My husband and I have been on a road trip (for the last two weeks) of Canada and we have had a lot of fish and cole slaw on this trip. Susan's fish-n-chips was the best. I had the fried haddock with fries and cole slaw. Let me start by saying the cole slaw was the best slaw I have ever had. I could have eaten a huge bowl of it. The fish wasn't greasy like most fried fish is. It was wonderfully flaky and delicious. My husband has the fried clam strips, potato salad and cole slaw. The clam strips were tender and fantastic unlike most clam strips that get over cooked and chewy. The potato salad was creamy and wonderful. Oh and the tarter sauce it was so good. You can tell they make it them selves. This was everything we wanted in a fried fish place.
(5)
Cabernet S.
Wow, a hidden gem. Definitely worth the trip here. It as authentic as you're going to get if you want some homestyle seafood. Its like you can smell the faint smell of the sea when you walk in here. The chowder is sublime and not too heavy. The fish and chips are divine. The fish is flaky and fresh and the chips are hot. It's the quintessential Maine seafood experience. The service is also great and the staff is friendly. Didn't try the lobster roll or anything else, but I have no reason to believe it won't be great. Will be back next time.
(5)
Matt M.
Best fried seafood in Portland, if you don't mind eating in an old muffler shop... This is a local gem. The secret special is the Tuesday Fish-burger ---2 for $2.50 !
(5)
Lia A.
My partner and I tried Susan's while vacationing in Portland. We arrived on a very rainy weekday after several other places that we tried were closed. The outside doesn't look like much, but the food and staff is great. The clam chowder was better than the chowder we tried on the Cape. The lobster roll had large chunks of lobster and was excellent. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The decor is interesting and gives you a lot to talk about and look at. It was also inexpensive considering what you got, which is definitely a plus!
(5)
Jori M.
It's exactly as it's billed. Fish and chips and other (mostly) fried seafood items that are delish! We had a lobster roll, clam strips roll, clam chowder and clam strips. All food was gone by the end of the meal. No frills decor and bus your own tables. Even had a little table full of kid toys and coloring books. Coming back again for sure.
(5)
Jade A.
Let me begin by saying that I rarely, if ever, post online restaurant reviews, but this was so bad that I felt compelled to warn others. I have eaten here once before and was relatively unimpressed, but had a hankering for scallops this evening and didn't want to go far from home...so, for lack of a more convenient option, decided to give Susan's the benefit of the doubt. Bad idea. First of all, everything everyone has said about the decor is true...it is a rather sketchy looking joint, but sometimes you find the most delicious food at less than attractive places, so whatever. Now the claims others have made about this place serving fresh and fabulous fried seafood, I vehemently disagree with. Quick yes, edible no. I am no fried seafood novice, having grown up on the coast of Maine (perhaps I was spoiled by tasty fried seafood places in the midcoast region?), and can assure you that these scallops were neither fresh nor properly cooked...we threw 3/4 of our $20 worth of scallops away. In short, they were rubbery, totally overcooked (almost to the point of burnt...yet soggy and losing their breading due to the excessive grease) and tasted more like old, dirty oil than scallops. GROSS. As an added bonus, the one container of scallops was enough to make my entire house smell like the dregs of a 100 year old fryolator. Because it was Tuesday, we also ordered the 2 for $2.50 fish (cod...probably frozen from the taste of it) sandwiches, 'cuz why not. I am glad that we did because (and I am completely mystified by this) they were more edible than the scallops. My suggestion - go elsewhere...or if you must go here, go on a Tuesday and stick with the 2 for $2.50 fish sandwiches...save some money and your taste buds. Yuck.
(1)
Imo M.
Local dive that offers exactly what the sign says: Fish-n-Chips. Have to hand it to them, though, the fish is fresh and very, very good. It is freshly breaded (as you order it), and flash fried to perfection. Portions are HUGE, so order with caution. It's definitely a good dinner place. Although, I wish I'd gone a bit earlier to not feel bad about eating fried fish so late. Try the scallops and haddock nuggets. The clam chowder was a bit weak, but the rest of the fish made up for it.
(4)
Tina A.
Stopped here for dinner on Friday because I was really in the mood for clam chowder. My husband and I ordered soup, a lobster roll and fish & chips. The soup was served warm and was cold in spots before we stirred it. Sadly, the fried fish was bland, but good portions. The tartar sauce was served in a mason jar which was cute, I think, but there was barely any relish in it at all and I didn't enjoy it much. The lobster roll was probably 4 stars so I would recommend that if you've visiting here. Aside from that, the service was good.
(3)
Harry P.
Always go there when in town for the scallops. Very fresh and lightly breaded, almost melt in your mouth. Fish & chips with vinegar is also good. Rustic, seafaring old decor, not upscale, but go for very good local fried seafood. Don't know if Mondays are still twofer fish sandwiches or not. Harry in Virginia Park on the side street
(4)
Jennie L.
Excellent fish burger special Mon & Tues- plus you've got to try the fried veggies-they are delicious! I wish I hadn't waited so long to try such a great fish shack-the food is top notch and very nice people too.
(5)
Mike K.
I was in Portland for the weekend and had to try a cool local place for seafood. I found Susan's right here on yelp.com , and was pretty pleased overall with this place. The location is not exactly walking distance from downtown. I suppose if you were feeling super energetic but the reality is it's a good 2 miles away, and there's not much else around the restaurant in the way of shopping. The place is an old garage, and is set up with picnic tables and a wall of booths on one side of the restaurant. It is order at the counter, and they bring your food to your table. The server was pretty friendly, and the food came out fast and hot. I ordered a plate of fried clams. The clams came with fries and a really delicious cole slaw. I mean the cole slaw was really good. The made from scratch tartar sauce was great with the clams. In fact, if they put a "Susan's Fish and Chips" label on the jar, they could sell the stuff. The fried clams plate was a very reasonable $11.99 plus a soda. My daughter had the chicken nuggets/fries as she doesn't like seafood. She was happy with her choice. It was a fun experience, and when in Portland I will drop in again. It should also be noted that Susan's seemed to be more of a locals type establishment, and not full of tourists which is a plus.
(3)
Rick G.
We found this place while in Portland on a business trip. I must admit we would not have stopped in had it not been for the ratings on Yelp. We had the fish and scallops for lunch and we stopped back by for chowder and lobster roll for takeout later the same day. All was delicious and coleslaw is a must
(5)
Yu W.
My ME-native friend told me this place. It is not like any other dinning place I have been. We got their 2 min before they close, and they serve us very nicely. The lobster roll is very tasty and the frys are even better
(5)
Monty E.
Delicious and and great seafood!
(5)
Janelle C.
Susan's is a local place, serving up fresh, perfectly fried seafood to local people. I stopped in for lunch after a grad school interview looking for an authentic seafood experience and wasn't disappointed. Expect moderately friendly service, communal tables, a mason jar of tartar sauce with every order, and perfectly cooked fried seafood. I had fish 'n chips and corn shrimp chowder, both were outstanding.
(5)
Katherine F.
Can't say I was very impressed by Susan's. I really wanted to be, since I had heard and read good things about the place, but my meal was subpar. I called in a takeout order since I was in a hurry and got a lobster roll and cup of clam chowder. When I drove up to the restaurant there was no place to park in the tiny lot so I had to park my car in the gas station across the street and then bolt across Forest Ave. Now since I ordered takeout all I can review is the food and not the dine-in experience, but Susan's lobster roll just didn't do it for me. The lobster meat was dry and there wasn't much of it. The bread tasted stale and didn't have that crispness you get from fresh rolls that have been buttered and grilled. This bread had been lightly grilled but that didn't get rid of the stale taste. Underneath the lobster meat was a flimsy piece of lettuce, which I don't care for in a lobster roll since I don't think it adds anything to the dish. Overall I was pretty disappointed in the roll. At least I didn't pay an astronomical price for it like some other places- Susan's lobster roll is only $10.99 I will say that the clam chowder I had was very tasty. It was thick and creamy the way a chowder should be and had plenty of potatoes and clams. If I come back to Susan's I'll definitely order it again and would consider trying some of their fried seafood like scallops or clam strips. If you're looking for a Maine lobster roll, I think you can do better than Susan's but I'm going to give the place another try and see if I like some of their other dishes better.
(3)
Joseph P.
Don't get sucked into eating in the Old Port for really good seafood. Yes Susan's in an old gas station but damn she makes so great fresh fish plus it's cheap! I guarantee you will pay twice as much if you eat in the Old Port or a long the coast. yes it's basic fried fish, rolls, and soup but it's made great. For $20 I believe my girlfriend and I shared the seafood platter and we got a mound of fish and fries. You get a whole jar of tartar sauce lol. The decor is cheesy and looks like time has taken it's toll on it but still the place has a great home/dive like feeling. Our food wasn't late in my eyes but I think the people saw we were hungry and assured us it was on its was and that they were sorry. Even though it's fast food of sorts they bring the food over. Overall you can't go wrong with the freshness (you watch them bread/flour the fish), price, and taste. I used to go here as a kid and when I went to USM for a semester now that I live in NYC I always can't wait to go home to Susan's!
(5)
Zachary S.
2 for $2.50 fish sandwich Tuesdays?! Somebody slap me. I have died and have gone to fried fish sandwich heaven. Can't complain, really! Nice homemade drinks, great seafood prices, and a great value! Definitely one of my favorite seafood shacks here in Portland. No question!
(4)
Lili W.
If you're looking for a no-frills dining experience with great food and service, this place is it. I'm really picky when it comes to eating out--going to culinary school and majoring in hotel administration set my bar really high for restaurants--and Susan's hit all the right spots. I went with two other friends there for lunch one day. We got the seafood platter for two and a lobster roll. The seafood platter came with a whole plate piled high with fried shrimp, scallops, oysters, and haddock, two cups of clam chowder, and two sides. Between the three of us, we couldn't finish the seafood platter and lobster roll--there was so much food. The staff was friendly and efficient. And the fried seafood was some of the freshest seafood I've had. Thinking about those fried scallops is making my mouth water now. Usually, restaurants use seafood of dubious quality in their fried items since they can use the batter and over-fry the food to "hide" the quality of the seafood. But Susan's uses only a light batter on their seafood and cooks the seafood perfectly done so you can taste the freshness of the oysters, scallops, haddock, etc in every bite. And since everything's done in an open kitchen, you're pretty much guaranteed your food will be clean, since you can see everything they're doing. I'd definitely recommend checking this place out if you're in the Portland area.
(5)
Christine W.
If you visit Portland, ME you have to visit Susan's Fish-n-Chips! This is the kind of restaurant that I wanted to go to when I'm in Maine. It doesn't have fancy store front, no waiter, it's just your good old Maine comfort, chowdah and fried seafood!! We visited there twice within our 4-day stay in Portland. Everything was so inexpensive and you definitely get your money's worth eating there! I would go back in a heartbeat!
(4)
Kathryn N.
Hey, this is just a simply honest review. Move on in your search for a restaurant to quench your general hunger or your seafood craving. Dirty. Service, um can you say decisively not enthusiastic, blank stare, yes all the amazing qualities that make you enjoy the experience of spending your money. Just getting out of a long day at school and wanting some good eats, say calamari, yum! To the most important point, we can all get over poor service, but the food is nothing to note, boring to say the very least. To top that, the quantity we were supposed to have received in our order of a quart of calamari, was half that when we opened it up, and the price we paid would have been reasonable, but paying $15 for an order that was only half of what it should be and with substandard taste, blah; it also resonates strongly of dishonesty. Continue your search my friends.
