Billy's Boston Chowder House

Billy's is absolutely the best place to get New England clam chowder. In fact, any clam dish here is 100% hands down the best! Its been a family tradition for years, sadly we camp at OOB these days. It's a drive... but worth it!!

I had the seafood stuffed haddock, and it was incredible. Out waitress was lovely, very informative. My husband has celiacs and they do have a menu for allergies.

Driving around Maine to take in the sites and stopped at the chowder house for a late lunch. Staff was really nice and friendly. This place has big servings but don't expect them to display it fancy. The meals are very filling! I have never had swordfish. I thought it tasted great!! I have nothing to compare it to but the portion was huge and it was just amazing! I have to say that I was not happy with the clam chowder. I thought chowder was supposed to be thicker but maybe in Maine it's not? It was really thin like soup thin. And you can tell in the picture that there was a layer of butter right on top that had to be mixed in. The clam chowder did have good flavor I was just kind of hoping it was going to be thicker. If anyone from Maine reads this and I am wrong I do apologize! I'm from Alaska and I'm used to clam chowder being a lot thicker than at this restaurant. The calamari was good, the stuffed mushrooms were nice too. My daughter got the seafood platter that came with stuffed shrimp, scallops and haddock and all of it had great flavor! Also they have a big menu with lots of selections! There is also many nonseafood options if seafood is not a thing for you. But I went there as a tourist to stuff myself with seafood. And this chowder house did not disappoint! ☺️

loved the food, service, and vibe of this restaurant! my friend and i were impressed with our order, the prices, location, and service. i came to this spot many years ago (i think under different ownership) and was incredibly disappointed, so a little nervous to return. i can now say this is my new favorite seafood spot in wells!

Friends had recommended this place, so we checked it out. I got the seafood stew and onion rings—both were really good. My son had the baked haddock and was a big fan. The service was friendly, and the location has a nice vibe. Overall, a solid spot. We’ll be back.

The parking lot is intimidating but there’s plenty of room. Loved Billy’s during my visit to Maine and was not disappointed. Haddock, lobster and salmon were all amazing and fresh. Chowdah was also a recommendation I was not upset trying. It may take a few minutes to get your food, remember it’s not Donald’s.. Have a few drinks and enjoy the beach life!

This is my kinda place. A real traditional Maine restaurant with knotty pine walls and beautiful views of the salt marsh. I started with a cup of clam chowder which was excellent - not too heavy, but, buttery and full of clam chunks. Delicious! For my entree I had the trio sampler which was just right - salmon, swordfish and scallops, and baked potato and coleslaw. Washed it down with a Coors light. So good! I would come back again for sure!

We lucked out to catch a delectable meal at this unique spot on a scenic road in between two marshes. Upon entering we were able to sit by the fireplace. Drinks were good, service was excellent. My family loved the lobster they ordered. I enjoyed my seafood combo. I would love to go there again during the day to see the view. But the ambiance was cozy, warm & welcoming in the evening.

Absolutely some of the best seafood we have had since we've been here in Maine! I highly recommend a visit. Our server Katie was FANTASTIC! We will be back

I've been coming here for 30 years. They haven't lost a step. Calamari was fantastic. The Fried Shrimp and Scallops were super fresh and delicious. You won't be disappointed.

After driving by Billy’s numerous times during out stay, we finally decided to dine here on our last night. The parking lot was always packed, and since we went in the offseason, I figured the locals knew what they were talking about. And yeah, they were right. Billy’s is a must visit when in Wells for a relaxing meal in a casual atmosphere with a great view of the marsh. We got there about 45 minutes before the restaurant closed, and there were still quite a few tables seated. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. The food came out quickly and the drink refills were plentiful. We ordered the broiled scallops with baked potato and coleslaw and the steak with vegetables (green beans) and baked potato. It comes with bread which we did have to ask for it, but it was delicious! We were pleasantly surprised by how many scallops were in the entrée. They were very fresh and the seasoning was light and tasty. The coleslaw was good and the green beans were some of the best I’ve had at a restaurant. The baked potatoes were delicious. The steak was cooked a perfect medium, as I requested, with very little fat. It wasn’t too charred and the flavor was delicious. Overall, it was a great last meal and we were very happy with the portions, pricing, and staff. We’re looking forward to visiting Wells again and coming back to Billy’s.

