Abel’s Lobster Pound

A worthy seafood destination! Locals and visitors alike know the lobster and steamed clams are as fresh and tasty as one could possibly find!
A professional, well cut staff will ensure your dinner and experience is a step above the rest!
Situated on beautiful Somes Sound, surrounded by Acadia NP, an ideal destination offering docking for arrival by boat as well!

Best lobster, best blueberry pie a la mode. I always look forward to coming here once a summer.
You can’t beat the views during a Somes Sound sunset, either.

This place does lobster, and does it well. Sit outside for a beautiful sunset, just be sure to bring bug spray!

2^nd trip to Abel’s and both times have been tremendous… steamers hot and delicious… boiled lobster dinner excellent… boiled in the sound sea water and fresh… local brew available along with specialty cocktails… really cant go wrong

Great views — would go early to get a choice table (we went around 530 for early dinner after a long day of hiking). Home made Wild Blueberry pie! Kid friendly. Super nice waitstaff.

Great views, we had great service, the food was very good although I felt it was a little pricey.

Stopped by to check out the place. It was recommended by a long time friend of my wife. Short story is that the food, wait staff, and views were awesome. The lobster was already prepared to eat… all of the non desirable contents were already removed. Ate at picnic table looking over the lake. Worth the drive from downtown.

It’s a pity that this place has gone so drastically downhill. I have been coming here every year for the past seven and it’s always been a highlight. I was there a few weeks ago and never have I felt so ignored and really and truly fleeced.
Arrived at 1pm on a Sunday and it was practically empty — which should have been a sign. We then waited nearly 45 — 50 minutes for our food. We were so hungry we begged for soup crackers to get us through. When the food finally arrived the portions were so breathtakingly small that I asked if they had made a mistake. The lobster stew looked like a cup size and for $ 21 you would hope to see a little claw meat, of which there was none. It just felt like an overall exploitation. I strongly discouraged all my colleagues from making the annual trek to Abel’s. What a pity.
When I came across this article it prompted me to write this review. Shame on you Abel’s.

Not my favorite visit to Abel’s over the years. The lobster (soft shell) was extremely over priced and over cooked. Beals and Thurstons were much better.
The ambiance is excellent here when eating outside until it gets dark. Them the customers become the meal for Mosquitos.
My folks had the blueberry lemonade with vodka. Couldn’t taste the vodka at all. I stuck with the Atlantic Blueberry Beer.
The clams were excellent however. Bread was ok to hold us over as it took quite a while to get served.
Lots of «yachter families» with unsupervised kids with the occasional nannies in attendance made it a little loud.

Two nights ago was our fourth trip (at least) to Abel’s. Due to the mosquitos outside, we elected to sit inside as darkness was falling. With a family connection to the ownership, we called ahead and were given a table for our party of four in the corner with water views. That was nice.
But then we ordered. Though not being particularly busy, we waited an hour for food to arrive. First we were told they had run out of baked potatoes (really, how does that happen?) so we had to substitute. That was disappointment #1. We chose corn on the cob. it was ok, no better than ok. Disappointment #2.
Our drinks arrived — recommended by the waitress, they were spiked blueberry lemonade with Stoli vodka. We ordered four. None of us could taste (or feel) any vodka. Disappointment #3. An HOUR later, food began to arrive. Disappointment #4. By this point, were were already grumbling though we had not been in a particular hurry in the first place.
I complained about the drink (everyone should have but didn’t) and to Abel’s credit, my second drink had «tasteable» vodka and even some extra in a shot glass on the side. Of course, the drink appeared on the bill — not a courtesy drink. Disappointment #5.
When the clam chowder arrived for the one order, he commented how he «enjoyed making mashed potatoes» out of it. Clams were virtually non-​existent. Disappointment #6.
We had four large lobsters with steamers. The steamers and lobsters were fine, though they must have sent the boat out to catch them at time of order considering how long it took to arrive. My recollection for the cooking instructions is «drop In hot water», right?
The lobsters were fine and the meat was plentiful.
Then we got the bill. After tip, $ 356.39!!! For four people. Let me repeat: $ 356.39. Is it OK to swear on Unilocal?Do I need to say that «Disappointment #7» would be too weak a statement? A new category would be needed. This was a total ripoff especially considering that the cost of lobster is way down for two years in a row. Did we see the price when we ordered? Sure. Did we order anyway? Sure. After driving there and getting seated, it was already after 8 pm and going somewhere else was a limited option. Basically two large rooms with covered picnic tables. Underpaid help from Romania (who were VERY nice and hustled throughout despite the things they could not control) so I left a very generous tip.
Needless to say, despite the family connection, this is our last trip to Abel’s. BTW, I NEVER write reviews unless I am truly amazed or incredibly displeased. So, this may be the third review I have written. After getting the bill, with no accommodation for all the failures, I was, and am, PISSED. Hence this review. If ZERO stars were available, that’s what I would give.
Avoid Abel’s, they are taking advantage of their reputation and it is no longer deserved. Just know you’re paying for the view if you can get there for sunset and don’t get eaten alive by the mosquitos. But there are many other places to get great lobster around here without overpaying. It’s the same «lobstah» from the same water, after all.

