Billy's is an old favorite for us. This was our first visit this year and we were very disappointed. The scallops had a bad texture and almost no flavor, like they were perhaps frozen. Also, about 8 medium size scallops at 26.50 is pricy considering they were not good quality. The shore dinner was $43 and was actually cold. Cold lobster and steamers for 43 bucks?
(2)
Robert S.
Everything was fresh, hot, and deelish. Had the Lobster Mac and Cheese which was chunky with Lobster, crunchy with toppings and just fantastic. Oysters were great and had a fresh salad that definitely did NOT come out of a bag. Great place, friendly staff, fantastic food, cool neighborhood. Watched the Bruins and Sox game at the same time. Dug it!
(5)
Christy J.
I posted a review on Billy's original thread and no longer see the thread. I would like to make sure that my review get spewed so here it goes. We ate there and the beginning of September. We ordered 4 Caesar salads, a couple of beers and 4 clam chowder's. We had a trip to two of the clam chowder's. Our bill was well over $100! Getting shrimp on your Caesar salad doubles the price!! I could hardly finish my clam chowder and am not sure how this clam chowder got an award. The Caesar salad was far from good and came with fairly wilted lettuce. Our service was okay but as usual our waitress seemed overwhelmed. We are eating there again only because on Wednesday they have a dollar oyster special. Other than that we would not spend our money there again!
(2)
Crystal O.
I don't know why the average stars is a 3.5 but in my book this place is a 5. The staff is friendly and informative about the menu, and the drinks ( alcohol kind) are amazing. My husband got the lazy lobster and I got the fried clams both 5 star. Nikki our server was so nice and attentive. Will be back soon!
(5)
James H.
Great atmosphere. 2 stars probably isn't a full representation of the experience here but it was accurate for my quick stay. I stopped in with a nice lady for a bowl of soup and a beer before jumping on the road and heading home. My chowder was fine, but not great. She ordered seafood bisque. $15.99 for a bowl of soup. No joke. I thought it might come with a back rub. Instead of commenting on this, I decided wait and see what the soup looked/tasted like. Who am I to call a $16 bowl of soup overpriced, without even seeing it? Soup came out and was sub par. I couldn't get over the content for the price. Rarely do I think I've been ripped off but this was awful. The place itself was awesome, waitress was great, and beer selection was good, just don't spend your life savings on the seafood bisque!
(2)
Robert L.
Billy's is a must stop on your way on the Maine Turnpike. I've been coming here for over 25 years for their Lobster Stew. Thanks again for great food and great service. Off to Jackman ME snowmobiling.
(5)
Joseph C.
I would have to say its right down the middle. Nothing special but not bad either. I had the small whole belly clam and chips, more than enough. The wife had stuffed shrimp, which is whole shrimps cooked into stuffing. Not really that good. But the clam chowder was done right. Whole belly clam inside the chowder which was good.
(3)
Tim F.
First time in a long time and we found it overrated. It's expensive for what we got and the food was no better this some of the smaller seafood places in area. Chowder is good but for $5 a SMALL cup you hardly get a taste. I was glad to order the "regular" fried shrimp platter. There may have been 10-15 shrimp all same size and shape which makes us think it was not from Maine. Fish and chips was nothing to rave about and the fish looked like 4 pieces of fried zucchini definitely won't make special trip to go there for sure
(2)
Amybeth H.
Great place, we go often!
(4)
Cec D.
A great place to stuff your face with seafood on the cheap. I had the 1 1/4 steamed lobster with baked potato and coleslaw for $20, practically free by Boston standards. The lobster was sweet and perfectly steamed and I dipped everything into the tasty vat of drawn butter awesomeness (am drooling like Pavlov's dog just thinking of it). We shared the onion rings (good batter, oddly high priced at $8) and my friends had the burger (lame non seafood eater but he liked it) and scallop roll (fresh tasty scallops perfectly battered). The ambiance was ok, what you would expect for a little seaside joint and the service was friendly and attentive.
(4)
Derek T.
There is a reason locals don't eat here. The chowder (it's in the name, right?) is mediocre at best, and the service is inattentive. For truly great chowder, try the Fisherman's Catch, on the other side of the harbor (just a few minutes away).
(2)
Patrick M.
Well not much to say, went here for lunch last week... worst clam chowder we've ever had anywhere (and thats a lot of places). I would describe it as warmed skim milk with a melted pad of butter, a ton of under cooked, i.e., raw potatoes, and no lie we got 2 clams in the entire bowl. It was dreadful. So then we decided to give the fish tacos a go... The fish tasted straight out of the freezer on par with your supermarket variety, and they had what appeared to be low fat mozzarella melted on them, really? Lunch was $40 with tip for a single beer, bowl of clam chowder and fish tacos, felt like I had been robbed at knife point...save your hard earned money and go anywhere else in the area for better food.
(1)
New England Traveler B.
Always Always GREAT!!!!! Clam Chowder the BEST!!!! Steamers ---- so flavorful!!!! Blue Cheese Dressing --- home made!!!! Baked Stuffed Haddock----have you ever had shrimp in the stuffing---you get it at BILLYS!!!! Our Server was so NICE and up beat .. Courtney.. !!!! She recommended the Blue Berry Ice Cream..---deliciousooo MY wife and I always Always enjoy Billys.. in fact we don't read the menu cause we usually always order the above... The food was and IS always good and the server was great!!!! We were there last night and it was packed... ENJOY!!!!
(5)
Tracy R.
This place was great - great seafood, well priced wine, and great sides! Best of all - they had Lazy Lobster - no more getting pruny figners trying to pry lobster meat out of of those tiny little claws. The lazy lobster meal already takes the lobster out of the shell for you - making it super easy to stuff your face with buttery lobster! I went here for dinner with a large party of co-workers while visiting Wells, ME on a business trip. We were seated in the front dining room in front of the beautiful gas fireplace, which one day ahead of a snowstorm was very welcome! The waitress, Victoria, was amazing and took care of us all evening! This place has two Maine brewed beers on draft which I suggest you try! Finally - don't be a fatty and get the fries and coleslaw with your meal - you will inevitably be disappointed. I got the vegetable of the day - peas, onions, and red peppers (although they nicely left out the red peppers for me because I am allegric) which were amazing! Boilded and then sauted in olive oil. Everyone at my table was making fun of me because I raved more about the peas than the lobster, but honestly a well cooked vegetable beats anything anyday!
(4)
Stephanie G.
Meh....2.5. I honestly wasn't that impressed. Service was fine, nothing blew me away. I went with what I consider a standard in Maine (and NE) for seafood....NE Clam Chowder (the ONLY kind of clam chowder, in my book.) I was not impressed. It was a very thin chowder, and lacking in clams--way more potatoes. My friend has the lazy lobster...it was fine, but a little lacking on meat. If you are looking for views, not the best place to go (if you sit in the front room) either. I probably will not go back next time I'm in Maine.
(3)
Marc R.
Food was very good with a lobster special for 13 dollars that you can't beat. The clam chowder is whole belly clams FYI.
(4)
Joanne L.
What a nice little find! We decided to try this place after exploring Wells Beach, and we were very pleased. The servers there, especially ours, were so incredibly friendly and attentive. They really made you feel like family. The food was simple, but pretty ample and good. We especially loved the chowders. This is definitely not a Michelin rated restaurant, but it is a clean restaurant with good, filling seafood, and the most genuinely friendly service I've experienced in a very long time.
(4)
Maggie D.
Our meal was not the best. Lobster was over-cooked. So disappointed. Billy's needs to pay more attention to what they serve compared to other area restaurants who are putting much more into their meals for less $$. Step it up or lose ground on the reputation you once had.
(2)
Misha H.
$1 oysters on Wednesdays! $12.99 lobster lunch! We sat at the bar and had great service and a great meal!
(4)
Melissa X.
The first time I went here, it was called "Billy's To Go". There were no servers either. The second time I came, they had servers and hosts. Both times I was amazed. The food is amazing. If you eat here, you must must must try their clam chowder. It's very creamy and is filled with clams. I hate having chowder that doesn't have enough clams in it. My favorite seafood is of course, lobster. The lobsters they serve you here are enormous, and pretty decently priced for what you get. My mom got the whole fried clams and those were just as delicious. What's great about the clams is that the bellies are very big and juicy. A lot of other seafood restaurants will serve whole clams that don't really look whole, or have small bellies. If you're in the area, you've got to go to Billy's. Service is great, and the food is phenomenal.
(5)
Bruce T.
The only thing that was good was the marsh view and the Mushroom apps. As far as service we had a server name Elizabeth and she never checked back on us to see if we needed drinks,which we did. And the hamburger was served blood red, we ordered medium rare but not with the heart still beating. Then she started to argue with us telling us that's the way they make medium rare. Are you kidding me! They will try to sell you a card that cost money DON'T BUY IT! After your first dining you won't want to go back again. It's really to bad because the marsh view is beautiful.
(1)
Christopher P.
Been hitting this place since I was a kid and they've never let me down. They had a couple mediocre years but after my last visit this past weekend you can be sure the place has brought back their A-game. Best clams and chowda I've had in a very very long time! Get a reward card! :)
(5)
Rick D.
working in Wells this chilly November morning stopped at Billys for a quick lunch, bowl of piping hot chowder, excellent, excellent service, reasonable price!
(5)
Tammy G.
One of our dinner stops on our honeymoon. Delicious!!!!! I hope one day to return. I will definately want another set of twins. (lobsters!)
(4)
Kelly S.
Went to Billy's today. Servers were good. The Resturant decor is a little dated. Both my husband and I got the haddock chowder it was very good. He got the lobster meal which he thought was a great price for the area. I got the burger wasn't a fan def was a frozen bubba burger. Other than that everything was good. Would def go back
(3)
Karen F.
The food was ok. Very ordinary. The lobster stew came in a very small cup and was very watery. Not much flavor other than low tide. The meal was again a small casserole of haddock, scallops and stuffed shrimp. The scallops on top were overdone and chewy. The haddock was tasteless, and the shrimp was overpowered by a pasty tasteless stuffing. Way over priced for the size of the servings. Even worse was the service with bread, appetizers and meal all served at the same time. Server let dirty dishes sit on the table well after we were done. I will not go there again.
(2)
Boyd C.
I've only had four things at Billy's Chowder house and they all four earn five stars in my book! #1: The clam chowder is one of the best I've ever had. Very thick and hearty. #2: The lobster stew is THE BEST I've ever had. Delicious and brimming full of lobster. #3. The lobster roll is probably in the top 3 I've had in Maine. #4. The clam strips are amazing! Lightly battered and very fresh. We usually hit Billy's two or three times during our stay in Wells. That should tell you how much we like the place. The views are amazing and waitresses are always friendly! We've tried Mike's, Litchfield's and some of the others in town and they are all good, but Billy's is the best!
(5)
Pete S.
Just returned from dinner. Clam chowder was interesting. Broth was excellent. Leaving the necks on the clams was strange. The mussels were very good. Fish and chips were good. We special ordered a dessert and it was great. The greeting and waiting process was excellent. Our wait staff was very good. Parking was limited so we used the complimentary valet service and it worked out very well.