(2)
Saori I.
I love the lobster roll and clam chowder!!! They both had huge chunks of lobsters and clams. Glad that my friend and I came here on our road trip in Maine. We came here twice and the person who owns this place remember our faces!! I'm definitely going back.
(5)
Koonz O.
I would give it a zero star if I could. How could a local Maine joint screw up on SEAFOOD. Nothing was fresh at this joint. Lobster roll tasted like plastic. The batter they use for the fishermans platter was not fresh. They use mini scallops mixed with maybe a few big sized ones. The fish was gross. I spat mine out as soon as I took a bite. It's a complete drab. From food they serve to the atmosphere. If you want to eat rubber, go ahead. Knock yourself out.
(1)
Jacob P.
Not a fine dining experience by any means but where else can you get two FISH sandwiches for $2.50. This is an old school Portland restaurant that does great seafood. The staff can be crude but then again working for minimum wage with little to no tips tends to make people less than hospitable. Portland has few of these old school restaurants around so don't be sissy and eat some fried fish. Mind the scales, heads up fish have scales.
(5)
dave w.
Great fresh fried seafood, a must stop everytime I visit Portland. I never had a bad dining experience here. Service tends to be a little slow, but guarantee worth the wait.
(5)
Paula W.
Had the fried haddock and shrimp with fries. The fish and shrimp were excellent. The breading was light, crispy, and hot out of the fryer. The four star rating is for the seafood. There was no atmosphere. The room is dark and old and in dire need of a makeover and a fresh coat of paint. The staff seemed tired. The food is holding this place up but to really be great it could use some investment.
(4)
C. W.
Sadly, Susan's has seemed to have gone way downhill. I ordered a scallop/clam plate on my most recent visit. Literally four scallops and less than ten clams. They didn't even bulk up on the fries to try and hide this rip-off. Shameful.
(2)
Robert F.
Susan's is what it is and makes no apologies. I think this place used to be a gas station. if not it will be some day with the big garage door of a window. Very good, basic fried seafood. Order at the counter, take a seat at one of the indoor or outdoor picnic tables and they'll bring the food over when it's ready. Really nice fried clams, the fish and chips platter looked enormous the last time I was there, but did not try it. Not in the Old Port, but out on Forest Ave next to a car wash and a muffler place. Tacky fun inside. Go and you should have a nice experience without breaking your bank. Takes credit/debit cards, but tips have to be left in cash.
(4)
E K.
Good food, decent prices. We had the fish and chips - evenly battered and crisp. The fries were good too. We also had calamari and onion rings, and those were really good. Calamari was perfectly cooked, and onion rings were battered and fried when we ordered them. I'd come back! :) Friendly staff too! I'm taking off one star because the place wasn't really clean. But it didn't spoil the mood that much since food was great!
(4)
Winston W.
Amazing! We came after seeing the place on phantom gourmet and it did not disappoint. We tried the platter, haddock burger, and the fried banana split for dessert. The food was absolutely delicious and Susan herself is extremely friendly and the staff was great. It wasn't too crowded when we went so we got to relax and get one of the booth's. I'd recommend the place to anyone who is a fan of seafood, it's not gourmet by any means but it's definitely a nice little atmosphere with great food.
(5)
Gary B.
If you're in the mood for fried seafood and decent chowder and don't want to dress up then this is the place for you !!! I ordered the fish and chips and got a huge plate of three fillets and more french fries than I could eat ! I like the open kitchen and was surprised to see them cutting fresh onions and breading them by hand for their onion rings ... Better then most chain Seafood vendors ...enjoy ...I sure did !!
(4)
Geno K.
Excellent. Incredibly friendly staff. Good prices. Fresh seafood. Fast. Not a date place or a get dressed up experience. No frills. Just really good deep fried seafood cheap. Toys for the kids. A great seafood restaurant without driving the typical touristy trap spots to get it. I had the shrimp dinner... excellent. And it's weird to include this in a review, but it was the best tartar sauce I've ever had in my life!
(5)
Barbara M.
Had the seafood platter special and it was very good. Also had the clam chowder and oyster bisque -- both were really good. We try not to eat too much fried food, but if we are going to this is the place we go.
(4)
Martha S.
Had a great dinner here! I had not been to Susan's in many years. Perfect, casual atmosphere, and a great meal for our family. We had a variety of dinners: lobster roll, fried scallops, fried shrimp and fried calamari. The service was friendly, though of course casual. The seafood was fresh and delicious. There's nothing to compare with hearing your food cooking!
(4)
Brian A.
Great seafood and anything but greasy! I had a platter of fish and shrimp, fries and no slaw. Amazing fish and shrimp and nowhere nearly as greasy as you usually find elsewhere. Fries were just ok and cocktail and tarter sauces were pretty good. This joint is right around the corner from me and I'll DEFINITELY be back to try more stuff. I signed up for their newsletter and got a coupon for a free small chowder; I'll check that out next time.
(4)
Valerie P.
Fantastic, fresh and not greasy. Best tarter sauce I've ever had. Don't expect anything fancy. Seating is picnic tables and very casual.
(5)
Karen C.
No atmosphere, picnic tables, feels like the inside of a garage. I like my fried lobster tail. Fishermen can bring in their catch and have it prepared. Mermaids abound.
(3)
Albert S.
yes im a fan i have it 2 to 3 times a week the chowder is great
(4)
Chubby W.
Don't be dissuaded by the appearance (inside or outside) of Susan's Fish & Chips. Quite frankly, it looks like a bit of a dump and it sits amidst a half-dozen dive bars and pubs at the intersection of Stevens and Forrest. For the first year that I lived in Portland, I avoided stopping at Susan's because of its appearance. That finally changed after seeing some positive reviews online (not to mention a parking lot that is almost always full during lunch and dinner hours). Susan's does one thing (fried seafood), and they do it pretty well. I've lived in Portland for four years and have always marveled at how difficult it is to find a decent fish & chips at a fair price in this town known for its restaurants and seafood. Granted, the quality of the fish used at Susan's isn't top notch. (Its just a basic cod.) But they do a pretty good job preparing it and you can't beat the prices ($7.99 for the "fish & chips" dinner, which includes chips [fries] and coleslaw). I've yet to try anything other than the fish & chips and the fried veggie boat (zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, onion rings, green beans) but those dishes have been very satisfying. I have just two complaints about Susan's --- 1) Parking can be extremely difficult to come by during busier hours. So keep that in mind. 2) The staff, while friendly, is ridiculously slow. I recently phoned in a take-out order and was told that it would be ready in ten minutes. I arrived right on time and was delighted to see my food being taken out of the fryers right at that moment. However, it then took another ten minutes for me to get the attention of one of the three kids monkeying around behind the counter and get one of them to ring up my order. Another bagged the order, only to exclude the veggie boat, forcing me to return to the restaurant twenty minutes later. A casual "sorry" was offered by the kid, but not much else. If Susan could rein in the kids a bit (e.g. a little less monkeying around and a little more work), this place could go from being a diamond in the rough to a true Portland dining highlight.
(3)
Brett F.
Last night I tried Fisherman's Grill. And while it may superficially look divey, it really isn't. Susan's is. In the best way possible. Situated next to an auto mechanic on Forest Ave, this is the ultimate Portland seafood dive. Parking is easy and the building itself is surprisingly large. Inside are many long benches for communal seating, along with a few booths. There's a large outdoor area with picnic tables in the summer. You order at the counter (they do accept credit cards), give your name, and they bring your food. The decorations are random, to say the least. Puzzles, stuffed animals, basically anything they could find they threw up on the wall. Why not, right? The menu is what you would expect (all of the fried seafood staples) with a few surprises. The fried veggie boat is deliciously greasy, as are the fried pickles. I'm not sure exactly if it's a written-down policy, but Susan's is BYOB. On Monday and Tuesday nights the special is $2.50 for 2 fried fish sandwiches. And they're not tiny. An order of that, a bottle of wine from home, and cribbage, may be the perfect capper to a Monday workday. Everything at Susan's oozes value. The lobster roll is $11 and comes with fries. Maybe it's not the very best in the state, but lobster is lobster. There is no better deal. This is cheap, semi-greasy, but fresh, seafood. It gives a giant middle finger to Street and Company. But the service is great, so with a smile.
(4)
Nich K.
This place is a dive in a good way. It's authentic. I had the lobster roll with fries, clam chowder and a clam cake. For the price you can't beat it. Would recommend to friends traveling to the area.
(4)
Kim R.
After a crap meal at another seafood place we decided to try one more place while vacationing in Maine. We drove to Susan's and say in the parking lot for 5 minutes trying to decide if we wanted to go in or not due to the pretty sketchy exterior. Haha. I'm glad we went it. It's a smaller mom and pop joint that's super relaxed with good food. It's inexpensive and that's always a plus!
(4)
Taffany H.
This is definitely a local kind of place. If I didn't know better, I would have assumed la Urbana took cue from this place and convert a garage to make a restaurant. We stopped by Susan's for a quick dinner in Portland, ME but wanted something that's more of a local flavor and Susan's was it. With their home made tartar sauce to a very attentive service, the fish they've used here is fresh. The best part from my meal is actually their Coleslaw. I don't usually like coleslaws but at Susan's the seasoning they've used in the making of their slaw is savory and quite tasty. Unfortunately, the only way of cooking at Susan's is fried but the Fish N Chip is a good option here.
(4)
Bonnie C.
We came here twice- once to try their lobster roll and the shrimp roll, and second time to try their clam chowder. Lobster roll was okay- pretty standard for maine. Shrimp roll and the fries, in my opinion were bland. Clam chowder on the other hand, was on POINT. My fiance loves it when clam chowder is served in a bread bowl, and that is what we got. Creamy clam chowder that is loaded with clam meat in a soft bread bowl. Mmm Also, service was super friendly.
(3)
S K.
I love a hole-in-the-wall type of mom and pop restaurants, but this one's reviews (Google and other online reviews) seem quite far from reality. Or, the restaurant no longer lives up to its prior fame, at least when we visited. Greasy odor overflows the place as soon as you walk in. Service is not their strong asset. Neither their hygiene nor their foods. They don't bother to wipe the tables. Grease stains from so much frying all day long run on the walls. It's an open kitchen, so you can see how they prepare foods. Never mind wearing any gloves or hats. As for foods? Everything is fried, and my mouth still has a bad taste from their dishes 5 hours later. We regret visiting there wasting one meal during our vacation.
(1)
Amanda R.
I had a seafood crave last night and didn't feel like eating leftovers. Susan's Fish n Chips came to mind and phoned in a takeout order. The lady over the phone was very nice and offered to give us additional cocktail and tartar sauce! I always pass by this restaurant whenever I am running errands and decided to give this place a shot. Boy o Boy, I'm extremely glad that I did so. Appearance: As I entered Susan's, I noticed that there were picnic tables, a couple of booths setback and free coffee at the register. Even though I can't have coffee, it's nice that it's free to patrons! Behind the register, you're actually able to see how the food is made which is great news for me. It was an assembly line with seafood ready to be coated with their delicious batter, then fried to a golden crisp. Taste: I ordered take out which consisted of a small clam chowder, calamari plate, and the fish and chips plate. The clam chowder was really creamy, had chunks of potatoes, and little pieces of clams. I ended up adding black pepper to give it a kick! Both dinner entrees came with fries which weren't salty thankfully and small tubs of coleslaw. Sometimes, coleslaw can taste spoiled or just really watery.....but not this coleslaw!! It was seasoned just right and every bite was fresh and yummy. The fish and chips plate was humongous....3 big pieces of fish which I shared with my boyfriend because I couldn't finish it! The batter on the fish was out of this world amazing and enjoyed every bite. I tried some of my boyfriend's calamari and it tasted just as good! Customer Service: The ladies at the front were so lovely and patient. I couldn't ask for better service!
