Rockport Lobster in Rockport, Maine

Rockport Lobster is a no-frills lobster market steps from the working waterfront in Rockport. You pick your lobster by size and type, reserve ahead by phone, and they'll steam it for you. It's not a sit-down spot, it's the source, and the price is honest. Come with cash or a check and a plan to cook it elsewhere, or find a picnic table nearby.

• Lobster caught same day, cooked on demand
• Fair pricing, around $20 for 1.5-pound lobster
• Owner sources and sells direct, no middleman
• Steps from commercial fishing docks

Order by phone first. Pick your size, from under a pound to jumbo. The cooked lobster comes hot and ready. Bring your own melted butter and maybe a squeeze of lemon. Cash or check only.

It's a market counter, not a restaurant. Functional, quick, no frills. The real view is the harbor outside.

This is for people who want the real thing at a real price, not a tourist trap. You bring butter. You bring your own table or pick a spot on the rocks. The lobster does the talking.

Guests call it the freshest lobster they've had, worth the drive and the cash-only hassle. One recent visitor noted calling ahead takes the friction out of the experience. A few mention the owner can be curt if you show up without a reservation close to closing time.