Reviews of Gilberts Chowder House. (Restaurant) in Portland (Oregon).

Gilberts Chowder House

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Restaurant

Restaurant

92 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101, United States

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Information of Gilberts Chowder House, Restaurant in Portland (Oregon)

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Reviews of Gilberts Chowder House

Nicholas Klein

When making my travel plans for going to Maine for the first time, seeking a variety of fresh seafood, this made the list for having amazing chowders and better yet - one loaded with lobster! I'm SO glad I came out to Portland to give it a try. I went ALL in with a bread bowl fully loaded. Wow it packed a lot of flavor and would definitely get it again! The lobster was a bit chewy, versus tender, but I can't knock it for that when everything else was super delicious. My wife, who does NOT like seafood, had surprisingly amazing chicken tenders as well.

Robert Backstrom

Stopped in this little place for dinner. The chowders were amazing as advertised. I got the clam chowder and my wife got the haddock chowder. Both were A+ we also tried some appetizers and I got a lobster grilled cheese and my wife got a lobster roll. Both were really good. I thought the appetizers could be a bit better but all in all great food at a good price.

Scott Looney

This place is great. It's small so be patient for a table but it's worth the wait. The chowders are very very good. I also had the fried shrimp dinner, my mom had the haddock sandwich. All of them were delicious. Just go in and try it, you wont regret it.

Taeyoung Kim

I love coming to Portland for seafood and this is hands down the best seafood experience in all of Portland. Everything is so fresh. The seafood gets delivered and everything is made on the spot. We come multiples times a year, and now we know why they’re always so busy. It’s well worth the wait and we’ll be back every time we’re in town.

Andrew Nagelin

When you hear guys a few tables away talking about the tides and fishing gear, you know you're not eating in a tourist trap. The place was full but tables turned and we found a table. The clam chowder was excellent and the beer was cold. The scallop dinner was good and we left full and happy. There was one waitress and she did a great job.

Kevin Johan Wong

A classic in Portland Maine, what lacks in decor is made up for in the heart chowders. Although the majority of the dishes are fried the freshness of the seafood won’t disappoint. Closer to 3.5 stars but the seafood chilly helps push it over the edge!

Mir Ali

Stellar. Amazing lobster roll. Amazing chowder and crispy fish and chips. Yes, lobster roll is relatively expensive, however the portion you are given does not disappoint. Great cozy feel inside the restaurant. Easy recommendation for a lunch spot.

Joshua Smith

A bartender recommended this place for the best chowder and I think they were right. I had a half lobster roll and a clam chowder the first time I visited and the roll was nothing special but the chowder was great. I returned the next day for lunch and ordered only the seafood chowder. It was amazing. Loaded with lobster, shrimp, haddock, and clams it was plenty for a meal. If I was in town longer I'd definitely return for lunch. Get the chowder!

Kevin Wright

Had the super seafood chowder and a lobster roll plus a local beer. Great food. Folks were nice and the atmosphere even at lunchtime excellent. My wife had the haddock chowder. I definitely recommend.

Benjamin Tiensvold

Stopped for lunch on a Saturday in October to try clam chowder while in Maine. The chowder did not disappoint. It was delicious, as was all of the food. The grilled cheese was the perfect pairing to dip in the chowder. Yum! Friendly, cheerful staff and decent prices.

Amy Fuller

Double Seafood chowder was great! Didn't realize you can order it by the gallon (this might have to happen on a future trip). Service was amazing as well.

Sarah Berry

This was the last meal we had before leaving Portland, Maine. By far the best chowder I've had all my life. My husband is a tough critic and he loved the special of the day. Very attentive service and food came out quick and hot. Pay for parking on the street or beside the building.

Drew R.

Best clam chowder I ever had hands down. Do yourself a favor and get the super clam chowder 100% worth it. The seafood was also incredibly good! The fried scallops were some of the best I ever had and the lobster sandwich went hard. As an added bonus, dogs are allowed as well !

yohanan svitavsky

All I can say is WOW. This place is heaven on earth. lobster BLT was possibly the best sandwich iv ever had, and the chowder was to die for. Clam cakes were perfect, service was amazing. Any bad review you see is absolutely bonkers, this place is seafood heaven.

David Sheffield

Great little place. We ate there twice on our trip. Staff was very friendly. The seafood chowder had everything in it. The fried clamstrips were so much better than at home.

Jason Tenzer

Our first time in Portland. We chose to stay on Fore St which is right near a bunch of restaurants. We stopped at Gilbert's for lunch. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. We got the clam chowder, Lobster roll, and fried shrimp. Everything was OK. I was hoping for a little more Lobster in the roll. It looks like alot in photo, but there's some lettuce on the bottom. I did like that they give you the option of mayo or butter on the Lobster roll, but you have to ask. If you don't ask, it comes with mayo.

Wandee Supannaroch

I real love seafood chowder from this restaurant. I could not stop eating it till it was gone lol. Even I ordered the small bowl to just try it but it impressed me a lot with bunch of seafood (lobster meat, shrimps, fish, clams)

THERESA MUNROE

Authentic indie owned, very popular chowder house in the Old Port section of Portland. We all had clam chowder in a bread bowl and it was yummy. Great first meal back in Maine.

Richard McIntosh

Nice place. Wife had a great lobster roll, classic style, loads of lobster meat. I had the clam chowder, excellent, lots of clams and potatoes. Basically a large is a meal

Marie Kern

Wow, this place was the place to be!! Casual setting but by far on of the best places to have chowder. All types of chowder and stew were excellent. Also had very light flakey fish that was great. Pictured is the seafood chowder. Service was very good and really enjoyed our stop here.

Kenneth Ritenour

Wife had the seafood chowder which was served in a tall paper cup. It was full and you couldn't stick your spoon into without spilling it. Lots of lobster pieces etc. Had to get a small cup to pour some into. My baked haddock was just ok.

Camille Stelly

Went for some lunch and got both great food and service. The small chowder is a good portion and the fried haddock meal was enough for two people.

Keith A.

It's everything you want in a Chowder house here in the world capital of Lobster. Priced very reasonably, served quickly, and the whole atmosphere seems it hasn't changed since the 1960's. It's not a white table cloth establishment, but the quality is there, and you'll feast on fresh lobster for 30% of what you'd pay in NYC.

Miscellaneous Muzik

I stopped by Gilbert's Chowder House for lunch and the food was worth the wait. Gilbert's had a long line waiting to get in and I almost walked away. Service was excellent, the atmosphere was playful and the prices were in line with other restaurants on the strip. It's definitely a must visit if you're in the area, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Chrissy S

10/10 super seafood chowder. I'd skip the onion rings (they were under-seasoned and under-crisp in our opinion), but stick to the seafood and you'll enjoy I'm sure . Waited a bit for a table since we wanted to sit out back (note: separate line around back for that), but expected that with the line out the door.

V Madison

The photo speaks for itself. Fresh, delicious … and the chowder is packed with seafood, not potatoes like other places! And very friendly service to boot. Love this place.

Hoang Dang

Everyone in town was talking about the clam chowder at Gilberts so I had to try it out for myself. The food was good and the service was ok. Over all it’s a ok self service restaurant.

Liberty Bell Moving & Storage LLC

Wicked good chowda! Only better chowda is mine at Foxboro Stadium Pats tailgate party 🤩🤣 . Gilbert’s has great food, unique atmosphere and very friendly and fast waitstaff 🇺🇸👌…. …

Christine C

We tried the chicken and the clam chowder. Both were delicious. I'm not a seafood person but the seafood chowder was overflowing with ocean creatures and looked fun.

Reza Gorji

Fantastic place to eat. You sit yourself, you order the food then it comes and you eat well. Delicious food. Just delightful. Only issue is parking. Drive around a bit and you'll find it.

Jun Simons

Very good fried fish and chowder. On a hot day, the outdoor seating in the back had a cool breeze. The service was good as was the food. The inside dining area looks reasonably nice as well.

Sandy J

We ordered clam chowder bread bowl, the super seafood chowder, and the mussels! Super seafood chowder was a bit too salty but enjoyable with bread. Only downside was that 3 slices of garlic bread was $5.99 which was kind of crazy

Cy Dickey

Hands down the best clam chowder there is and one of the only places you can get it in a bread bowl. The thickness of the chowdah is perfect and so is the flavor. They knock it out of the park!

Brandon Quarles

The best lobster stew I’ve ever had. The lobster grilled cheese was better than sandwiches I paid more than double for. Great service.

Lisa Landry

First trip to Portland and Gilbert’s didn’t disappoint. Excellent seafood chowder and clam strips in a fun, rustic and bustling restaurant. Excellent food, service and environment.

A D

Had a decent lobster roll and some chips, and got a chowder to go. All in all, I was fed and enjoyed the ambiance of the place. I got the feeling they had a lot of regulars there.

Brian Morgan

Sweet baby Jesus in a bathtub, this is some of the best seafood you'll ever eat. It's definitely a "last meal before you go to the electric chair" kind of meal. The fried seafood is incredibly fresh and along with the french fries are fried to perfection. And whatever you do, don't leaving without having the super seafood chowder. It's a life changer.

Kagami Lang

I’d give them 5 stars if not for the wait. I don’t mind waiting but it was very confusing for they have 2 lines, 1 for inside and 1 for patio, which located in the front and at the back of the restaurant respectively. On top of that, no one bothered to tell you there’s another line, which is which or where you should wait. Also, when you finally figured out where to line up and a table becomes available, no one came to clean them up. You still have to wait a long time for the bus to clean up before you can actually sit down. But once we sat down, the experience quickly changes, the waitress became very friendly and service were fast. We had mussels. They were so fresh and meaty! Even they said “market price” on the menu, it’s actually very reasonable. We also had clam chowder and fried oysters. Both are remarkable. So I would recommend this place provided you know where to line up 😄

Charles Kimmet

Best seafood chowder around, very good lobster rolls also. Good food, fast friendly service, fair at a fair price

pakawat wangsanuwat

The chowder was amazing. We ordered seafood mix chowder as well but I feel like the shrimps were not that fresh.

David Cowen

Being from texas i’d never heard of lobster stew but i can tell you i’m glad i’ve has it! First of all the lobster grilled cheese is the best lobster sandwich i’ve had in maine. I’m here for awhile and i’ve been doing a journey through the usual stops and this was hands down the best. The lobster stew is basically a whole bunch of lobster pieces bathing in a broth of cream and butter. i dipped the grilled cheese in it and ate the lobster and even though i may die tonight from what i’ve done i’ll do it happy.

