Thurston's Lobster Pound

The Quintessential Place to Eat Lobster in Maine

"This is your fantasy," I overheard a woman say to her husband as we dined at Thurston's Lobster Pound in Bernard, Maine, in July of 2011. For any traveler who has dreamed of the quintessential experience of eating lobster in the rough in a picture-perfect Maine setting, this out-of-the-way seafood outpost overlooking Bass Harbor truly is a vision come to life. As I cracked my soft-shell lobster, I continued to eavesdrop: "The food is good for my body, but the view is good for my soul. I could feast on the view," she said.

And with that, a stranger had done my job: told you just about everything you need to know about why Thurston's Lobster Pound is worth the trip (it's about a half hour from Bar Harbor, home to Maine's Acadia National Park).

I'll add just two things before I take you to Thurston's on a photo tour (click the thumbnail images above to get started): With prices starting at just $11.99 per pound (as of 2015) for a small, hard-shell lobster, this seaside restaurant is an affordable place to savor Maine's signature crustacean, and the lobsters at Thurston's couldn't be any fresher.

More of the Best Places to Eat Lobster in Maine

Savor just-caught lobster in a picturesque waterside setting at Thurston's Lobster Pound: a not-to-be-missed dining destination near Bar Harbor, Maine.

Since 1993, Maine visitors dreaming of the ideal coastal setting for a lobster feast have found their way to Thurston's Lobster Pound in Bernard, where sweet, butter-dipped lobster and other seafood specialties await.

Savor just-caught lobster in a picturesque waterside setting at Thurston's Lobster Pound: a not-to-be-missed dining destination near Bar Harbor, Maine.

When I first saw the view from Thurston's Lobster Pound, it reminded me of a scene from a book... my book! The cover photo for my 2008 book, "The New England Coast: The Most Spectacular Sights & Destinations," was shot here and resembles this photo.

Savor just-caught lobster in a picturesque waterside setting at Thurston's Lobster Pound: a not-to-be-missed dining destination near Bar Harbor, Maine.

Looking out over Bass Harbor from Thurston's, the scene is serene in the early evening, now that lobstermen's work for the day is done. Lobster boats reflect in vivid blue waters, awaiting the next day's crustacean chase.

Savor just-caught lobster in a picturesque waterside setting at Thurston's Lobster Pound: a not-to-be-missed dining destination near Bar Harbor, Maine.

Any doubt that Thurston's Lobster Pound is situated overlooking a working harbor will be erased when you view the towers of lobster traps piled on the docks surrounding the restaurant. Lobster traps are elaborate, well-designed contraptions.

Savor just-caught lobster in a picturesque waterside setting at Thurston's Lobster Pound: a not-to-be-missed dining destination near Bar Harbor, Maine.

Screened upstairs and downstairs dining areas at Thurston's Lobster Pound offer ample seating and glorious views of lobster boats in the harbor. Salt-tinged breezes add to the authenticity of this memorable dining experience.

Savor just-caught lobster in a picturesque waterside setting at Thurston's Lobster Pound: a not-to-be-missed dining destination near Bar Harbor, Maine.

The view is amazing, but let's be real. It's the fresh-from-the-boat lobster--soft or hard shell, your choice--that keeps travelers beating a path to Bernard. Sure, you need a bib, but eating lobster in the rough (simply prepared) isn't really so rough.