(4)
Matt S.
this place is quality. right on the salt marsh with local seafood, what more can you ask for in wells. my favorite thing on the menu is the clam chowder, i call in an order togo for lunch sometimes. servers are friendly and the prices are moderate.
(4)
Marie R.
First time here. Chowder was excellent. Average seafood. One bartender on a Friday night not a good idea.
(3)
BJ B.
This restaurant was recomended to my husband and I by a local. Great choice!! We had great clam chowder! It probably tasted so good because it had two pounds of butter in it....who cares!! Vacation-you know. My husband had small fried clam platter. It was more than enough and very tasty. I had the large lobster roll-WONDERFUL!. It was huge and I almost could not finish it-but I managed. The down side to our visit was-we chose to sit in the bar because of the view (lovey marsh) but it was sooooo noisey. We will absoutely go back and highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Mindy W.
This place really should really be three and a half. Unfortunately, due to a very long wait at Fisherman's Catch, we settled on Billy's. The boy decided to order lobster for the first time in his life, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, from bib to claw. I had the stuffed shrimp, which were really quite good. The shrimp was a little overcooked, but the seafood stuffing was so delicious that it didn't matter. Service was good, friendly and as attentive as possible for as busy as she was. Prices were a bit more expensive than I feel they deserved to be, but it's really a touristy place, so I wasn't offended.
(3)
JACOB B.
Billy's does the job if your looking for steamers,lobster and the usual seafood fare...Setting in the marshes adds exceptional atmosphere.Service was efficient & friendly.Removed 1/2 star because Billy's web site fails to list their prices which tendto be high...$30 for lazy man's lobster which was prepared only with butter...but the lobster was excellent ,if not overly generous..Steamers were big, fresh and sweet.I would rate Billy's at 31/2 stars.Will return.
(3)
Monica L.
The clam chowder is exceptional. The fried haddock sandwich was pretty tasty too -- delicious fish and a great bun.
(4)
Scratchie S.
Consistently good. I've been going here whenever I'm in southern Maine for about ten years now. The chowder is tasty and not filled with cornstarch. The fried seafood is fresh-tasting and prepared well, and the strawberry shortcake for dessert is superb.
(4)
Miss M.
Absolutely fabulous scallop appetizer! I'm hooked and will be coming back just for these. I had the lazy man's lobster and sweet potato fries. Interesting combination and expected a better choice of accoutrements. This and the TV's playing sports are the only negatives. Will have to check them out a second time to see if it is worth the drive from Cape Elizabeth. The waitress was super friendly and didn't hover around. I also received a frequent diner's card and will def use it in the future.
(4)
Andrew M.
The food is good service is good however Im not a seafood fan and they used to have really good turf. Probably their bast with the baby back ribs but they removed it from the menu. Its was a great place to go even if you dont like seafood but the selection has really gotten limited. If you like seafood the people I was with thought it great, and what I got was great too but I wish I had more of a selection
(3)
Tracey T.
My family visits Billy's Chowder House every year while vacationing in Wells. This year, I had the pleasure of having the famous Clam chowder, as usual, but also the swordfish with roasted corn salsa. It was absolutely incredible! The mix of flavors was complex, but not overwhelming. Very well done!
(5)
Levi T.
Nice view from the restaurant. We tried the fried clams, shrimp, and scallops. All were cooked very nicely and were flavorful. The fish stew was very nice, too. It was thin, creamy and buttery, and full of seafood. Thumbs up to that. I also tried the Caesar salad - bleah. The food was very tasty but it's a bit overpiced in my opinion. We would try something different in that area before we went there again.
(3)
Bob S.
Just finished eating here, for the first and last time. Their clam chowder was WAY overrated. I ordered it with a sandwich. Before our dinner came the server asked if we wanted an appetizer to which I replied, "No." My sandwich came but no chowder. When I inquired about it she said, "Oh I forgot that's why I asked you if you wanted an appetizer. I will bring it." It wasn't worth the wait. She took if off the bill but I still wouldn't go back. There are plenty of other good restaurants in Wells!
(1)
Elizabeth M.
Our party of 6 had a great time at Billy's tonight! We've been coming to Billy's for years and tonight was just as good (if not better) as it's always been. Chris Varano, the Billy's GM, greated us and sat us immediately. The food was fantastic -- some favorites included the baked stuff haddock, fish and chips and broiled salmon. Our waitress, Stephanie, was excellent. She was busy (Billy's is packed every night of the summer) but did a great job accomodating us (and we're a demanding group). We love Billy's. You should go! :)
(3)
Warren J.
Great food. Onion Rings were super, best clam chowder we've ever had (and we're from New England). Prices were very good and we can't wait to go back.
(5)
Felix T.
Food is good, lots of fried dishes. We had a bottle of wine. Overall, pretty pricey for the food quality but all the fried food places on the coast are all pricey if you compare to a 4 or 5 star restaurant with healthy food and super service. Service is dinner style, quick and simple, no fuss.
(2)
Jeffrey F.
Wife and I went here for lunch on a recent Sunday afternoon. We got there 15 minutes after it opened so it was quiet. By the time we left, it was filling up fast due to being lunchtime. Menu had lots of choices. My wife does not eat much seafood and opted for the BLT sandwich. She enjoyed it. It came with fries it was under 10 bucks. I had the large lobster roll which was about 20 dollars. It came with slaw. When I first looked at it I commented to my wife that it didnt look like my roll was filled with much lobster as it could have been. It came on a lightly grilled and buttered extra long hot dog bun. It wasnt heaping and overflowing but it filled me up quite nicely for lunch time. It had great flavor with little to no mayo. I enjoyed it. Overall we had a nice lunch and didnt feel like we overate or anything. We both thought the waitress was trying to rush us out of there, maybe for the impending wave of people expected to arrive. Give Billys a try if you are in the area but do not go out of your way for a visit.
(3)
Steve W.
Ate at Billy's last week on Friday. Found parking easily on my own without the use of the valet. Did not have to wait long given Friday night in early August. Waitress Laura was very accommodating and helpful. Started wit haddock chowder and was disappointed given the very very little haddock included. Just mini pieces. Given it is a "chowder house" made my first experience a bit of a disappointment however. Entree's took a bit to deliver especially given a 3 year old with us. Portions were good and overall entrees were good. Not going to rush back but would recommend it to others.
(4)
Fran W.
Chowder was runny, mostly potato and butter broth. Bar food!
(2)
James T.
Billy's remains home to the best clam chowder I've ever had, and having lived in Maine for a few years, I've had my fair share of chowder. The rest of the food would probably earn it a 3/5 in my book -- it's okay but not great (although I should add I'm not that much for lobster; some members of my family are huge fans of Billy's lobster rolls) -- but their chowder is worth a trip by itself. If you're staying on the beach and have a place with a nice view, there's not much reason to wait in line at the restaurant as opposed to the "to go" operation down the street, but if you're just passing though, the dining rooms have a nice view of the tidal area. Especially in the off-season -- they're open year-round except December or so -- it tends to be a pretty laid-back place. Just thinking about the chowder almost has me planning a trip right now...
(4)
Reggie D.
Clam chowder should be called potato chowder. Two clams laid on top of the potatoes does not clam chowder make. Absolutely, positively the worse "clam chowder" I've ever had.
(1)
Mel L.
I used to love Billy's, but after a five year hiatus I returned to watered down, potato filled chowder. The steamers, fried haddock, and lobster dinner were all splendid. I give them 4 stars, easy. The restaurant hasn't changed much. It's still pretty casual, touristy, and offers free valet parking (for it's tiny parking lot). The wait was super long for a Thursday night, and the service was slow, but all in all it was worth the wait.
(3)
Pamela S.
We wanted some clam chowder and theirs was good. It was not real thick but was really tasty. Nice view and very friendly service
(4)
Lil L.
I attended Billy's with my parents and my spouse. My parents had eaten at Billy's 3 years previously and reported the food and service pretty good. Well we ate there tonight (Tuesday): the service was slow, a party of four was squeezed into a small corner (although there was plenty of alternative seating), we had to ask for bread, I do not eat salad dressing and there was only 1 salad that they would make to accommodate that fact, the waitress gave me a hard time when I asked for double veggies instead of baked potatoes or fries citing that it could not be substituted although veggies were an option, and she never re-filled our water glasses or ice tea. Despite the poor service the food was hot and well portioned.
(2)
Doug M.
Nice views and ample portions. Very friendly, homey place.
(3)
David B.
Not a bad family style seafood house with excellent views of the marsh just off of Wells Beach. Chowder is very good, service was friendly and above average for this area especially given the busy holiday week (July 3rd and 4th). Mussel's were very good, twin lobster dinner seemed slightly overcooked, lobster rolls were nothing special and were very small for the price compared to some of the take out only places nearby.
(3)
Peter K.
Great chowda!!
(5)
Rob C.
This place deserves 5 stars for a couple different reasons. None of them for the snooty, more common reasons. Service is excellent 9-10 times and we've been going her for 20 years. Everyone can have a bad day but it's a rare exception here. Consistency is a major factor here as well. The menu is plentiful but not obnoxious, The overall experience is always great and although no one has a grand slam every time at bat, Billy's is damn near perfect.
(5)
G H.
Its ok. I think a little over-rated. But the crowd is always good. In the bar, they have these AMAZING potato chips that i HIGHLY recommend.
(3)
Marko M.
Been closed for a few years. Time to update this page or delete it! Now the Wells Beach Steakhouse. Same owners
(1)
Ricky B.
Avoid the bar. I've been here several times and when it's busy the bartenders can't handle it. They seem more concerned about hanging the freshly washed wine glasses than serving their customers. There are plenty of better options in the area.
(2)
Meg M.
Maybe it's because I am a born and raised Mainer, but I do not understand all the high ratings for this place. Billy's is clearly an over priced tourist trap and what you are paying for is the location near the beach, not the quality of the food. I had the worst crab roll I have ever seen here. The meat was not only a grey color (ew, should be a clear white color), but did not even come close to reaching the top of the roll...a normal crab roll of this price would be over stuffed with crab meat. It looked like a tuna roll, which was kinda scary. On another sour note, we had a half-dozen oysters, one of which I had to spit into a napkin because it was bad. I eat oysters frequently and it is rare that I have had to spit one out, but I guess that could happen most anywhere by chance so I didn't look too much into this. However, on a good note, my bf had the Fish and Chips and it was a good portion and tasty. Also, the service was friendly. Unfortunately, although I hate to dis any Maine business, I must recommend avoiding this place and heading some where else like the Maine Diner for seafood away from the beach.
(2)
Raymond W.
Top Class food and service. Always have at least one meal here when I visit Maine.
(5)
Mike P.
good chowders and fried seafood, great view, amusing bar. not so great for oysters on the half-shell, so stick with fried platters.
(4)
Daisy R.