Bob Hoff

I've visited Gilbert's whenever I've been in Portland, and it does not disappoint. The lobster stew is decadent, and an easy favorite of mine. The clam chowder is very good as well. I've tried Gilbert's lobster roll, and it is good with plenty of fresh lobster (but I've had better elsewhere). The staff was attentive at lunch time. I chose to sit outside, and that was very nice (casual). It's great to sit right at the coast enjoying fresh seafood.

Daryl Odom

This was our first taste of Portland and it didn't disappoint. We both had haddock (1 fried and 1 baked) with clam chowder. So delicious and healthy portions.

Ryan Panchisin

Stopped in for lunch while exploring the area. The chowder here warms the soul on a cold day. There are a few local beer options along with the usual expectations. Reasonably priced and quick service.

Nagato35

Best clam showder i ever had the service was great and staff very friendly the lobster was pretty good as well especially for the price

Yoshi Kobari

The lobster was steamed perfectly, the chowder was very flavorful and the service was amazing. Portions were generous too. Can’t ask for more. Thanks!

Anastasia Bilous

The place is cosy and food is delicious. Super seafood chowder was very tasty and very big! I was full after eating it ! The staff is friendly! Exceptional experience ! Thank you.

Arya Phatak

We had clam chowder and seafood chowder. Both were creamy and delicious. For the entree, we had lobster roll and clam cakes with Cole slaw and fries on the side. Food was tasty. Service was good. Portion sizes were massive. Go with a large appetite.

Desiree Holton

Purchased and tried seafood chowders for the first time in my life. They were good quality, reasonably priced, and staff was overall friendly- though a bunch of them were sitting around the bar area gossiping.. which wasn’t so welcoming.

Eugene Li

the chowder was absolutely divine. I never tasted such freshness. 10/10 our waitress was also super nice and brought us tobasco

Victoria Eidelstein

A little disappointed experience. Specifically planned to visit this place because it had great reviews and great looking food. Came with my friends and 3 little kids with us. Ordered usual orders, soup, burger, calamari, col slow, drinks. Were waiting for 1 hour for food, didn't get even appetizers. All table around us came after us and got their orders already, appetizers and main course (same plates). After checking on our order and asking to get at least kids food first, still waited another 15 min. Very disappointed, especially when their food was great.

Jesse Williams

Quite literally the best chowder I've ever had. Crammed full of seafood for $16!! Must have

Melissa M.

Our favorite go-to place in Portland for just straight-up amazing seafood chowder and lobster stew. No frills or unnecessary “extras”, just great food & friendly servers.

Anna S

Staff were great, chowder was as well. Now the lobster sandwich was unfortunately not. The lobster was chewy and lacked flavor. Price we're good though. Would definitely go again for the chowder. Leave the lobster sandwich to somewhere like Duck Fat. (At double the cost)

Robert Truran

Referred here by a friend who has been here. I had Hillary L as my server. She was very attentive & even offered to assist with cracking the lobster if I required assistance. It was the best lobster I have had & was extremely easy to crack & eat. Price was fair. The clam chowder was amazing. Highly recommend this restaurant

Ibrahim Anz

I am no seafood expert but Gilbert’s chowder House has some amazing treats for anyone, their large portions with their moderate prices are sufficient to make anyone enjoy the experience.

Becky Holley

The food was good. Just a small restaurant downtown, so be ready to wait to get a spot. Cute, a little expensive, but the food was pretty good so basically paying downtown prices.

Emily Trask “Emily M.” Murtiashaw

This place is great! We did not have a reservations so we ended up at the bar but that did not hurt our experience! I had the scallops and it was wonderful. So much flavor! I also got some very tasty oysters. If I visited again I would definitely return!

Anna Grierson

The staff is so friendly and amazing! Everything we had was delicious. Gilbert's feels like a hidden gem!

Adriel Orozco

Quick and good service. The clam chowder and lobster stew were very welcome after a long walk and tasted very fresh

Joshua Sims

We found this place after a sunset sail on a schooner around the port. I bring that up because by the end of that trip my wife and I were pretty chilled through (being weak little tourists ourselves, lol). This was a short walk down Commercial St and I would have made that walk again in a heartbeat. There is likely no more perfect supper to order after a cold windy day than a hot seafood chowder. This was the best chowder I've had in my life. The restaurant was warm. The staff was friendly and helpful. It was a wonderful and memorable experience.

Yossi Pinkas

Chowder are very tasty. My wife had the backed haddock and I the fried scallops. Both were good. The only thing that bothered me, was that the food is served on paper plates and with plastic cutlery. They did not hear about the global plastic problem? Luckily they serve the beer in glass cups and not plastic.

Kira V

My fiancé and I happened to walk in right as they were opening for the day because chowder sounded good. Little did we know we were about to get a history lesson and the best lunch of our entire trip! Apparently this is a a stop on a walking tour so we got to learn a little about Portland while we sipped draft beers (try the blueberry one!). The staff is really friendly, especially our server Alyssa! We both got seafood chowder and it was DELICIOUS. It was packed with haddock, clams, and lobster. You could taste how fresh the seafood is. I should’ve taken a picture of how much seafood was in this chowder and the literal claw of lobster meat sitting on top but I ate it too fast :) Our entire bill for two chowders and two beers was $40. I’m so happy we stopped by!

Marian Laroche

Classic Maine experience, great chowders, fried seafood and lobster rolls. Atmosphere is very casual, wait staff works hard but still has time to be personable. Prices are on the steep side but worth it for fresh food

Jimmy D.

Confort food at its finest. We had one clam chowder in a bread bowl, one double seafood large chowder as main. Both were excellent. The service was as heartwarming as the chowder. Plus our server, Alyssa(?), Recommended the fresh clam strips. They were a great shareable appetizer. While definitely not a deal breaker, I would have preferred dine-in plates, bowls and cutlery. The upside, you can easily bring any leftovers home.

Chris Doyle

Off season visit. Food was just ok. Tried fried clams. Got a bad taste and ended up sorry I ordered them. Got deluxe chowder and again disappointed. Lobster was not free and chill type shrimp tasteless. Never got to fries . Have been before and it was good. Server was attentive.

Brian Phelps

Excellent seafood chowder and fish!! This was the perfect rainy day meal in Portland!!

Nita Stewart

Hometown feel with the best seafood chowdah you've ever slapped your lips on! Excellent service by Hillary and what's-her-name!

The Shepcoon

I did not have a bad experience but I did find my visit to be, okay across the board. Smaller interior but clean and had a good vibe. Our waitress was really friendly. I did feel it was more on the expensive side for the level of taste/flavor of the food which I found to be okay. Not bad but not great.

Charles Harrison

Super quick service and huge portions! Tried the half lobster BLT and chowder special and the fried shrimp! Competitive prices and the chowder was great! They seemed short staffed but did their best to get orders taken quickly and they were served up fast!

Colin Valentini

Lovely little local chowder and seafood joint. Service is good, food is tasty and prices are fair (lobster isn’t cheap, but they aren’t overpricing it). They have indoor and outdoor seating and a nice selection of draft beer with a rotating seasonal Shipyard varietal. Really enjoyed my lunch here and would certainly recommend to anyone looking for a down to earth lobster or chowder meal, and especially so for lunch. The indoor seating area is a bit dated and underwhelming, but if you can look past that and you’ll have a great time.

Jack Hicks

My wife and I patronized Gilbert’s during our Portland port of call on our cruise. My wife thoroughly enjoyed the super seafood chowder and steamed lobster. I had the clam chowder and haddock and cheese sandwich. The food and service was exceptional. If you happen to find yourself in Portland Maine, Gilbert’s is a must visit!!!!

Seth Pressel

Ordered the chowder and clam cakes for a quick bite. The service was really nice, and the food was delicious! I really tend to gravitate towards places that favor food over fashion, and this place absolutely did not disappoint.

Ciaran UT

Where do I start? This place was simply the best! I’ve never tasted a more delicious bowel of chowder in my entire life. Simply scrumptious 😋 Worth EVERY penny ❤️

Diana Nguyen

I was craving clam chowder so we went here and I'm so happy we did. I got a small bowl with a clam strip plate and it was well prepared. I wish I got a bigger serving if the clam chowder but there's always next time. There's plenty of clams and potatoes in the chowder and they give you a ton of food for the plates.

Christa L (American Girl Doll)

Best New England Clam Chowder ever! We come from Jersey just to eat every year.Awesome seafood muscles, clams, lobster too. Friendly staff, outdoor seating. I direct everyone here. I'm passionate about my Clam Chowder, there is NO better. We call it Liquid Gold :) dine in or get it to go . It's addictive

Elizabeth Lohr

I came as part of a group that wanted to experience real Maine chowder, even though I am vegetarian. I've been to enough roadside Lobster roll shacks to expect that anything you order at one of these joints will taste fishy, even if it's theoretically vegetarian. I was resigned to my fate. To my surprise, when my grilled cheese with chips arrived, there was no cross contaminated fishy-ness to be found! It was a very basic grilled cheese, American on white bread, but it was well prepared, and given my expectations for ordering the only non-seafood menu option in an old-school chowder house, I'm happy with it! The atmosphere is a little grungy, but mostly the good kind that makes it seem more authentic. Our server was on top of things, and they have a modern POS system that made paying a breeze. My lunch-mates reported being very happy with the chowder.

Carol Pham

Boiled lobster was fresh, chowder was creamyyyyyyy, lobster roll had a generous amount of lobster, and service was amazingghhh. I recommend and would be back if in town again.

Tony K

The seafood chowder was delicious and so was the lobster BLT. We also had onion rings, clam strips and the clam cake. The clam cake was ok not our favorite. Would definitely come back.

David MacMullen

Fried clams were outstanding. Clam chowder also excellent. The steemers were enough to share for sure. Ate there twice while we were in Portland. Recommend!

Nancy L

Great staff serving the fresh seafood you would expect to find in Maine. Down home meals. Windows all around but a little cool on a winter day if you aren't dressed for it.

Gabriel Terrel

My favorite meal of our 2 week New England trip was here: Clam Chowder in a bread bowl with the super seafood option. No non-sense atmosphere, friendly wait staff, and reasonable prices.