Revised July 7 2024 Just as good as every other time we’ve been-will continue our traditions ❤️ Last time I was home in the area, got a seafood platter takeout for my husband- he thoroughly enjoyed it- I’ve been coming here since I was a little girl. Even though the food is good, I’ll always visit this little chowder house when I’m in the area; it reminds me of beach trips with my gram and all the fun we used to have; this chowder house holds a lot of memories for a lot of people; come for the food and come back with your rose colored glasses, remember good times and loved ones and feel the salt on your skin and the sand in your shoes and just enjoy being in the moment while remembering the past-

My husband and I went in around 7pm on Friday night and were seated immediately. We loved the water view from our table! Our server was prompt with everything. The haddock sandwiches were great and the green beans were the absolute best either of us had ever had! Very pleased. If we happen to vacation near Wells ever again, we would certainly go back.

Best Seafood in Moody Beach! The lazy man's lobster was delicious and the broiled Haddock was mild, flaky and melted in your mouth like butter. Be sure to try their signature seafood and clam chowder. Loved their $1 per shrimp cocktail special with a dollop of extra horseradish so you can season to your own taste!

This is my favorite place in the area. Generous portions, amazing seafood, and wonderful non-seafood options, too! I love the lobster stew, and the blueberry pie is a perfect dessert to go with it. When I'm feeling extra hungry, I'll get a baked potato and some shrimp, as well. You really can't go wrong here. We love to sit at a table in the bar area and look out at the marsh - so peaceful!

I came for the seafood but left with a bellyful of delicious corned beef. "Why would you go to a seafood restaurant and order a corned beef sandwich?" you might ask. Well, I travel a lot for work, and when I spot a Reuben sandwich on the menu (my favorite sandwich of all time), I am compelled to order it. Not many restaurants list this 100-year-old sandwich recipe, and of those that do, unfortunately there aren't many that get it right. But to Billy's credit, they served me the best reuben sandwich I have had in a long, long time. In fact, I can't remember the last time I have had such a classically assembled, and well-executed reuben. In theory it's not a complicated sandwich; containing corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing. All layered on buttery, toasted, slices of marbled-rye. Billy's nailed the components, and didn't overdress the sandwich with any one ingredient. Billy's reuben-making contemporaries overcomplicate this sandwich— whether by over-saucing, over-stuffing, or meddling with the understated, time-tested basics. Billy's didn't, and it's for that reason that I am hereby referring to this establishment as Billy's Reuben House, standard bearer of the corned beef sammy.

Love this location, though the weather didn't do it justice the day I was there. I was traveling with my dogs and ordered takeaway to eat in the car. I got chowder, fried full belly clams, blueberry pie and blueberry ice cream. Everything was delicious, including what seemed to be homemade tartar sauce and cocktail sauce. Highly recommend. The staff was wonderful.

Honestly a 10/10 restaurant. Starting off with the oysters they came out looking juicy and spectacular as ever. They were extremely fresh and were most likely caught today. The large lobster roll was exactly as you would want it. Light mayo toss with chunky parts of all the lobster. Finally the clam chowder was phenomenal. Thin broth which is controversial but better than thick broth in chowders with tons of clams and potatoes packed in the cup. I was very surprised with how good it was and had to leave a review! Edit: I forgot to add this restaurant passes the pickle test.

What an awesome place for food! Only negative comment would be the price of their Lobster Roll at 39$ VS the cost at other local places is much higher. All other dishes were decently priced. I recommend, food was very tasty

Great serve at the bar from Kim. Beautiful views of the marsh, lots of sea birds. The food was delicious. I ordered a small whole bellied clams plate. My friend ordered the scallops. Came out fast, hot and fresh. It was my 2nd visit. I like it so much I became a member to recieve promos and discounts. I will become a regular. Oh yes, I had a Maine lunch beer...my favorite. Highly recommend. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Had dinner at this restaurant for the first time during our vacation in Maine. Location: easy to find on Miles Rd. Food: absolutely delicious, fantastic and the cocktails are perfect too. Service: Staff very friendly and welcoming. We were seated in less time than the wait time we were given. Server: Our Server was Jannelle and she was fabulous, very friendly, efficient, friendly and polite. We dined at this restaurant again tonight (10/16/21), great restaurant. We decided to sit at the bar, enjoyed another delicious meal and cocktails, our Bartender Eileen was fabulous. This restaurant is a MUST if you’re in the Wells, ME area. Should we visit this state again on vacation, we will definitely stop by this restaurant again. Highly, highly recommend this restaurant!!!

Dinner this evening was excellent, Samantha was our server. She was kind, attentive, and cheerful. The fish and chips, stuffed baked lobster and fried clam strips were all delicious. We definitely will come back again.

We have dined here at least 20 times since they opened. We are 5 hours away. When we travel to Maine, we stop here. The service is always outstanding. We came twice last week and Stephanie was great. Everything we have craved over the last year was terrific! Chowder, steamers, lobster, haddock! Plus, the best cold pilsner on tap. We hope to be back!!

