Kittery, Maine: Bob’s Clam Hut

I used to enjoy the occasional lobster roll at restaurants throughout my landlocked city of Chicago, but then I tried the lobster roll at Bob’s Clam Hut in Kittery, ME. Sister restaurant to Robert’s Maine Grill, Bob’s will raise the bar for all of your future lobster roll experiences. 

Bob’s Clam Hut has kept its lobster roll recipe the same for the past 50 years and I understand why: there is no need to fix what isn’t broken and Bob’s lobster roll is perfection. There’s no better way to serve their juicy chunks of Maine lobster than to toss them with a little mayonnaise and pack them into a grilled, buttered hot dog bun.

Bob’s was established in 1956 as what they refer to as “the locals’ golden fried standard.” Now Bob’s is a favorite spot for locals and travelers looking for classic seafood served with straightforward simplicity.  Fresh lobster and clams are delivered daily for customer favorites, including Bob’s New England Clam Chowder, Lobster Stew, the traditional Bob’s fried clams, and the Lillian fried clams.

Part of Bob’s charm is that like its recipes, the restaurant’s decor has remained constant over the years, sticking with its New England seafood shack vibe that customers have grown to love. The staff even uses the same cook-to-order system that Bob and his family developed way back when the Clam Hut first opened.

Along with the lobster rolls at Bob’s, pretty much everything else that goes into the fryer comes out in a state of perfection. I’d never had fried clams before my visit to Bob’s, so while I have little to compare them against, I’m going to assume that based on the quality of the lobster rolls, the clams are top notch too. The menu includes other types of seafood, like haddock, scallops, shrimp, calamari, oysters, crab cakes, clam cakes and even the obligatory burger.

Though popularity undoubtedly peaks in the summer, Bob’s is open year round and is dedicated to its community. The restaurant offers “be a regular” discounts and is consistently increasing efforts to be environmentally conscious, including the recent installation of rooftop solar panels, composting and recycling programs, to name a few.