Jeffrey Pearce

We had Lobster rolls, and the Clam Chowder. Gilbert's Chowder House serves the best Lobster rolls and Clam Chowder that we have ever had. And the service was excellent also. Will visit there again.

Joe Derouin

Great spot! We had some fish and chips and haddock chowder and it did not disappoint. It was very busy but service was quick and friendly. Definitely worth a stop.

David Donio

It might not be the fanciest place but the food is awesome! They give insane amounts of lobster in their seafood chili and their lobster is top notch! Definitely that worthwhile hole in the wall!

Ian J.

Friendly service. Market price for a single lobster was $24. The lobster stew very similar to a lobster bisque was full of lobster. The clam chowder was good but not great. Duke’s in Seattle or Boudin is way better. The lobster was the star of the show. Fresh, succulent and sweet. Yummy.

Lev Tobias

Food was solid. But lobster roll was nothing out of the ordinary. Should have tried the chowder, but wasn't hungry enough. Simple place. Very genuine, friendly staff.

Paul J. Manning

I am shocked how fantastic this place is! Expecting a hole in the wall clam shack (which it is in the best possible way) but found the food to be phenomenal. Old school New England fried food with coleslaw this evening and it was great. The young lady behind the bar serving us is a gem as well. Perfect for a well priced meal in a wonderful establishment.

Elizabeth Davis

This was my first time at Gilbert’s Chowder House as my sister and I were visiting from North Carolina. Wow- what an amazing addition to our trip, and so glad we came! The seafood chowder was rich, creamy, perfectly seasoned and full of flavor. The fried clams were perfection! The service was fast and the employees and servers were incredibly helpful and kind, answering questions and offering suggestions. What a fun menu and great affordable options in a relaxed, casual setting! Cannot wait to return and have recommended it to others.

Amy Hargett

I have not had a better bowl of seafood chowder in my life. Absolutely delicious!! The bread bowl took it up a hundred more notches. Prices were also very reasonable, and we loved how cozy it was inside. Definitely recommend!

Meg Whitener (MerMeg)

Absolutely amazing ! I'm from Florida and was in Portland for a work trip and wanted some good chowder.... THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO! what was ordered in our group: Lobster stew- HUGE chunks of lobster and a very creamy, buttery soup! Seafood chowder- STUFFED with seafood is all I can say. It was delicious Crab melt, fries and seafood chowder- THE BEST crab melt I have ever had. The fries were really crispy and buttery. Clam chowder bread bowl- sourdough bread bowl was on point, clam chowder was delicious. In all.... I hope I'm back in this area to get to experience this deliciousness again!

Caitlyn Burke

Awesome lobster roll and chowder! Great specials, too. Wait staff is super friendly and took care of us.

Dylan Simpson

Fantastic! Line was out the door at lunchtime but moved quickly. We seated ourself at the bar and our orders were taken quickly. About two minutes later our chowder was ready! Server was very friendly and chatted to us about baseball. Super seafood chowder in a bread bowl is a lunch in itself! Both indoor and outdoor seating is available.

M Maruf

Mind blowing chowder that had more lobster than any I have ever had and considering the price which was 12 bucks, this is definitely a win. The lobsters were sweet and socculent, no complaints on that. Now the seafood platter, there was no shrimp in it which was a little surprising. But the scallop was beautiful and sweet. Beat scallops I have had for a long time.

Alex Zhang

Cheap prices are the redeeming quality here. Lobster roll had the most "fishy" taste to it. Bread was not as good as it should be. Chowder was a bit watery. YMMV, however. Fried entrees were quite good, as were the steamed mussels. Plenty of options to choose from, however and there is an "extra seafood" option for just about everything. Also they had breadbowls for their chowder, which was pretty good.

DJ

The seafood chowder was tasty and filled with various seafood. Well worth the price. Something that maybe overlooked, but the fried calamari was very good as well.

Beth Stadelb

Good food and service. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The super seafood chowder (pictured) was good but the whole steamed lobster was delicious. Fresh and sweet. We ordered the twins special for $35, which is a great deal. The cocktails were also good.

Natalie Brown

Exactly what we were looking for. Exceptional food (plus huge quantities), cold beer, and heated outdoor seating. Wonderful service! The clam chowder was absolutely phenomenal.

MoMo Ang

Great Lobster for a great price, Chilled beer with steam clams also great. We got a seat out side in the back yard after a long wait for our seat, they had shortage of staff on that day. I forgot about the long wait because food came out quick and lobster is really delicious!!!

Shannon Whitney

Small, intimate, but casual restaurant with the best fresh seafood I have ever tasted. The lobster roll was fantastic and the super seafood chowder was overflowing with shrimp, fish and lobster. The fried calamari was amazing! The city feels more like a town. It was my first time ever visiting Maine and I'm already itching to go back!

Bryan Martins

Fairly small place with limited seating. I will start off by saying that the food we received was quite tasty and they had a lot of specials on the menu. The one thing I really disliked was the use of a lot of single-use plastics. As you can see by the pictures I included there was a lot of waste with our simple lunch. I will say that the staff was quite friendly, but it was a busy lunch and they seemed to be short staffed. I can understand using disposable products to help cut down on washing costs, but I would really like to see more compostable products used. This location is in the Old Port so parking can be quite tricky. I would return but I am not in a rush as there are many locations that offer good seafood as well.

Jay Allen

Great selection of chowders! Chowder itself is really good but not sure if I would place it as better than other offerings. Lobster is good but again not sure if better than other local offerings. Friendly little place though. Decent deals on food.

Jennifer Khoo

Glad I followed the recommendations to come here instead of Portland Lobster Co. Simply amazing! The clam chowder was so delicious and their lunch special was a great deal! It was a memorable experience to taste the authentic New England Clam Chowder and lobster BLT here! Highly recommended

Ross F

The service was great it felt very homie didn't feel rushed at all. Our server was super nice this food was hot and delicious who can say no to lobster. Beautiful view and great prices.

Mike Ortiz

This was the best clam chowder I have ever had in my life! Your right on the water so the views are beautiful, staff friendly and food is amazing. The calamari was some of the best I have ever had too. This is a must visit!

Brad

Seafood chowder is the best, and the local beer can’t be beat, either! Came recommended from a local resident.

Jason Wong

Got the 1/2 lobster BLT special—very generous with the portion size. For $22 there was a lot of lobster and clam (in the clam chowder). Fries were also made perfectly, flaky and crispy on the outside, melt in your mouth soft on the inside. Pleasantly surprised by how good everything was! Highly suggest giving this place a try!

kramille

Our dinner started slowly but Robin corrected course and provided attentive service. Gilbert's clam chowder was serviceable but could have been hotter. Their sides, an excellent ear of corn, for late in the season, combined with onion rings, that were tasty with a light batter, were a refreshing change. Our main course, lobsters, were prepared properly and were an excellent value. Overall Gilbert's did well

Mike Papacoda

Gilbert’s came recommended by a local and their recommendation was spot on. It was a cold rainy night and a nice warm bowl of soup sounded amazing. We started with the whole belly clam appetizer which was cooked to golden brown perfection. These were simply delicious. We both got the New England Clam Chowder in a bread bowl and everything about it was perfect. Flavorful chowder, fresh bread, and more than enough to fill you up. The service was spot on and the entire staff was very friendly. Overall, great experience at Gilbert’s.

Gina Salvatore

The seafood chowder! You have to try it! Went to portland for 4 nights, ate here 2 of those nights...its not a fancy place but the food was awesome! Loved the lobster roll too

TL Lux

This is my first time here and I thought the food was delicious. Drove here for the lobster and was not disappointed. Definitely worth the drive and will recommend to friends and family who will be traveling this way.

Vincent Koo

Quick lunch before the drive home. Food cAme out fast. Lots of lobster in the lobster stew and a delicious steamed lobster meal

Andy Martin

The food was good. I enjoyed the lobster chowder, but it could have been a little warmer. Prices are about what you would expect.

Donna Clausen

Great service and the food was fantastic! Had the super seafood chowder and a lobster roll. Absolutely delicious. Will be back soon!

April Vandenburg

Great food! Very cozy outdoor sitting area. The clam chowder was delicious! The lobster blt was one of the best lobster rolls I’ve had. Definitely would go back.

Jason Seaton

Best food hands down! Check out the pic of the Lobster Grilled Cheese. It’s heaven in your mouth. Don’t miss this!

Pam

Enjoyed this casual little restaurant and was able to eat outside on a very nice afternoon. It is an older establishment and isn't fancy. But the food was good and prices reasonable. Our family enjoyed the Lobster Bisque, Grilled Cheese and Lobster Sandwich and fried clams. They don't have a large menu of options and most items are fried. But, overall we were satisfied with the experience.

Kenneth Weaver

Great Chowder, Fish and clam, haddock sandwich was very good. Our waitress was very personable. Good prices.

Jeff Allen

Another good choice for chowder on the waterfront. Today was a busy day with a few tour buses in town and sadly they were out fried clams but the clam chowder and fried oysters still hit the spot.

Marco

Pretty good food. Though pretty pricey. The calamari was okay, nothing special. Wife had the lobster roll which she enjoyed. I had the cheeseburger which was very good. Kids had the chicken and there was more then enough, and it was pretty good. Did not get fries, but I was shocked it was actually chips served with the dishes. Even though adding fries or onion rings would have brought the bill higher, and it was already pretty expensive. Also not being from around here, we were waiting for sometime to get served, didn't know you had to go and sit at a open table

Areeka Tiwari

Delicious and fresh! We had the seafood chowder, lobster roll and clam strips. Everything was so delicious and reasonably priced. Service was friendly and fast as well.

Meghan Wilkes

Food coma, this place is a amazing! A feel good, local atmosphere. Food was perfect and service makes you feel like your family.

Susanne E

We ate here twice on our trip and everything was consistently good. Their clam chowder was one of the best we had, both the lobster roll and the lobster dinner were amazing, and the clam strips were fried to perfection. Staff was very nice and friendly. Overall our favorite restaurant in Portland!

Joshua Marsh

Ate here for a later night Friday dinner. Service was good and live music from a nearby restaurant added to the ambiance. Food was delicious!! We had steamed muscles for an appetizer (great portion size!) and lobster dinner. Absolutely recommend.