(3)
Claudio C.
This place is a fried seafood go to....get past the sketchy exterior....it's good value and decent fish... The fish and chips are excellent and a good portion....the haddock sandwich a popular favorite....good fresh haddock...nice portion....decent ciabatta roll.. The lobster roll is $12 and delivers lots of lobster for the price. The tarter is in a big canning jar....help yourself.... Nice staff....good value....nothing fancy....4 stars for value and decent product.
(4)
Charles W.
For the longest time I avoided this place. Partly based on the look from the outside, being attached to a car garage and from some less then stellar reviews from past co-workers. My father had been helping me with things around the house and suggested going here as he always wanted to try it. I figured it was time to put up or shut up and to give this place a try. I am glad I did. The food was super affordable (30 dollars for 3 people) and pretty good. That being said most of the options here involve lowering an dead ocean dwelling animal into a deep fryer but the quality of the shrimp (I ordered) and fish (my parents) was great. The gallon of tarter sauce that you get is good but for the love of your cholesterol use sparingly. The coleslaw was so so. The inside is pretty tacky and dated but the reason you are going to Susan's is not for the ambiance (Or maybe that is your thing, i.e. Bubbas Sulky Lounge) The food is great, the staff are friendly and enjoyed (dealing with) my father chatting with them. While not glitzy like some downtown Commercial St. establishment the rhymes with Moone's Mish Mouse and Mouster Room, the food is quality and priced correctly. While I was busy tossing shrimp down, the line that popped into my head from the show about a famous yellow family with only four fingers was: "'Tis no man, 'tis a remorseless eatin' machine" Susan's, please never become all you can eat.
(4)
Alexandra R.
So glad that Susan's stays open past the summer/fall season! We visited in November and had a great time enjoying the delicious New England cuisine. The restaurant is very Maine with a no frills design, and cute antique flares here and there. I especially liked the vintage booths in the back. We tried the lobster rolls, French fries, fried pickles and clam chowder. The lobster roll was my favorite. The fresh roll was stuffed with lobster meat and had hardly any mayo on it. The clam chowder was great as well, especially on a cold day. The fried pickles and French fries were pretty good but they could have used a little more flavor. All of the food was very reasonably priced. I was definitely impressed with the quality of the food for the price. Susan's also offers free coffee to all patrons. I appreciated this because I was put into a mild food coma after overindulging in all of the delicious food here!
(5)
Kathleen B.
This place is a-ok.. I enjoyed the crunch of the batter on my fried fish.. Fish tastes mild.. Fries are average.. Tartar sauce is tangy.. It's a solid spot for that fish n chips craving.. And I like how the inside of the restaurant is an auto body shop.. The casual ambience is very fitting. They also sell ice cream, sundaes, a fried banana dessert and frappes.. Didn't get to try those tho.
(3)
Katie W.
I really like this place. It's simple, no-frills dining, but they do it very well. I had some of the freshest and most tender fried calamari I've ever had, generously portioned at a reasonable price. The fried fish dish that my friend got was huge, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The tartar sauce is nice and tangy, and their clam chowder is yummy too albeit not the best in the city. Our only complaint was that the fries were not that crispy and could have been better salted, but the seafood is excellent. The place is located in a giant renovated garage, and you seat yourself. Don't expect there to be silverware and tablecloths, but appreciate the fact that they're battering and frying your seafood right in front of you.
(4)
Sheila D.
Stumbled upon this place while driving outside downtown Portland, and it's a gem! The pricing is pretty awesome compared to other seafood places (nothing really more than $15) which is great. I'm a clam chowder fanatic, and the chowder here is fantastic! Plus, they have a bread bowl option that's really filling and affordable, so I definitely recommend that if you're a chowder fan like me. Most of the food is fried, so if that's up your alley, you'll absolutely love this place. I highly recommend the fried clams with the homemade tartar sauce, but I've heard that the lobster roll is delicious too. The service is really quick, and they serve free coffee throughout the day. I'll definitely come back here if I have the time, especially because the food is so affordable! Worth the drive out of downtown!
(5)
Smitty C.
It's the BEST fried fish joint I've ever been to. Period. This is a "MUST stop here" in the area if you're looking to just pick up or grab a quick bite. I'm so glad I went here for dinner. We went to a VERY nice the night before for the raw oysters and dropped 150 bucks without blinking. enjoyed the night, worth every cent. We spent around 30 bucks at Susan's and walked away JUST as happy. ***WARNING**** Frist let me address the situation you'll realize if you go here: YES, this was a car repair shop before it was a restaurant. GET OVER THAT FACT. This isn't done in an ironic hipster way, you know, just setting up shop in a unique place just to be cute. They don't have farm to fresh baby arugula salad pressed donuts in mason jars served with artisanal Whiskey made in house by a guy who has dark rimmed glasses and only plays vinyl records over the house pa system. If it was done this way you'd see this place on EVERY travel and food show, ever! but, it's not. so just deal with the fact that the place is an old beat up shack that serves some amazing food! This is a back ally food place that deserves to be eaten. What we ate: The lobster roll was damned good, as well as the cheapest you'll find for a solid roll. Was FRESH an flakey tasting lobster, creamy sauce that didn't overpower or weigh down the roll. The roll was soft and had a nice browning on it. Basically if you made this level of lobster roll at home. Your friends would beg you to make it ALL THE TIME. Sure they might have better ones out at bla bla bla... but these are SOLID DAMNED GOOD! We took advantage of the special for mon and tues of two fried fish sandwiches for under 3 bucks.... WHOLY CRAP! I'm SO GLAD I got this! Fresh cooked white fish with fresh made tartar sauce and a sprinkle of fresh lettuce. You ever see a picture of food that they serve at some crappy McDonalds type place... where the food looks amazing, but you get it - and it looks like someone sat on it? This tasted as good as the photo you see of a perfect fried fish sandwich. I wish I could eat this on a regular basis. Fish N Chips. Check. Some of the freshest tasting, best breaded, best fried, moist and flakey white fish I've EVER had. They tasted great with the tartar sauce OR the malt vinegar. The fries... solid as cheap fries go, fresh cooked and not over salted. Just an amazing cooked cheap food. Tartar sauce in a big ass jar that they just plop down with your meal? CHECK! This is creamy and good, use as much as you need, who cares. It tasted fresh made like a family member makes at a cookout that reminds you of summer. I made it a point to eat at seafood places while visiting Maine. I was blown away by how good the food is in this town. Now eating a $150 meal makes you realize how good food really can be in this area.... but after eating here at Susan's. I'M MAD I DON'T HAVE THIS IN MY TOWN! I'd eat at this place once a month! I'm a cheap bastard, I barely eat out. So for me to eat here once a month is saying A LOT!
(5)
Javier B.
Amazing!!!! We had the sample platter and all five of us were very pleased with the food and quantity I had no idea scallops could be as big as they make them here if you are looking for a good seafood place I definitely recommend this place
(4)
Victoria P.
It was alright. Fisherman's Grill still reigns supreme. Prices were good. Took forever and a day for the order to be prepared. Workers were friendly enough.
(3)
Jennifer L.
Borderline 3.5. Super dive-y seashore type vibe in this Forest Avenue spot, but I was into it. It is definitely a bit grimy, so brace yourself for some CARPETED floors (WHAT!), sticky tables and all that noise, but my food was top notch. I had a gigantic combination platter with fried clams and fried shrimp. The shrimp were baby shrimp and so teeny that I barely tasted them, but the clams were perfect and in general they were battered and fried to perfection. It comes with a little container of coleslaw and the option of fries, macaroni or potato salad - I was offered zero of these options though. I saw on the menu they were choices, but she never asked and I didn't really care, but the older, whiter, presumably more regulars who came after me were offered all the options. Don't think I'm not noticing. My boyfriend had the haddock burger and we split a clam chowder. You get a gigantic mason jar of tartar sauce, and I have a feeling a lot of the regulars here slurp that right up. They offer some crazy fish burger special on M/Tues - 2 for $2.50? The lady behind me tried to order it, but was told today was Wednesday and was offered up some other specials. I wouldn't mess with a lobster roll here, unless I brought the lobster in myself, so if that's what you're looking for, Fisherman's Grill is just down the road, and their lobster roll is ridiculously good. Thought the food was good, but the overall vibe was weird. This lady kept giving me the stink eye/freak face EVERY time we made eye contact - my boyfriend said he caught it too and thought that was her regular stank face - and we were not given a fond farewell like every one else was when they left. That could just be coincidence, but that's not my favorite kind of dive feel. You're lucky I'm rating up for food alone.
(4)
Larry L.
This is the favorite place for the locals to eat and now I know why. The lobster roll was delicious & full of meat. This was served on a split top bun with lettuce in the bed and as much tender lobster as could be crammed inside. Yum! The clam cakes were delicious also and not greasy. The fat belly fried clams are awesome! Ken's Place, step up the pace or step aside. A must stop for Maine treats in a very eclectic setting. We were too full to try their fried lobster tail on a stick, but people rave about it.
(5)
Tony Q.
The food is always consistent and packed with flavor, I have never been less than satisfied, full and happy with all the offer. Score 9
(4)
Robert W.
When in doubt, go somewhere else. Go to 3 Buoys. Susan' is nasty. They use the cheapest bread, and their less-than-clean-cut looking staff don't even wear gloves to make your food. And if you go in the summer, you'll wait an hour for your food. Honestly, not worth it. *Puke* There is NOTHING worse than bad seafood.
(1)
Rick M.
My favorite place to eat when I'm in Maine. The clams and scallops are to die for and I could eat the deep fried lobster tail until I explode. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Chris P.
Good place for a quick meal. It's in an old garage that was turned into a restaurant. The prices are good and so is the fried seafood and chowder
(4)
Nancy J.
Best fish and chips I've ever had. Clam chowder superb. Crab cake bready but delectable. Onion rings a winner. Great prices!
(5)
Mary L.
If the plaques on the wall are any indication, Y2K was the last time the decor in Susan's was updated and it shows. Not to say that the place was dirty, but a dive for sure and unfortunately with no alcohol in my system, my 20/20 vision was on high alert and left me uncomfortable. The staff is extremely nice. You order at the counter and the food is delivered to your table, and they continually come around to check and make sure everything is okay. We started with the plate of deep fried vegetables - onion rings, broccoli, zucchini, and califlower in three different kinds of batter. I really didn't care for this. Zucchini was in this thick, breadcrumb like batter that left 2/3 batter and 1/3 zucchini in each bite. Califlower was the most palatable but was sort of mushy. The boy had the fish & chips and I had the haddock sandwich. The portions were adequate and the fish was fresh. Tartar sauce definately helped to put the meal together. Overall, I feel like I could've found the same quality elsewhere with perhaps a more enjoyable atmosphere. Considering this is located off the main downtown area... I SAY THAT IT'S A SKIP (unless you were like us and had to readjust our plans when Po Boys & Pickles was closed)!!
(3)
Diane M.
We went to Susan's last year and had a great meal of scallops and clams. Generous portions and delicious food. We went again tonight and was very disappointed. The scallops were tough and I only received 6 scallops compared to at least double that last year. They were over cooked and cooked in old oil. Same with the French fries.
