People Go Out Of Their Way For The Incredible Seafood At This Maine Restaurant

The road literally runs out of pavement and into a working wharf before you reach this lobster shack. Lobster boats tie up right beside the picnic tables. Your lunch may have been in the bay that morning.

The crab cakes skip the breadcrumb filler entirely. The tartar sauce gets made in-house with fresh dill and capers. Down East Magazine once called the fried clams the best in Maine, which is a bold title in a state full of clam shacks.

I appreciate how simple the whole setup feels. You order at a window, grab a table on the dock, and stare at five little islands across the water. In my opinion, that view alone could justify the drive.

The Road Ends And The Harbor Begins

Route 127 doesn’t fade out politely. It winds down the Georgetown peninsula and stops at a working fishing village on the water.

Sitting right there on the wharf is Five Islands Lobster Co., a seasonal seafood shack in Georgetown, Maine. The harbor around it gets called one of the prettiest in the state, and it’s easy to see why.

Five small islands sit out in Sheepscot Bay. Those islands gave the village its name, so the view basically comes with a label.

Lobster boats come and go from the same wharf where you eat. That means your scenery has a real job to do every day.

The drive down the peninsula is part of the fun too. Expect winding roads, glimpses of water, and plenty of classic coastal Maine scenery along the way.

Plan to take your time getting there. Rushing a road like this feels a little like speed-reading a good book.

Once you park, give yourself a minute before ordering. Walk the wharf, look out at the islands, and let your stomach build some suspense.

Trust me, the lobster will still be waiting. It’s had a busier morning than you.

Two Lobster Rolls, One Very Tough Decision

Choosing your lobster roll here is the hardest decision of the day. Both options make a strong case for themselves.

The classic Lobster Roll keeps things traditional. Fresh-picked lobster meat gets just a touch of mayonnaise, then lands on a buttered, grilled hot dog bun with lettuce.

Then there’s the Big Boy Lobster Roll. It packs twice the lobster meat into a homemade potato roll, which sounds less like a sandwich and more like a dare.

Hungry crew members might go big right away. Smaller appetites can stick with the classic and still leave room for dessert.

The lobster comes from the deep, cold waters around Georgetown. Cold water is a big part of what makes Maine lobster so famous.

Because the shack sits on a working wharf, the trip from boat to plate is a short one. That kind of freshness is hard to fake.

A smart move is splitting one of each with a friend. You get to compare, and nobody has to suffer from order envy.

Of course, sharing a lobster roll requires real trust. Choose your dining partner carefully.

Those Fried Clams Earned A Big Title

Best Fried Clams in Maine. Down East Magazine handed that title to Five Islands Lobster Co., and that’s not a casual compliment.

Maine takes its clams seriously. Plenty of shacks along the coast would love that bragging right, so earning it says a lot.

The clams here are hand-breaded. That extra care shows the kitchen isn’t just dumping something from a bag into a fryer.

Lobster may get top billing on the sign. Still, skipping the clams would be like visiting the beach and never looking at the water.

Pair them with the house tartar sauce for the full effect. It’s made in-house with fresh dill and capers, giving the clams a bright partner.

Clams also make a great sharing plate for the table. Pass them around while everyone waits on their lobster rolls.

First-timers sometimes feel torn between clams and lobster. Honestly, ordering both is the easiest way to solve that problem.

Nobody ever regretted having extra fried seafood on a sunny Maine dock. At least, nobody willing to admit it.

Crab Cakes Without The Filler Fuss

All crab, no breadcrumb filler. That’s the promise behind the crab cakes, and it’s a refreshing one.

Many crab cakes lean on bread to stretch things out. Here, the crab gets to carry the whole show by itself.

The rest of the menu keeps the ocean theme going strong. You’ll find freshly dug steamers, scallops, and haddock served grilled or fried.

Steamers are a Maine classic worth trying at least once. If you’ve never eaten them, the shack is a fine place to learn.

The haddock option is handy for groups with mixed tastes. Someone who wants something lighter can go grilled, while fried fans get their crunch.

Scallops round things out for anyone who likes a sweeter bite of seafood. Variety like this keeps everybody at the table happy.

Not everyone in your group has to be a lobster person. The menu makes room for picky eaters and adventurous ones alike.

My tip? Order a few different plates and share them family-style. A dock full of seafood was made for passing plates across the picnic table.