Ryan S

Stop what you are doing and go here to get their seafood chowder. It was absolutely fantastic.

Jenn Marie

It was very good. We had lobster with corn, muscles, calamari & chicken fingers with fries. It was a lot of good food!!

Scott C

Great service from Annie. Lobsters great at a good price. Kids loved the grilled cheese. Steamed Mussels great!

Plaid Piper

So good. We had Maine Whole Belly Clams and Clam Chowder. Both were spectacular!

Jennifer Pittroff

Great chowder and oysters! Will definitely return soon next time we are in the area.

Marsha Greenberg

We ate at Gilbert’s for lunch and the seafood chowder is without doubt the best chowder I have ever had. Full of lobster, clams, shrimp and fish. It may not be fancy but the food is 5 stars for sure. Don’t miss this place when you’re in Portland.

Chris Bigg

The haddock sandwich was delicious and the fries were really good. The waitress we had was very nice and overall is a really good seafood restaurant. The stew though was a bit watered down.

Karen C

Super creamy lobster stew and clam chowder with fried haddock and perfectly cooked twin lobsters.

Pooja Gangras

Best seafood chili! The amount of shrimp and lobster was a great surprise. Unassuming place with great seafood!

Jorge

I only had the clam chowder to go. And you know when you set really high expectations on a place and the place falls short just for the simple reason that the expectations were really high? Well, this wasn’t one of those times. The clam chowder blew my mind. Just get it.

Henry Voros

After a long day of exploring Portland today I nearly talked myself out of coming here. So glad that I didn’t! When it comes to Seafood Chowder these people know what they’re doing! 👍 …

Alec Stachowiak

Not a ton of options if you aren't into seafood (burgers, tenders, dogs) but the food was good. My family ordered the chowder and loved it, solid spot all around!

Clinton Lewis

Had some of that seafood chowder and boy was there plenty in it. Sandwich was great and so was service.

Drew Wright

Very good food no lines although a tad on the expensive side. I ordered the single Lobster which was around $25. Two lobster tails run around $40. The fried Steamers were amazing and fresh. Decent selection of beers. I would definitely visit here again.

Dennis Reddin

5 star food 1 star service Flew in from Houston specifically for this AMAZING restaurant that my fiancé said we "had to go to". We waited 40 minutes just to get drinks! Penny offered to help since it was Jessica's table but Jessica wasn't having it. So we got to sit and watch 3 tables come in after us and eat their full meals while we got our appetizers right about the 1 hour mark. Jessica was over doing it and her tip suffered for it. Food was fantastic, service not so much. Gilbert's either needs more staff or give more tables to the better waitresses.

Scott Rinderer

Great place the super seafood chowder was the best I have ever had.(Period).. the steamed mussels with white sauce was very good as well.

Alex Hartley

Gilbert’s was a truly special experience. I stained my pants with the melted butter, and those stains will forever remind me of this unique blip of my sweet little life.

BlueBelt Cobalt

Got the super seafood chowder there was more seafood than chowder, but I’m not complaining ! It was awesome. Strongly recommend the lobster stew aswell !

Christian Golden

Absolutely delicious. My favorite meal in Maine so far. I got the Seafood Chowder Bread bowl. I'm salivating just thinking of it. My wife got the Clam Chowder Bread bowl. She loved hers as well. Do yourself a favor and fly to Maine if you have to in order to have one of their bread bowls. The service was fast and friendly as well, and the prices were reasonable. I obviously highly recommend this place.

Shari Christianson

Lots of seafood in the chowder but I think the broth could be enriched with flavor. Sitting on the deck is great and our server Allyson was super.

Stefanie Kowalski

Chicken corn chowder is my favorite I had it in a bread bowl. My husband had a cup of clam chowder. They were both really good, however mine was barely warm.

Chi Vu

Service was a bit slow. The mussels were great and the portion was very generous.

JoAnn E

Really good lunch/chowder; our server Mimi was excellent! Knowledgeable, pleasant, professional, fast, attentive without being intrusive. Great job!

Ronald Gleason

Melanie, the waitress was the best. Lobster and Clam Chowder were excellent, but Melanie was exceptional. She made our day.

Benjamin Boggs

As good as it was 20 years ago when we first ate there while on vacation. The clam chowder is fantastic! Highly recommend and will eat there again next time we are in Maine!

Mark Dunn

Best chowder my wife and I have had. Awesome location on the water. Get the bread bowl size. The service is excellent.

Darian Koch

This place is seriously awesome. Best clam chowder and lobster stew I’ve ever had! Great service and great food.

James Ulmer

OMG....!!!! I drove from Maryland to Portland to eat ... ABSOLUTELY worth it!!!! Seafood Chowder was the best I've ever had. And the Lobster Roll was amazing... Come get you some too..

Andrew Hoopes

Worth the wait for the best seafood chowder in a classic setting.

Sam Anderson

While their fried haddock was average, the true star of the show was their clam chowder. It was well spiced, the perfect consistency and full of fresh clams. Next time I come I'm going to get a bucket of it for my hotel room.

Jenny F

AMAZING! Food taste super fresh, great portion and very cheap!! One huge lobster only for $20, comes with fries and corn on a cob! Can't ask for a better price!

Pamela Cousino

Our first time at the chowder house. My husband had the lobster BLT and I had the seafood chowder. Very flavorful chowder with lots of lobster and shrimp and other goodies. The BLT had smokey bacon and went well with the lobster. Would go there again.

w huffstetler

Food was served hot and promptly, and was generally very good and fresh. Chowder was great. However scallops were a bit greasy.

Ron 500

Very good and reasonably priced. Claim chowder was very good but barley warm. Haddock sand which was very good. Worth a stop!

Christine T

Love this place! Just a relaxed atmosphere with delicious food, amazing food and nice people! My husband got the lobster BLT and loved it.

Alona K

Great clam chowder and BLT sandwich!! Lobster stew is large chunks of lobster in cream.

TJ Ribeiro

Service was a bit slow but waiters were attentive with the slow kitchen. Chowder was the best we had in Maine and the lobster was good as well. I wouldn’t waste time waiting on a deck seat, unless you plan on spending 90mins to eat.

Tiffany Chance Stuart

Delicious! Mom had the Corn and Chicken Chowder and I had the lobster stew. You might call ahead to make sure they are open. Monday we showed up and they where closed although Google hours showed them open.

Lindsey Miller

I loved this place! The staff make you feel so welcome and at home. I got corn chowder and it was delicious! Can't wait to come back.

M J

Fantastic seafood in a rustic setting. The seafood chowder is epic! Could have done with a wider choice of Maine brews on tap.

Brett Baker

A friend took us to lunch here. ABSOLUTELY the best seafood restaurant I have ever eaten at. I can't wait to return in April 2023. FB: BRETT BAKER COUNTRY

Joe Frank

Fair prices, delicious chowder, great service

O Estevez

Seafood chowder & mussels are a must!! The clams were delicioso!! #yummy

Thomas Cera

Gilbert's Chowder House is located right on the main street. The ambiance is informal. The highlight of this place is the food. There are many choices on the menu, from lobster to chowder. We ordered the lobster mac and cheese and lobster. The mac and cheese was piled high with fresh lobster and was delicious. The lobster was awesome! The staff was friendly and helpful. I would definitely return.

Caitlyn

Went on a whim, and happy we ended up there. Service was good, had one of the specials of the day, $15 for calamari, fries, and clam chowder. All of which I was impressed with. Limited bar selection. Looking for good chowder, it's all in the name.

Aru Poleo

hands down the best fries in all of Portland. I don't eat meat but i come here often just for the fries. please get the fries

Angelo M

We had clam chowder and it was the best. The prices were very affordable. Service excellent.

DeLois DeGraffe

It's in the name but the chowder is amazing. They have a sampler and you can try all the different chowders.

Kelly Odom

The food was delicious! I had Baked Haddock with Rice Pilaf and Clam Chowder and my husband had Fried Haddock with fries and Clam Chowder.

Wade Cantu

Lunch here was absolutely incredible. Being from Baton Rouge, Louisiana it was really good to get the opportunity to try excellent New England Seafood!!

Janet Snider

Great clam and seafood chowda!!! Also, great clam strips and fish and chips. Not big on the crab cake. Good service. Lots of local brews.

Jim Asberry

Seafood chowder was the best I've ever had! Server was very friendly and prompt.

Mike Barboza

Always stop here during our Maine trip. The clam chowder is very filling and flavorful. We had a fried cod sandwich with fries and Lobster roll with potato chips, both were very filling. We will continue to make this a place to eat on future visits

Seymour Kitty

Best fish and chips in downtown Portland. Seafood chowder was on point.

David Yu

This restaurant is located at the convenient place near Old Port. Like every other Maine seafood restaurants, it offer similar seafood options and drinks. The food are a little bit wee pricey, but the friendliness of server and cook make up for it, besides you can easily get a table with no waiting.

Mike Goodman

This was our favorite seafood place out of the 7 that we tried. Don’t expect anything fancy. You can expect great tasting food, large portions at a good price and quick service.

Jake Albanese

Lives up to the hype. I preferred the clam chowder over the super seafood, but both were great. Personally, I wont bother with the bread bowl next time, the paper cups make for a more pleasant experience than the big soggy bread bowl. Fried clams were lightly fried and crisp, not overly battered at all. The clam cakes were delicious too. Great French fries as well. Special shout out to the nice waitress that helped me heat up a bottle of baby formula. Comfy New England seafood shack atmosphere.

Nicholas Estes

Service here was good, and the chowder was great. If you go, you need to try the bread bowl though! Great way to serve the various types of chowder. I had the seafood chowder, which was essentially clam chowder loaded with lobster meat on top. I would high recommend this! Others at my table also ordered the clam chowder and the corn chowder and enjoyed all. If you go at a busy time, be prepared for a wait though, as they don't have a ton of seating (and there are no reservations). If you are okay with waiting or sitting outside, then definitely give this place a try!

S Norman

What a wonderful restaurant with great staff! We went to Gilbert’s for lunch on our last day in Maine. The food was simply delicious and the staff was very friendly. Our children loved looking at all of the decorations and enjoyed their chowder and sandwich. I would love to go back and highly recommend stopping by for a great meal.

