Alexis Wells
Huot's Seafood Restaurant
June 2, 2023
Friday Food Insider: It's seafood season, but an iconic spot has been sidelined by repairs
Alexis Wells
Bayley's Seafood Restaurant is located at 165 Pine Point Road in Scarborough.
As many seafood restaurants dust off their picnic tables and plastic menus, get the fryolator going and the tartar sauce made, one seafood restaurant will remain closed until further notice.
Bayley’s Seafood and has been a Pine Point staple since it opened in 1995. The family-owned restaurant, located at 165 Pine Point Road in Scarborough, has gone over a year without opening, which left many Mainers wondering if the business was closed for good.
In January 2022, owner April Bayley opened the restaurant back up after taking time off to grieve the loss of her father, Stanley Bayley, who died in October 2021. When she walked in she was immediately greeted by water. A frozen pipe had burst, leaving the whole downstairs dining room and the kitchen filled with water and oil from the fryolators.
Bayley told Mainebiz this week that the restaurant was supposed to re-open in June 2022, but because of difficulties getting contractors to finish the project, the business has been at a standstill.
“It started with losing my dad and now this,” said Bayley. “It has really done a job with him being gone and the restaurant has never been closed. The kitchen is closed, the walls are damaged and we just got done redoing the dining room and taking baby steps to fix the building. We lost out on the best season last year because people were going back out after the pandemic."
Bayley said she hopes to have the electrical, plumbing and cleaning done by July and get a target date on when she can reopen for the season. But at present there is no opening date set.
“We are being optimistic and looking forward to reopening soon,” said Bayley.
Oysters and lobster and seafood, oh my!
It’s time to get the lobster crackers back out; Maine has entered its seafood season.
The Lemont Hall on Maine Street in downtown Brunswick will host the 2023 Casco Bay Seafood Festival on June 4, from 1-4 p.m. This festival will benefit the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association. The event will feature seafood samplings, art and presentations from local harvesters, farmers, organizations, artists, chefs and thought leaders. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
Are you an oyster connoisseur? June 23-25 will be your lucky days, because it's time for the Maine Oyster Festival. This is the second annual celebration of Maine oysters. There will be a shucking contest, oyster farm tours, tastings, ocean education, vendors and food trucks and merchandise. Even an opportunity to learn how to shuck oysters.
Feeling like celebrating our Maine staple? Well, this is your chance, the Maine Lobster Festival is five days of fun and feasting on lobster. The event will take place Aug. 2-6, featuring a cooking contest, entertainment, locally made beer, wine and spirits, a parade, lobster, and more lobster, of course.
Love lobster? You're in luck
Let's start in Saco, shall we? Huot’s Seafood Restaurant at Camp Ellis is located at 29 Eastern Avenue. It is a third-generation family-owned business that has been serving up seafood since 1935. (Hint-hint: try the clam cakes.)
In the search for something a bit fancier? Then look no further than Portland’s one and only Scales at Maine Wharf, 68 Commercial St. Located on Portland’s historic waterfront, it offers lobster, seafood, a raw bar and land food. Be sure to make a reservation this summer.
Alexis Wells
Red's Eats
Red’s Eats, at 41 Water St. in Wiscasset, is known for its famous lobster rolls — and long lines. While in one of the epics lines, one might spot the occasional celebrity, like chef-food critic Andrew Zimmerman, actress Susan Sarandon or a Food Network star.
Speaking of shacks, the Lobster Shack is an award-winning restaurant that's been a local landmark since the 1920s. This spot boasts iconic ocean views and rocky cliffs from the picnic tables at 225 Two Lights Road in Cape Elizabeth.
Bob’s Clam Hut is located at 315 Route 1 in Kittery. The seafood hut has been offering fried food since 1956. It is the perfect place to stop after a long day of shopping at the outlets.
Robinson’s Wharf at 20 Hendricks Hill Road in Southport is a great waterside seafood spot with an oyster bar, plus views of tugs and lobster boats in the cove.
Cindy’s Lobster Rolls at 292 Route 1 in Freeport specializes in lobster and crabmeat rolls.
Cabbage Island Clambakes will open for its summer season June 17 at 22 Commercial St. in Boothbay Harbor. It is a unique Maine experience. Patrons set sail from Pier 6 in Boothbay Harbor to Cabbage Island, where diners can enjoy a traditional Downeast clambake cooked on the water's edge.
Alexis Wells
Ken's Place
Ken’s Place at 207 Pine Point Road, in Scarborough has been frying up seafood since 1927. Patrons can dine in, eat outdoors at their picnic tables or take the food to go. According to owner David Wilcox, the fried clams in either breading or batter is their most popular item.
“Help has gotten better and a lot more people are looking for jobs,” said Dave Wilcox, owner of Ken's Place. “This year we have seen more people feeling comfortable again since the pandemic. More groups of people and families getting together again.
"We are looking forward to the rest of the season.”
And so are we.
Where is your favorite seafood spot? The Mainebiz Food Insider wants to know! Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz
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