Sauces That Deserve Their Own Fan Club

Original recipes, made from scratch. The sauces at Five Islands Lobster Co. get as much attention as the seafood, which is rare for a shack.

The tartar sauce is bright with fresh dill and capers. It’s the kind of dip that makes you hunt for more fried things to dunk.

Want a little heat? The cilantro-jalapeno mayonnaise brings a kick that wakes up fried clams or haddock.

There’s also a mustard dill spread to try. Think of it as the quieter cousin with plenty of personality.

The kitchen also makes its soups in-house. That homemade approach runs all through the menu, not just in the main dishes.

Small details like these separate a good seafood stop from a memorable one. Anyone can fry fish, but not everyone bothers making their own sauces.

Here’s a fun plan for your table. Grab a few sauces and hold a taste test with whatever seafood you order.

You might discover a new favorite combo. Just don’t be surprised if everyone fights over the last scoop of tartar.

Order At The Window, Eat With A View

No hostess stand, no fancy menus, no tablecloths. You walk up to a window, place your order, and find a picnic table outside.

That casual style is exactly the point. Five Islands Lobster Co. keeps the setup simple so the food and harbor can shine.

The tables sit right on the dock. Lobster boats, gulls, and island views make up the decor, and nobody had to hire a designer.

You’ll find the shack at 1447 Five Islands Rd, Georgetown, ME 04548. Put it in your GPS before you lose signal on the winding roads.

Outdoor seating means weather matters. Check the forecast and pack a light jacket, since ocean breezes in Maine can be cooler than you’d expect.

The shack runs seasonally, so check current hours before heading out. Nothing stings like a long drive to a closed window.

Kids will likely enjoy watching the boats as much as eating. It’s a built-in show without any screens involved.

Relaxed dining like this lets you slow down. Take your time, finish your meal, and enjoy that harbor view a little longer.

A Family Story Behind Every Basket

Some businesses feel like part of the family, and this one truly is. Keith and Gina Longbottom took great pride in running Five Islands Lobster Co.

The shack has been a fixture on the Georgetown waterfront since 2007. Over the years, it grew into a favorite stop for seafood fans along the coast.

In 2019, the family lost Keith. It was a heavy moment for everyone who loved the place and the people behind it.

Gina and the Longbottom family kept the business going. Hours were scaled back afterward, but the shack stayed open on the wharf.

That kind of commitment means a lot in a small coastal community. It shows how deeply this spot matters to the people who run it.

Knowing the story adds meaning to your visit. Every basket of clams comes from a family that chose to keep going.

So when you grab your lobster roll, take a second to appreciate it. Family-run places like this help keep coastal Maine special.

Be patient and kind when lines form. A little thanks at the window goes a long way.

Big-Name Magazines Keep Noticing

Time magazine once put this little wharf shack on its list of the 8 best seafood spots in New England. That happened back in 2016, and the praise didn’t stop there.

Coastal Living Magazine named it one of the best seafood dives in the state. The lobster rolls got a special shout-out in that recognition.

Down East magazine has also nominated Five Islands Lobster Co. in its best of Maine lists. That’s on top of the clam crown mentioned earlier.

Awards don’t fill your plate, of course. Still, steady attention from respected publications usually means a kitchen is doing something right.

Picture a shack with an order window landing on national lists. It’s a reminder that great food doesn’t need fancy walls around it.

These honors also explain why people travel so far to get here. The detour down the peninsula has a strong reputation backing it up.

Bragging rights are part of the fun too. Your friends back home will want to hear about the famous clams.

Bring a camera for that harbor shot. Magazines aren’t the only ones who can take nice photos.

Save Room For A Scoop By The Water

Dessert sits just steps away from the lobster window. An ice cream stand next door serves Gifford’s Ice Cream, a well-known Maine brand.

That makes the perfect ending pretty easy to plan. Finish your seafood, wander over, and grab a cone.

Kids especially love this part of the visit. Honestly, plenty of grown-ups treat it as the main event too.

A scoop of ice cream pairs nicely with salty sea air. It’s the sweet balance after a basket of fried clams.

Walking the wharf with a cone in hand is a classic summer move. The boats and islands look even better with dessert involved.

Keep an eye on drips if the sun is strong. Napkins are your friend, and so is eating a little faster than usual.

This final stop wraps up the whole trip nicely. Great seafood, a pretty harbor, and ice cream make a hard combo to beat in Maine.

Before you leave, take one last look at those five islands. You’ll probably start planning your next visit on the drive home.