Bagaduce Lunch

If you’re not passing through, make a point to

If there was a wooden cross-arrowed sign in the parking lot of Bagaduce Lunch in Penobscot, Maine, it’d read 251 miles from Boston, 139 miles from Portland, 42 miles from Bar Harbor, and 15 miles from Castine. It’s not exactly a roadside destination, like many for the clam shacks scattered off the popular Route 1, or down one of the many destination-worthy peninsulas of Maine’s Midcoast. But what Bagaduce lacks in geographic recognition, it makes up for with an incredible menu and beautiful water views. 

What to Order

Located on the underrated Blue Hill peninsula, on a bend of the Bagaduce River just before it winds into the Penobscot, this shack is known for it delicious food and famous ice cream swirls. On a July trip to Acadia National Park (an hour north), we stopped in for lunch just as they opened, and opted for the split-top bun trifecta — a lobster roll, a fried clam roll, and a hot dog. All three were excellent, with plentiful portions spilling over the sides of their respective buns and onto the classic red tray below. We ate on the picnic tables behind the building, under  blue umbrella and overlooking the river, just before the crowds began to file in. 

While we’d recommend any part of our order, you might instead opt for the fried haddock sandwich, featuring an entire half fish, crisped golden brown, and absolutely dwarfing the burger bun it comes in. After your meal, be sure to grab an Instagram-worthy cone of their ice cream swirl of the day.

Where to Go

After celebrating 70 years back in 2016, this family-run fish shack knows a few things about serving-up some of the best seafood on the Maine coast. Make a stop at Bagaduce Lunch and take in all the Blue Hill Peninsula has in store, with plenty of suggestions from the Blue Hill Heritage Trust and The Maine Mag.