Tracey Ann

Great place. Food was excellent. Clam cake bites were delicious. Clam Chowder was perfect. My clam strips were cooked perfectly and the fries were hot and perfectly seasoned. The tarter sauce tasted homemade and was great. Will definitely be back again when I'm in the Portland area. Great service - the Server (Desiree?) checked on us several times to make sure we had all we needed.

Kevin Ratliff

Food was good and service was thurough. Unfortunately for a chowder place our clam chowder was served lukewarm so I had to knock off a star on the review.

Clifton Foster

Really good food. You will enjoy the atmosphere as well!

David Rhee

Chowder and lobster was great. Service was great ans our waitress was pleasant.

Jennifer Amos

I love this place they have amazing food . And there seafood chowder is amazing

Jean Legros

Elissa was great and so was the food. Great food. Atmosphere and service, at reasonable price. Recommend.

Rose Webber

Good experience. Food was delicious, chowder was yummy with lots of seafood. My kids loved the fish and chips and the kids portion was plenty for two. The fries were crispy and perfect with the meal. Cocktails and service was great!

Jan Murphy

Great food. Good prices. Friendly service. Lobster Roll was fantastic!

Nicole Wittkopp

Delicious chowder and stew! This is the seafood chowder- shrimp, clams, haddock and lobster! The fried clams are delicious as well! Very friendly, accommodating staff!

Dawn DeMayo

Wow!! If I could give Gilbert's a 10 star, I would!! The Clam chowder was the best I have ever had and the Seafood chowder was awesome as well, chocked full with seafood! The staff was excellent!! They were nice, happy and fast!! Loved our experience!! Wish I lived here to go every week!😏 …

Ryan McGuire (Rytoto)

I ordered a large seafood chowder and it was the best chowder I've had in my life, by far. The restaurant couldn't be more perfectly situated on the harbor and my entire family enjoyed the experience. Can't wait to go back!

Maria Snaider

Maria’s POV: the seafood CHOWDER!!! so different and so worth it. My whole family enjoyed it.

Emily Lucas

The best little spot! We came back twice during our stay. The seafood chowder in a bread bowl is just so good and very filling! Will be back.

craig mavin

Best chowder we had along the eastern seaboard!

Crystal Lefoy

Decent seafood joint - clam chowder was just ok, nothing to write home about. We had to get our food to-go as there was clearly no air conditioning on one of the hottest days of the year (roughly 92 degrees) so the interior was unbearable.

stephanie smith

Great company....business and people! Try the lobster grilled cheese.....it was amazing. Big chunks of lobster, crusty bread. Enjoyed every moment here. You need to visit! We will be back!

Cassandra Chandrabhan

Gilbert's by far, had the best lobster stew during our trip. It was perfectly seasoned with tonnsss of lobster. Wish we had the time to go back for another.

Nancy Bailey

Great chowder! And great food overall. Their lobster roll is so good- lots of lobster! The staff was really friendly. Great place!

Keith Knuuti

Great location, decent atmosphere, so-so food. My chowder was too salty and had too much flour, but I guess tourists expect their chowder to be extra thick. My wife's burger was pretty good, and the fries were great. The Old Port area is expensive, but Gilbert's wasn't too bad.

Travis A

Everything was so delicious! Seafood chili was amazing, lobster rolls were perfect, haddock was so good. Highly recommended!

Darrah Foster

Good clam chowder bowl (bacon flavored) and coleslaw! We had the Sea Dog Blueberry Wheat Ale was on tap, we loved it!

Laura Cabe

Seriously have to come here for the seafood chowder. The clam chowder is perfection, just the right amount of spices and so good.

Rebecca Sylvester

We almost skipped Gilbert's on our trip to Portland and I am so glad we went back! Our 1st day in Portland, we went to eat on the deck but it was just too stuffy out there, no breeze whatsoever. THEN that night a kind stranger suggested Gilbert's- he suggested their chowders and an eafood. We went back right at 11 on our way out of town and service was quick, price was fine, and our meals were fantastic! Get their seafood chowder (I got their super seafood chowder which was so full of large pieces of seafood that you could hardly tell it was soup! The regular order of seafood chowder is still great, "super" isn't necessary. Also their clam cake (I got the appetizer of 1 cake) was drool-worthy. So full of meat, I could have just ate a couple of those for a meal!!

Kristin Hoffman

Fantastic quality and quantity of ingredients in the lobster roll and seafood chowder. Quick service.

Michael Cooke

Service was fine, most of the food was average, the fish and chips were serviceable but I expect better from a place on a wharf. The clam chowder, however, was excellent.

Bret Van Leeuwen

Unbelievable chowder!! I have never wrapped my lips around a better bread bowl of beautiful, bountiful bites of heavenly seafood. I'd drive a hundred miles to eat here.

Grace Pansze

Super fun restaurant! Amazing chowder and lobster roll. It's for a fun patio with lots of outdoor seating and a large indoor bar. The ice cream shop in it has really good blueberry crisp ice cream, too.

Dave Kurz

Solid cup of classic chowder for me and fish Chile for her. That nd a Jameson on a rainy day was the perfect stop.

Peter Moss

I felt like it was expensive for a self seating paper plates and cups kinda place. Chowder was great, haddock was mid. Employees are cool tho

Ray Aitkins

Best clam chowder I have ever eaten. Oysters were just perfect, and there were plenty of them. I come here 1-2 times a year for the pleasure of the clam chowder, but friends and family say other menu items are awesome as well (fish and chips, slaw, etc.) We love the ambience and the fact that outdoors dining is right on the water. One of our favs in New England!!

Boris Simeonov

Get ya seafood "chowda" with a side of fried clam strips & DUNK them instead of oyster crackers.

Ashley Graham

Hole in the wall but friendly staff. Good was okay. I didn't love there fried scallops or the seafood chowder but they were still good. The fries were soggy and gross.

James O'Malley

We were recently in Portland for three nights ended up eating at Gilbert‘s twice and getting takeout also extremely accommodating to us we had our pet huckleberry a medium to large size dog sat outside with him and waitresses went beautiful setting right near the water and the food the most was awesome my wife choice had the super seafood in a bread basket on call three occasions which has so much lobster and other seafood and well priced considering how expensive lobster is now I had a number of different things the seafood platter one time and the oysters and of course you have to have Allagash there so all in all a very pleasant experience thanks to everybody at Gilberts we really enjoyed ourselves and made our visit much more pleasant

Christina Mason

I was so excited to get some seafood chowder after being away for over a year. Paying $17 and the lady behind the window stuck her fingers in it to pull out a big piece of lobster that was on top because the lid wouldn’t go on….gross. I’m sure she didn’t know I was standing there. The chowder is good as usual but I’m a bit grossed out that the girl had her fingers in it.

Michael Buffum

Great service and some of the very best NE clam chowda bread bowl I've ever had. Good drinks and classic, rustic atmosphere

Thu Dang

Awesome lobster rolls and steamed lobster, great value. Staff were friendly and helpful. Don’t recommend fried clams, $17 for 7-8 pieces. Chowder was not my favorite, pretty thick.

L. Leong

This is "THE" place for a great Northeast New England Clam chowder in Portland, Maine. Nothing worths compared to this restaurant.

PJ Kennedy

Excellent chowder and Fish & Chips. Definitely recommend the Super Seafood Chowder as well as fried Haddock.

Larry Hansen

This is a great option on Commercial Street!! Feels like it’s been there foreverrr, and that’s not a bad thing at all. We were pleasantly greeted, waited in the little lobby not 5 minutes, and seated with a great looking menu. And prices! The twin lobster special was perfect w/cole slaw. The fried Haddock was fresh w/light crunchy batter & great tasting fries. The really really good sandwich was the Lobster BLT!! The lobster married deliciously with a very nice cut of bacon. Yum, yum and YUM!! Charming interior and great location.

Christine Brown

Absolutely amazing seafood. Their clam chowder is probably the best I've ever had. Every dish we tried was outstanding and ultra tasty. The servers were great & so friendly and warm. We stumbled upon this place when another restaurant we hoped to try (found on ig) couldn't accommodate our crew of 6. I'm SO happy they couldn't seat us! Gilbert's gave the great food and fun atmosphere we had hoped for in our night. I'd give 10 stars if I could and we will definitely be back!

Jimmy Garcia

Chowder was divine. Fish and chips were divine. And I mean DIVINE!

joseph douin

So very delicious 😋 Our visit was very nice.

Richard Hood

The best super seafood chowder I ever had. Went back twice both days in Portland to get.

Kayla Carpenter

The chowder was delicious. The waitress was nice and gave great service.

Russell Jones

The chowder is made of gold. This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. If you like mom-and-pop local eats this is the place for you. We were lucky enough to get a table before they got too busy. We were not in a hurry had two drinks each. Ate chowder, then shared an appetizer. Then we each had the fried haddock sandwich. Everything we delicious and the wait staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient.

Howard Neil

Alyssa was amazing. The food was spectacular. Highly recommended.

Dave Also

Went there early, got sat immediately, Abby, great waitress. We had an flight to take, and we were done eating with an hour to spare. Great lobster roll with Texas toast. First time having it and loved it. They did run out of lobster, which is fine, forced me to try the lobster roll. Great job everyone..

Tony C

Been here several times and always enjoyed the clam / seafood chowders. The chowder is still good. But, it is not exceptional like the previous few times I been here. Other things that people in my group ordered is the lobster rolls and haddock sandwich. They were all good. However, nothing was exceptional like I remembered. Still recommend since the price hasn't gone up that much because of their popularity.

B Miller

Love a good dive with incredible food. This is it. The chowder is the best I’ve ever had. The seafood was incredible. Bar has been set very high.

Nick Dysart

The best food in Portland. Highly recommend the Lobster BLT and Chowder Bread Bowls.

Kara P

Hearty, thick, creamy, and full of all sorts of fresh seafood. This is a diner experience not a fancy restraunt, but the locals we talked to were correct with it having the best chowder. It could never be called a soup, but a seafood meal with a creamy sauce mixed in. Friendly wait staff, with a smile and hometown vibe. Recommend for the foodie on a budget.

Rachel Smith

My waitress was very friendly and diligent! Best chowder I've ever had and fried scallops were amazing

Peaceful Turtle

Just what the doctor ordered :) Tastey seafood chowder in a large cup. Nom nom nom.

Elizabeth Cruz

Great food. Excellent service. Nice and cozy. Friendly personal.

Christine Bocuzzo

This was the best chowder we ever had! It was delish. Also really nice staff. A must stop when in Portland.