Three kinds of delicious gluten free chowder--clam, haddock and seafood. I had the seafood chowder and it was awesome. It had lots of big chunks of lobster. They also have nice salads with homemade dressing. And our waitress was so helpful and friendly with my kids. My husband thought his steak was average. The lesson here to to get the chowder.

A terrific dining experience. From the location to the service to the food, Billy's Chowder House delivers it all. We had clam chowder and the fried fish sandwich. Both were awesome and I'd recommend both to anyone. Leslie, our waitress, was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the visit an even better experience. Although we live over 2 hours away, we will most certainly be back in the future.

A must visit if you are in Wells. Service was great. I visited once for lunch and once for dinner. The beer battered fish and chips were delicious. I had the lobster dinner the following night and it was perfect. Beautiful view of the marsh. Very cute atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Had a gift card to use so we thought to try it out! Since I hadn't been before I had to try the clam chowder and fish and chips as my litmus test. Having tried dozens of chowders in my life I'll admit to being a self proclaimed snob about it. This chowder is a 2/5 ~at best~. I found the flavor to be superficial, and the texture more of a watered broth than creamy chowder. The clam was minced and little of it, but the potatoes were well done and bite sized. The fish and chips was much better! 4/5 with a light breading and dense but moist filet. The fries were mostly done to taste (I asked for extra crispy) and my wife's broiled seafood sampler was also very good. Overall value was lacking. Similar restaurants in york/Kittery I feel offer equally good food at more reasonable prices. Fried calamari alone is $18 and most entries are $20+. For two people with a soup salad and entry was $75 inc tax. I doubt I'll return.

This place was recommended to me, and I really liked it. I got there just as it opened, but it seemed like people were already inside eating. They have lots of seating, including at the bar. They sat me next to the window, so I had a nice view of the water. The drink selection was great, as were the food options. I tried the guava passion fruit cider, which was delicious! Then I got a cup of their famous clam chowder, a couple of oysters (Buck-a-Shuck Wednesdays) and their shrimp scampi, with a side of green beans. Everything was so good, and the service was great too. Definitely recommend if you're in the area.

The food was ok with large portions. Service was excellent and the views across the salt marshes are wonderful, positioned less than half a mile to Wells beach. In early April, the restaurant was about half full at lunchtime, but I'd expect it would be very busy during the tourist months.

Visiting from Dallas, TX. We decided to stop in for a bite to eat before heading back to Boston. The service was courteous and prompt. The Fried Calamari appetizer was well cooked, not rubbery. The Lobster Mac N Cheese had a good portion of Lobster but the cheese sauce needed more salt. The baked seafood sampler was well-seasoned and cooked to perfection. For dessert, we enjoyed a Blueberry pie with ice cream. Overall we enjoyed the visit and would recommend it to anyone.

Food is good but could be better. Service was ok. Atmosphere is ok but I gets way too hot inside. Don’t get fooled by the offers you see on their website as you have to be a member of their rewards program to be able to receive any offer. The food is good but their chowders are definetly overpriced.

Billys's is a very pleasant place in a fantastic location. We had a few minor issues - they were out of the one beer that a person in our party really wanted to try, I was told 'no substitutions' when I asked if I could pay extra for onion rings instead of fries with my sandwich - I don't really consider it a substitution when you volunteer to pay more to get something else that's listed on the menu. Anyhow, what we had was quite good. A few more non-fried options would be nice, especially since the baked seafood that they do offer is so good.

We went here when we were on vacation in Wells. Their chowders are delicious. They have won many awards for their chowders. Their food is excellent and the fish is very fresh and everything is cooked to order. We ate there twice that's how much we enjoyed their food, service and atmosphere. I would suggest going after 7:00 p.m. to eliminate a long wait. Extremely busy during the summer months. Going in late September, October is not as busy and you don't have to deal with the crowds or wait times. Highly recommend if you are in this area. You won't be disappointed!!