(2)
K P.
Lobster was plenty but it needed some seasoning... Some butter, salt, or mayo. Fries were ok and the roll wasn't anything special. If they could invest in fresh baguettes instead of premade rolls and spice up their lobster, it would be great. The fish chowder was not so great. It was served with a layer of oil on top and was not very creamy. It was watery with chunks of potatoes and fish. The amount of lobster in the roll is decent for $14.
(3)
Peter B.
Years ago it was good food and a sparse but clean decor. I came often with a dear old friend who has since passed away. Now its run down. The workers friends or significant others hang out at the counter and mill around. The lady who cooked my food was outside smoking and walked in at the same time as me. Never washed her hands and made my food. Gross !!! I hate cigarettes. My cole slaw had turned bad as well. My French fries were barely warm. Sadly this is my last trip to eat here. It looks like a place that homeless people gather at inside.
(2)
Ashley N.
The clam chowder is good and creamy. The fish soup was good as well, but tasted like a typical Asian fish soup my mom use to make. The lobster roll was also good, but it was a bit dry. I did not like the bread that it was on, but it was still good. Fried pickles was also good. Just rightly battered and it was good with the tartar sauce. We got a giant jar of tartar sauce, so there is enough to go around. The staff is nice. There is plenty of seating for large groups. They also served free coffee which was a nice pick me up in the afternoon. Did not try their fish-n-chips though, which they are known for, but next time wen I am up here, I'll be sure to try it.
(4)
Stephen V.
What a surprise this place was don't go buy the look of the building inside a wonderful treat a waits a hungry visitor.The food was the best girlfriend had the fried oysters I had the fried clams done to perfection both dish .this a do over for us
(5)
Pam S.
Simply the best clam shack I've ever been to. I have been on a " best whole belly fried clam" quest for decades! ( whispering Sea Swirl in Mystic Ct And the pier in Providencetown MA round out the top 3 ) Nice folks, fresh while you watch breading. I've found whole belly nirvana!
(5)
Nicole R.
Not the cleanest looking place but not totally dirty either... With that said the fish and chips were really good. Homemade coleslaw and tartar sauce were great as well. Service was speedy and very nice. Definitely a down home kind of place. If you're in the area stop in! You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Heather M.
Recommended by a local, we love the haddock sandwich and the chowder (available only on Sunday's) in an old gas station with lots of local character. If you want beer or wine, you can go across the street and bring it in. Wonderful!
(5)
Allen I.
Awesome. This place absolutely smokes Fisherman's Grill. Picture of Crosby Stills and Nash on the wall to verify the amazingness? Indeed. I got the lobster roll, it was great. I got the chowder and I loved it. I'm so jealous of all the people who get those sandwiches 2 for 3.00 that's on my to do list soon. People here were super friendly and the place itself was very cool.
(4)
Ray M.
I ordered the seafood platter. The fish and scallops had a chlorine smell and taste. The fried clams and oyster were ok.
(2)
Emily B.
Service doesn't seem to always be a priority here. I've been accused of ordering certain things (that I certainly didn't order) when they overcharged me and, most recently, I stood patiently in line for ten minutes while multiple people tried to figure out the credit card machine. During this time, not a single customer was helped - the cooks stood there waiting as did the customers, when at least one of the people staring at the machine could have moved down the line. That being said, staff is, for the most part, friendly and accommodating. Their food is decent (please note that this is a fried seafood restaurant, don't expect anything fancy) and they have a fairly large seating area. Definitely sit outside if the weather is nice. It's a casual alternative to many of the seafood restaurants downtown. They offer 2/$2.50 fish burgers on Mondays and Tuesdays and $10 off your meal if you visit on your birthday.
(3)
John T.
Super fresh seafood in a place that you would NEVER guess. It is across the street from Po' Boys & Pickles so if you are in the area and don't want a sandwich, hop across the street to grab a great seafood plate. It is cheap and good, qualities that rarely go hand in hand. Also, a plate of deep fried vegetables is ALWAYS a winner in my book. Seafood is super fresh and quick to your table. Mark this one down as a place to visit often.
(5)
Karen C.
Love just love the fish burgers. Delicious. This is our second time here and this place is a must go to. Plan to go before we head back home . The tartar sauce is to die for .
(5)
Kelly S.
The seafood chowder and whole belly fried clams are outstanding. Great place to go once in a while. I say once in awhile only because I'm confident the fare is not for the healthy heart, but man is it good. This place seems to be in an old auto shop and there is a faint exhaust smell, or it seemed to me. But just read the incredible reviews on the walls. Consistently voted the best and given such recognition year after year after year. Very laid back, nice staff, free coffee, free soft drink refills, concrete floors, picnic tables, clean enough, and with the price. You've gotta give it try. Bottom line: Next time I'm in Portland, I'll be stopping by.
(4)
Jack N.
I love when I go someplace and feel like I'm the only newbie around. The other patrons in Susan's all looked like they were "townies", and had eaten there many times. Yet I was welcomed as a regular. Unassuming - to say the least - this ramshackle place is filled with picnic tables and a few booths, and apparently was a garage at some point in its existence. Its filled with countless doodads and whatnots, mostly typically iconic stuff you'd associate with a seafood joint near the water. Nets, plastic lobsters, witty signs, cheesy artwork - you name it. The gal at the counter was friendly to the nth degree, and the whole time I was there she was singing and bopping around to the music being played. This girl enjoyed her job, or at least was appearing to enjoy it. The food? Well, it was just as I expected. Crispy and not oily fried clams, some standard cole slaw and a pile of fries. The breakfast of champions for this Rhode Island native. If you're looking for a simple lunch or dinner, and want some typical New England seafood, Susan's will suit you just fine.
(4)
Kristin D.
When my usual favorite seafood place was closed for vacation- I decided to give Susan's a try. On curb appeal alone I probably would never have stopped in- but all the positive reviews on yelp couldn't be wrong?? The minute you step inside, you see how special this place really is. It's a converted garage- warm and cheery with fishing pictures decorating the walls. The shiny picnic tables are clean and organized. It feels so comfortable in here! Then you step up to the counter- you see everyone working- battering the fish right in front of you ! The service is excellent, everyone seems very happy!!! Now it's time for the food. We were a party of 7 our family was visiting from Maryland, they actually own a couple of seafood markets- so they know fish! We ordered a whole bunch of stuff: lobster rolls, fish and chips, friend shrimp, clams, the roasted corn chowder... Yum! Everything was so fresh and tasty. I can't say enough about the fried fish, clams and shrimp. They literally melted in your mouth!!! I won't pass Susan's up again- it's going in my regular rotation now!!!
(5)
Seb T.
i can't really recommend eating in this restaurant because every time i dine in house, the tables are so sticky that drake could use them as courtside lint rollers that said, they have cheap french fries, great tartar sauce, and they do fried seafood well. i would probably recommend getting take-out, as the staff is often so unfriendly that i'm not 100% sure that i'm even supposed to be sitting down at their tables. still, they don't pretend to be anything they aren't, and it's hard to complain about unpretentious seafood
(4)
Diana H.
Def try the lobster roll if your here. It's very chunky and worth every single bite. However, I would say its a bit pricey but that's just me. I paid $17 for one lobster roll & sweet potato tater tots.
(5)
Penelope A.
Five stars for being the best in town for fish 'n' chips, which is all I've ever ordered there. Fresh fried fish, fries worth the calories, wonderful cole slaw and they give you a whole jar of tartar sauce, if you are into that. You can also bring your own catch, cleaned, and they will cook it for you. Atmosphere is a very comfortable and inviting garage with picnic tables, nautical knick-knacks and memorabilia. Good for groups, families with kids, or a quick solo bite.
(5)
Thomas O.
This place reminded us a lot of a dive bar, but the food was fantastic and the decorations were enjoyable to see. We got our food to go (and called and placed the order ahead of time) and the food was ready for us right then (but still fresh and hot!). I got the lobster roll which did not disappoint and my wife got the fish and chips. Great food!
(4)
Christi S.
Although the tables could use a good wash or a top coat of paint to prevent stickiness. I come here every Mon or Tues for their 2/$2.50 fish burgers. The cooks and staff have gotten to know us well and sometimes offers onion rings on the house when we have a good crowd. Very friendly, has free coffee. Fish burgers are fresh & tartar sauce is awesome! Much better than McDonald's
(4)
Asya P.
We walked here one rainy night, and enjoyed it immensely. The staff are incredibly friendly, the food is perfect. The lobster roll is good, but I don't really see what all the fuss is about . The french fries are solid, but the fish... oh, the fish. I had the haddock plate, and it was the freshest, crispiest fish. I swear it still smelled like the ocean. My other half was especially impressed with the seasoning on the breading. In the future, I will just go for a pint or quart of fried fish here. We will be back repeatedly.
(4)
Ashley M.
Fresh fish fried in delicious batter. I got a dinner combination with fried haddock and scallops. I also got a lobster roll. The scallops melted in my mouth. The homemade tarter sauce is on point as well. Lobster roll was light and refreshing. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because my fish portion was too small for the price.
(4)
Jake W.
I've been looking for a place to get large amounts of fried fish at a decent price, and I think I've found one here. Susan's has gotten a number of write ups about its freshness, which I can attest to. The fish was fresh enough to flake upon me picking it up. This lead to a messy plate but happy tastebuds. The portions were generous enough, and they had a 2 for $2.50 special on fish burgers when I visited, so I could have gone overboard (no pun intended) quite easily. In addition to the on-sale burgers, My mom and I split fish'n'chips and fried shrimps. The batter didn't have too much seasoning, but the ample amounts of tartar and cocktail sauce made up for this. The french fries were perfectly crispy, on my request. The restaurant is a simple fish shack--concrete floor with blue walls stock full of nautical nick-nacks and memorabilia. It's a little ways away from the action and buzz of downtown Portland, so you have to make it a destination (unless you're traveling on 302). But its on par with the lobster shacks you'll find in costal towns (like the one in my hometown of Cape Elizabeth) and offers a much better value.
(4)
brian s.
This is no hipster joint so if you are looking to park the Beemer and stand around looking all so cool this is not the place! Now that that is out of the way Best fried clams scallops in Portland Fish sandwiches 2 for 2.50 yeppers no kiddding
(4)
Jack B.
this place is exactly what you would expect, great food, fried everything, onions, fish n chips, shrimp, fries. Very friendly quick service. $28 for lunch
(4)
Sheila S.
This place is a hidden gem. I've been going there for 20+ years. It's not fancy but the food is GOOD and very reasonably priced. You get $10 off on your birthday.
(5)
Sandra G.
The restaurant was located in a more modest part of Portland. Indoor eating area a not dark and a little too warm, so we ate outside. On the way outside, I noticed a good number of toys for kids to play with. There seems to be a mindfulness for kids since kids could get a free ice cream if a child could present a report card with A's. There were 4 well maintained long wooden painted picnic tables outside. Outdoor area was clean , no litter. Not really a great view in the outdoor eating area. Seafood was fresh. Deep fried items were crispy & light. Seafood freshness good. However, lack of seasonings made food less than stellar: the potato salad needed salt as did the oysters & scallops.
(3)
Kati R.
Not sure what all the great reviews are about. We went there last weekend and I ordered a pint of clams (bellies). Received a total of 8 clams in the basket for $13.00!! Wow! Way too expensive for the portion. The breading was falling off and after eating the clams, the bottom of the basket was covered in loose breading. Not a good value, and not a very clean place......sticky tables. Hubby ordered fish and chips, and portion was also very small. Would not recommend.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Kirby K.
