, not hot and very unhealthy. There was no ice on the self-serve soda machine, hornet’s all over the soda machine to the point the kids were afraid to fill up their cups. The children’s chicken tenders were over fried and really “ nasty” and i told our 11 year old not eat such “ crappy- unhealthy food item. The hamburgers were beyond cold and we were unable to finish them. My friends and family were so insulted by the woman taking our order and my friends wife gave her a 20% tip as she was afraid the cooks would taint or spit in her food and retaliate against us. The parking lot was a “ gravel dust bowl” and left my white ford truck in filth. The local board of health should do a major inspection of this substandard food establishment and shut it down. I will never eat here again. All of us felt ill after eating our food. My friends were angry i suggested this place. This place must have been sold to new owners because the owners used to run this place like clockwork and had pride in their service snd restaurant cleanliness. Avoid this tourist trap - it was beyond a food nightmare. AI couldn’t fix this place. Very bad experience to end my Maine vacation. Ugghhh* Maine has some of the best restaurants and food choices in New England- this is the worst food and terrible experience in my sixty- plus years of life. * Danger - Danger found here!!! Avoid this place...

Nov. 8, 2020 - One of New England’s iconic seafood spots on rt. 1 in Kittery, Maine! In this COVID era of face masks and dining outside . . . Couldn’t get a more beautiful day for baskets of fresh New England seafood, than at Bob’s Clam Shack ( since 1956)!

Small place with more outside eating area than inside dining space, felt great to be outside in the sunshine at one of the picnic tables. Management organized the outside “ ordering” line off to one side. . . then a 20 minute wait over at the “ pick up” window. They take cash or credit cards! Out front, you can people watch, and count cars driving by on rt. 1 if conversation is slow. There are many picnic tables out back. As I walked through the inside dining area , rather quaint and comforting with articles & paintings of nostalgia . . . especially Gilligan’s Island characters on the wall !

The food is the draw! No frills, with self-service! My wife enjoyed her haddock fish sandwich with fries, lettuce, tomato, on a fresh roll with Tatar sauce! Our friends loved their lobster roll and clam roll ( whole bellies) ! My combo plate was cooked perfectly with fried scallops & whole belly fried clams over French fries, and semi-sweet coleslaw on the side! Great lunch worth 5 stars! Only drawback . . . I’d change a highway view for a cottage lined coast with sailboats tethered in a cove. ( Harpswell, Boothbay, Five Islands, etc.)

Overall. . . My rating is...