There are a lot of options in this area, and a lot of places to sample seafood. With that, I'd stay away from Billy's Chowder House and try something else. The dining room is nothing special in terms of decor and the service is OK but nothing special either. The food is mediocre and overpriced. My clam chowder, in fact, which Billy's claims they are famous for, was gross. I've never seen orange New England clam chowder before, but that's how much butter was in this thing. I gagged on the taste, it's like eating melted butter. I told the waitress, and it didn't seem to faze her, nor did she offer to exchange it for anything else. Lobster rolls are on the small size and the lobster a little bit overcooked. After eating it, I was thirsty all afternoon. The coleslaw was too sweet. Maybe I sound picky, but for a $90 lunch for 3 people, we have a right to be.
(2)
Christiaan H.
Excellent New England-style chowder, the fish chowder was bland. 6/07
(4)
Erika S.
Hamds down THE best "take-out" chowda in Maine!
(4)
Sharon M.
Billys has always been Great! I love the oyster stew..although a outfly skimpy in the oysters..the onion rings,lobster stew and fried clams...
(4)
Aly R.
I've spent every summer my whole life spending time in Ogunquit at my grandparents' beach house, and as longs as I've been going to Billy's I've always loved it. It is by far my favorite place for chowder- I haven't found anywhere that comes close. I especially love the seafood stew- it has a thin, buttery brother and is loaded with chunks of fish, shrimp, scallops, lobster, etc. I don't live in New England anymore, but anytime I come home I make every effort I can to head up to Maine just to go to this restaurant!
(5)
Mike D.
My GF and I went to Billy's a few weeks ago while on vacation in Wells. It's a nice enough place, the food was good and the portions were big. I'm a big fan of big portions. I had a seafood platter and I really liked the fresh seafood, the staff was friendly, attentive and overall it was a good experience. My GF was disappointed with the fried clams however. She likes the full bellied clams and the clams she got were a bit on the small side, but we noticed the clams at other places were the same. I'll definitely go back when I want a big plate of fried seafood!
(4)
Natalie T.
I loved Billy's The haddock chowder and fried scallops were great, as was the service. The portions were also very good for what you pay for. The fries were a bit salty. There is a beautiful view which can be seen from certain seats.
We went there wanting to love it. Sadly, the food and service were mediocre. They really don't put any though into healthy options on their kids menu, either. Not bad. But not good. Not memorable.
(3)
Stacey S.
I had heard great things about Billy's so my family and I were excited to try it! Sadly i was very disappointed with the outcome. Our service was not good at all. She seemed annoyed with the fact we were not sure what to order yet and when we asked for another drink she never brought it. My boyfriend asked for rice with his dinner and they gave him fries. The waitress never came back over to the table and we had to wait around for the check for quite a while. They food was ok but no better than other Places we have tried in the area and it seemed to have higher prices. I would not Billy's again.
(2)
David G.
I love this place. I always stick with the fried stuff. My favorites are the scallops and clam bellies. The oysters and haddock are excellent too. Their seafood chowder is very good. You can't beat the $1 oysters on Wednesday.
(5)
Silicon G.
Had a pretty bad experience our first time here. We were looking for a bar mid afternoon for a simple drink and appetizer. The bar area was packed due to happy hour specials going on. With four people in our party, we found a two person table and were willing to make it work. They had larger tables open in the bar near windows, but signs said to check with waitress before sitting. We checked with the waitress and she said we could sit at the tables and still get drinks and appetizers so we decided to move. After sitting down, a different waitress came over to help us. She noticed the chips we had taken from our other table and asked where we got them. She continued to explain that the chips are for bar patrons only. As she was telling us this, the other waitress swooped in very rudely grabbed the basket of chips, telling us we can't have them if we are sitting at this table. We were all kind of dumbfounded and laughing over what was happening. We just wanted a simple drink! We told our table waitress that we were going to order some appetizers but apparently that wasn't allowed at these tables either. You have to be ordering full dinner. As silly as it seems, we understand that places have rules. It would just be nice if we knew them and they were not so rude about enforcement. Back to our two person table we went, and we got a new basket of chips to boot (which are nothing to brag about). After about 10 min, the two people directly next to us left so we decided to push our two small tables together. This made more room for everyone, including people trying to walk by. Our waitress eventually came by and told us we can't push the tables together because it creates a fire hazard. Again, we all laughed at the craziness of the situation and offered to move them back but she said it was OK this time only. We finished our drinks and left feeling guilty for not being able to do anything right by their rules. This place was on our list to try for dinner but we definitely won't be going back after this experience. It really felt like Billy's was focusing so hard on maximizing the almighty dollar they make that customer service and experience is thrown right out the window. The food may very well be fantastic, but I will never know.
(1)
Juliet A.
YUMM-O. Billy's was recommended to us by our B&B innkeeper on our first night, so we decided to give it a shot. It definitely has more of a dive-y, sports-bar kind of feel to it than we were expecting (we were told it was a casual place), but that was fine with us. During our little Maine getaway, we gorged ourselves on seafood every day, but Billy's was definitely one of our favorite spots. We had a super friendly waitress and a nice seat by a window overlooking the water (marsh?). The platters are a great way to go to sample several different items. Just be mindful that you can only have the items either ALL grilled or all fried. We opted for the half-and-half platter (large sized) of fried clams (whole belly, but you can also just get strips) and fried scallops. I wasn't as much of a fan of the scallops fried, but my husband was totally sold. It was a pretty heavy meal (we hardly touched the fries that came with it), so I would suggest thinking about splitting one of those large platters with someone else unless you are really, really hungry! We also had the lobster stew which was, simply put, outstanding. If you live in the area or if you are staying for a while in the Wells region, it might be worth it to register for their loyalty rewards program.
(4)
Jeanne G.
1 ¼ lb Lobster Dinner $14.95 until 3:30 pm. You can't beat that anywhere! Fresh Maine seafood, standard fare, but fresh, oh, so fresh. A gorgeous view off the lounge of the Webhannet River. Great drinks. Locals eat here. FYI the chowders state they have no thickeners BUT they are *not gluten free* there is wheat in the flavor base.
(4)
Elaine G.
This place is not the same since the previous owner sold it. The seafood is not Maine quality. The clam chowder had two BIG whole clams in it, definitely not New England clams! Ughhh... PS- As someone who lived in Maine for 8 years, I know Maine seafood.
(1)
Susan S.
Ended up at Billy's sort of as a last resort during a random off season road trip to explore the Wells and Ogunquit areas. We found there were not a lot of open restaurants to choose from in early April. We stumbled upon Billys on the brink of starvation, but fortunately were pleasantly surprised. I think I may have dined at Billy's on a family vacation as a child, but that was my last experience there. It is a casual atmosphere with a pretty view of the marsh from the rear dining room. The menu stated they are famous for their chowder (hence the name) so of course we needed to give it a try. It was delicious and full of whole clams with a thin, buttery broth. The baked haddock was excellent as well. (I was torn between clams or haddock - clams next time!) Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Upon greeting us she asked if we visited the restaurant often enough to sign up for their rewards card. We had turned down the offer at first, but by the end of the meal decided we most likely would be back when in the area again. Billy's is worth a visit If you are looking for some good seafood in a casual atmosphere with pretty ocean views.
(4)
Dan K.
Chowder!! We popped into Billy's for an afternoon snack. Ended up sharing two cups of chowder and a plate of clam strips. It was less of a snack and more of a meal. The Chowder at Billy's is very good. Each cup had two BIG clam pieces. I do wish there was some more small chewy clam pieces but it wasn't bad at all. Solid broth. The fried clams weren't my /favorite/ (currently I'm in love with Bob's) but were still hot and crispy. Billy's uses a heavier breading than I like. Service is good and the food comes out hot. Solid 4 stars.
(4)
Laura A.
I had a wonderful experience at Billy's Chowder House! went right before sun down & had the amazing view of seeing the sunset from the back room. It was my first time at this restaurant and received many suggestions from people around town when I asked for a lobster spot that'll make an imprint on me forever and it did! the service I received was incredible, I was assisted by Kelly and she was so helpful and friendly when I couldn't figure out exactly what I wanted to eat. Her knowledge on the menu really helped me narrow down what I wanted & went with her recommendation! I was very satisfied with the lobster dish I received. the restaurant has a wonderful team of people working together, & can cater to any crowd that comes in and I definitely recommend Billy's chowder house to anyone looking for wonderful service & a delicious meal!
(5)
Ralphie F.
YUm...YuM...YUM! I would have given 5 stars, but our service was a little slow and inconsistent. If they were busy, I would have overlooked it, but unfortunately there were only 3 tables occupied when we arrived. Our hostess greeted us warmly and was a pleasure. The seafood choices are plentiful. The prices are consistent with what you get. I tried their famous clam chowder and the fish tacos. The soup was flavorful and was not lacking in the seafood department. It was not overly creamy and seasoned just right. When the 3 soft taco shells arrived, everything got just a little better. This platter came with lightly spiced fried haddock, pico de gallo, chopped lettuce, shredded mozzarella, with chipotle sauce on the side. It was served with rice, but the tacos were filling and I did not have room I left this place very satisfied and will definitely be back.
(4)
Paul P.
A little bit of a slide. Oysters were sandy, and a bit dirty. Fried food was overdone. Baked food was also a bit overdone. Scallop quality was low, despite the server's insistence that it was fresh that morning. Hoping for an upturn, but I gotta be honest, this was not the best visit.
(2)
Erin S.
I've been going to Billy's for as long as I can remember and a visit to southern Maine isn't complete without a Billy's lobster roll. I've never seen so much meat in a lobster roll anywhere else. Billy's also has the best clam chowder! The broth is thinner and buttery with whole clams instead of broth that's too creamy with just the processed chopped clams.
(4)
OnThe T.
Stopped in for what we thought was "famous chowder".. What we got was watery broth with a few potatoes and two very overboiled, tough, rubbery clams. It also had a pool of ? Yellow oil on top? I'm guessing it was supposed to be melted butter but it was definitely margarine- I was a little grossed out by it. We all got diarrhea the second we got back to the hotel- not from food poisoning since we had no nausea or vomiting but I think from the margarine. Never again.
(1)
Jon C.
Table for 6 taken in about 25 minutes. Valet parking out front. Waitress was very pleasant. However the food was mediocre. Started with Buffalo Wings and they were hot yet not great. Clam Strip dinner was decent. The clam chowder I expected to be awesome and I was so underwhelmed by it. Overall just a very average restaurant. Prices were reasonable.
(3)
Stephanie S.
I know that this is a very popular place - the parking lot is always packed. For this reason we tried Billy's Chowder House. The service was fine, the establishment was clean - but the food was just ok. Nothing really that notable. The prices on the menu are way too expensive for what you get. We all ordered the clam chowder to start - it was thin, under seasoned / lacked flavor and had 2 big chewy, whole clams in them. The clams were gritty. It was unpleasant. The lobster roll (the large one) was good, but the fries were greasy and undercooked (like they were cooked in oil that wasn't hot enough). My daughter order the plain mac n' cheese which was bland and pasty. Do not order that dish - it should be removed from the menu because it is absolutely gross. My partner ordered the fish n' chips which were soggy. The beer was nice and cold and the wine list / beer was decently priced.