My husband and I have been on a road trip (for the last two weeks) of Canada and we have had a lot of fish and cole slaw on this trip. Susan's fish-n-chips was the best. I had the fried haddock with fries and cole slaw. Let me start by saying the cole slaw was the best slaw I have ever had. I could have eaten a huge bowl of it. The fish wasn't greasy like most fried fish is. It was wonderfully flaky and delicious. My husband has the fried clam strips, potato salad and cole slaw. The clam strips were tender and fantastic unlike most clam strips that get over cooked and chewy. The potato salad was creamy and wonderful. Oh and the tarter sauce it was so good. You can tell they make it them selves. This was everything we wanted in a fried fish place.
(5)Cabernet S.
Wow, a hidden gem. Definitely worth the trip here. It as authentic as you're going to get if you want some homestyle seafood. Its like you can smell the faint smell of the sea when you walk in here. The chowder is sublime and not too heavy. The fish and chips are divine. The fish is flaky and fresh and the chips are hot. It's the quintessential Maine seafood experience. The service is also great and the staff is friendly. Didn't try the lobster roll or anything else, but I have no reason to believe it won't be great. Will be back next time.
(5)Matt M.
Best fried seafood in Portland, if you don't mind eating in an old muffler shop... This is a local gem. The secret special is the Tuesday Fish-burger ---2 for $2.50 !
(5)Lia A.
My partner and I tried Susan's while vacationing in Portland. We arrived on a very rainy weekday after several other places that we tried were closed. The outside doesn't look like much, but the food and staff is great. The clam chowder was better than the chowder we tried on the Cape. The lobster roll had large chunks of lobster and was excellent. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The decor is interesting and gives you a lot to talk about and look at. It was also inexpensive considering what you got, which is definitely a plus!
(5)Jori M.
It's exactly as it's billed. Fish and chips and other (mostly) fried seafood items that are delish! We had a lobster roll, clam strips roll, clam chowder and clam strips. All food was gone by the end of the meal. No frills decor and bus your own tables. Even had a little table full of kid toys and coloring books. Coming back again for sure.
(5)Jade A.
Let me begin by saying that I rarely, if ever, post online restaurant reviews, but this was so bad that I felt compelled to warn others. I have eaten here once before and was relatively unimpressed, but had a hankering for scallops this evening and didn't want to go far from home...so, for lack of a more convenient option, decided to give Susan's the benefit of the doubt. Bad idea. First of all, everything everyone has said about the decor is true...it is a rather sketchy looking joint, but sometimes you find the most delicious food at less than attractive places, so whatever. Now the claims others have made about this place serving fresh and fabulous fried seafood, I vehemently disagree with. Quick yes, edible no. I am no fried seafood novice, having grown up on the coast of Maine (perhaps I was spoiled by tasty fried seafood places in the midcoast region?), and can assure you that these scallops were neither fresh nor properly cooked...we threw 3/4 of our $20 worth of scallops away. In short, they were rubbery, totally overcooked (almost to the point of burnt...yet soggy and losing their breading due to the excessive grease) and tasted more like old, dirty oil than scallops. GROSS. As an added bonus, the one container of scallops was enough to make my entire house smell like the dregs of a 100 year old fryolator. Because it was Tuesday, we also ordered the 2 for $2.50 fish (cod...probably frozen from the taste of it) sandwiches, 'cuz why not. I am glad that we did because (and I am completely mystified by this) they were more edible than the scallops. My suggestion - go elsewhere...or if you must go here, go on a Tuesday and stick with the 2 for $2.50 fish sandwiches...save some money and your taste buds. Yuck.
(1)Imo M.
Local dive that offers exactly what the sign says: Fish-n-Chips. Have to hand it to them, though, the fish is fresh and very, very good. It is freshly breaded (as you order it), and flash fried to perfection. Portions are HUGE, so order with caution. It's definitely a good dinner place. Although, I wish I'd gone a bit earlier to not feel bad about eating fried fish so late. Try the scallops and haddock nuggets. The clam chowder was a bit weak, but the rest of the fish made up for it.
(4)Tina A.
Stopped here for dinner on Friday because I was really in the mood for clam chowder. My husband and I ordered soup, a lobster roll and fish & chips. The soup was served warm and was cold in spots before we stirred it. Sadly, the fried fish was bland, but good portions. The tartar sauce was served in a mason jar which was cute, I think, but there was barely any relish in it at all and I didn't enjoy it much. The lobster roll was probably 4 stars so I would recommend that if you've visiting here. Aside from that, the service was good.
(3)Harry P.
Always go there when in town for the scallops. Very fresh and lightly breaded, almost melt in your mouth. Fish & chips with vinegar is also good. Rustic, seafaring old decor, not upscale, but go for very good local fried seafood. Don't know if Mondays are still twofer fish sandwiches or not. Harry in Virginia Park on the side street
(4)Jennie L.
Excellent fish burger special Mon & Tues- plus you've got to try the fried veggies-they are delicious! I wish I hadn't waited so long to try such a great fish shack-the food is top notch and very nice people too.
(5)Mike K.
I was in Portland for the weekend and had to try a cool local place for seafood. I found Susan's right here on yelp.com , and was pretty pleased overall with this place. The location is not exactly walking distance from downtown. I suppose if you were feeling super energetic but the reality is it's a good 2 miles away, and there's not much else around the restaurant in the way of shopping. The place is an old garage, and is set up with picnic tables and a wall of booths on one side of the restaurant. It is order at the counter, and they bring your food to your table. The server was pretty friendly, and the food came out fast and hot. I ordered a plate of fried clams. The clams came with fries and a really delicious cole slaw. I mean the cole slaw was really good. The made from scratch tartar sauce was great with the clams. In fact, if they put a "Susan's Fish and Chips" label on the jar, they could sell the stuff. The fried clams plate was a very reasonable $11.99 plus a soda. My daughter had the chicken nuggets/fries as she doesn't like seafood. She was happy with her choice. It was a fun experience, and when in Portland I will drop in again. It should also be noted that Susan's seemed to be more of a locals type establishment, and not full of tourists which is a plus.
(3)Rick G.
We found this place while in Portland on a business trip. I must admit we would not have stopped in had it not been for the ratings on Yelp. We had the fish and scallops for lunch and we stopped back by for chowder and lobster roll for takeout later the same day. All was delicious and coleslaw is a must
(5)Yu W.
My ME-native friend told me this place. It is not like any other dinning place I have been. We got their 2 min before they close, and they serve us very nicely. The lobster roll is very tasty and the frys are even better
(5)Monty E.
Delicious and and great seafood!
(5)Janelle C.
Susan's is a local place, serving up fresh, perfectly fried seafood to local people. I stopped in for lunch after a grad school interview looking for an authentic seafood experience and wasn't disappointed. Expect moderately friendly service, communal tables, a mason jar of tartar sauce with every order, and perfectly cooked fried seafood. I had fish 'n chips and corn shrimp chowder, both were outstanding.
(5)Katherine F.
Can't say I was very impressed by Susan's. I really wanted to be, since I had heard and read good things about the place, but my meal was subpar. I called in a takeout order since I was in a hurry and got a lobster roll and cup of clam chowder. When I drove up to the restaurant there was no place to park in the tiny lot so I had to park my car in the gas station across the street and then bolt across Forest Ave. Now since I ordered takeout all I can review is the food and not the dine-in experience, but Susan's lobster roll just didn't do it for me. The lobster meat was dry and there wasn't much of it. The bread tasted stale and didn't have that crispness you get from fresh rolls that have been buttered and grilled. This bread had been lightly grilled but that didn't get rid of the stale taste. Underneath the lobster meat was a flimsy piece of lettuce, which I don't care for in a lobster roll since I don't think it adds anything to the dish. Overall I was pretty disappointed in the roll. At least I didn't pay an astronomical price for it like some other places- Susan's lobster roll is only $10.99 I will say that the clam chowder I had was very tasty. It was thick and creamy the way a chowder should be and had plenty of potatoes and clams. If I come back to Susan's I'll definitely order it again and would consider trying some of their fried seafood like scallops or clam strips. If you're looking for a Maine lobster roll, I think you can do better than Susan's but I'm going to give the place another try and see if I like some of their other dishes better.
(3)Joseph P.
Don't get sucked into eating in the Old Port for really good seafood. Yes Susan's in an old gas station but damn she makes so great fresh fish plus it's cheap! I guarantee you will pay twice as much if you eat in the Old Port or a long the coast. yes it's basic fried fish, rolls, and soup but it's made great. For $20 I believe my girlfriend and I shared the seafood platter and we got a mound of fish and fries. You get a whole jar of tartar sauce lol. The decor is cheesy and looks like time has taken it's toll on it but still the place has a great home/dive like feeling. Our food wasn't late in my eyes but I think the people saw we were hungry and assured us it was on its was and that they were sorry. Even though it's fast food of sorts they bring the food over. Overall you can't go wrong with the freshness (you watch them bread/flour the fish), price, and taste. I used to go here as a kid and when I went to USM for a semester now that I live in NYC I always can't wait to go home to Susan's!
(5)Zachary S.
2 for $2.50 fish sandwich Tuesdays?! Somebody slap me. I have died and have gone to fried fish sandwich heaven. Can't complain, really! Nice homemade drinks, great seafood prices, and a great value! Definitely one of my favorite seafood shacks here in Portland. No question!
(4)Lili W.
If you're looking for a no-frills dining experience with great food and service, this place is it. I'm really picky when it comes to eating out--going to culinary school and majoring in hotel administration set my bar really high for restaurants--and Susan's hit all the right spots. I went with two other friends there for lunch one day. We got the seafood platter for two and a lobster roll. The seafood platter came with a whole plate piled high with fried shrimp, scallops, oysters, and haddock, two cups of clam chowder, and two sides. Between the three of us, we couldn't finish the seafood platter and lobster roll--there was so much food. The staff was friendly and efficient. And the fried seafood was some of the freshest seafood I've had. Thinking about those fried scallops is making my mouth water now. Usually, restaurants use seafood of dubious quality in their fried items since they can use the batter and over-fry the food to "hide" the quality of the seafood. But Susan's uses only a light batter on their seafood and cooks the seafood perfectly done so you can taste the freshness of the oysters, scallops, haddock, etc in every bite. And since everything's done in an open kitchen, you're pretty much guaranteed your food will be clean, since you can see everything they're doing. I'd definitely recommend checking this place out if you're in the Portland area.
(5)Christine W.
If you visit Portland, ME you have to visit Susan's Fish-n-Chips! This is the kind of restaurant that I wanted to go to when I'm in Maine. It doesn't have fancy store front, no waiter, it's just your good old Maine comfort, chowdah and fried seafood!! We visited there twice within our 4-day stay in Portland. Everything was so inexpensive and you definitely get your money's worth eating there! I would go back in a heartbeat!
(4)Kathryn N.
Hey, this is just a simply honest review. Move on in your search for a restaurant to quench your general hunger or your seafood craving. Dirty. Service, um can you say decisively not enthusiastic, blank stare, yes all the amazing qualities that make you enjoy the experience of spending your money. Just getting out of a long day at school and wanting some good eats, say calamari, yum! To the most important point, we can all get over poor service, but the food is nothing to note, boring to say the very least. To top that, the quantity we were supposed to have received in our order of a quart of calamari, was half that when we opened it up, and the price we paid would have been reasonable, but paying $15 for an order that was only half of what it should be and with substandard taste, blah; it also resonates strongly of dishonesty. Continue your search my friends.
