Buoy Shack
There’s a little island in the Piscataqua River, right in the middle of the Memorial Bridge, just a couple hundred feet across the New Hampshire border into Kittery Maine. It’s named Badgers Island, and it’s where you’ll find the Buoy Shack.
Not only does the Buoy Shack boast a beautiful waterfront location, it also claims a special geographical distinction.
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “We're on one of the southernmost points of Maine. We're trying to be the gateway to Maine here and we want to be Maine's first lobster roll.”
Joel Harris opened the Buoy Shack in the Summer of 2022, with the goal of serving folks lobster just seconds after they enter the state.
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “Our focus here is lobster rolls. We use fresh Maine lobster never frozen. From right up the road in York, Maine. We have a number of lobster options. We have lobster rolls, we have Lobster BLT, Lobster Empanadas. And we're a great location right on the water. Beautiful view, best view of Portsmouth, New Hampshire across the river. We're very casual. We want people to kick their shoes off and have a good time here.”
And how could you not have a good time at a spot like this.
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “We're mostly outdoor seating. On a beautiful day, you can either sit down by the water, we have a deck here, and then we have about 10 to 12 seats inside. We also have a wait area with Adirondack chairs. Really, it's about people being comfortable. We want people to feel like they're on vacation, even if they're only here for an hour for lunch.”
If you’re setting course for the Buoy Shack, a lobster roll is a must. And whether you like it cold or warm, small or jumbo, they’ve got you covered.
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “We offer the traditional Maine style lobster roll, which we do a lemon mayo. And then we have the Connecticut style which comes with warm butter. Size wise, you can do an entry level lobster roll with three ounces a lobster, or if you want to upgrade we have a six ounce jumbo. We serve our lobster rolls on a toasted brioche bun, toasted golden brown. They're delicious.”
Of course, with both Maine and Connecticut style lobster rolls on the menu, it begs the question: Which one do you order?
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “I'm a mayo guy. I'm a traditionalist. My restaurant is in Maine, so I want to support the Maine style. But if you want to go hot butter, I'm not going to judge you for it.”
Beyond the rolls, there’s a thick and creamy Chilled Lobster Dip served with housemade potato chips. And for an Asian-Latin-Maine mash-up, check out the golden fried Lobster Empanadas.
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “It's our take on kind of a Crab Rangoon. So it's a rangoon lobster stuffing. And it's an empanada shell that we handmade here on site. We fry them up and they come with a duck sauce. It’s just kind of a Cadillac version of a Crab Rangoon made with real lobster.”
And for a luxurious upgrade to the standard BLT, check out this Lobster BLT.
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “You can't go wrong with lobster and bacon. We use North Country Smoked Bacon, lettuce, tomato, on a toasted brioche bun, and then you get your three ounces of lobster right in there. It's an amazing combo and one of our more popular items.”
The Buoy Shack has plenty of other seafood on the menu, like fresh Mussels sautéed in a white wine broth, golden fried Fish and Chips made with local fresh caught haddock, and Joel’s preferred recipe for Clam Chowder.
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “I like my clam chowder on the thinner side. I think it should be more like a soup than a bucket of paste. Our clam chowder is made fresh daily. Potatoes, celery, onions, whole clams. Warms you right up.”
If you’re here more for views of the water than for what’s coming out of it, there’s bright Maine Red Hot Dogs, a grilled Barbecue Chicken Sandwich, and Street Corn with a New England twist.
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “Instead of Mexican Street Corn, which most people are familiar with, we're putting a maple mayo on there. It's got North Country New Hampshire Bacon that we crumble on top. And then Pineland Farm Maine Cheese, it’s a sharp cheddar cheese. And it's out of this world. It's one of my favorite appetizers.”
Even the salad here is worth sampling, because it’s big, beautiful, and bursting with color.
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “It’s a huge salad. You have roasted corn on there. You have grilled asparagus. You have carrots, you have red peppers. It's really a rainbow of colors. And then you can top it with lobster of course. It’s probably the menu item that gets the most oohs and ahhs as you bring it out to the table. People get really excited when they see it. It's a surprise. You know, people think of us for our lobster rolls. Maybe for our chicken sandwiches. But when they get that salad that becomes their new favorite menu item.”
And Joel is hoping the Buoy Shack becomes your new favorite -- and first stop -- in the great state of Maine.
Joel Harris – Owner, Buoy Shack: “We think that we're different because our atmosphere is so unique, and we really want people to enjoy the view, enjoy the weather, and come to Maine and check us out.”
