LDI Lobster in Deer Isle

Perched on the shoreline of Little Deer Isle, just below the Deer Isle Bridge, LDI Lobster has the kind of setting that stops people in their tracks. Anneliese Riggall and her husband had long admired this spot while passing under it in their boat, and in 2015 they made it their own. Three years later, they launched a small seasonal shack that has since grown into one of the area’s most beloved waterfront stops.

At the beginning, the menu was little more than lobster rolls and burgers. Word spread quickly, and what started as a modest experiment grew into a gathering place where families could enjoy the water, boaters could tie up at the dock, and kids could swing out over the cove. “The COVID years really put us on the map,” Anneliese recalls. “People could spread out, meet friends by land or by sea, and still feel safe. That’s when they started realizing we were more than just lobster rolls.”

Today, the menu balances Maine classics with a few surprises. The lobster roll is simple and perfect: a buttery brioche bun, toasted to order, filled with a quarter pound of fresh tail, knuckle, and claw meat, finished with mayonnaise and a drizzle of butter. The mussels, sautéed with tarragon, garlic, tomato, and white wine, are another favorite. There are crisp salads, grain bowls, burgers, and shakes that showcase local flavors like 44 North coffee, Wyman’s blueberries, and Maine maple.

The setting is just as memorable as the food. Customers sit at picnic tables with a clear view of the iconic bridge, while boats pull in at the dock and families linger by the water. “I hardly ever get to sit down myself,” Anneliese admits, “but when I do, I think, this is what our guests see—and it feels pretty magical.”

She also credits her small, steady crew with making the place what it is. “We joke about being the old ladies who keep it all going,” she says, “but we have fun together. That matters just as much as the food.”

LDI Lobster is open seasonally, from the end of May through the end of September, when the last guests savor their meal under the light sea green bridge before the shore quiets down for fall. And when the season ends, Anneliese and her husband are still on the water, returning to the same boating routes that first led them to this view.

FAMOUS FOR:
Lobster rolls on buttery brioche, mussels in tarragon and white wine, homemade shakes, and one of the most memorable waterfront settings on the Maine coast.

ADDRESS:
202 Little Deer Isle Rd in Little Deer Isle, ME

WEBSITE:
ldilobster.com

photos by Peter Logue