Brown’s Seabrook Lobster Pound

The food here is generally great, however this trip was disappointing. They were out of fried clams, which is fine. They ran out, no biggie. We ordered a milk for our 3 year old with his dinner and they gave us a milk that had passed it’s expiration date by 2 weeks. We never would have caught this if our son hadn’t complained about the taste of the milk. When I brought it to their attention they were apologetic and replaced the milk with an orange soda, per my request, at no cost. I understand accidents can happen, however my son was up vomiting as a result of the milk they gave us. When you run a restaurant, food safety should be a top priority.

Decided to try, as Clam Box was closed. Ordered seafood plate. It was terrible. I can’t believe that people go here for fried food. Never again!

Cash only. Not sure I like that. I’m sure this thriving business is sticking it to Uncle Sam. Besides the dishonesty I have no proof is going on. This is a great restaurant. Fresh seafood not like the garbage you will find on the strip. This is the real thing. You can bring your own wine so don’t forget to stop by the liqueur store before you come. Bench seating nothing fancy and it’s not cheap, but the quality is worth the price.

We ordered steamers and were very disappointed — they were very dirty, like they hadn’t rinsed them at all before cooking. We also had a lobster roll and scallop roll. Both were good but I’ll leave off the lettuce on the lobster roll next time.
I like the basic atmosphere of this place and the BYOB. Great place to go with a bunch of friends or family! We sat by the window and had a great view of the sunset! We will go back in the summer

I’ve only ever had the chicken fingers from here, which I absolutely love.
The reason I have to give 2 stars, is because their customer service is atrocious.
I ordered 2 meals, plus a large chowder on the side, to go.
Waited a long time, which I overlooked, even though it wasn’t busy. It was about 25 – 30 minutes before closing time. Once I paid, and grabbed our big brown paper bag of food, I left for my car. Upon opening it, in the parking lot, I realized they forgot the chowder. Ran back inside to ask for the chowder.
«There’s no chowder left.»
OK, then we would like our money back.
«We already cashed out for the night, there’s no money in the building.»
…Is the manager here?
«No.» — even though I saw the manager through the little window, nobody except the summer-​work teenage cashier would come talk to me. This was MINUTES after we paid. So I assume the second after we paid, somebody hauled-​ass out of the building with all the cash. So, we couldn’t receive our money back for food we didn’t even get, and there’s no chowder available? So what do we do? Eventually, after some back-​and-​fourth, a man came out and gave us a ¾ full cup of luke-​warm chowder, which he literally just microwaved, and sent us on our way.
Haven’t returned.
They are clearly relying on their «laid back, beach-​type, don’t even need to clean our tables atmosphere.» With the way they serve their food over the counter, and you find your own seat, cafeteria style. Also, they clearly do fine, cash-​wise. With all the tourists around. So I guess they don’t need impeccable customer service, right?

Brown’s is a very laid back, super casual, no frills, BYOB seafood shack. Keep this in mind and you will truly enjoy the experience. It’s the type of place where you can gather with a bunch of friends or family and a cooler of beer. My friends and I have been coming here for years and make it an annual tradition. In fact, we even have a good friend who moved to Arizona and still makes an effort to eat at Brown’s when he comes home to visit.
Brown’s has a somewhat oddly configured ordering system, but if you know what to expect in advance it should not be difficult:
Lobster and fried food orders placed inside.
Fried food only orders at outside window.
Steamers at counter near indoor seating.
Simple right? Some people find it complicated, but I believe this system helps cut down on the length of the lines. There still will be a wait at times, but a long line really is worth it for Brown’s delicious fried seafood. Their fried scallops are outstanding and you must try the fried lobster tails too! I love this place because it has options. Order seafood by the box or opt for a plate complete with fries and coleslaw. Boxes come in small, medium, and large. I like that I can get a small box of scallops or clams as a «snack» when I’m not super hungry. After your order is placed find a seat on one of about a hundred benches (slightly exaggerating) located both indoors and out. The outdoor deck offers a pretty marsh view slightly interrupted by the lovely Seabrook Power Plant looming in the distance. Listen carefully as they call your number because the speaker system is not always very clear. The indoor seating area also becomes very loud when the restaurant is crowded. The bathroom is no bigger than a closet and the sink is actually located outside of the bathroom near the dining area. Yes, no getting away with not washing your hands here because someone will be sure to notice! Despite all these little quirks I still love Brown’s and truly look forward to visiting each summer. I love that they have maintained their unique and original atmosphere after all these years and for this reason and their yummy food I give them five stars.
Brown’s is open year round although the hours change a bit at the end of summer. We also make a trip up in October when it is less busy and love that we have the dining area a little more to ourselves.

Great place to BYOB! Lobsters are fresh and fried food is average, but it’s still a great option for a lobster pound!

Brown’s and Markey’s were described as the New England seafood version of the Pat’s/Gino’s cheesesteak rivalry in Philly. Looking at their respective menus, they seem to do the exact same thing, but what swung us over to Brown’s for a Saturday lunch was their BYOB policy. Their food ended up being pretty great too!
We each got a lobster, which were picked out of the water right in front of us and sent to the steamer. They were large, plenty of claw and tail, and perfectly cooked. The fried clams, while expensive, were also good and since it’s such a classic New England thing, we figured it was worth the damage to our coronaries.
Décor and service are nothing to write home about, and yet exactly what you expect from a roadside clam shack/​lobster pound. There were some workers who were outstanding and helpful, such as those waiting to clean the tables as soon as we left, and others who were fairly rude. Brown’s has multiple ordering windows, and for a first-​time visitor, it’s not immediately obvious where everything is supposed to be ordered. Some workers act as if you’re bothering them terribly when asking where to order the lobster. It’s just unnecessary.
Dining is at picnic tables inside and outside. We arrived right as they opened, and the dining room was immaculate. Bathrooms and hand-​washing stations, which are always worrisome at this type of place, were also very clean. The BYOB thing was great too. I loved the sign stating that you’re welcome to bring beer and wine, but shouldn’t bring soda or juice. Just fine by me!
Overall a nice place to stop for a lobster and other steamed or fried seafood items. Glad we made the stop. I’d come back again if I were in the area!

You can taste the freshness of whatever you get, whether it is lobster, steamers or any of the fried classics. This place is very large and has generous parking and seating for the location. It is BYOB and people get fancy with their own festive table cloths.
It is picnic table seating (indoor and outdoor) and you order at a counter and are given a number. When tour food is ready it is announced over the sound system. Try not to sit at a table by the speakers– they have to be loud because the restaurant is loud, but being too close is a headache.
The lobsters are a good size and the come in a good portion. All of the fried seafood (haddock, scallops, clams, shrimp) come piled high in plates with some of the best French fries around. They are really good! You have to get your own utensils and napkins and such and don’t forget the tartar sauce! It’s very good.