Abel’s Lobster (Mount Desert Island, Maine)

Looking for a lobster pound near Bar Harbor, Maine? Check out the Abel’s Lobster on Mount Desert Island for wood-fired, freshly caught lobster and other gourmet seafood.

Lobster and the state of Maine are two things that are absolutely tied together in my mind.

It’s like a word association game.

So while talking vacation options this year, when the husband said “Maine,” I thought “lobster,” and the rest is history.

It’s true Maine has more to offer than good food! We loved the wild scenery at Acadia National Park, as we hiked the Beehive Trail, the Bubble Mountains, and the Cadillac North Ridge Trail.

But the food was a big part of our good memories, and Abel’s Lobster Pound was one of my favorites. It’s located on the waterfront on Mount Desert Island, just a short drive from downtown Bar Harbor.

Why Visit Abel’s?

I loved everything about Abel’s Lobster Pound.

Abel’s Lobster Pound makes, hands down, the best lobster we tried in Maine. The best lobster I’ve tasted, ever!

They wood-fire steam their lobsters in sea salt water. It makes all the difference! The lobster had subtle flavors of both the wood and the sea, and it was spectacular.

Abel’s Lobster Pound is open seasonally with lunch and dinner hours. Check their website before you go. They also open up online ordering if they’re not super busy!

The restaurant is located in a boatyard, and the good news is, there’s lots of parking! There’s even some dock space for boaters to stop off and enjoy a meal here.

While there is some outdoor seating, it fills up quickly. This is a restaurant with table service, and the servers will even help explain how to shell a lobster if needed.

We were glad to snag one of the outdoor spots for our meal!

A bit further inland, we also loved The Travelin’ Lobster, another classic and delicious spot.

Getting to Abel’s Lobster Pound

The large roadside sign for Abel’s is easy to spot.

Turn at the sign, and you’ll drive downhill towards the shore.

You’ll pass some parked boats. Keep going: you’re in the right place.

We arrived just before Abel’s Lobster Pound opened for the day, and there was a line forming quickly.

What I’m saying is, get there early!

Happily, our outdoor seating came with a view.

We could see the lobster boats in the water in front of us, and even watched as they hauled new batches of lobster out of the water.

Our seats were right next to the lobster “tanks,” which we found really cool!

Abel’s Lobster Pound has a limited menu, but you still might have a hard time picking something out of all the appealing options.

We opted for oysters on the half shell, a whole lobster, and a lobster roll.

We also tried some local beer and a blueberry margarita.

The oysters had the fantastic flavor I would expect from cold-water oysters.

And the blueberry margarita was amazing!

Maine and blueberries are two more things that are impossible to separate in my mind.

The lobster roll was tossed with chive mayo, and it tasted like it was served on garlic bread. A very good thing, as you’ll probably agree!

I was so inspired by the garlic bread and chive mayo that I re-created the experience at home with a homemade langostino lobster roll. (Langostino is also delicious in a risotto.)

The lobster came with a bib, seafood crackers, drawn butter and Abel’s lobster sauce. We liked the sauce, but the butter was amazing.

We devoured the whole lobster.

This is when words sort of fail me. It was so, so good.

Just like with the lobster rolls, once I got back home, I created my own versions of the butter sauce for some broiled lobster tails. It’s not the same as having it in Maine from Abel’s, but we do what we can.

Are you planning a summertime trip to Acadia National Park? Don’t let this fresh-air, fresh lobster dining experience slip by.

It’s one of those places you’ll come home talking about!