First, let me say that the service is good. They make it a point to mention often that it is a family business. «Uncle So and So made today’s soup.» And yes the location is off the beaten track and lovely (minus the bugs). But I have had better and much cheaper lobster. Note that most places, the price of the lobster changes but this place has permanent menus and the lobster prices don’t adjust. To me, that is telling. I would have left after seeing $ 35 for a 1.5 pound lobster but my dining companion was smitten with the location.

The food was good, service was very good, but, unlike their name «able’s lobster pound» they do not sell lobster by the pound?!
Yes, the service was awesome, but not worth the expense. If your looking for lobster stick with Trenton bridge lobster for you best deal by the pound. If it is awesome service your looking for, go here.

Had one day to explore Mt. Acadia, Cadillac Mountain, Bar Harbor and enjoy an authentic Maine lobster experience. We did it all and were extremely satisfied with our dining in the pines along the waterfront at the lobster pound. Yes it was pricey but hey we’re from SoCal and we are used to paying for the price for surroundings and ambience.
The lobster was fresh and hefty. The blueberry pie was delicious and so was the fancy vodka, blueberry lemonade drink. The baked potato was a little dry but plentiful butter and dour cream cured that.
We did not have reservations and had to sit a little further away from the prime location picnic tables. All that did was give us more ground view and a few people in between us and the beautiful sunset. My suggestion is to be sure and make reservations! You may have a better view with fewer pines in between; but hey how can that be bad. Just take a look at my pics.

Beautiful scenery — kid friendly (my 3 month old nephew was welcomed) —
Awesome location — accommodation of large parties — scenic harbor views (somes sound) perfect lobster (best on island) and excellent service

We loved Abel’s. We were given the recommendation by the owners of our cottage. It did not disappoint. Yes, it was expensive but talk about LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
And the service was FANTASTIC.
We all agreed it was our favorite meal of our week long stay, a couple of us thought dinner there was our favorite thing about the whole trip.

This place is hidden for sure, but Abel’s is a fun place to hang out and eat fresh lobster. It’s rated one of the best lobster pounds around Bar Harbor, but also offers table service. Fun, fast, and unpretentious, this place offers steamed lobsters of all sizes, lobster dishes, and fantastic homemade desserts. If you don’t eat lobster, you can have a salad, a baked potato or fries, and some of their homemade rolls. You can sit inside overlooking the water or sit outside on wooden picnic tables by the Sound. Beers on tap are all local.

Had the pleasure of having dinner there again tonight. It is still a family owned and family run business.
Place was busy inside and out and the lobster was a good as ever. They close down for the season on Labor Day. We look forward to our next visit in 2012!

Excellent authentic place to eat Lobster and drink local beers. Its expensive, but since it has been around for awhile & still pretty busy its worth it.

If you are looking for quality, great service, and a truly awesome view this is the place. The quality of lobsters vary from restaurant to restaurant. And although some seem like they offer a great deal, they often offer a lot of shell and not much lobster. And you are paying for both. Not at Abels, their lobster are the highest quality and the locals know it. Great service, and the best blueberry pie in the area! I suppose their motto should be you get what you pay for…

I don’t really understand why the lobster was as expensive as it was, for the size it was. The lobster alone was about $ 25 to $ 30, and it was certainly under two pounds, I’m not sure it was even a pound and a half. Yes, it was delicious, but so were the other lobsters I had at other locations around the coast, for a much better price. The view is nice, and our server was very friendly and gracious (very important), but I can’t help but feel ripped off on the price. Doesn’t really make sense. I would give fewer stars, but for the décor (old school w/​o being tacky), and the service — friendly people. Take-​away for Abel’s: don’t rip off the tourists on the price of lobster, they see the other lobster pound prices in the area! ;-P