Laura Domic

Had a bread bowl seafood chowder. It was big and very tasty.

Deb M

We needed suppah NOW!!! Giblets just happened to be handy, so we tried it. The fried calamari, fries and slaw special was great. Tender, properly fried squid. The fries were crispy on the outside, creamy inside. The slaw was coarse , a creamy dressing. Very good.The half ham & Swiss was grilled to perfection, with a nice big slice of ham. It came with fries, an awesome pickle, and clam chowder. The chowder was not our style. But we are snobs! The waitress was really friendly, and really busy. Our order was perfect. She made sure we had plenty of napkins, and all the condiments were on the table. The place is super casual, diner style. It was a good choice tonight!

Brian (FloydFan1985)

Excellent sea food right on the water. The chicken and corn chowder along with the French Onion are amazing! I have had several great meals here! After a nice meal it's nice to walk along the shops with the Mrs. and enjoy a nice cigar from the wine/beer store across the street. Overall I've had great experiences here!

Robyn RoSser

Best New England clam chowder ever!! We had a lobster BLT that was delicious. They're very generous with their fries which were very tasty as well. Excellent service and we enjoyed the outdoor seating.

Madeline McCune

Highly recommend - pictured is the seafood chowder, it was amazing.

Stephen G

Pretty busy place, but two ships were in port, kinda in there like sardines. Food was pretty good...

Mary Keane

Service was exceptional. I enjoyed the calamari, and my husband liked the clam chowder. There are a couple of free spots to park in the parking lot next to the restaurant.

Dave Siegmund

The food was delicious. Lobster stew, lobster roll, calamari, house salad and chowder. Its a chowder house and the chowder was the best I have ever had. The lobster role was very good, and flavorful. The house salad, like all of the food is a touch on the expensive side, but well prepared and featured a good size for two people to share.the lobster stew stole the show, and should be the only way to eat lobster from now one. Creamy and buttery.

Joe Wallace

What can I say about Gilbert's Chowder House? Except that they have the tastiest most nutritional tasting Sea Food Chowder in all of Portland. Thick! Creamy! And Delicious 😋 I ordered 2 large Sea Food Chowders on 12/31/21 TO GO! I wasn't in Gilbert's Chowder House for more than 5 minutes and a very friendly Waitress served up my order and I was on my way! Plenty of napkins were packed, as well as salt pepper and plastic Chowder Spoons. Gilbert's Chowder House, Thank you! I just moved into the area and you have earned a NEW CUSTOMER😊👍 HAPPY NEW YEARS!🎊

Traci Laffin

Absolutely the best CHOWDA, and dogs are welcome on the deck, parking during tourist season can be a challenge.

Melanie King

We loved it! The haddock sandwich and the seafood chowder were AMAZING!

Paul D'Adamo

Awesome lunch today at Gilbert’s. We ordered two Fish & Chips, Clam Cakes, the Lobster BLT, and a round of chowder. Awesome service, hot/tasty/fresh food, and some authentic Portland ambiance! I would highly recommend Gilbert’s.

Jim Swaringen

Order the seafood chowder. Best stuff to put in your mouth! Full of seafood and potatoes. Sandwiches, fried fish, and yes lobster. Right next door, stop in for ice cream!

Jeff Prince

Stumbled upon this place when it was packed on a chilly afternoon. Bartender was very nice and answered my new to Maine questions about the local brews and gave me a sample to decide, even though they were slammed. Served us chowder while we waited for the rest. Food arrived hot and delicious. We were impressed by the quality of service and food, especially given these unusual pandemic / labor circumstances seeming to effect the service industry. Great job! I look forward to my next visit!

Ben Isai

My family loved this place. It's very well known for having the best chowder in Maine, and it was!! Very nice and authentic place.

Ctt Chan

Wonderful place for a meal, there was more stuff we wanted to try but we were too full. Definitely would come back again.

J baker

A great experience. Food came out quickly and correctly. Clam Chowder was fantastic. Lobster roll was average to above average. My wife's bread bowl was gigantic and steaming hot.

Jack Long

Got in quick before a sea dogs game. Server was attentive and chowder was great. Small size was plenty and allowed us to try more types.

Sarah T

ABSOLUTELY MUST EAT HERE!!!! Everything we had was excellent, and the people are great.

Marc Tofsted

The best lobster stew in Portland? You better believe it! Great little chowdery, with New England decor, fabulous stews and chowders, and a full bar with some great local selections on tap. There's usually a short line to get in, but we got lucky with our timing and walked right in and sat down. Seriously, their lobster stew is eyes rolling back in your head, good.

Timothy Ace

Always fantastic chowder. Seafood chowder is packed with lobster, shrimp, and other seafood. We always order a half gallon to take home, but order it early so they can cool it down for you and they'll throw a bag of ice on top for you too. Friendly staff. The "seat yourself" atmosphere can be confusing when you come in, but it is delineated by signs.

Monica Bell

The food was delicious! And the waitress was absolutely amazing! Yes I had 2 plates hahah

Rob Ognian

A local foodie suggested Gilbert’s Clam Chowder had the BEST clam chowder. He could not have been more accurate. We’re just finishing our second visit in as many days- absolutely the best Clam Chowder ever. We do not get this quality of Seafood back home so we’re sampling it all. Gilbert’s Rocks!

Tom MacNabb

After having a great bowl of chowder and a pile of mussels here a month ago I was excited to come back, it was even better the second time.

J.D. Edge

One of my favorite spots in Portland! The Super Seafood chowder is amazing. Loaded with meat, no filler. And their dinner specials are fresh, reasonably priced and fantastic. I've been eating here for years, and the food is only surpassed by the staff - Always friendly and attentive. Don't miss this little gem on the waterfront.

Christine De La Cerda

Excellent food!! I had the seafood bread bowl and my husband had the lobster roll. Yummy!!

Nat Watkins

Service was on point, the waitress was infinitely helpful and kind. However, some dishes lacked sodium. Luckily it was on the table for our use. Delovely and delectable chips. - The Putney Student Group

Todd Palmatier

Delicious clam chowder! My wife and I split a fried seafood platter which had a lot of different things. More than enough for us both. Fast, friendly service. Nice outdoor setting.

Andrew Ruden

My daughter and I fell in love with the clam and the seafood chowder. Also enjoyed an amazing plate of steamed mussels.

Zeb Stalcup

Best fish and chips

C Herrick

So authentic. So cute. Shabby inside. Rustic out. Seafood chowder to die for!

Shirley Gilliwag

Nice people and very friendly. Lobster roll ok. Clam chowder great

Thomas Long

The chowder is really good. In my opinion I would not get the bread bowl again. I feel like you get far less chowder. They should also toast the bread bowl lightly. The service was not very good, but it wasn't terrible.

Brian Cabe

Come for the seafood chowder. We had a lot of good food while visiting Portland, but Gilbert's was our favorite. We actually ate here twice in one week we liked it so much. Most of the seafood options are fried, but the chowder is where it's at so if you're looking for a good bowl of chowder come here!

Soyoung Lee

No kidding. Best chowder ever. Lobster dinner with great taste and price.

Abigail Santee

This is the Best Chowder in Portland! and maybe in all of Maine!

James Anderson

A great little seafood joint. Fabulous food, friendly staff and rapid service from the kitchen. Distancing in place inside and with their outdoors seating. The seafood supreme chowder is awesome. Loaded with lobster, shrimp and clams. Good for solo diners with a full bar too. Thumbs up.

Larry Lyman

We found Gilbert's by accident, on our way to another spot, but boy, were we lucky! Gilbert's chowders are fantastic! We had the Clam chowder and the Seafood chowder, and loved both. Service was friendly and fast, and the chowders were so good that we came back the next day for more! If we get back to Portland, we will come to Gilbert's again!

Brendan Donahue

Cannot recommend this place enough. No visit to Portland is complete without a visit.

Seelia Yang

The interior is like that of a diner. It is bright and welcoming, but the smell that greeted us when we opened the door was so bad that we had to order take out instead. The smell also drifted through the main dining area. The server was very sweet and gave us recommendations. Service was fast. The chowder is flavorful and had potato chunks, onions, and clams. It is definitely worth the price. I think it is one of the better clam chowders I've had in Maine. The crab cake was more breading than crab. It is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The coleslaw is good and definitely helped to cut through the fried food. 4 stars for the food and 2 stars for whatever the smell happened in the restaurant.

Carlos Linera

Cute little place. My friend had clam chowder and I had fish chowder. He did not like his chowder - said it wasn't thick enough and salty. However, my fish chowder was a winner.

E. Home

The seafood chowder is amazing!! Sooo delicious!

antoine williams

Quaint Ma & Pa restaurant with some absolutely delicious chowder...three choices on the menu, I had the seafood chowder with shrimp & lobster! A must if you visit Portland, Maine.

Colby Ryder

In business a long time and serving a real hardy menu of seafood goodies fresh from the Portland port !

Jen Diamond

Outdoor and indoor seating. Amazing chowder, spring for the super chowder and get extra fish. There is a quarter of lobster in your bowl and shrimp, fish everything seafood-y you want in a creamy, but not dense chowder. You can also get it in a bread bowl. Mmmm

andrea z

Great seafood chowder, lobster grilled cheese, and lobster BLT! The staff is so kind too! I wish we lived closer so we could come back regularly.

Katherine Gomez

You don't need me to tell you this place sells the best chowder on earth, but I am going to tell you anyway. All others are merely soups, this is the holy grail of clam chowders. I have been in Maine for 2 weeks and have eaten at this place 4 times already. Their other menu items are also fantastic. I recommend the lobster BLT, and the fried haddock sandwich is also a major hit with our fam. Their staff is also very nice and highly attentive. We will surely keep going back!!

Aaron Renshaw

Staff was helpful and food was good. Ordered the Maine Lobster Roll with chips and a small cup of Super Seafood Chowder. Very convenient location and prices are typical for portions in this area.

Michele Garone Gersten

Excellent lobster roll and phenomenal seafood soup filled with shrimp, lobster, clams, white fish and scallops!! Oh My!!!

Lou Caribou

Came in Halloween day in the afternoon, place was pretty chilly. They had the doors open. But I suppose for Portland Maine that was probably nice weather. Our waitress was dressed in a very skimpy outfit...leather pants, a tight crop top shirt with no bra. Was a little bit off-putting. Even though it was Halloween it wasn't really a costume. Not sure if they always dress like that? The white clam chowder and lobster roll was very good though.

