Gilberts Chowder House

4.5 ( 3144 reviews )

Checking... 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM See Hours

92 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101, United States

+1 207-871-5636

Gilberts Chowder House, situated on the picturesque waterfront in downtown Portland, ME, is a culinary gem that seafood lovers must visit. Renowned for serving some of the best chowder in the area, patrons rave about the freshness and flavor of dishes like the seafood chowder, which features an abundance of clams, shrimp, and lobster. Both the lobster bisque and the iconic lobster roll are also crowd favorites, noted for their generous portions and delicious taste.

Customer reviews highlight the charming decor and warm service. Diners appreciate the attentiveness of the staff, with many mentioning their positive experiences with servers like Jenny. The cozy atmosphere makes it a perfect spot for families and seafood enthusiasts alike. While some find the prices a bit steep, the quality of the dishes seems to justify the cost for most visitors.

Whether you're diving into a bread bowl chowder or indulging in fried haddock, it's clear that Gilberts Chowder House makes every meal a memorable experience. With stunning views of the water and dishes that captivate the palate, this restaurant is undoubtedly worth the visit.

Accessibility
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
- Has outdoor seating
- Offers kerbside pickup
- Has no-contact delivery
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
Highlights
- Has fast service
- Has great beer selection
- Serves great cocktails
Popular for
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
Offerings
- Serves alcohol
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Quick bite
- Serves small plates
- Serves spirits
- Serves wine
Dining options
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has counter service
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
Amenities
- Has bar on site
- Has toilet
- Has Wi-Fi
- Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cosy
- Historic
Crowd
- Family friendly
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Accepts credit cards
- Accepts debit cards
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs available
- Has kids' menu
Parking
- Paid street parking
- Somewhat difficult to find a space
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside

Varinia Parrish

Jun 29,2025

Good food and nice service! It's a bit pricey honestly. My chicken fingers were really good though and don't be fooled they are bigger than you think! The decorations inside are cute.

Dan Stepanukha

May 25,2025

Gilbert’s Chowder House is located right on the water of downtown Portland, ME. Recommended for having the best chowder in town, we could not resist stopping in here. We had the lobster bisque, seafood chowder and the lobster roll. Everything was fresh and tasted great! Check this place out! The decor was also unique and my kids loved it. Our waitress Jenny was kind, attentive, and very helpful!

Sweet MaryLoo

May 21,2025

Tucked in a corner on the main drag of Portland, Maine sits a cozy little dive serving some scrumptious seafood feasts. Famous for their ‘chowdah’ I had the seafood chowder. My medium cup of clam chowder was packed with clams, shrimp, haddock, and more lobster than I could imagine in one bowl of chowder. ‘My God, this is good” doesn’t even cover it. It’s no wonder we drove 2 hours for this deliciousness! Also noteworthy was the calamari which was not only skillfully seasoned, but the cook on it was perfection. If you’re ever even close to Portland, Gilbert’s Chowder House will be worth your time!

Alice Lee

May 14,2025

Couldn’t decide what to eat. So I went with a classic bread bowl chowder. I went with a seafood chowder, it had halibut, shrimp and lobster. I also got a lobster roll, it was all claw! Came with fries and a pickle, super tasty. Finished off with a blueberry pie. It was flaky and filled with delicious blueberries, and topped with whipped cream. A corner of the restaurant, where we originally sat smelled weird. So we went outside to eat which was better because we could see the water and didn’t have to process the stench. Food was great, that corner of restaurant smell was head hurting. Would go back.

Laura Griffith

May 6,2025

We stopped in for lunch today and I tried their Seafood Chowder in a bread bowl, and the hubs had fried haddock dinner with fries and slaw. Everything was delicious and served fresh. The chowder was thick, creamy, flavorful and full of baby shrimp, some fish, potatoes and two pieces of lobster claw meat on top.

David Vasquez

Apr 30,2025

This happened to be one of our favorite places to eat while visiting Portland. It was a shame we discovered this while on our last night out because it definitely deserved more than one trip. Service was good, but not overbearing. The food really was the star here, with everything being executed beautifully. The Lobster Roll was one of the best we tried while in Portland. It was Fresh, balanced and stuffed to the brim with Lobster. You can really tell it was caught fresh and prepared the same day. Conversations were lively and it really was a great overall experience being able to eat here for our last night. This is definitely a great place to visit if you want fresh lobster that does not skimp on the portion size.

Jenny Lee

Mar 22,2025

We absolutely loved the food here! The clam chowder was incredibly creamy and flavorful—one of the best we’ve had. We also tried the lobster roll, lobster mac and cheese, fish and chips, and crab melt. Everything was fresh, perfectly cooked, and absolutely delicious. Service was fast and friendly, which made the experience even better. The only downside was a strong sewage smell near the entrance when we first walked in.

Summer Lambert

Mar 19,2025

Quintessential Maine spot with the BEST DEAL IN TOWN. A 25 lobster roll? Are you kidding me?! It was amazing! We upgraded to fries and it was more than worth it. Generous portions, friendly service, fair price. Couldn’t recommend this place higher!

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