(2)
Chris E.
For a low priced seafood place, Billy's chowder house would be excellent. However as a local restaurant right on the coast of Maine, the scallops overcooked and getting a black claw lobster, the place was certainly overpriced. Clam chowder was good, lobster mac and cheese was also excellent. 3/5
(3)
Brenda V.
A little out of the way seafood restaurant in Wells. Hubby has fried haddock while I went for the baked scallops. Great meal. Highly recommend
(5)
Mike G.
Since we were in Maine, I was yearning for seafood. So, we decided to try Billy's for lunch. Great news; they have a dining loyalty/rewards program. It cost $10 but you get a $10 certificate when you sign up. Also, when you spend $40 during any visit, you get another promo bonus. UNBELIEVABLE deal. The promos change month to month. Varano's, up the street, is their sister restaurant; which is also in the rewards program. We liked the ample parking (summers can be a pain, I'm sure). Billy's has great views. It over looks the ocean inlet and the Rachel Carson Wildlife Preserve. Service was awesome. We had Nicky/Nicki. She was efficient, polite and accommodating. Waters and complimentary homemade potato chips were dropped off when taking our order. So far so good at Billy's. THE BILLY BURGER $11 (4.5/5) My partner doesn't eat any seafood. So, he chose a burger instead of chicken. He LOVED it. He said the bacon onion relish was DELICIOUS. Very addictive to eat. Burgers comes with a side of fries, rice pilaf or cole slaw. He opted for the latter. We both thought the slaw was tasty and freshly made. One of the best slaws EVER. FRIED WHOLE BELLY CLAMS (Regular size) $24 (4/5) I was dying for whole belly clams. I'm glad I ordered them. They were breaded and cooked perfectly. Very tender MEATY clams. I ordered the cole slaw as my side. Again, great flavor and fresh. (I did order the regular size portion but was disappointed at how much I got for what I paid.) BREADED HAND CUT ONION RINGS $7.50 (4.5/5) O rings were very scrumptious. They were thick cut and very crunchy. Freshly made too. Billy's has a full bar including beers on tap. They serve brews that are made locally as well. Drinks are reasonably priced. Our only gripe is they're a bit pricey with the food. Overall this visit to Billy's is a 4.5 STAR review. Would definitely be back.
(4)
Daniel W.
My wife and I had dinner here in February 2015. We shared lobster stew, clam chowder, a large salad and the seafood sampler. The portions were large, the food very well prepared, the service excellent, and the atmosphere on a cold winter night warm and friendly.
(5)
Seth T.
I ordered a cup of clam chowder & Caesar salad. The chowder had whole belle clams & a nice broth. The salad had the right amount of dressing. I had there brewed iced tea which was perfect, not to strong or week. For the main course Seafood sampler which I highly recommend.
(4)
Matthew K.
Came here as a kid and always have loved it. This place is one of the reasons I love seafood. It's good food, right near the ocean, with good service, and a decent price. What more do you need? The haddock chowder is my favorite item on the menu and my favorite chowder in New England. You can't go wrong really. It's packed in the summer so plan I wait but you'll be glad you did.
(5)
Lucy W.
Not sure why so many people reviewed Billy's Chowder House so harshly...I had a great meal sitting at the bar, watching sunset from windows on 3 sides of the restaurant. Basically I was surrounded by water, sunset and clams...I was in heaven. Not to mention the TVs mounted on the wall, showing US Open tennis and a Red Sox Yankees game...it was beyond heaven. I guess during summer, it can probably get crowded and service may not be as attentive, but I had no problems at all. The bartenders are quick, efficient, and rock great New England accents. They know the regulars by name, and their banter creates a warm atmosphere. I had a great local beer to start (a recommendation from the bartender she called "summah ale"), and dived right into the bucket of clams. Having missed out on having great steamers for the last few years while living in Atlanta, the clams were exactly what I was looking for...plump, huge, clean, simply steamed, delicious! Two containers of melted butter accompanied, even though the clams didn't really need it. would have like a container of boiled clam water instead, even though the clams were perfectly cleaned...there was not a spec of sand at all in the entire bucket of clams. Clam chowder (yeah, I couldn't get enough of clams) was delicious and simple...no overly floured base, or weird herbs or spices...just simple creamy clam chowder. As always I don't like as many potatoes, and would rather have more clams, but who wouldn't? Menu is pretty extensive, but of course, the star is the seafood...get it simple and steamed, and you shouldn't have any issues. Parking situation is tricky...they have a small lot that gets full fast, and there are no overflow or surrounding lots because the restaurant is on its own surrounded by marsh. I luckily snagged one of the last spots, but not sure I would have been able to wait if it had been full.
(4)
Barry B.
I very much enjoyed Billy's Clam Chowda'. Creamy but not overly heavy, with the perfect amount of butter and clams. I also enjoy the baked stuffed shrimp and haddock as well. Stuffing is very flavorful and well seasoned, with a perfect ratio of stuffing to seafood. The atmosphere is very nice, Billy's is a place we can enjoy with our children and without! Servers are prompt and attentive! Plus you can't beat the view.
(5)
Jessica W.
Very friendly service and good food. Even on a busy night the wait isn't too bad and our waiter worked very hard. I suggest eating in the lounge area with the bar during sunset for a fantastic view. Great local restaurant!
(4)
Devyn L.
I had gone here with my family on a hickey trip back when I was a kid. Me and my girlfriend were on vacation in Wells, Maine and the night we arrived at 6pm on 6/17/15 for dinner. The chowder was amazing and my lobster mac and cheese was fantastic and my girlfriends swordfish was cooked perfectly. The desserts were not that good. My girlfriend got strawberry shortcake and I got blueberry cobbler. The biscuits in the desserts needed more sugar. I never thought I'd say that about a dessert but I am a stickler for a good dessert and the dessert was just not that good. Our waitress also seemed a little antsy and slightly rude in how she took care of us and in the tone she talked to us. All in all the food was good and the dessert was not. We will come back if we are ever in the area again.
(3)
Judith B.
Sorry haddock dinner x3 people in the same party no taste. 0. Green beans that came with it were great. Should've had just them,
(1)
Rick F.
I went for lunch. Was dying for a fried clam roll. When I'm planning to be bad, I want perfection. The clams were very close to worth falling off the wagon for. They were large, sweet and tender. The crispness on the batter was just right and there was a hint of spice, maybe cinamon. If they were a little hotter, I would have given 5 stars. I also got a bowl of the fish chowder. Excellent. The waitress was great. Nice selection of draft beers. Beautiful location. Try it!
(4)
LouAnne D.
Went for a ride to Maine today. We wanted a great lobster roll with a view! After a hike at Wells Refuge Center we used the app: around me, to find a good restaurant. Billy's came up with lots of good reviews so we Wazed it to there. Nice bar, restaurant, looked busy at 4:00pm on Friday. Couldn't get a seat at the bar which was filled with local seniors! We sat at a table in the bar area. I ordered haddock chowder, my husband got clam chowder. Both were more like soup. Very watery. No taste. So we also ordered a Jr lobster roll, and a scallop roll. Greasy. Scallop roll was about 6 scallops, muscle was still attached, yuk for 17.00! Lobster roll was very small and just blah. Fries on both plates were frozen bag type. Waitress Christi was very nice and attentive! We would never go back.
(1)
Rebecca D.
This place is completely awful. After calmly waiting in the bar area for 25 minutes, we were finally seated. My sister in law then ordered a house red, the waitress looked at her like she had no idea what that was. She came back 5 minutes later and said that she could not serve us. We were utterly confused and asked to speak to the manager. The manager came over, completely unprofessional looking, told us "I can't override the server, what she says goes." After a little more questioning, the waitress essentially threw the manager under the bus and the manager then threw the waitress under the bus. For politeness we'll leave out names. We thought about ignoring the ridiculousness and staying to eat but just could not. It just did not make sense. We have stayed away from this place after 20 years, gave it a one night chance after all this time and have been completely blown away by the incompetency. We're honestly in awe, avoid this place like the plague.
(1)
Amanda R.
Place was pretty good. I ended up getting the bucket of clams. One pound was perfect for one person. For a drink I got the Riptide Martini it was not so good. Very fruity. Food took a little while to get.
(3)
Lynn B.
Had the best lunch today at Billy's! I went with my friend Janat who had never been. It's now one of her favorite restaurants. We started out with steaming bowls of clam chowder and chowder crackers, sitting out in the side porch overlooking the salt marshes. The chowder was hot and clamalicious and creamy good and the crunchy salty goodness of the oyster crackers were a great accompaniment. Janat then ordered a side of fried clams and I got a big bowl of garlicky mussels in a lemony wine broth and a baked potato with sour cream. Since I'm a Billy's card member I got a generous discount off the bill because I'd just had a birthday. Ask the staff for details. It was so relaxing sitting there looking out at the water and makes me so excited for spring and summer! Check out my pics!
(5)
Sal O.
This has been a Wells landmark for years. The food is pretty good and the prices are reasonable. I tried the Lobster Mac & Cheese, very good! Cheese was not to overpowering and had some nice chunks of lobster. The fried seafood is also very good. Portion sizes are a pretty good size. My only complaint is that it can be very loud. It's sometimes hard too hear the person talking at the table with you. Nice views of the ocean as well.
(4)
Dan C.
Dirty napkins and silverware. Green carpet with matching tables circa 1979. Ewwwww..won't be back.
(1)
Roland P.
Best seafood we found during our week in the area. Simple very old fashioned but comfortable place with terrific clams and good haddock.
(4)
John D.
The waitress accurately guided n intense foodie (me!) through the menu to make the best possible choices I'm SO sorry I can't rememer my wonderful waitress' name but she thanked me "for being my salesman" because I passed all of her wonderful reccomendations on to a family at a nearby table!. The clam chowder with the full belly clams was the best I had in all of Maine. The (GENEROUS) side order of fried full belly clams was spectacular. I highly reccomend the "Lazy Man's Lobster"....pure, sweet, (no work) as simple as fresh local perfection gets. I glanced, but couldn't even consider the homemade desserts. Perhaps next time.
(5)
Rich E.
Perfect service and great atmosphere as always. BUT what did you do to the clam chowder?????from one of the best to one id never order again. Flavorless broth and mahogany clams that were like chewing through leather. Disappointed!!!!
(3)
Jay V.
This place is phenomenal ! Had the lobster stew it was mind blowing . If only it was just a bit bigger. But was satisfying. Because of that I also had the Billy burger which was also tasteful. The soup can be a light the bit deceiving on portion. It almost fills you up.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Alma F.
First time having a Maine lobster, really was expecting more, my son had fish and chips he complained that the fries didn't taste right, my fiancé wasn't all that happy with his meal either :/ oh well
(3)Steven K.
