Maine Luau Lobster Pound & BBQ Pit

If there's one thing we've learned from this Maine vacation, is to take chances. One thing about going to Bar Harbor the weekend before Memorial Day Weekend is that most places aren't open yet! Plus while it was 80 degrees in Albany, it was about 55 degrees and rainy all week in Maine. We were pretty disappointed to see so many places still boarded up, including the winery and lobster pound that was next to our cottage. Bummer. At least we got a good rate out of our stay and places weren't clogged with tourists! By the time dinner time rolled around, we were determined to get our fill of more lobsters. An ad in our handy dandy cottage visitors guide led us astray to a restaurant that wasn't open for the season yet. Clearly this was becoming trend on our Maine trip (i.e. Duckfat to Eventide experience), because on a whim we decided to visit a lobster pound that was Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives worthy. Talk about not judging a book by its cover...


Lo and behold the greatest dive in Bar Harbor, ME: Maine Luau Lobster Pound & BBQ Pit which also goes by Trenton Lobster Pound & Real Pit BBQ. It kind of has an identity crisis but don't let it deter you from eating here. Technically it's located right outside of Bar Harbor in Trenton and while the decor is kitschy, it's also charming at the same time. Lobsters in Maine are best enjoyed at lobster pounds that give you a bib so you can dive in with your hands and where they give you a bucket for the shell. This is no Joe's Crab shack. 

Maine Luau is a no frills, quaint family-owned joint that puts out quality food. So good that we ate here three nights in a row! What was so unique about this joint is that they also do authentic smoked BBQ. In fact, you are greeted by that delicious smokey aroma as you walk in. As much as we love BBQ, J and I were determined to have lobsters. A quick Yelp reference led us to a delicious appetizer of lobster mac 'n cheese. While I normally stay away from mixing seafood with cheese, this was an exception. 

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The mac 'n cheese wasn't too heavy with cheese sauce and allowed the chunks of lobster to shine through. Another dish that caught our eye was an appetizer of smoked mussels. This was life changing. Having that BBQ pit is godsend because it gave those mussels such a delightful light smokey flavor. It was heavenly. While J went with the classic steamed lobster, I opted for a unique option: grilled lobster with parsley butter. Genius! The subtle smokey flavor elevated the sweetness and freshness of the lobster. It was addicting. This was Maine seafood at its finest. Let's not forget the sides. Gotta have your classic corn on the cob but because this is a bbq joint too, we gave the baked beans a try and it was great. What a fantastic meal to start our Bar Habor vacation with.

We just couldn't get over how delicious our meal here was that we came back a second night for a "snack".  J wanted a lobster roll and I was craving meat so I gave the brisket sandwich a go. You know you've got authentic bbq when there's that signature pink ring and bark on the meat. The brisket was tender and very flavorful and the homemade bbq sauce had a nice sweet tang to it. Delightful. J's lobster roll was packed with lobster meat and light on the mayo, just as it should be. Simple and tasty, and a Maine blueberry lemonade was the perfect companion to wash it down with. 

We weren't kidding when we said we ate here three nights in a row. On our last day in Bar Harbor, we stopped by for a final meal. I couldn't get over the grilled lobster so naturally ordered that again while J got the surf 'n turf of prime rib and steamed lobster all with an appetizer of smoked mussels of course. We weren't the only ones who were repeat customers. The same family that sat next to us the first night were also there on our last night here! Happy customers all around! We can't stop raving about Maine Luau and wish this wonderful, friendly family business all the best. It's such a gem!