We were on a trip from Boston to Wells for my wife's marathon and since my in-laws love seafood, we stopped at this really famous place to enjoy some seafood. Here is a review of my experience here: The place was brimming with people and luckily there was only 1 parking space left. 1) Ambiance 3.5/5: The place looks like an old shack and looks like a hole-in-the-wall place from the outside. The place maybe was going for an old wooden deck-like look. I was not a fan of the decor but the place was packed with both tourists and locals 2) Service 3.5/5: There was a 20-minute wait when we reached there. The service was good but slow and I have seafood allergy and the server wasn't able to help me with my questions. Some of the questions confused him about the options available and he had to frequently go back to the chef to clarify. I understand that this is a seafood restaurant but if there is a person with a seafood allergy, they might have a difficult time here especially if they are vegetarian. 3) We had a few things and here is the summary of our experience: a) Clam chowder: My in-laws liked it but my wife was not a fan. It is bland b) Lobster roll: The lobster roll was good but costly c) Shrimp cocktail: The shrimp cocktail tasted alright but the sauce with it was spicy. d) My inlaws ordered a Gin that had Lavendar and raspberry I believe but it was so bad that they left it untouched after a sip e) Baked Haddock: I had a haddock with green beans and mashed potatoes. This is the blandest fish dish I have ever had. I felt like it was just boiled and served 4) Value for Money 3/5: This place is not cheap which I understand for seafood places but we were in Maine where lobsters should be cheap and specially with the decor, aesthetic and taste, I felt the place was pricey. Overall, I probably would skip this unless you really want to eat seafood and don't have any other option The good: 1) The view 2) Come here for lobster rolls and clam chowder if you are a fan The bad: 1) Very costly for the taste and vibe 2) Overrated in my opinion 3) Limited options in case you are allergic to seafood and almost none if you are vegetarian or vegan

We came here for Valentines Day off a recommendation of a coworker. We travelled 2 hours north to come explore Wells and visit the area. We stopped in here around 2 pm and the place was fairly busy. Our server came over provided water and poor thing was sweaty and out of breath. Told us she was really busy and would be back to take our order. No problems there. We ordered and food took a while to come to the table. We both got the clam chowder and he ordered the fish bites and I ordered the fish and chips. The haddock was very good and the fish bites were seasoned with Panko. They tasted way better than my fish and I preferred the haddock bites. The clam chowder was not to my taste and was more like soup than a thick creamy New England typical chowder. The flavor was good but it all pooled to the bottom and not what I expected. Not terrible and it seems to be what people expect. The only real issues I had with the establishment is the fork. I sliced my mouth open at the corner and began bleeding because the forks had razor sharp edges. I informed my server who said she threw it out and must’ve been because they just purchased new cutlery. I was turned off after the taste of blood and seafood just don’t mix.

Ok I admittedly have not had many lobster rolls (except for ones I’ve cooked myself) but these leave a lot to be desired. For me the lobster rolls almost tasted like they were prepared with old, sour mayo. They actually had an “after taste”. They were also lacking any substantial flavor. No butter flavor and no spices at all. They were just “bland”. I am not a fan of these lobster rolls whatsoever. We ordered coconut margaritas too. The first round had no coconut flavor at all. So we talked with the waitress who got us a second round with extra coconut shots. It tasted better but was predominantly triple sec and reminded of a plain old margarita. I think 3 stars for this food review is “pushing it” but since I’ve not had many lobster rolls, I went by a couple of reviews that said these were the best lobster rolls in town. Do these reviewers even have taste buds?? Hind sight being 20/20 I would choose another place for lobster rolls. I will say that the bacon wrapped sea scallops were good. But there are not many ways to mess up an appetizer like bacon wrapped sea scallops. Maine is the lobster capital of the world and I am not losing hope in finding g the perfect lobster roll. I will try both the cold ones and hot ones, and hopefully I will find the holy grail of lobster rolls during this visit.

Nice views, friendly staff and good service. Quick stop for lunch and their award winning clam chowder. I was shocked by the salad prices. They seemed awfully high and I didn't even add protein because I had a cup of chowder. Which was good but I enjoy thicker chowder and wish it had more clams in it and potatoes.

We stopped here looking for a quick lunch. Menu was posted on the wall out front. “23.99 for a clam roll, that’s within reason” we said. Wrong assumption. “Want fries with that?” Of course. How about onion rings instead on one order. They are offered as a side. Small chowder as well. To make a short story long two $24 clam rolls ended up costing $150 after sides soft drinks and tip. Yeah the food was good, nothing to go “wow” about but good nevertheless, service was quick and cordial, but whoa, I get itchy just thinking about the shellacking we got even a month later. There are better choices out there for the money.

Unfortunately this time at Billy's Chowder we were disappointed 😞. My husband got the fish and chips and the fish was 1 step up from vandecamps frozen fish. I have a gluten allergy and got the baked haddock with rice and green beans. Unfortunately the haddock was watery and had very little flavor, the green beans were the best! Not sure if we would go back, not worth the money.

I came here due to reviews but would not recommend or ever go back. If you enjoy lack of any flavor, this may be your place. Chowder was watery and had absolutely no flavor. Came out boiling hot. Salad was the best thing I had during the meal. Seafood sampler was awful, just awful. Seafood “stuffing” was just cornbread stuffing with nothing else in it. Haddock and shrimp were horribly overcooked (the shrimp was beyond hard.) Staff was somewhat attentive but doesn’t make up for the awful food. I would never recommend this place to anyone looking for a good meal