Billy's is an old favorite for us. This was our first visit this year and we were very disappointed. The scallops had a bad texture and almost no flavor, like they were perhaps frozen. Also, about 8 medium size scallops at 26.50 is pricy considering they were not good quality. The shore dinner was $43 and was actually cold. Cold lobster and steamers for 43 bucks?
(2)Robert S.
Everything was fresh, hot, and deelish. Had the Lobster Mac and Cheese which was chunky with Lobster, crunchy with toppings and just fantastic. Oysters were great and had a fresh salad that definitely did NOT come out of a bag. Great place, friendly staff, fantastic food, cool neighborhood. Watched the Bruins and Sox game at the same time. Dug it!
(5)Christy J.
I posted a review on Billy's original thread and no longer see the thread. I would like to make sure that my review get spewed so here it goes. We ate there and the beginning of September. We ordered 4 Caesar salads, a couple of beers and 4 clam chowder's. We had a trip to two of the clam chowder's. Our bill was well over $100! Getting shrimp on your Caesar salad doubles the price!! I could hardly finish my clam chowder and am not sure how this clam chowder got an award. The Caesar salad was far from good and came with fairly wilted lettuce. Our service was okay but as usual our waitress seemed overwhelmed. We are eating there again only because on Wednesday they have a dollar oyster special. Other than that we would not spend our money there again!
(2)Crystal O.
I don't know why the average stars is a 3.5 but in my book this place is a 5. The staff is friendly and informative about the menu, and the drinks ( alcohol kind) are amazing. My husband got the lazy lobster and I got the fried clams both 5 star. Nikki our server was so nice and attentive. Will be back soon!
(5)James H.
Great atmosphere. 2 stars probably isn't a full representation of the experience here but it was accurate for my quick stay. I stopped in with a nice lady for a bowl of soup and a beer before jumping on the road and heading home. My chowder was fine, but not great. She ordered seafood bisque. $15.99 for a bowl of soup. No joke. I thought it might come with a back rub. Instead of commenting on this, I decided wait and see what the soup looked/tasted like. Who am I to call a $16 bowl of soup overpriced, without even seeing it? Soup came out and was sub par. I couldn't get over the content for the price. Rarely do I think I've been ripped off but this was awful. The place itself was awesome, waitress was great, and beer selection was good, just don't spend your life savings on the seafood bisque!
(2)Robert L.
Billy's is a must stop on your way on the Maine Turnpike. I've been coming here for over 25 years for their Lobster Stew. Thanks again for great food and great service. Off to Jackman ME snowmobiling.
(5)Joseph C.
I would have to say its right down the middle. Nothing special but not bad either. I had the small whole belly clam and chips, more than enough. The wife had stuffed shrimp, which is whole shrimps cooked into stuffing. Not really that good. But the clam chowder was done right. Whole belly clam inside the chowder which was good.
(3)Tim F.
First time in a long time and we found it overrated. It's expensive for what we got and the food was no better this some of the smaller seafood places in area. Chowder is good but for $5 a SMALL cup you hardly get a taste. I was glad to order the "regular" fried shrimp platter. There may have been 10-15 shrimp all same size and shape which makes us think it was not from Maine. Fish and chips was nothing to rave about and the fish looked like 4 pieces of fried zucchini definitely won't make special trip to go there for sure
(2)Amybeth H.
Great place, we go often!
(4)Cec D.
A great place to stuff your face with seafood on the cheap. I had the 1 1/4 steamed lobster with baked potato and coleslaw for $20, practically free by Boston standards. The lobster was sweet and perfectly steamed and I dipped everything into the tasty vat of drawn butter awesomeness (am drooling like Pavlov's dog just thinking of it). We shared the onion rings (good batter, oddly high priced at $8) and my friends had the burger (lame non seafood eater but he liked it) and scallop roll (fresh tasty scallops perfectly battered). The ambiance was ok, what you would expect for a little seaside joint and the service was friendly and attentive.
(4)Derek T.
There is a reason locals don't eat here. The chowder (it's in the name, right?) is mediocre at best, and the service is inattentive. For truly great chowder, try the Fisherman's Catch, on the other side of the harbor (just a few minutes away).
(2)Patrick M.
Well not much to say, went here for lunch last week... worst clam chowder we've ever had anywhere (and thats a lot of places). I would describe it as warmed skim milk with a melted pad of butter, a ton of under cooked, i.e., raw potatoes, and no lie we got 2 clams in the entire bowl. It was dreadful. So then we decided to give the fish tacos a go... The fish tasted straight out of the freezer on par with your supermarket variety, and they had what appeared to be low fat mozzarella melted on them, really? Lunch was $40 with tip for a single beer, bowl of clam chowder and fish tacos, felt like I had been robbed at knife point...save your hard earned money and go anywhere else in the area for better food.
(1)New England Traveler B.
Always Always GREAT!!!!! Clam Chowder the BEST!!!! Steamers ---- so flavorful!!!! Blue Cheese Dressing --- home made!!!! Baked Stuffed Haddock----have you ever had shrimp in the stuffing---you get it at BILLYS!!!! Our Server was so NICE and up beat .. Courtney.. !!!! She recommended the Blue Berry Ice Cream..---deliciousooo MY wife and I always Always enjoy Billys.. in fact we don't read the menu cause we usually always order the above... The food was and IS always good and the server was great!!!! We were there last night and it was packed... ENJOY!!!!
(5)Tracy R.
This place was great - great seafood, well priced wine, and great sides! Best of all - they had Lazy Lobster - no more getting pruny figners trying to pry lobster meat out of of those tiny little claws. The lazy lobster meal already takes the lobster out of the shell for you - making it super easy to stuff your face with buttery lobster! I went here for dinner with a large party of co-workers while visiting Wells, ME on a business trip. We were seated in the front dining room in front of the beautiful gas fireplace, which one day ahead of a snowstorm was very welcome! The waitress, Victoria, was amazing and took care of us all evening! This place has two Maine brewed beers on draft which I suggest you try! Finally - don't be a fatty and get the fries and coleslaw with your meal - you will inevitably be disappointed. I got the vegetable of the day - peas, onions, and red peppers (although they nicely left out the red peppers for me because I am allegric) which were amazing! Boilded and then sauted in olive oil. Everyone at my table was making fun of me because I raved more about the peas than the lobster, but honestly a well cooked vegetable beats anything anyday!
(4)Stephanie G.
Meh....2.5. I honestly wasn't that impressed. Service was fine, nothing blew me away. I went with what I consider a standard in Maine (and NE) for seafood....NE Clam Chowder (the ONLY kind of clam chowder, in my book.) I was not impressed. It was a very thin chowder, and lacking in clams--way more potatoes. My friend has the lazy lobster...it was fine, but a little lacking on meat. If you are looking for views, not the best place to go (if you sit in the front room) either. I probably will not go back next time I'm in Maine.
(3)Marc R.
Food was very good with a lobster special for 13 dollars that you can't beat. The clam chowder is whole belly clams FYI.
(4)Joanne L.
What a nice little find! We decided to try this place after exploring Wells Beach, and we were very pleased. The servers there, especially ours, were so incredibly friendly and attentive. They really made you feel like family. The food was simple, but pretty ample and good. We especially loved the chowders. This is definitely not a Michelin rated restaurant, but it is a clean restaurant with good, filling seafood, and the most genuinely friendly service I've experienced in a very long time.
(4)Maggie D.
Our meal was not the best. Lobster was over-cooked. So disappointed. Billy's needs to pay more attention to what they serve compared to other area restaurants who are putting much more into their meals for less $$. Step it up or lose ground on the reputation you once had.
(2)Misha H.
$1 oysters on Wednesdays! $12.99 lobster lunch! We sat at the bar and had great service and a great meal!
(4)Melissa X.
The first time I went here, it was called "Billy's To Go". There were no servers either. The second time I came, they had servers and hosts. Both times I was amazed. The food is amazing. If you eat here, you must must must try their clam chowder. It's very creamy and is filled with clams. I hate having chowder that doesn't have enough clams in it. My favorite seafood is of course, lobster. The lobsters they serve you here are enormous, and pretty decently priced for what you get. My mom got the whole fried clams and those were just as delicious. What's great about the clams is that the bellies are very big and juicy. A lot of other seafood restaurants will serve whole clams that don't really look whole, or have small bellies. If you're in the area, you've got to go to Billy's. Service is great, and the food is phenomenal.
(5)Bruce T.
The only thing that was good was the marsh view and the Mushroom apps. As far as service we had a server name Elizabeth and she never checked back on us to see if we needed drinks,which we did. And the hamburger was served blood red, we ordered medium rare but not with the heart still beating. Then she started to argue with us telling us that's the way they make medium rare. Are you kidding me! They will try to sell you a card that cost money DON'T BUY IT! After your first dining you won't want to go back again. It's really to bad because the marsh view is beautiful.
(1)Christopher P.
Been hitting this place since I was a kid and they've never let me down. They had a couple mediocre years but after my last visit this past weekend you can be sure the place has brought back their A-game. Best clams and chowda I've had in a very very long time! Get a reward card! :)
(5)Rick D.
working in Wells this chilly November morning stopped at Billys for a quick lunch, bowl of piping hot chowder, excellent, excellent service, reasonable price!
(5)Tammy G.
One of our dinner stops on our honeymoon. Delicious!!!!! I hope one day to return. I will definately want another set of twins. (lobsters!)
(4)Kelly S.
Went to Billy's today. Servers were good. The Resturant decor is a little dated. Both my husband and I got the haddock chowder it was very good. He got the lobster meal which he thought was a great price for the area. I got the burger wasn't a fan def was a frozen bubba burger. Other than that everything was good. Would def go back
(3)Karen F.
The food was ok. Very ordinary. The lobster stew came in a very small cup and was very watery. Not much flavor other than low tide. The meal was again a small casserole of haddock, scallops and stuffed shrimp. The scallops on top were overdone and chewy. The haddock was tasteless, and the shrimp was overpowered by a pasty tasteless stuffing. Way over priced for the size of the servings. Even worse was the service with bread, appetizers and meal all served at the same time. Server let dirty dishes sit on the table well after we were done. I will not go there again.
(2)Boyd C.
I've only had four things at Billy's Chowder house and they all four earn five stars in my book! #1: The clam chowder is one of the best I've ever had. Very thick and hearty. #2: The lobster stew is THE BEST I've ever had. Delicious and brimming full of lobster. #3. The lobster roll is probably in the top 3 I've had in Maine. #4. The clam strips are amazing! Lightly battered and very fresh. We usually hit Billy's two or three times during our stay in Wells. That should tell you how much we like the place. The views are amazing and waitresses are always friendly! We've tried Mike's, Litchfield's and some of the others in town and they are all good, but Billy's is the best!
(5)Pete S.
Just returned from dinner. Clam chowder was interesting. Broth was excellent. Leaving the necks on the clams was strange. The mussels were very good. Fish and chips were good. We special ordered a dessert and it was great. The greeting and waiting process was excellent. Our wait staff was very good. Parking was limited so we used the complimentary valet service and it worked out very well.