(2)Saori I.
I love the lobster roll and clam chowder!!! They both had huge chunks of lobsters and clams. Glad that my friend and I came here on our road trip in Maine. We came here twice and the person who owns this place remember our faces!! I'm definitely going back.
(5)Koonz O.
I would give it a zero star if I could. How could a local Maine joint screw up on SEAFOOD. Nothing was fresh at this joint. Lobster roll tasted like plastic. The batter they use for the fishermans platter was not fresh. They use mini scallops mixed with maybe a few big sized ones. The fish was gross. I spat mine out as soon as I took a bite. It's a complete drab. From food they serve to the atmosphere. If you want to eat rubber, go ahead. Knock yourself out.
(1)Jacob P.
Not a fine dining experience by any means but where else can you get two FISH sandwiches for $2.50. This is an old school Portland restaurant that does great seafood. The staff can be crude but then again working for minimum wage with little to no tips tends to make people less than hospitable. Portland has few of these old school restaurants around so don't be sissy and eat some fried fish. Mind the scales, heads up fish have scales.
(5)dave w.
Great fresh fried seafood, a must stop everytime I visit Portland. I never had a bad dining experience here. Service tends to be a little slow, but guarantee worth the wait.
(5)Paula W.
Had the fried haddock and shrimp with fries. The fish and shrimp were excellent. The breading was light, crispy, and hot out of the fryer. The four star rating is for the seafood. There was no atmosphere. The room is dark and old and in dire need of a makeover and a fresh coat of paint. The staff seemed tired. The food is holding this place up but to really be great it could use some investment.
(4)C. W.
Sadly, Susan's has seemed to have gone way downhill. I ordered a scallop/clam plate on my most recent visit. Literally four scallops and less than ten clams. They didn't even bulk up on the fries to try and hide this rip-off. Shameful.
(2)Robert F.
Susan's is what it is and makes no apologies. I think this place used to be a gas station. if not it will be some day with the big garage door of a window. Very good, basic fried seafood. Order at the counter, take a seat at one of the indoor or outdoor picnic tables and they'll bring the food over when it's ready. Really nice fried clams, the fish and chips platter looked enormous the last time I was there, but did not try it. Not in the Old Port, but out on Forest Ave next to a car wash and a muffler place. Tacky fun inside. Go and you should have a nice experience without breaking your bank. Takes credit/debit cards, but tips have to be left in cash.
(4)E K.
Good food, decent prices. We had the fish and chips - evenly battered and crisp. The fries were good too. We also had calamari and onion rings, and those were really good. Calamari was perfectly cooked, and onion rings were battered and fried when we ordered them. I'd come back! :) Friendly staff too! I'm taking off one star because the place wasn't really clean. But it didn't spoil the mood that much since food was great!
(4)Winston W.
Amazing! We came after seeing the place on phantom gourmet and it did not disappoint. We tried the platter, haddock burger, and the fried banana split for dessert. The food was absolutely delicious and Susan herself is extremely friendly and the staff was great. It wasn't too crowded when we went so we got to relax and get one of the booth's. I'd recommend the place to anyone who is a fan of seafood, it's not gourmet by any means but it's definitely a nice little atmosphere with great food.
(5)Gary B.
If you're in the mood for fried seafood and decent chowder and don't want to dress up then this is the place for you !!! I ordered the fish and chips and got a huge plate of three fillets and more french fries than I could eat ! I like the open kitchen and was surprised to see them cutting fresh onions and breading them by hand for their onion rings ... Better then most chain Seafood vendors ...enjoy ...I sure did !!
(4)Geno K.
Excellent. Incredibly friendly staff. Good prices. Fresh seafood. Fast. Not a date place or a get dressed up experience. No frills. Just really good deep fried seafood cheap. Toys for the kids. A great seafood restaurant without driving the typical touristy trap spots to get it. I had the shrimp dinner... excellent. And it's weird to include this in a review, but it was the best tartar sauce I've ever had in my life!
(5)Barbara M.
Had the seafood platter special and it was very good. Also had the clam chowder and oyster bisque -- both were really good. We try not to eat too much fried food, but if we are going to this is the place we go.
(4)Martha S.
Had a great dinner here! I had not been to Susan's in many years. Perfect, casual atmosphere, and a great meal for our family. We had a variety of dinners: lobster roll, fried scallops, fried shrimp and fried calamari. The service was friendly, though of course casual. The seafood was fresh and delicious. There's nothing to compare with hearing your food cooking!
(4)Brian A.
Great seafood and anything but greasy! I had a platter of fish and shrimp, fries and no slaw. Amazing fish and shrimp and nowhere nearly as greasy as you usually find elsewhere. Fries were just ok and cocktail and tarter sauces were pretty good. This joint is right around the corner from me and I'll DEFINITELY be back to try more stuff. I signed up for their newsletter and got a coupon for a free small chowder; I'll check that out next time.
(4)Valerie P.
Fantastic, fresh and not greasy. Best tarter sauce I've ever had. Don't expect anything fancy. Seating is picnic tables and very casual.
(5)Karen C.
No atmosphere, picnic tables, feels like the inside of a garage. I like my fried lobster tail. Fishermen can bring in their catch and have it prepared. Mermaids abound.
(3)Albert S.
yes im a fan i have it 2 to 3 times a week the chowder is great
(4)Chubby W.
Don't be dissuaded by the appearance (inside or outside) of Susan's Fish & Chips. Quite frankly, it looks like a bit of a dump and it sits amidst a half-dozen dive bars and pubs at the intersection of Stevens and Forrest. For the first year that I lived in Portland, I avoided stopping at Susan's because of its appearance. That finally changed after seeing some positive reviews online (not to mention a parking lot that is almost always full during lunch and dinner hours). Susan's does one thing (fried seafood), and they do it pretty well. I've lived in Portland for four years and have always marveled at how difficult it is to find a decent fish & chips at a fair price in this town known for its restaurants and seafood. Granted, the quality of the fish used at Susan's isn't top notch. (Its just a basic cod.) But they do a pretty good job preparing it and you can't beat the prices ($7.99 for the "fish & chips" dinner, which includes chips [fries] and coleslaw). I've yet to try anything other than the fish & chips and the fried veggie boat (zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, onion rings, green beans) but those dishes have been very satisfying. I have just two complaints about Susan's --- 1) Parking can be extremely difficult to come by during busier hours. So keep that in mind. 2) The staff, while friendly, is ridiculously slow. I recently phoned in a take-out order and was told that it would be ready in ten minutes. I arrived right on time and was delighted to see my food being taken out of the fryers right at that moment. However, it then took another ten minutes for me to get the attention of one of the three kids monkeying around behind the counter and get one of them to ring up my order. Another bagged the order, only to exclude the veggie boat, forcing me to return to the restaurant twenty minutes later. A casual "sorry" was offered by the kid, but not much else. If Susan could rein in the kids a bit (e.g. a little less monkeying around and a little more work), this place could go from being a diamond in the rough to a true Portland dining highlight.
(3)Brett F.
Last night I tried Fisherman's Grill. And while it may superficially look divey, it really isn't. Susan's is. In the best way possible. Situated next to an auto mechanic on Forest Ave, this is the ultimate Portland seafood dive. Parking is easy and the building itself is surprisingly large. Inside are many long benches for communal seating, along with a few booths. There's a large outdoor area with picnic tables in the summer. You order at the counter (they do accept credit cards), give your name, and they bring your food. The decorations are random, to say the least. Puzzles, stuffed animals, basically anything they could find they threw up on the wall. Why not, right? The menu is what you would expect (all of the fried seafood staples) with a few surprises. The fried veggie boat is deliciously greasy, as are the fried pickles. I'm not sure exactly if it's a written-down policy, but Susan's is BYOB. On Monday and Tuesday nights the special is $2.50 for 2 fried fish sandwiches. And they're not tiny. An order of that, a bottle of wine from home, and cribbage, may be the perfect capper to a Monday workday. Everything at Susan's oozes value. The lobster roll is $11 and comes with fries. Maybe it's not the very best in the state, but lobster is lobster. There is no better deal. This is cheap, semi-greasy, but fresh, seafood. It gives a giant middle finger to Street and Company. But the service is great, so with a smile.
(4)Nich K.
This place is a dive in a good way. It's authentic. I had the lobster roll with fries, clam chowder and a clam cake. For the price you can't beat it. Would recommend to friends traveling to the area.
(4)Kim R.
After a crap meal at another seafood place we decided to try one more place while vacationing in Maine. We drove to Susan's and say in the parking lot for 5 minutes trying to decide if we wanted to go in or not due to the pretty sketchy exterior. Haha. I'm glad we went it. It's a smaller mom and pop joint that's super relaxed with good food. It's inexpensive and that's always a plus!
(4)Taffany H.
This is definitely a local kind of place. If I didn't know better, I would have assumed la Urbana took cue from this place and convert a garage to make a restaurant. We stopped by Susan's for a quick dinner in Portland, ME but wanted something that's more of a local flavor and Susan's was it. With their home made tartar sauce to a very attentive service, the fish they've used here is fresh. The best part from my meal is actually their Coleslaw. I don't usually like coleslaws but at Susan's the seasoning they've used in the making of their slaw is savory and quite tasty. Unfortunately, the only way of cooking at Susan's is fried but the Fish N Chip is a good option here.
(4)Bonnie C.
We came here twice- once to try their lobster roll and the shrimp roll, and second time to try their clam chowder. Lobster roll was okay- pretty standard for maine. Shrimp roll and the fries, in my opinion were bland. Clam chowder on the other hand, was on POINT. My fiance loves it when clam chowder is served in a bread bowl, and that is what we got. Creamy clam chowder that is loaded with clam meat in a soft bread bowl. Mmm Also, service was super friendly.
(3)S K.
I love a hole-in-the-wall type of mom and pop restaurants, but this one's reviews (Google and other online reviews) seem quite far from reality. Or, the restaurant no longer lives up to its prior fame, at least when we visited. Greasy odor overflows the place as soon as you walk in. Service is not their strong asset. Neither their hygiene nor their foods. They don't bother to wipe the tables. Grease stains from so much frying all day long run on the walls. It's an open kitchen, so you can see how they prepare foods. Never mind wearing any gloves or hats. As for foods? Everything is fried, and my mouth still has a bad taste from their dishes 5 hours later. We regret visiting there wasting one meal during our vacation.
(1)Amanda R.
I had a seafood crave last night and didn't feel like eating leftovers. Susan's Fish n Chips came to mind and phoned in a takeout order. The lady over the phone was very nice and offered to give us additional cocktail and tartar sauce! I always pass by this restaurant whenever I am running errands and decided to give this place a shot. Boy o Boy, I'm extremely glad that I did so. Appearance: As I entered Susan's, I noticed that there were picnic tables, a couple of booths setback and free coffee at the register. Even though I can't have coffee, it's nice that it's free to patrons! Behind the register, you're actually able to see how the food is made which is great news for me. It was an assembly line with seafood ready to be coated with their delicious batter, then fried to a golden crisp. Taste: I ordered take out which consisted of a small clam chowder, calamari plate, and the fish and chips plate. The clam chowder was really creamy, had chunks of potatoes, and little pieces of clams. I ended up adding black pepper to give it a kick! Both dinner entrees came with fries which weren't salty thankfully and small tubs of coleslaw. Sometimes, coleslaw can taste spoiled or just really watery.....but not this coleslaw!! It was seasoned just right and every bite was fresh and yummy. The fish and chips plate was humongous....3 big pieces of fish which I shared with my boyfriend because I couldn't finish it! The batter on the fish was out of this world amazing and enjoyed every bite. I tried some of my boyfriend's calamari and it tasted just as good! Customer Service: The ladies at the front were so lovely and patient. I couldn't ask for better service!