Fred Batchelder

Food was good and service was fantastic

Mackenzie

Lobster chowder is amazing! The broth was buttery and creamy and the lobster was plentiful! My husband got a fried seafood platter. He liked it, but I was confused why anyone would like fried fresh seafood. The kids got the grilled cheese and they loved it. Overall a great experience. (Skip the clam chowder)

Jacob Vandenburg

Gilbert's Chowder House is amazing! We just go into town and really wanted to go try some East Coast chowder. We were not disappointed at all. The fried calamari and lobster BLT were also amazing! Highly recommend!

Champian Fulton

Clam chowder was super delicious. Recommend.

Stephen Carmona

The Clam chowder was outstanding. Well seasoned and balanced. Creamy, rich and delicious. The bread bowl was a failure. It was not fresh, dry, chewy and lacked crust and flavor. The fries were outstanding but $5.00 a basket. Beers were $8 a pint, but exceptional. The waitress (Lauren?) was outstanding. If I was to return I'd get 2 bowls of the chowder and skip the bread bowl.

David Zeff

The very best lobster rolls and chowder any where

David Martinez

We ordered the chowder, corn chowder and lobster roll. Thumbs up on both chowders, lobster roll is nothing special, but I' m not of fan of lobster in general. Service was friendly but slowww, just like everywhere else in downtown Portland. Every review I read about Portland downtown is this is a foodie paradise, I dont get it...its average food with slow service.

Jackie Boie

Absolutely the best haddock sandwich I have ever had.Great piece of fish with a light fried coating.The onion rings were awesome. My husband loved the clam chowder in the bread bowl.A must when in Portland

Dan Tollman

BEST fried oysters I’ve *ever* had!! And I live in MA one town from the Atlantic. So, if that is what you are looking for, you should go. Fries very good. Ketchup slightly BBQ -good. Service excellent. On tap beer limited. Semi-“fast food” vibe.

Denton Weimer

I grew up in Portland and currently live out of state. However, whenever my wife and I come home to visit this is a must to stop in and grab a bowl of their super seafood chowder served in a bread bowl.

Brandon Wilkins

The food is excellent here. I love their chowder. In the top 5 that I have ever had. But they are just too expensive. Myself and 2 friends went there for lunch. We got 2 large bowls of chowder and one medium. We split a large onion ring and had 2 soft drinks. We walked out having left $61 on the table (including a probably over fair tip considering we saw our server 3 times, when our order was taken, food delivered, and the bill left. When we needed anything else, we had to flag someone else down). Although I didn't order one on this visit, their beers are pricey for the amount they give you too. So food gets 5 stars. Price and service gets 1.

Hector Espinosa

Sometimes we spend lots of money and the service is not as good, if you want to eat a I'm full today but tomorrow or later i have some appointment times meal at a good price this is a good place. The shore dinner w twin lobsters was enough for my wife and I. Im particular about the service but it was very pleasant, informative. The red head server was ours and she was very pleasant.

Joy

We came here on our vacation and it was the best service and food/beer ever! The girl with red hair remembered us when we came the second time! I love the atmosphere of the place and it’s probably the best little hidden gem of Portland Maine! I recommend the seafood soup or the lobster blt!

Nunya Business

We had quite an interesting time. It was a day that could have been bad or good... And the way that Alyssa at Gilbert's handled it, made it a wonderful day. I have nothing bad to say, our food and drinks were good, the service was exceptional. All in all, it was a great experience!

Wanda Fortuna

Nice place friendly staff and the food was great I will be here again with my husband

Dani Herzog

The best clam chowder and corn chowder we’ve ever had!!!!!! Go go go, you won’t regret it.

Ashley Thrasher

Wasn't our favorite chowder. We got clam- plenty of clams but a little too salty. Service was also pretty slow. Waitress brought water our to our dog on the patio without us asking! That was great.

Mahalingam Palaniandi

The food was delicious. Very pleasant hospitality and services. Good ambiance. Highly recommended. Enjoyed the perfect family meal.

Colby Johns

Service was great! Super friendly staff, had a family like atmosphere but a great place to just hang and have a drink. Food was fantastic, I had the fish chowder in a bread bowl and man oh man was that a great choice! Filled me up but I still wanted to bring some home. Definitely a restaurant for a great go to.

Matthew John

I visit this establishment nearly every time I visit from New Hampshire. Every single time I have had an amazing experience. Out of all the restaurants I have visited in Portland this is one of the most authentic restaurants you can possibly go to. The food is always delicious and fresh, and the service is phenomenal. I would highly recommend Gilbert's to anybody looking to have a quality meal for a reasonable price. I would give it more than five stars if I could.

Shelby Meyers

We stopped here because there was no wait and a good selection of local brews. All started with a cup of chowder which was so good and came out quickly and nice and hot! The main courses then took forever to come out and we were often left with empty drinks for several minutes until the server came back around. The main courses were...okay. We all agreed they were pretty underseasoned, though the seafood was fresh. The only disappointment was the fried whole clams. Several were FULL of sand and inedible, which was pretty off-putting. Especially as they were the most expensive entree by far! Overall, don't expect greatness here! If you want a quick meal stop here and get the chowder for sure!

Micah Winslow

Great place and good food the chowder is amazing

Alicia Kirwin

Fresh seafood for a great price! The seafood chowder in a bread bowl was really good

Tara Stokes

I'm not a seafood person but my significant other is. Was so happy to see that there was a non seafood option on the menu and ordered the chicken & corn chowder in the bread bowl. The bread was super soft. Very yummy!

Natalia Hubisz

Great little place with indoor and outdoor dining options. It looks like a spot that hasnt been updated in quite some time- they know tgat thair food is good and don't need the fanfare of fancy decor. There was no wait on a Saturday afternoon and we got a deck table. The food came out fast and it was tasty. We had the lobster blt with fries and chowder. If you want to have a good meal without the "on the dock" prices and wait times, come here.

Anon Noomus

A local shopkeeper recommended this as "a bit of a dive, but...". Bring it on! We ate lunch twice and dinner once during three days in Portland. Super seafood chowder is indeed super. Fried oysters top-notch. Gotta say lobster roll must at least vie for the best in the burg. Even their cole slaw is good, but unfortunately it's the greenest (and only green) thing on the menu. Just understand it's a dive, remember, so it primarily dives into the deep fat fryer. Guinness is priced right!

Collis Jeppesen

Some of the best clam chowder I've eaten.

Hannah C

Pretty standard chowder in a dive atmosphere. Service was good. However, the place smelled a little funky/stale.

Ms L

This was by far the most amazing chowder I have ever experienced. I had the seafood chowder and it was absolutely melt in your mouth delicious. I also had the side salad which was exceptional, fresh greens, feta cheese, olives and chickpeas. The bloody Mary was one of the best I’ve ever had if not the best as well. The atmosphere was completely unpretentious and they let their absolutely unbelievable food speak for itself. Our server was engaging and very competent. Across-the-board this was just one of the best eating experiences I’ve had. This is quickly become one of my favorite places in Portland.

Jaylla Marie

Food wasn't too good but drinks& prices are good.

A R

Good thick chowder. Everything is always fresh and the servers make you feel right at home. They have their own parking too.

Susi Ryan

We were looking for another restaurant that ended up being closed and wandered in. What an absolute gem of a place. It has the feel of your local diner/pub- the food is fantastic and inexpensive. My daughter and I had the mussels- 2 two enormous platters that included some little neck clams, juice and buttered bread. Fabulous. My daughter said the chocolate cake is out of this world. The other best part was the staff. Warm, friendly and genuine. Skip the expensive spots and go back o Gilbert’s. You won’t regret it.

Ann Burruss

The half and half - a half sandwich and small chowder - is a just right lunch. I got the lobster BLT and clam chowder and it was perfect. Love this place, it's old Portland.

Catherine Germann

Not very welcoming staff and not much space to wait for a table. Once we were seated we had fast and efficient service. I ordered seafood chowder in a bread bowl and it was a delicious and hearty meal. Grilled cheese was basic, but a good edition to a cup of clam chowder.

Robyn Draugelis

We ordered fish chowder and clam chowder and they were delicious! I can’t wait to have more. The fried clams were unfortunately not good. I expected more being in Maine on the water. They almost looked frozen..gasp!

Prius Owner

Fresh seafood, prepared quickly and excellently. Not a fancy establishment, but people don't come here for the decor. Six beers on tap, several are local brews. They even have both seafood and beef chili, but didn't try either. Seafood chowder and the fish and chips were excellent. You can pay more elsewhere, but it won't be better.

Kurt Dossin

Good food. Very slow service the day we were there but will definitely give them another shot. Everyone is light on help these days.

LCD PLASMA INSTALLATION

Stopped here when we visited Portland Maine and this restaurant kept coming up on searches for best Clam Chowder. The chowder was good but to me lacked some herbs and spices. My main complaint was the bread bowl. If you ever had soup in a bread bowl you will expect a crusty bread with soft chewy inside. This was just soft bread (think wonder bread). Overall the location is great. Suggest outside seating. The food was good and service was good. 👍🏻

BeantownEater

This place look like it's been here for years. I got the super Seafood chowder and my friend got the clam chowder. The clam chowder was a bit salty. The super seafood chowder had alot of protein for $9 but the chowder was okay. Service was fine, but the value is the amount of seafood you get for your money.

SHARMAN MAHONEY

All ways delightful and great location with good prices. Hands down best chowder, seafood and clam are outstanding. They have the option of chicken chowder and lobster bisque as well. All their Seafood is so fresh and I love the people who work there. During the summer they have an ice cream shop. This day my daughter and I opted for takeout as it was really busy and it was such a nice day. We got a large clam chowder and split it both of us could not finish, as it was very filling The chowder had a lot of Clams it was so tasty!

Lisa Champagne

Absolutely in love with this place! The best Chowder around. Fresh seafood. Right on the water. Cute and cozy dining. We drive 2 hours just to get the chowder here. Check them out next time you're in the area!

Dale Traupman

Stopped in for lunch. Excellent chowder. I had the daily special of a lobster BLT. Very tasty. My wife enjoyed a lobster roll. Food was excellent, service pleasant. Might be a bit pricey for families as many of the menu items are full dinner entrees.

