Tugboat Restaurant

Tugboat is exactly what it sounds like: a converted tugboat turned restaurant on the Boothbay Harbor waterfront. The kitchen does straightforward New England seafood, scallops, haddock, lobster bisque, steamers. The room feels nautical without trying too hard, all dark wood and windows on the water. Locals and visitors pack the place year-round, especially on holidays.

• Massive portions of grilled scallops and fried shrimp.
• Homemade blueberry pie and desserts made on-site.
• Nearly every table overlooks the working harbor.
• Efficient service even when packed with holiday crowds.

Start with the lobster bisque, which shows up in multiple five-star reviews. The grilled scallop dinner is generously portioned (15 to 20 pieces reported), and the baked haddock with crab stuffing and Newburg sauce is solid. Fried shrimp plate, mussels, and steamers all come recommended. Share the homemade blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream.

Dark wood seaside interior with nautical decor and large windows overlooking the harbor. Tables fill up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays, but service stays attentive and reasonably paced.

The kitchen delivers generous portions of classic Maine seafood. Scallops come in real quantity, haddock gets crab stuffing and Newburg sauce, and the mussels and steamers are fresh. Homemade desserts (the blueberry pie especially) come from an employee baker. Fair pricing. Don't expect surprises or fussy plating, just solid food and a view.

Guests rave about the view, the portion sizes, and the homemade desserts. One recent visitor called it 'the best lobster bisque I've ever had,' and another noted the kitchen 'put it over the top' with fresh, generous seafood. Even on Father's Day when the place was packed, service kept pace.