(3)Claudio C.
This place is a fried seafood go to....get past the sketchy exterior....it's good value and decent fish... The fish and chips are excellent and a good portion....the haddock sandwich a popular favorite....good fresh haddock...nice portion....decent ciabatta roll.. The lobster roll is $12 and delivers lots of lobster for the price. The tarter is in a big canning jar....help yourself.... Nice staff....good value....nothing fancy....4 stars for value and decent product.
(4)Charles W.
For the longest time I avoided this place. Partly based on the look from the outside, being attached to a car garage and from some less then stellar reviews from past co-workers. My father had been helping me with things around the house and suggested going here as he always wanted to try it. I figured it was time to put up or shut up and to give this place a try. I am glad I did. The food was super affordable (30 dollars for 3 people) and pretty good. That being said most of the options here involve lowering an dead ocean dwelling animal into a deep fryer but the quality of the shrimp (I ordered) and fish (my parents) was great. The gallon of tarter sauce that you get is good but for the love of your cholesterol use sparingly. The coleslaw was so so. The inside is pretty tacky and dated but the reason you are going to Susan's is not for the ambiance (Or maybe that is your thing, i.e. Bubbas Sulky Lounge) The food is great, the staff are friendly and enjoyed (dealing with) my father chatting with them. While not glitzy like some downtown Commercial St. establishment the rhymes with Moone's Mish Mouse and Mouster Room, the food is quality and priced correctly. While I was busy tossing shrimp down, the line that popped into my head from the show about a famous yellow family with only four fingers was: "'Tis no man, 'tis a remorseless eatin' machine" Susan's, please never become all you can eat.
(4)Alexandra R.
So glad that Susan's stays open past the summer/fall season! We visited in November and had a great time enjoying the delicious New England cuisine. The restaurant is very Maine with a no frills design, and cute antique flares here and there. I especially liked the vintage booths in the back. We tried the lobster rolls, French fries, fried pickles and clam chowder. The lobster roll was my favorite. The fresh roll was stuffed with lobster meat and had hardly any mayo on it. The clam chowder was great as well, especially on a cold day. The fried pickles and French fries were pretty good but they could have used a little more flavor. All of the food was very reasonably priced. I was definitely impressed with the quality of the food for the price. Susan's also offers free coffee to all patrons. I appreciated this because I was put into a mild food coma after overindulging in all of the delicious food here!
(5)Kathleen B.
This place is a-ok.. I enjoyed the crunch of the batter on my fried fish.. Fish tastes mild.. Fries are average.. Tartar sauce is tangy.. It's a solid spot for that fish n chips craving.. And I like how the inside of the restaurant is an auto body shop.. The casual ambience is very fitting. They also sell ice cream, sundaes, a fried banana dessert and frappes.. Didn't get to try those tho.
(3)Katie W.
I really like this place. It's simple, no-frills dining, but they do it very well. I had some of the freshest and most tender fried calamari I've ever had, generously portioned at a reasonable price. The fried fish dish that my friend got was huge, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The tartar sauce is nice and tangy, and their clam chowder is yummy too albeit not the best in the city. Our only complaint was that the fries were not that crispy and could have been better salted, but the seafood is excellent. The place is located in a giant renovated garage, and you seat yourself. Don't expect there to be silverware and tablecloths, but appreciate the fact that they're battering and frying your seafood right in front of you.
(4)Sheila D.
Stumbled upon this place while driving outside downtown Portland, and it's a gem! The pricing is pretty awesome compared to other seafood places (nothing really more than $15) which is great. I'm a clam chowder fanatic, and the chowder here is fantastic! Plus, they have a bread bowl option that's really filling and affordable, so I definitely recommend that if you're a chowder fan like me. Most of the food is fried, so if that's up your alley, you'll absolutely love this place. I highly recommend the fried clams with the homemade tartar sauce, but I've heard that the lobster roll is delicious too. The service is really quick, and they serve free coffee throughout the day. I'll definitely come back here if I have the time, especially because the food is so affordable! Worth the drive out of downtown!
(5)Smitty C.
It's the BEST fried fish joint I've ever been to. Period. This is a "MUST stop here" in the area if you're looking to just pick up or grab a quick bite. I'm so glad I went here for dinner. We went to a VERY nice the night before for the raw oysters and dropped 150 bucks without blinking. enjoyed the night, worth every cent. We spent around 30 bucks at Susan's and walked away JUST as happy. ***WARNING**** Frist let me address the situation you'll realize if you go here: YES, this was a car repair shop before it was a restaurant. GET OVER THAT FACT. This isn't done in an ironic hipster way, you know, just setting up shop in a unique place just to be cute. They don't have farm to fresh baby arugula salad pressed donuts in mason jars served with artisanal Whiskey made in house by a guy who has dark rimmed glasses and only plays vinyl records over the house pa system. If it was done this way you'd see this place on EVERY travel and food show, ever! but, it's not. so just deal with the fact that the place is an old beat up shack that serves some amazing food! This is a back ally food place that deserves to be eaten. What we ate: The lobster roll was damned good, as well as the cheapest you'll find for a solid roll. Was FRESH an flakey tasting lobster, creamy sauce that didn't overpower or weigh down the roll. The roll was soft and had a nice browning on it. Basically if you made this level of lobster roll at home. Your friends would beg you to make it ALL THE TIME. Sure they might have better ones out at bla bla bla... but these are SOLID DAMNED GOOD! We took advantage of the special for mon and tues of two fried fish sandwiches for under 3 bucks.... WHOLY CRAP! I'm SO GLAD I got this! Fresh cooked white fish with fresh made tartar sauce and a sprinkle of fresh lettuce. You ever see a picture of food that they serve at some crappy McDonalds type place... where the food looks amazing, but you get it - and it looks like someone sat on it? This tasted as good as the photo you see of a perfect fried fish sandwich. I wish I could eat this on a regular basis. Fish N Chips. Check. Some of the freshest tasting, best breaded, best fried, moist and flakey white fish I've EVER had. They tasted great with the tartar sauce OR the malt vinegar. The fries... solid as cheap fries go, fresh cooked and not over salted. Just an amazing cooked cheap food. Tartar sauce in a big ass jar that they just plop down with your meal? CHECK! This is creamy and good, use as much as you need, who cares. It tasted fresh made like a family member makes at a cookout that reminds you of summer. I made it a point to eat at seafood places while visiting Maine. I was blown away by how good the food is in this town. Now eating a $150 meal makes you realize how good food really can be in this area.... but after eating here at Susan's. I'M MAD I DON'T HAVE THIS IN MY TOWN! I'd eat at this place once a month! I'm a cheap bastard, I barely eat out. So for me to eat here once a month is saying A LOT!
(5)Javier B.
Amazing!!!! We had the sample platter and all five of us were very pleased with the food and quantity I had no idea scallops could be as big as they make them here if you are looking for a good seafood place I definitely recommend this place
(4)Victoria P.
It was alright. Fisherman's Grill still reigns supreme. Prices were good. Took forever and a day for the order to be prepared. Workers were friendly enough.
(3)Jennifer L.
Borderline 3.5. Super dive-y seashore type vibe in this Forest Avenue spot, but I was into it. It is definitely a bit grimy, so brace yourself for some CARPETED floors (WHAT!), sticky tables and all that noise, but my food was top notch. I had a gigantic combination platter with fried clams and fried shrimp. The shrimp were baby shrimp and so teeny that I barely tasted them, but the clams were perfect and in general they were battered and fried to perfection. It comes with a little container of coleslaw and the option of fries, macaroni or potato salad - I was offered zero of these options though. I saw on the menu they were choices, but she never asked and I didn't really care, but the older, whiter, presumably more regulars who came after me were offered all the options. Don't think I'm not noticing. My boyfriend had the haddock burger and we split a clam chowder. You get a gigantic mason jar of tartar sauce, and I have a feeling a lot of the regulars here slurp that right up. They offer some crazy fish burger special on M/Tues - 2 for $2.50? The lady behind me tried to order it, but was told today was Wednesday and was offered up some other specials. I wouldn't mess with a lobster roll here, unless I brought the lobster in myself, so if that's what you're looking for, Fisherman's Grill is just down the road, and their lobster roll is ridiculously good. Thought the food was good, but the overall vibe was weird. This lady kept giving me the stink eye/freak face EVERY time we made eye contact - my boyfriend said he caught it too and thought that was her regular stank face - and we were not given a fond farewell like every one else was when they left. That could just be coincidence, but that's not my favorite kind of dive feel. You're lucky I'm rating up for food alone.
(4)Larry L.
This is the favorite place for the locals to eat and now I know why. The lobster roll was delicious & full of meat. This was served on a split top bun with lettuce in the bed and as much tender lobster as could be crammed inside. Yum! The clam cakes were delicious also and not greasy. The fat belly fried clams are awesome! Ken's Place, step up the pace or step aside. A must stop for Maine treats in a very eclectic setting. We were too full to try their fried lobster tail on a stick, but people rave about it.
(5)Tony Q.
The food is always consistent and packed with flavor, I have never been less than satisfied, full and happy with all the offer. Score 9
(4)Robert W.
When in doubt, go somewhere else. Go to 3 Buoys. Susan' is nasty. They use the cheapest bread, and their less-than-clean-cut looking staff don't even wear gloves to make your food. And if you go in the summer, you'll wait an hour for your food. Honestly, not worth it. *Puke* There is NOTHING worse than bad seafood.
(1)Rick M.
My favorite place to eat when I'm in Maine. The clams and scallops are to die for and I could eat the deep fried lobster tail until I explode. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Chris P.
Good place for a quick meal. It's in an old garage that was turned into a restaurant. The prices are good and so is the fried seafood and chowder
(4)Nancy J.
Best fish and chips I've ever had. Clam chowder superb. Crab cake bready but delectable. Onion rings a winner. Great prices!
(5)Mary L.
If the plaques on the wall are any indication, Y2K was the last time the decor in Susan's was updated and it shows. Not to say that the place was dirty, but a dive for sure and unfortunately with no alcohol in my system, my 20/20 vision was on high alert and left me uncomfortable. The staff is extremely nice. You order at the counter and the food is delivered to your table, and they continually come around to check and make sure everything is okay. We started with the plate of deep fried vegetables - onion rings, broccoli, zucchini, and califlower in three different kinds of batter. I really didn't care for this. Zucchini was in this thick, breadcrumb like batter that left 2/3 batter and 1/3 zucchini in each bite. Califlower was the most palatable but was sort of mushy. The boy had the fish & chips and I had the haddock sandwich. The portions were adequate and the fish was fresh. Tartar sauce definately helped to put the meal together. Overall, I feel like I could've found the same quality elsewhere with perhaps a more enjoyable atmosphere. Considering this is located off the main downtown area... I SAY THAT IT'S A SKIP (unless you were like us and had to readjust our plans when Po Boys & Pickles was closed)!!
(3)Diane M.
We went to Susan's last year and had a great meal of scallops and clams. Generous portions and delicious food. We went again tonight and was very disappointed. The scallops were tough and I only received 6 scallops compared to at least double that last year. They were over cooked and cooked in old oil. Same with the French fries.