(4)Matt S.
this place is quality. right on the salt marsh with local seafood, what more can you ask for in wells. my favorite thing on the menu is the clam chowder, i call in an order togo for lunch sometimes. servers are friendly and the prices are moderate.
(4)Marie R.
First time here. Chowder was excellent. Average seafood. One bartender on a Friday night not a good idea.
(3)BJ B.
This restaurant was recomended to my husband and I by a local. Great choice!! We had great clam chowder! It probably tasted so good because it had two pounds of butter in it....who cares!! Vacation-you know. My husband had small fried clam platter. It was more than enough and very tasty. I had the large lobster roll-WONDERFUL!. It was huge and I almost could not finish it-but I managed. The down side to our visit was-we chose to sit in the bar because of the view (lovey marsh) but it was sooooo noisey. We will absoutely go back and highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Mindy W.
This place really should really be three and a half. Unfortunately, due to a very long wait at Fisherman's Catch, we settled on Billy's. The boy decided to order lobster for the first time in his life, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, from bib to claw. I had the stuffed shrimp, which were really quite good. The shrimp was a little overcooked, but the seafood stuffing was so delicious that it didn't matter. Service was good, friendly and as attentive as possible for as busy as she was. Prices were a bit more expensive than I feel they deserved to be, but it's really a touristy place, so I wasn't offended.
(3)JACOB B.
Billy's does the job if your looking for steamers,lobster and the usual seafood fare...Setting in the marshes adds exceptional atmosphere.Service was efficient & friendly.Removed 1/2 star because Billy's web site fails to list their prices which tendto be high...$30 for lazy man's lobster which was prepared only with butter...but the lobster was excellent ,if not overly generous..Steamers were big, fresh and sweet.I would rate Billy's at 31/2 stars.Will return.
(3)Monica L.
The clam chowder is exceptional. The fried haddock sandwich was pretty tasty too -- delicious fish and a great bun.
(4)Scratchie S.
Consistently good. I've been going here whenever I'm in southern Maine for about ten years now. The chowder is tasty and not filled with cornstarch. The fried seafood is fresh-tasting and prepared well, and the strawberry shortcake for dessert is superb.
(4)Miss M.
Absolutely fabulous scallop appetizer! I'm hooked and will be coming back just for these. I had the lazy man's lobster and sweet potato fries. Interesting combination and expected a better choice of accoutrements. This and the TV's playing sports are the only negatives. Will have to check them out a second time to see if it is worth the drive from Cape Elizabeth. The waitress was super friendly and didn't hover around. I also received a frequent diner's card and will def use it in the future.
(4)Andrew M.
The food is good service is good however Im not a seafood fan and they used to have really good turf. Probably their bast with the baby back ribs but they removed it from the menu. Its was a great place to go even if you dont like seafood but the selection has really gotten limited. If you like seafood the people I was with thought it great, and what I got was great too but I wish I had more of a selection
(3)Tracey T.
My family visits Billy's Chowder House every year while vacationing in Wells. This year, I had the pleasure of having the famous Clam chowder, as usual, but also the swordfish with roasted corn salsa. It was absolutely incredible! The mix of flavors was complex, but not overwhelming. Very well done!
(5)Levi T.
Nice view from the restaurant. We tried the fried clams, shrimp, and scallops. All were cooked very nicely and were flavorful. The fish stew was very nice, too. It was thin, creamy and buttery, and full of seafood. Thumbs up to that. I also tried the Caesar salad - bleah. The food was very tasty but it's a bit overpiced in my opinion. We would try something different in that area before we went there again.
(3)Bob S.
Just finished eating here, for the first and last time. Their clam chowder was WAY overrated. I ordered it with a sandwich. Before our dinner came the server asked if we wanted an appetizer to which I replied, "No." My sandwich came but no chowder. When I inquired about it she said, "Oh I forgot that's why I asked you if you wanted an appetizer. I will bring it." It wasn't worth the wait. She took if off the bill but I still wouldn't go back. There are plenty of other good restaurants in Wells!
(1)Elizabeth M.
Our party of 6 had a great time at Billy's tonight! We've been coming to Billy's for years and tonight was just as good (if not better) as it's always been. Chris Varano, the Billy's GM, greated us and sat us immediately. The food was fantastic -- some favorites included the baked stuff haddock, fish and chips and broiled salmon. Our waitress, Stephanie, was excellent. She was busy (Billy's is packed every night of the summer) but did a great job accomodating us (and we're a demanding group). We love Billy's. You should go! :)
(3)Warren J.
Great food. Onion Rings were super, best clam chowder we've ever had (and we're from New England). Prices were very good and we can't wait to go back.
(5)Felix T.
Food is good, lots of fried dishes. We had a bottle of wine. Overall, pretty pricey for the food quality but all the fried food places on the coast are all pricey if you compare to a 4 or 5 star restaurant with healthy food and super service. Service is dinner style, quick and simple, no fuss.
(2)Jeffrey F.
Wife and I went here for lunch on a recent Sunday afternoon. We got there 15 minutes after it opened so it was quiet. By the time we left, it was filling up fast due to being lunchtime. Menu had lots of choices. My wife does not eat much seafood and opted for the BLT sandwich. She enjoyed it. It came with fries it was under 10 bucks. I had the large lobster roll which was about 20 dollars. It came with slaw. When I first looked at it I commented to my wife that it didnt look like my roll was filled with much lobster as it could have been. It came on a lightly grilled and buttered extra long hot dog bun. It wasnt heaping and overflowing but it filled me up quite nicely for lunch time. It had great flavor with little to no mayo. I enjoyed it. Overall we had a nice lunch and didnt feel like we overate or anything. We both thought the waitress was trying to rush us out of there, maybe for the impending wave of people expected to arrive. Give Billys a try if you are in the area but do not go out of your way for a visit.
(3)Steve W.
Ate at Billy's last week on Friday. Found parking easily on my own without the use of the valet. Did not have to wait long given Friday night in early August. Waitress Laura was very accommodating and helpful. Started wit haddock chowder and was disappointed given the very very little haddock included. Just mini pieces. Given it is a "chowder house" made my first experience a bit of a disappointment however. Entree's took a bit to deliver especially given a 3 year old with us. Portions were good and overall entrees were good. Not going to rush back but would recommend it to others.
(4)Fran W.
Chowder was runny, mostly potato and butter broth. Bar food!
(2)James T.
Billy's remains home to the best clam chowder I've ever had, and having lived in Maine for a few years, I've had my fair share of chowder. The rest of the food would probably earn it a 3/5 in my book -- it's okay but not great (although I should add I'm not that much for lobster; some members of my family are huge fans of Billy's lobster rolls) -- but their chowder is worth a trip by itself. If you're staying on the beach and have a place with a nice view, there's not much reason to wait in line at the restaurant as opposed to the "to go" operation down the street, but if you're just passing though, the dining rooms have a nice view of the tidal area. Especially in the off-season -- they're open year-round except December or so -- it tends to be a pretty laid-back place. Just thinking about the chowder almost has me planning a trip right now...
(4)Reggie D.
Clam chowder should be called potato chowder. Two clams laid on top of the potatoes does not clam chowder make. Absolutely, positively the worse "clam chowder" I've ever had.
(1)Mel L.
I used to love Billy's, but after a five year hiatus I returned to watered down, potato filled chowder. The steamers, fried haddock, and lobster dinner were all splendid. I give them 4 stars, easy. The restaurant hasn't changed much. It's still pretty casual, touristy, and offers free valet parking (for it's tiny parking lot). The wait was super long for a Thursday night, and the service was slow, but all in all it was worth the wait.
(3)Pamela S.
We wanted some clam chowder and theirs was good. It was not real thick but was really tasty. Nice view and very friendly service
(4)Lil L.
I attended Billy's with my parents and my spouse. My parents had eaten at Billy's 3 years previously and reported the food and service pretty good. Well we ate there tonight (Tuesday): the service was slow, a party of four was squeezed into a small corner (although there was plenty of alternative seating), we had to ask for bread, I do not eat salad dressing and there was only 1 salad that they would make to accommodate that fact, the waitress gave me a hard time when I asked for double veggies instead of baked potatoes or fries citing that it could not be substituted although veggies were an option, and she never re-filled our water glasses or ice tea. Despite the poor service the food was hot and well portioned.
(2)Doug M.
Nice views and ample portions. Very friendly, homey place.
(3)David B.
Not a bad family style seafood house with excellent views of the marsh just off of Wells Beach. Chowder is very good, service was friendly and above average for this area especially given the busy holiday week (July 3rd and 4th). Mussel's were very good, twin lobster dinner seemed slightly overcooked, lobster rolls were nothing special and were very small for the price compared to some of the take out only places nearby.
(3)Peter K.
Great chowda!!
(5)Rob C.
This place deserves 5 stars for a couple different reasons. None of them for the snooty, more common reasons. Service is excellent 9-10 times and we've been going her for 20 years. Everyone can have a bad day but it's a rare exception here. Consistency is a major factor here as well. The menu is plentiful but not obnoxious, The overall experience is always great and although no one has a grand slam every time at bat, Billy's is damn near perfect.
(5)G H.
Its ok. I think a little over-rated. But the crowd is always good. In the bar, they have these AMAZING potato chips that i HIGHLY recommend.
(3)Marko M.
Been closed for a few years. Time to update this page or delete it! Now the Wells Beach Steakhouse. Same owners
(1)Ricky B.
Avoid the bar. I've been here several times and when it's busy the bartenders can't handle it. They seem more concerned about hanging the freshly washed wine glasses than serving their customers. There are plenty of better options in the area.
(2)Meg M.
Maybe it's because I am a born and raised Mainer, but I do not understand all the high ratings for this place. Billy's is clearly an over priced tourist trap and what you are paying for is the location near the beach, not the quality of the food. I had the worst crab roll I have ever seen here. The meat was not only a grey color (ew, should be a clear white color), but did not even come close to reaching the top of the roll...a normal crab roll of this price would be over stuffed with crab meat. It looked like a tuna roll, which was kinda scary. On another sour note, we had a half-dozen oysters, one of which I had to spit into a napkin because it was bad. I eat oysters frequently and it is rare that I have had to spit one out, but I guess that could happen most anywhere by chance so I didn't look too much into this. However, on a good note, my bf had the Fish and Chips and it was a good portion and tasty. Also, the service was friendly. Unfortunately, although I hate to dis any Maine business, I must recommend avoiding this place and heading some where else like the Maine Diner for seafood away from the beach.
(2)Raymond W.
Top Class food and service. Always have at least one meal here when I visit Maine.
(5)Mike P.
good chowders and fried seafood, great view, amusing bar. not so great for oysters on the half-shell, so stick with fried platters.
(4)Daisy R.