April G

Eaten at several locations and let me tell you you cannot go wrong with anything from their menu. Chowders are of course fantastic, its in the name. Even something simple like a side of fries is delicious, nice and crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. I had a very difficult time not ordering half the menu for lunch. Gilbert's is quickly becoming my new favorite place to eat.

Keith Laflamme

Good chowder. Excellent fish selections with decent pricing.

Sierra Wolf

Stood in line a while which is fine, but waitresses would pass by with zero acknowledgement. A "be right with you" or even a smile would have been nice. They were busy and working but had no sense of urgency. Clam chowder was oddly, vaugely sweet. Just ok.

Lori Spaulding

I thought it was really great! My lobster was cooked perfect and was full of flavor. The fries were some of the best I've ever had and the corn was crisp and sweet! Waitress was very pleasant and attentive. Atmosphere was very on the docks type and it was just what I was looking for!!! Definitely 5 stars and would recommend it and go again and again!!!

Edward Steelman

Take a boat ride to Portland and dock at Damilos on one of those days that is cold in the shade and warm in the sun. When you get there walk down to Gilbert's and order some chowder and a beer. Thank me after 😁 …

M Gabriel Santos

Had the clam Chowder - amazing! Also had the haddock sandwich - great piece of fish. Waitress was so sweet which contributed to the enjoyable experience. Would definitely go again.

Lynnette Patton

This place has the best chowder hands down! Word to the wise, a small cup of the seafood chowder was enough for my husband and I! Where as the seafood chili was good, go with the chowder!!! This spot beats out Ivars in seattle and any chowder we have had in Boston!!!!

Dannie A

Decently priced food and cheap drinks! Friendly staff would definitely recommend if youre looking to not spend too much money but have a lot of food!

John Peachey

We got the fried seafood platter the scallopsand haddock in it were delicious the rest was ok. Served on paper plates with plastic utensils not fancy but food was good.

Charles Anderson

Excellent clam chowder and by the looks of the other diners everything eaten was delicious.

Rand Al'Thor

Well my uncle always told me that whenever he was in Portland for anything, he always tried to get his bowl of chowder. He told me that it's the best chowder in the area if not the state. So when I was in the old Port I tried it for myself. My Lord the seafood chowder is amazing. Lobster, Haddock, shrimp, clam and bacon with small diced potatoes! I got the large and I was only able to get the chowder down to the halfway point. I would recommend that if you love chowder, get it in the bread-bowl and have it as a meal. Clam cakes also are very good, actually has hunks of clam in it. Definitely will be back again!

CJ W

Came here a few years ago and had their super seafood chowder with breadbowl. Chowder was delicious, among the best I have had. Went back with my husband and we shared the same. Not sure why but the bread didn't taste fresh, like it was fresh baked but a day old. Kind of crumbly instead of elastic. Would be better in sourdough or day-of fresh baked bread. For $15, and $7-$8 in chowder, would have expected better bread for $7.

Tyler Peters

This place will ruin you for lobster chowder anywhere else. Unbelievable simple but delicious.

BETTY Rodriguez

Delicious Clam Chowder! We stopped in Portland, Maine (October’21)

David Kraus

The seafood and clam chowder is very tasty. As was the lobster during my forth visit. However, the quality of some ingredients diminishes the overall taste of the meal. Their fries are the batter dip style which I do not enjoy. Disappointed that single-use plates, cups and utensils are used for dine-in service.

Jennifer Clancy

Gilbert's Chowder House is the epitome of the local New England seafood restaurant. Not fancy, but incredibly delicious. The lobster roll must have had 4 claws in there and the fried clams were spilling off the plate. They had a variety of chowders (clam, lobster, seafood, etc.) and was excellent. Wonderful service and good choice of beers on tap. I would definitely recommend and I would go back.

Robyn Hatten

Clam chowder and lobster roll were delicious and well priced. Wish I got a photo, but we ate our meals too fast! Staff was also extremely friendly.

Gina Rizzo

Found this place after going on a cruise around Portland. Outdoor seating is low key but good. Excellent waitress. Loved the lobster roll (they were out of whole lobsters because cruise ship stayed in port). Daughter's hamburger and fries very good. Definitely would come back!

Jake B

Very pleasant place to have lunch. At our table we had a lobster BLT (great invention), some near transcendent fried clams, and some oddly uninspiring fish chowder. You'd think a place that literally calls itself a "chowder house" would get chowder right. They didn't get it wrong, exactly, but it wasn't right either. They've got a bunch of clippings of them being "chowder of the year" in various years and various publications, but like many places they're so afraid of thin chowder that they seemingly over thicken it with flour or something similarly glutinous. It's unnecessary and a little annoying. I like my chowder on the thick side, but creamy. I don't think you should be able to stand a spoon up in it, which you can do here. Others may like that but it's not for me. I didn't actually try the BLT but it was reported to be "very yummy" by my dining companion. My other companion had the clams, and I did eat many of these, and they elevated my opinion of Gilbert's substantially. Perfectly crisp and light batter, well cooked clams, and above all tasted great.

Sharon Palmer

Great food, great prices, great service..everything was soooooo good! We had the steamed mussels, lobster roll, seafood chowder, fried clams, and exceptional bloody Mary. Visited twice in 3 days. It's that good!

R G

Chowder was just ok. Not much fish in the fish Chowder. Mostly potatoes. Fried clams were pretty good but small portions.

Suzy Noyes

Sat outside on a sunny Spring day. Service and food were both very good. Clean bathroom. Four spots to park along side building for this restaurant only so you don't have to pay and we could see the dog in the car. Really enjoyed.

Denise Bosma

So many mussels, and so good. Really good chowder, and yummy lobster roll. Reason6prices for Portland. Great service.

joann mansfield

1 1/2 pound lobster, french frues and cole slaw for $21.95. Amazing...

Stephen Thompson

Always a favorite! It's in the touristy section of Portland and the prices reflect that, but this is seriously good food. We have had all of the chowders, lobster, whole belly clams, fish and chips, and even hot dogs (for the kids). It has all been outstanding. Anytime we have guests from away, this is a sure visit.

Tom Hedge

This place crushes it on every order. Friendly service too. Our only go to chowdah!

Jeff Buford

Diner style, simple menu but they execute very well. We tried a number of things all of them very good. I wish they had smaller to go portions of their chowder since we had limited cooler space, but I would definitely go back.

Lauren D

If you are in Portland, you need to come here. Their clam chowder is delicious, massive, and comes in a fluffy bread bowl. A BREAD BOWL. And they let you have the bread that gets cut out to make the bowl. All for, like, $12. It's seat yourself, there's rarely a wait. This is one of those hole-in-the-wall places where you actually get good food, and you don't feel like a tourist.

Irene Papageorgiou

Tasty lobster roll!

Dale Plummer

Quaint little place. Definitely not fancy but very good chowder. Scallops were decent. Service was quick.

Karen Pote

Use to love going there but today my husband and I stopped in to have lunch. Needless to say the outside seating was great and service was pleasant but the food we remembered was not the same! I couldn’t wait to have a Reuben it was very dry and with fatty meat not impressed. My husbands burger was subpar as well ... he was not impressed ! They may have other delicious items on the menu but those were not today. Otherwise not a bad place to stop in and check out the plenty of variety on there menu.

Johnny Damon

Waited about 20 mins to sit outside. Service was pretty slow but they appeared to be hustling so they must be understaffed. Got chowda bread bowl. Went down good but an hour later it wasn’t agreeing with the belly if you know what i mean..

Rubab Khaled

Saw someone else write the same thing and I agree 100%. Great lobster for a very reasonable price. Went there twice to get their Steamed Lobster with corn on the cob and french fries; will rate it 8/10. But the superstar was their Lobster Stew. I would rate this heavenly warm and creamy stew with big chunkcs of lobster meat 10/10. Other than the food, the staff is friendly and I think they were quite prompt even though they were a bit busy.

David Blouin

Great chowder very good clam cakes

kristina Isacson

Gluten free lobster stew is to-die-for good. We also had the steamed mussels in white wine sauce, phenomenal. Worth the stop traveling to and from Maine. Parking was a little tough on Saturday.

Sam J

Amazing food! Service was super fast and excellent. We had the clam chowder in the bread bowl along with hot chocolate. Must have the clam chowder in the bread bowl! It tastes absolutely delicious and the hot chocolates were rich and creamy

Donna

Stopped in for a late lunch. It's a cute little place tucked in the harbor. Staff was very friendly, food 👌.

Sheri Hasty

You have to try their seafood chowder. It had large chunks of lobster, shrimp, clams and crab meat.

R Boday

We had fun here! We thought the food was good, not amazing, and the service left something to be desired, but this is a well-established restaurant for a reason, and the chowder and seafood is consistently good.

Matthew Hendrickson

They have a nice patio and decent beer selection. I was rather disappointed with the food though. I know seafood is expensive but the fried scallops with chowder special came with 5 small scallops and the chowder had 0 clam in it. Pretty careless and not a good value. The food is just average anyway and the service is poor. There are so many amazing places to eat in downtown Portland, I would recommend skipping this one. I did witness a seagull steal someone's lobster here and that may have been worth it.

Chef Alfredo Rodriguez

The winner here is the lobster grilled cheese! Not a lot of atmosphere but you can hear the live music coming from next door's.

christopher mckinley

This is the jam. Huge portions. Split some things with you friends

Robin White

Clams clams clams. I was so happy to have them. This is a great little place among all of the big fabulous restaurants in the area. Nothing fancy, just good hot, flavorful no frills seafood and sides. I would definitely come again for a quick bites. They have indoor and outdoor seating on a patio.

Dan Wilding

This was a fabulous meal.... scallops and shrimp. The seafood was very fresh. Service was very good. The ambience was fun. Gilbert's Chowder House is a short walk from the cruise terminal. If I'm ever back in Portland I'll certainly go back to Gilbert's.... it's really just that good.

Mark Thornton

I've ate here on just one occasion and the food was pretty good. It's a very casual cafe atmosphere with a very friendly staff. I ate their fish and chips and overall was quite good. The chips weren't anything too amazing; however, their battered fish (haddock if I recall) was outstanding. Yes, I know, I went to a chowder house and ate fish and chips... The restaurant had a dive like feel to it, though the price was relatively cheap and service was prompt. I would go here again.

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