(2)K P.
Lobster was plenty but it needed some seasoning... Some butter, salt, or mayo. Fries were ok and the roll wasn't anything special. If they could invest in fresh baguettes instead of premade rolls and spice up their lobster, it would be great. The fish chowder was not so great. It was served with a layer of oil on top and was not very creamy. It was watery with chunks of potatoes and fish. The amount of lobster in the roll is decent for $14.
(3)Peter B.
Years ago it was good food and a sparse but clean decor. I came often with a dear old friend who has since passed away. Now its run down. The workers friends or significant others hang out at the counter and mill around. The lady who cooked my food was outside smoking and walked in at the same time as me. Never washed her hands and made my food. Gross !!! I hate cigarettes. My cole slaw had turned bad as well. My French fries were barely warm. Sadly this is my last trip to eat here. It looks like a place that homeless people gather at inside.
(2)Ashley N.
The clam chowder is good and creamy. The fish soup was good as well, but tasted like a typical Asian fish soup my mom use to make. The lobster roll was also good, but it was a bit dry. I did not like the bread that it was on, but it was still good. Fried pickles was also good. Just rightly battered and it was good with the tartar sauce. We got a giant jar of tartar sauce, so there is enough to go around. The staff is nice. There is plenty of seating for large groups. They also served free coffee which was a nice pick me up in the afternoon. Did not try their fish-n-chips though, which they are known for, but next time wen I am up here, I'll be sure to try it.
(4)Stephen V.
What a surprise this place was don't go buy the look of the building inside a wonderful treat a waits a hungry visitor.The food was the best girlfriend had the fried oysters I had the fried clams done to perfection both dish .this a do over for us
(5)Pam S.
Simply the best clam shack I've ever been to. I have been on a " best whole belly fried clam" quest for decades! ( whispering Sea Swirl in Mystic Ct And the pier in Providencetown MA round out the top 3 ) Nice folks, fresh while you watch breading. I've found whole belly nirvana!
(5)Nicole R.
Not the cleanest looking place but not totally dirty either... With that said the fish and chips were really good. Homemade coleslaw and tartar sauce were great as well. Service was speedy and very nice. Definitely a down home kind of place. If you're in the area stop in! You won't be disappointed.
(4)Heather M.
Recommended by a local, we love the haddock sandwich and the chowder (available only on Sunday's) in an old gas station with lots of local character. If you want beer or wine, you can go across the street and bring it in. Wonderful!
(5)Allen I.
Awesome. This place absolutely smokes Fisherman's Grill. Picture of Crosby Stills and Nash on the wall to verify the amazingness? Indeed. I got the lobster roll, it was great. I got the chowder and I loved it. I'm so jealous of all the people who get those sandwiches 2 for 3.00 that's on my to do list soon. People here were super friendly and the place itself was very cool.
(4)Ray M.
I ordered the seafood platter. The fish and scallops had a chlorine smell and taste. The fried clams and oyster were ok.
(2)Emily B.
Service doesn't seem to always be a priority here. I've been accused of ordering certain things (that I certainly didn't order) when they overcharged me and, most recently, I stood patiently in line for ten minutes while multiple people tried to figure out the credit card machine. During this time, not a single customer was helped - the cooks stood there waiting as did the customers, when at least one of the people staring at the machine could have moved down the line. That being said, staff is, for the most part, friendly and accommodating. Their food is decent (please note that this is a fried seafood restaurant, don't expect anything fancy) and they have a fairly large seating area. Definitely sit outside if the weather is nice. It's a casual alternative to many of the seafood restaurants downtown. They offer 2/$2.50 fish burgers on Mondays and Tuesdays and $10 off your meal if you visit on your birthday.
(3)John T.
Super fresh seafood in a place that you would NEVER guess. It is across the street from Po' Boys & Pickles so if you are in the area and don't want a sandwich, hop across the street to grab a great seafood plate. It is cheap and good, qualities that rarely go hand in hand. Also, a plate of deep fried vegetables is ALWAYS a winner in my book. Seafood is super fresh and quick to your table. Mark this one down as a place to visit often.
(5)Karen C.
Love just love the fish burgers. Delicious. This is our second time here and this place is a must go to. Plan to go before we head back home . The tartar sauce is to die for .
(5)Kelly S.
The seafood chowder and whole belly fried clams are outstanding. Great place to go once in a while. I say once in awhile only because I'm confident the fare is not for the healthy heart, but man is it good. This place seems to be in an old auto shop and there is a faint exhaust smell, or it seemed to me. But just read the incredible reviews on the walls. Consistently voted the best and given such recognition year after year after year. Very laid back, nice staff, free coffee, free soft drink refills, concrete floors, picnic tables, clean enough, and with the price. You've gotta give it try. Bottom line: Next time I'm in Portland, I'll be stopping by.
(4)Jack N.
I love when I go someplace and feel like I'm the only newbie around. The other patrons in Susan's all looked like they were "townies", and had eaten there many times. Yet I was welcomed as a regular. Unassuming - to say the least - this ramshackle place is filled with picnic tables and a few booths, and apparently was a garage at some point in its existence. Its filled with countless doodads and whatnots, mostly typically iconic stuff you'd associate with a seafood joint near the water. Nets, plastic lobsters, witty signs, cheesy artwork - you name it. The gal at the counter was friendly to the nth degree, and the whole time I was there she was singing and bopping around to the music being played. This girl enjoyed her job, or at least was appearing to enjoy it. The food? Well, it was just as I expected. Crispy and not oily fried clams, some standard cole slaw and a pile of fries. The breakfast of champions for this Rhode Island native. If you're looking for a simple lunch or dinner, and want some typical New England seafood, Susan's will suit you just fine.
(4)Kristin D.
When my usual favorite seafood place was closed for vacation- I decided to give Susan's a try. On curb appeal alone I probably would never have stopped in- but all the positive reviews on yelp couldn't be wrong?? The minute you step inside, you see how special this place really is. It's a converted garage- warm and cheery with fishing pictures decorating the walls. The shiny picnic tables are clean and organized. It feels so comfortable in here! Then you step up to the counter- you see everyone working- battering the fish right in front of you ! The service is excellent, everyone seems very happy!!! Now it's time for the food. We were a party of 7 our family was visiting from Maryland, they actually own a couple of seafood markets- so they know fish! We ordered a whole bunch of stuff: lobster rolls, fish and chips, friend shrimp, clams, the roasted corn chowder... Yum! Everything was so fresh and tasty. I can't say enough about the fried fish, clams and shrimp. They literally melted in your mouth!!! I won't pass Susan's up again- it's going in my regular rotation now!!!
(5)Seb T.
i can't really recommend eating in this restaurant because every time i dine in house, the tables are so sticky that drake could use them as courtside lint rollers that said, they have cheap french fries, great tartar sauce, and they do fried seafood well. i would probably recommend getting take-out, as the staff is often so unfriendly that i'm not 100% sure that i'm even supposed to be sitting down at their tables. still, they don't pretend to be anything they aren't, and it's hard to complain about unpretentious seafood
(4)Diana H.
Def try the lobster roll if your here. It's very chunky and worth every single bite. However, I would say its a bit pricey but that's just me. I paid $17 for one lobster roll & sweet potato tater tots.
(5)Penelope A.
Five stars for being the best in town for fish 'n' chips, which is all I've ever ordered there. Fresh fried fish, fries worth the calories, wonderful cole slaw and they give you a whole jar of tartar sauce, if you are into that. You can also bring your own catch, cleaned, and they will cook it for you. Atmosphere is a very comfortable and inviting garage with picnic tables, nautical knick-knacks and memorabilia. Good for groups, families with kids, or a quick solo bite.
(5)Thomas O.
This place reminded us a lot of a dive bar, but the food was fantastic and the decorations were enjoyable to see. We got our food to go (and called and placed the order ahead of time) and the food was ready for us right then (but still fresh and hot!). I got the lobster roll which did not disappoint and my wife got the fish and chips. Great food!
(4)Christi S.
Although the tables could use a good wash or a top coat of paint to prevent stickiness. I come here every Mon or Tues for their 2/$2.50 fish burgers. The cooks and staff have gotten to know us well and sometimes offers onion rings on the house when we have a good crowd. Very friendly, has free coffee. Fish burgers are fresh & tartar sauce is awesome! Much better than McDonald's
(4)Asya P.
We walked here one rainy night, and enjoyed it immensely. The staff are incredibly friendly, the food is perfect. The lobster roll is good, but I don't really see what all the fuss is about . The french fries are solid, but the fish... oh, the fish. I had the haddock plate, and it was the freshest, crispiest fish. I swear it still smelled like the ocean. My other half was especially impressed with the seasoning on the breading. In the future, I will just go for a pint or quart of fried fish here. We will be back repeatedly.
(4)Ashley M.
Fresh fish fried in delicious batter. I got a dinner combination with fried haddock and scallops. I also got a lobster roll. The scallops melted in my mouth. The homemade tarter sauce is on point as well. Lobster roll was light and refreshing. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because my fish portion was too small for the price.
(4)Jake W.
I've been looking for a place to get large amounts of fried fish at a decent price, and I think I've found one here. Susan's has gotten a number of write ups about its freshness, which I can attest to. The fish was fresh enough to flake upon me picking it up. This lead to a messy plate but happy tastebuds. The portions were generous enough, and they had a 2 for $2.50 special on fish burgers when I visited, so I could have gone overboard (no pun intended) quite easily. In addition to the on-sale burgers, My mom and I split fish'n'chips and fried shrimps. The batter didn't have too much seasoning, but the ample amounts of tartar and cocktail sauce made up for this. The french fries were perfectly crispy, on my request. The restaurant is a simple fish shack--concrete floor with blue walls stock full of nautical nick-nacks and memorabilia. It's a little ways away from the action and buzz of downtown Portland, so you have to make it a destination (unless you're traveling on 302). But its on par with the lobster shacks you'll find in costal towns (like the one in my hometown of Cape Elizabeth) and offers a much better value.
(4)brian s.
This is no hipster joint so if you are looking to park the Beemer and stand around looking all so cool this is not the place! Now that that is out of the way Best fried clams scallops in Portland Fish sandwiches 2 for 2.50 yeppers no kiddding
(4)Jack B.
this place is exactly what you would expect, great food, fried everything, onions, fish n chips, shrimp, fries. Very friendly quick service. $28 for lunch
(4)Sheila S.
This place is a hidden gem. I've been going there for 20+ years. It's not fancy but the food is GOOD and very reasonably priced. You get $10 off on your birthday.
(5)Sandra G.
The restaurant was located in a more modest part of Portland. Indoor eating area a not dark and a little too warm, so we ate outside. On the way outside, I noticed a good number of toys for kids to play with. There seems to be a mindfulness for kids since kids could get a free ice cream if a child could present a report card with A's. There were 4 well maintained long wooden painted picnic tables outside. Outdoor area was clean , no litter. Not really a great view in the outdoor eating area. Seafood was fresh. Deep fried items were crispy & light. Seafood freshness good. However, lack of seasonings made food less than stellar: the potato salad needed salt as did the oysters & scallops.
(3)Kati R.
Not sure what all the great reviews are about. We went there last weekend and I ordered a pint of clams (bellies). Received a total of 8 clams in the basket for $13.00!! Wow! Way too expensive for the portion. The breading was falling off and after eating the clams, the bottom of the basket was covered in loose breading. Not a good value, and not a very clean place......sticky tables. Hubby ordered fish and chips, and portion was also very small. Would not recommend.
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