There are a lot of options in this area, and a lot of places to sample seafood. With that, I'd stay away from Billy's Chowder House and try something else. The dining room is nothing special in terms of decor and the service is OK but nothing special either. The food is mediocre and overpriced. My clam chowder, in fact, which Billy's claims they are famous for, was gross. I've never seen orange New England clam chowder before, but that's how much butter was in this thing. I gagged on the taste, it's like eating melted butter. I told the waitress, and it didn't seem to faze her, nor did she offer to exchange it for anything else. Lobster rolls are on the small size and the lobster a little bit overcooked. After eating it, I was thirsty all afternoon. The coleslaw was too sweet. Maybe I sound picky, but for a $90 lunch for 3 people, we have a right to be.
(2)Christiaan H.
Excellent New England-style chowder, the fish chowder was bland. 6/07
(4)Erika S.
Hamds down THE best "take-out" chowda in Maine!
(4)Sharon M.
Billys has always been Great! I love the oyster stew..although a outfly skimpy in the oysters..the onion rings,lobster stew and fried clams...
(4)Aly R.
I've spent every summer my whole life spending time in Ogunquit at my grandparents' beach house, and as longs as I've been going to Billy's I've always loved it. It is by far my favorite place for chowder- I haven't found anywhere that comes close. I especially love the seafood stew- it has a thin, buttery brother and is loaded with chunks of fish, shrimp, scallops, lobster, etc. I don't live in New England anymore, but anytime I come home I make every effort I can to head up to Maine just to go to this restaurant!
(5)Mike D.
My GF and I went to Billy's a few weeks ago while on vacation in Wells. It's a nice enough place, the food was good and the portions were big. I'm a big fan of big portions. I had a seafood platter and I really liked the fresh seafood, the staff was friendly, attentive and overall it was a good experience. My GF was disappointed with the fried clams however. She likes the full bellied clams and the clams she got were a bit on the small side, but we noticed the clams at other places were the same. I'll definitely go back when I want a big plate of fried seafood!
(4)Natalie T.
I loved Billy's The haddock chowder and fried scallops were great, as was the service. The portions were also very good for what you pay for. The fries were a bit salty. There is a beautiful view which can be seen from certain seats.
(5)Darlene R.
We have been coming to Billy's for over 30 years when our children were at USM. We vacationed at Moody beach for all of those years and Billies was always one of our favorite spots. Last night we were actually able to get in at a decent time. The food as always was wonderful ....service however not so good When we placed our drink order which were three glasses of wine she asked did we want them now or should she serve them with our meal???seriously?? Waitress got the appetizer wrong. Brought our salad with the entree (as a former restauranteur, a real no-no) one of the entrées was wrong and never brought the rolls. There was no offer of dessert or coffee... Not that we could eat another morsel, but she should have asked. However this will not deter us from returning to Billies it still is one of our favorites
(4)Rick R.
We went there wanting to love it. Sadly, the food and service were mediocre. They really don't put any though into healthy options on their kids menu, either. Not bad. But not good. Not memorable.
(3)Stacey S.
I had heard great things about Billy's so my family and I were excited to try it! Sadly i was very disappointed with the outcome. Our service was not good at all. She seemed annoyed with the fact we were not sure what to order yet and when we asked for another drink she never brought it. My boyfriend asked for rice with his dinner and they gave him fries. The waitress never came back over to the table and we had to wait around for the check for quite a while. They food was ok but no better than other Places we have tried in the area and it seemed to have higher prices. I would not Billy's again.
(2)David G.
I love this place. I always stick with the fried stuff. My favorites are the scallops and clam bellies. The oysters and haddock are excellent too. Their seafood chowder is very good. You can't beat the $1 oysters on Wednesday.
(5)Silicon G.
Had a pretty bad experience our first time here. We were looking for a bar mid afternoon for a simple drink and appetizer. The bar area was packed due to happy hour specials going on. With four people in our party, we found a two person table and were willing to make it work. They had larger tables open in the bar near windows, but signs said to check with waitress before sitting. We checked with the waitress and she said we could sit at the tables and still get drinks and appetizers so we decided to move. After sitting down, a different waitress came over to help us. She noticed the chips we had taken from our other table and asked where we got them. She continued to explain that the chips are for bar patrons only. As she was telling us this, the other waitress swooped in very rudely grabbed the basket of chips, telling us we can't have them if we are sitting at this table. We were all kind of dumbfounded and laughing over what was happening. We just wanted a simple drink! We told our table waitress that we were going to order some appetizers but apparently that wasn't allowed at these tables either. You have to be ordering full dinner. As silly as it seems, we understand that places have rules. It would just be nice if we knew them and they were not so rude about enforcement. Back to our two person table we went, and we got a new basket of chips to boot (which are nothing to brag about). After about 10 min, the two people directly next to us left so we decided to push our two small tables together. This made more room for everyone, including people trying to walk by. Our waitress eventually came by and told us we can't push the tables together because it creates a fire hazard. Again, we all laughed at the craziness of the situation and offered to move them back but she said it was OK this time only. We finished our drinks and left feeling guilty for not being able to do anything right by their rules. This place was on our list to try for dinner but we definitely won't be going back after this experience. It really felt like Billy's was focusing so hard on maximizing the almighty dollar they make that customer service and experience is thrown right out the window. The food may very well be fantastic, but I will never know.
(1)Juliet A.
YUMM-O. Billy's was recommended to us by our B&B innkeeper on our first night, so we decided to give it a shot. It definitely has more of a dive-y, sports-bar kind of feel to it than we were expecting (we were told it was a casual place), but that was fine with us. During our little Maine getaway, we gorged ourselves on seafood every day, but Billy's was definitely one of our favorite spots. We had a super friendly waitress and a nice seat by a window overlooking the water (marsh?). The platters are a great way to go to sample several different items. Just be mindful that you can only have the items either ALL grilled or all fried. We opted for the half-and-half platter (large sized) of fried clams (whole belly, but you can also just get strips) and fried scallops. I wasn't as much of a fan of the scallops fried, but my husband was totally sold. It was a pretty heavy meal (we hardly touched the fries that came with it), so I would suggest thinking about splitting one of those large platters with someone else unless you are really, really hungry! We also had the lobster stew which was, simply put, outstanding. If you live in the area or if you are staying for a while in the Wells region, it might be worth it to register for their loyalty rewards program.
(4)Jeanne G.
1 ¼ lb Lobster Dinner $14.95 until 3:30 pm. You can't beat that anywhere! Fresh Maine seafood, standard fare, but fresh, oh, so fresh. A gorgeous view off the lounge of the Webhannet River. Great drinks. Locals eat here. FYI the chowders state they have no thickeners BUT they are *not gluten free* there is wheat in the flavor base.
(4)Elaine G.
This place is not the same since the previous owner sold it. The seafood is not Maine quality. The clam chowder had two BIG whole clams in it, definitely not New England clams! Ughhh... PS- As someone who lived in Maine for 8 years, I know Maine seafood.
(1)Susan S.
Ended up at Billy's sort of as a last resort during a random off season road trip to explore the Wells and Ogunquit areas. We found there were not a lot of open restaurants to choose from in early April. We stumbled upon Billys on the brink of starvation, but fortunately were pleasantly surprised. I think I may have dined at Billy's on a family vacation as a child, but that was my last experience there. It is a casual atmosphere with a pretty view of the marsh from the rear dining room. The menu stated they are famous for their chowder (hence the name) so of course we needed to give it a try. It was delicious and full of whole clams with a thin, buttery broth. The baked haddock was excellent as well. (I was torn between clams or haddock - clams next time!) Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Upon greeting us she asked if we visited the restaurant often enough to sign up for their rewards card. We had turned down the offer at first, but by the end of the meal decided we most likely would be back when in the area again. Billy's is worth a visit If you are looking for some good seafood in a casual atmosphere with pretty ocean views.
(4)Dan K.
Chowder!! We popped into Billy's for an afternoon snack. Ended up sharing two cups of chowder and a plate of clam strips. It was less of a snack and more of a meal. The Chowder at Billy's is very good. Each cup had two BIG clam pieces. I do wish there was some more small chewy clam pieces but it wasn't bad at all. Solid broth. The fried clams weren't my /favorite/ (currently I'm in love with Bob's) but were still hot and crispy. Billy's uses a heavier breading than I like. Service is good and the food comes out hot. Solid 4 stars.
(4)Laura A.
I had a wonderful experience at Billy's Chowder House! went right before sun down & had the amazing view of seeing the sunset from the back room. It was my first time at this restaurant and received many suggestions from people around town when I asked for a lobster spot that'll make an imprint on me forever and it did! the service I received was incredible, I was assisted by Kelly and she was so helpful and friendly when I couldn't figure out exactly what I wanted to eat. Her knowledge on the menu really helped me narrow down what I wanted & went with her recommendation! I was very satisfied with the lobster dish I received. the restaurant has a wonderful team of people working together, & can cater to any crowd that comes in and I definitely recommend Billy's chowder house to anyone looking for wonderful service & a delicious meal!
(5)Ralphie F.
YUm...YuM...YUM! I would have given 5 stars, but our service was a little slow and inconsistent. If they were busy, I would have overlooked it, but unfortunately there were only 3 tables occupied when we arrived. Our hostess greeted us warmly and was a pleasure. The seafood choices are plentiful. The prices are consistent with what you get. I tried their famous clam chowder and the fish tacos. The soup was flavorful and was not lacking in the seafood department. It was not overly creamy and seasoned just right. When the 3 soft taco shells arrived, everything got just a little better. This platter came with lightly spiced fried haddock, pico de gallo, chopped lettuce, shredded mozzarella, with chipotle sauce on the side. It was served with rice, but the tacos were filling and I did not have room I left this place very satisfied and will definitely be back.
(4)Paul P.
A little bit of a slide. Oysters were sandy, and a bit dirty. Fried food was overdone. Baked food was also a bit overdone. Scallop quality was low, despite the server's insistence that it was fresh that morning. Hoping for an upturn, but I gotta be honest, this was not the best visit.
(2)Erin S.
I've been going to Billy's for as long as I can remember and a visit to southern Maine isn't complete without a Billy's lobster roll. I've never seen so much meat in a lobster roll anywhere else. Billy's also has the best clam chowder! The broth is thinner and buttery with whole clams instead of broth that's too creamy with just the processed chopped clams.
(4)OnThe T.
Stopped in for what we thought was "famous chowder".. What we got was watery broth with a few potatoes and two very overboiled, tough, rubbery clams. It also had a pool of ? Yellow oil on top? I'm guessing it was supposed to be melted butter but it was definitely margarine- I was a little grossed out by it. We all got diarrhea the second we got back to the hotel- not from food poisoning since we had no nausea or vomiting but I think from the margarine. Never again.
(1)Jon C.
Table for 6 taken in about 25 minutes. Valet parking out front. Waitress was very pleasant. However the food was mediocre. Started with Buffalo Wings and they were hot yet not great. Clam Strip dinner was decent. The clam chowder I expected to be awesome and I was so underwhelmed by it. Overall just a very average restaurant. Prices were reasonable.
(3)Stephanie S.
