Thurston’s Lobster Pound – Best Places to Eat in Bar Harbor

I found out about Thurston’s Lobster Pound originally in my Lonely Planet guidebook. The book highlights the best Road Trips in the US, and it mentions the Bass Harbor Lighthouse, and Thurston’s Lobster Pound. I must admit, no matter how many times I visit these two places, they never ever get old.

Here’s the book…

Amazingly enough, I’ve never done any of the other road trips in this book, but they are on my list. LOL.

Thurston’s is right on the water in Bernard, Maine. From their website –

From Memorial Day weekend through mid October, Thurston’s Lobster Pound provides a friendly, relaxed dining experience that is quintessentially Maine. Sitting on a dock that hovers over the bay, our awning covered dining rooms create the perfect balance of outside and in.

From your seat above the harbor, you’ll see the lobster boats return to our wharf with the day’s catch. Watch the crew carry those same lobsters up to our restaurant tank, and try to imagine a fresher, more local meal!

Our menu is centered around locally harvested lobster and crab, while also offering a full range of options for those without a love for seafood. Your meal, whether a traditional lobster dinner, or a cheeseburger and potato salad, will be prepared with the freshest ingredients. We look forward to serving you!

Getting There

Thurston’s is located in a fishing town called Bernard. It’s a bit outside Bar Harbor, so you’ll need to plan travel time, and also wait time.

What to Order

You will probably have to wait in line to get in, depending on the season. There is a bar you can grab a drink from if you’d like one while you’re waiting in line! They do have a nice drink selection as well. You order at the counter, then get a number and bring it to your table. They will then serve you. There’s much more than lobster here, so you can have a total feast. But whatever you do, don’t forget to get the blueberry cake. Worth every cheat moment.

My friends got THE BIGGEST LOBSTER AVAILABLE, a 3 pounder. Haha! We tried some lobster fondue and some crabcakes as well. No shocker, all was delicious. I have also had burgers here in the past, and they were just as delicious, cooked on an open grill.

We stayed for sunset and great conversation. Make sure you sign the guestbook before you leave Thurston’s Lobster Pound! It definitely is the best place for lobster in Bar Harbor, near Acadia National Park, or on Mount Desert Island.

Enjoy!

DD

Want to order your own shore dinner to your house? Check out this link from Amazon!

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