I know that this is a very popular place - the parking lot is always packed. For this reason we tried Billy's Chowder House. The service was fine, the establishment was clean - but the food was just ok. Nothing really that notable. The prices on the menu are way too expensive for what you get. We all ordered the clam chowder to start - it was thin, under seasoned / lacked flavor and had 2 big chewy, whole clams in them. The clams were gritty. It was unpleasant. The lobster roll (the large one) was good, but the fries were greasy and undercooked (like they were cooked in oil that wasn't hot enough). My daughter order the plain mac n' cheese which was bland and pasty. Do not order that dish - it should be removed from the menu because it is absolutely gross. My partner ordered the fish n' chips which were soggy. The beer was nice and cold and the wine list / beer was decently priced.
(2)Chris E.
For a low priced seafood place, Billy's chowder house would be excellent. However as a local restaurant right on the coast of Maine, the scallops overcooked and getting a black claw lobster, the place was certainly overpriced. Clam chowder was good, lobster mac and cheese was also excellent. 3/5
(3)Brenda V.
A little out of the way seafood restaurant in Wells. Hubby has fried haddock while I went for the baked scallops. Great meal. Highly recommend
(5)Mike G.
Since we were in Maine, I was yearning for seafood. So, we decided to try Billy's for lunch. Great news; they have a dining loyalty/rewards program. It cost $10 but you get a $10 certificate when you sign up. Also, when you spend $40 during any visit, you get another promo bonus. UNBELIEVABLE deal. The promos change month to month. Varano's, up the street, is their sister restaurant; which is also in the rewards program. We liked the ample parking (summers can be a pain, I'm sure). Billy's has great views. It over looks the ocean inlet and the Rachel Carson Wildlife Preserve. Service was awesome. We had Nicky/Nicki. She was efficient, polite and accommodating. Waters and complimentary homemade potato chips were dropped off when taking our order. So far so good at Billy's. THE BILLY BURGER $11 (4.5/5) My partner doesn't eat any seafood. So, he chose a burger instead of chicken. He LOVED it. He said the bacon onion relish was DELICIOUS. Very addictive to eat. Burgers comes with a side of fries, rice pilaf or cole slaw. He opted for the latter. We both thought the slaw was tasty and freshly made. One of the best slaws EVER. FRIED WHOLE BELLY CLAMS (Regular size) $24 (4/5) I was dying for whole belly clams. I'm glad I ordered them. They were breaded and cooked perfectly. Very tender MEATY clams. I ordered the cole slaw as my side. Again, great flavor and fresh. (I did order the regular size portion but was disappointed at how much I got for what I paid.) BREADED HAND CUT ONION RINGS $7.50 (4.5/5) O rings were very scrumptious. They were thick cut and very crunchy. Freshly made too. Billy's has a full bar including beers on tap. They serve brews that are made locally as well. Drinks are reasonably priced. Our only gripe is they're a bit pricey with the food. Overall this visit to Billy's is a 4.5 STAR review. Would definitely be back.
(4)Daniel W.
My wife and I had dinner here in February 2015. We shared lobster stew, clam chowder, a large salad and the seafood sampler. The portions were large, the food very well prepared, the service excellent, and the atmosphere on a cold winter night warm and friendly.
(5)Seth T.
I ordered a cup of clam chowder & Caesar salad. The chowder had whole belle clams & a nice broth. The salad had the right amount of dressing. I had there brewed iced tea which was perfect, not to strong or week. For the main course Seafood sampler which I highly recommend.
(4)Matthew K.
Came here as a kid and always have loved it. This place is one of the reasons I love seafood. It's good food, right near the ocean, with good service, and a decent price. What more do you need? The haddock chowder is my favorite item on the menu and my favorite chowder in New England. You can't go wrong really. It's packed in the summer so plan I wait but you'll be glad you did.
(5)Lucy W.
Not sure why so many people reviewed Billy's Chowder House so harshly...I had a great meal sitting at the bar, watching sunset from windows on 3 sides of the restaurant. Basically I was surrounded by water, sunset and clams...I was in heaven. Not to mention the TVs mounted on the wall, showing US Open tennis and a Red Sox Yankees game...it was beyond heaven. I guess during summer, it can probably get crowded and service may not be as attentive, but I had no problems at all. The bartenders are quick, efficient, and rock great New England accents. They know the regulars by name, and their banter creates a warm atmosphere. I had a great local beer to start (a recommendation from the bartender she called "summah ale"), and dived right into the bucket of clams. Having missed out on having great steamers for the last few years while living in Atlanta, the clams were exactly what I was looking for...plump, huge, clean, simply steamed, delicious! Two containers of melted butter accompanied, even though the clams didn't really need it. would have like a container of boiled clam water instead, even though the clams were perfectly cleaned...there was not a spec of sand at all in the entire bucket of clams. Clam chowder (yeah, I couldn't get enough of clams) was delicious and simple...no overly floured base, or weird herbs or spices...just simple creamy clam chowder. As always I don't like as many potatoes, and would rather have more clams, but who wouldn't? Menu is pretty extensive, but of course, the star is the seafood...get it simple and steamed, and you shouldn't have any issues. Parking situation is tricky...they have a small lot that gets full fast, and there are no overflow or surrounding lots because the restaurant is on its own surrounded by marsh. I luckily snagged one of the last spots, but not sure I would have been able to wait if it had been full.
(4)Barry B.
I very much enjoyed Billy's Clam Chowda'. Creamy but not overly heavy, with the perfect amount of butter and clams. I also enjoy the baked stuffed shrimp and haddock as well. Stuffing is very flavorful and well seasoned, with a perfect ratio of stuffing to seafood. The atmosphere is very nice, Billy's is a place we can enjoy with our children and without! Servers are prompt and attentive! Plus you can't beat the view.
(5)Jessica W.
Very friendly service and good food. Even on a busy night the wait isn't too bad and our waiter worked very hard. I suggest eating in the lounge area with the bar during sunset for a fantastic view. Great local restaurant!
(4)Devyn L.
I had gone here with my family on a hickey trip back when I was a kid. Me and my girlfriend were on vacation in Wells, Maine and the night we arrived at 6pm on 6/17/15 for dinner. The chowder was amazing and my lobster mac and cheese was fantastic and my girlfriends swordfish was cooked perfectly. The desserts were not that good. My girlfriend got strawberry shortcake and I got blueberry cobbler. The biscuits in the desserts needed more sugar. I never thought I'd say that about a dessert but I am a stickler for a good dessert and the dessert was just not that good. Our waitress also seemed a little antsy and slightly rude in how she took care of us and in the tone she talked to us. All in all the food was good and the dessert was not. We will come back if we are ever in the area again.
(3)Judith B.
Sorry haddock dinner x3 people in the same party no taste. 0. Green beans that came with it were great. Should've had just them,
(1)Rick F.
I went for lunch. Was dying for a fried clam roll. When I'm planning to be bad, I want perfection. The clams were very close to worth falling off the wagon for. They were large, sweet and tender. The crispness on the batter was just right and there was a hint of spice, maybe cinamon. If they were a little hotter, I would have given 5 stars. I also got a bowl of the fish chowder. Excellent. The waitress was great. Nice selection of draft beers. Beautiful location. Try it!
(4)LouAnne D.
Went for a ride to Maine today. We wanted a great lobster roll with a view! After a hike at Wells Refuge Center we used the app: around me, to find a good restaurant. Billy's came up with lots of good reviews so we Wazed it to there. Nice bar, restaurant, looked busy at 4:00pm on Friday. Couldn't get a seat at the bar which was filled with local seniors! We sat at a table in the bar area. I ordered haddock chowder, my husband got clam chowder. Both were more like soup. Very watery. No taste. So we also ordered a Jr lobster roll, and a scallop roll. Greasy. Scallop roll was about 6 scallops, muscle was still attached, yuk for 17.00! Lobster roll was very small and just blah. Fries on both plates were frozen bag type. Waitress Christi was very nice and attentive! We would never go back.
(1)Rebecca D.
This place is completely awful. After calmly waiting in the bar area for 25 minutes, we were finally seated. My sister in law then ordered a house red, the waitress looked at her like she had no idea what that was. She came back 5 minutes later and said that she could not serve us. We were utterly confused and asked to speak to the manager. The manager came over, completely unprofessional looking, told us "I can't override the server, what she says goes." After a little more questioning, the waitress essentially threw the manager under the bus and the manager then threw the waitress under the bus. For politeness we'll leave out names. We thought about ignoring the ridiculousness and staying to eat but just could not. It just did not make sense. We have stayed away from this place after 20 years, gave it a one night chance after all this time and have been completely blown away by the incompetency. We're honestly in awe, avoid this place like the plague.
(1)Amanda R.
Place was pretty good. I ended up getting the bucket of clams. One pound was perfect for one person. For a drink I got the Riptide Martini it was not so good. Very fruity. Food took a little while to get.
(3)Lynn B.
Had the best lunch today at Billy's! I went with my friend Janat who had never been. It's now one of her favorite restaurants. We started out with steaming bowls of clam chowder and chowder crackers, sitting out in the side porch overlooking the salt marshes. The chowder was hot and clamalicious and creamy good and the crunchy salty goodness of the oyster crackers were a great accompaniment. Janat then ordered a side of fried clams and I got a big bowl of garlicky mussels in a lemony wine broth and a baked potato with sour cream. Since I'm a Billy's card member I got a generous discount off the bill because I'd just had a birthday. Ask the staff for details. It was so relaxing sitting there looking out at the water and makes me so excited for spring and summer! Check out my pics!
(5)Sal O.
This has been a Wells landmark for years. The food is pretty good and the prices are reasonable. I tried the Lobster Mac & Cheese, very good! Cheese was not to overpowering and had some nice chunks of lobster. The fried seafood is also very good. Portion sizes are a pretty good size. My only complaint is that it can be very loud. It's sometimes hard too hear the person talking at the table with you. Nice views of the ocean as well.
(4)Dan C.
Dirty napkins and silverware. Green carpet with matching tables circa 1979. Ewwwww..won't be back.
(1)Roland P.
Best seafood we found during our week in the area. Simple very old fashioned but comfortable place with terrific clams and good haddock.
(4)John D.
The waitress accurately guided n intense foodie (me!) through the menu to make the best possible choices I'm SO sorry I can't rememer my wonderful waitress' name but she thanked me "for being my salesman" because I passed all of her wonderful reccomendations on to a family at a nearby table!. The clam chowder with the full belly clams was the best I had in all of Maine. The (GENEROUS) side order of fried full belly clams was spectacular. I highly reccomend the "Lazy Man's Lobster"....pure, sweet, (no work) as simple as fresh local perfection gets. I glanced, but couldn't even consider the homemade desserts. Perhaps next time.
(5)Rich E.
Perfect service and great atmosphere as always. BUT what did you do to the clam chowder?????from one of the best to one id never order again. Flavorless broth and mahogany clams that were like chewing through leather. Disappointed!!!!
(3)Jay V.
This place is phenomenal ! Had the lobster stew it was mind blowing . If only it was just a bit bigger. But was satisfying. Because of that I also had the Billy burger which was also tasteful. The soup can be a light the bit deceiving on portion. It almost fills you up.
(4)