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Restaurant
Ellsworth
Homemade soups and creative melts in a cozy Ellsworth spot. The lobster bisque is legendary.
Wholesaler
Rockland
Maine Lobster Club serves butter-drowned lobster rolls and shrimp mac and cheese worth the drive.
Thai restaurant
Portland
Thai street food in a tiny Portland shop: grilled sausages, banh mi, and bold curries.
Mexican restaurant
Fish tacos and hefty burritos at Ellsworth's beloved Mexican food truck on Main Street.
American restaurant
Camden
Small-plates American spot in Camden where Hannah and Devin cook what they want, and it works.
Pizza restaurant
Boothbay Harbor
Roadside pizza trailer in Boothbay Harbor with a 5-star track record and crust that lives up to the hype.
Board games, fresh food, and mocha cheesecake in a mill-turned-café in Camden.
Ogunquit
French-leaning bistro in Ogunquit with bacon-wrapped salmon, duck confit, and Black Boar stew.
Charcuterie boards and cured meats done right in Camden, with online ordering and friendly service.
American
Waterfront seafood spot in Portland's Old Port with a fun frozen drink program and killer oyster happy hour.
Bar & grill
Peruvian-inspired small plates and craft cocktails in a historic Camden castle with terraces.
Kennebunkport
Casual spot in Kennebunkport with a solid burger and a bar that stays open late.
Old Orchard Beach
Roast beef and lobster rolls done right, with staff who move fast and keep smiling.
Mediterranean restaurant
Lebanon
Turkish and Mediterranean kebabs, fresh lavash bread, and baklava in Lebanon.
NY-style pizza with perfect crust, fresh toppings, and a cozy board-game-filled room in Ellsworth.
Contemporary American
Portland's Fore Street roasts over wood fire, serving daily-changing American fare with real smoke and skill.
Italian restaurant
Brunswick
Italian cooking in a mid-century modern room. Meatballs and marsala porcini pasta draw crowds to Brunswick.
Fresh Thai in Brunswick with lunch specials at $14.50 and a 4.9-star following.
Bowling alley
Candlepin bowling in a vintage alley with glow nights, game rooms, and a full bar.
Bed & breakfast
York
Waterside B&B in York with harbor views, full breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
German restaurant
Authentic German home cooking in a tiny Portland room run by a German couple.
Augusta
Thai spot in Augusta with dine-in seating, shrimp pad Thai, and a 4.9-star rating.
Food store
Farm-fresh oysters you shuck yourself in Boothbay Harbor, with water views and a relaxed vibe.
Cafe
Acadia National Park
Breakfast spot near Acadia with house-made brioche, Dutch babies, and coffee that draws lines by 9am.
French-inspired small plates and mains in a Portland neighborhood spot where the staff remembers your birthday.
Bistro
Seasonal New American bistro in Portland with brick walls, tin ceilings, and cooking that keeps regulars coming back.
Sandwich shop
Year-round sandwich shop in Old Orchard Beach with creative daily specials and a beer selection.
Hotel
Refined Boothbay Harbor inn with ocean views, upscale rooms, and a restaurant called Blue.
Coffee shop
Freeport
Fresh juices, bagels, and waffles in a welcoming Freeport spot with vegan options and local art on the walls.
Shawarma restaurant
Bangor
Bangor's Lebanese shawarma food truck with creamy cheesecake and house-made baklava.
Bar Harbor
Turkish and Mediterranean spot in Bar Harbor with tender chicken wings, bright salads, and killer red lentil soup.
Indian
South Portland
Family-owned Indian spot in South Portland serving chicken tikka masala, biryani, and craft cocktails.
Asian restaurant
Lily's hand-rolled dumplings and scallion pancakes from a beloved Freeport food cart.
Camden fine dining in a farmhouse that sources Maine seafood and seasonal ingredients.
Boothbay Harbor sandwiches and salads made fresh daily, with a deck overlooking the water.
Hand-rolled burritos in Freeport, massive, fresh, and done fast with a smile.
Bethel
Wood-fired Italian in Bethel with personal pizzas and homemade pasta. Show up early, it fills fast.
Baxter State Park
North & Southeats serves seafood and comfort food near Baxter State Park with inventive salads and standout haddock.
Bar Harbor cafe with sourdough waffles, custom elopement dinners, and coffee worth the trip.
Dumpling Restaurant
Vietnamese-Korean fusion baos and bowls in Augusta. Crispy, flavor-packed, and worth the return visit.
Family-run food truck in Rockland with loaded burritos, breakfast sandwiches, and steak fries at fair prices.
Small-town Bar Harbor spot with rotating specials, killer lobster roll, and cocktails from owner Troy.
Scratch-made Mexican in Bethel with birria tacos, burritos, and salsa that actually has heat.
Rockland pizza spot with creative pies, wine, and killer desserts run by passionate women.
Korean and rotating global cuisines in a Bangor kitchen that hosts pop-ups throughout the week.
Farm-to-table
Portland bakery-restaurant with gourmet brunch and dinner. Try the pastrami biscuit.
Lebanon's Union serves thin-crust pizza with cup-and-char pepperoni and breakfast burritos that keep people coming back.
Smoke Shack near Baxter State Park serves Southern-style BBQ from a food truck with axe throwing on site.
Pub fare with golf course views in Rockland. Beer-battered fish and chips, wood-fired pizza, and killer grilled cheese.
Wine bar and cocktail lounge in Augusta with charcuterie boards and Maine spirits in a fireplace-warmed room.
Donut shop
Wells
Housemade donuts and breakfast sandwiches in a Wells institution with a drive-through line that moves fast.
Brunch Restaurant
Breakfast-focused diner in Lebanon where the bacon is smoked in-house and regulars keep coming back.
Seafood restaurant
Fisherman-owned lobster shack in Bar Harbor with fat rolls, fire pits, and cold beer.
Cape Elizabeth
Fresh Maine lobster rolls from a food truck at Cape Elizabeth's lighthouse park.
Fine Dining Restaurant
Upscale Portland spot with prix fixe menus, craft cocktails, and service that doesn't feel stuffy.
Scarborough
Craft burgers and pizzas with creative twists at a lively Old Orchard Beach spot.
Lebanese restaurant
Lebanese spot in Lebanon, Maine serving standout lamb shawarma wraps and fresh bowls.
Gastropub
York gastropub with 20+ beers and a small-plates menu built on local farms.
Pizza Restaurant
Wood-fired pizzas and farm-to-table mains on a working farm outside Bar Harbor.
Japanese restaurant
Japanese small plates and sake in a converted police station. Tableside-torched salmon and killer oysters.
Seasonal New American bistro in a brick-walled room with tin ceilings and consistently sharp cooking.
Hamburger restaurant
Burgers, sandwiches, and Gifford's ice cream in a year-round Bethel standby with old-school charm.
Lobster rolls and jerk chicken from a takeout shack behind a Bar Harbor gas station.
Asian Restaurant
Southeast Asian spot in Bethel with spicy noodles, pork bowls, and creative cocktails.
Spanish paella spot in Portland where the crispy rice bottom isn't a mistake, it's the whole point.
Stellar coffee and breakfast sandwiches at this Bar Harbor counter spot with picnic tables.
Bakery
Kennebunk
Kennebunk bakery where the croissants are worth the line. Flaky French pastries, strong coffee, rustic patio.
Crispy Detroit-style pizza and gluten-free crusts that actually work, run by staff who remember your name.
Jamaican spot in Ellsworth with jerk chicken, goat curry, and fish fritters that draw crowds.
Homemade pasta and seasonal Italian cooking in Portland, with a chef's counter view of the kitchen.
Brick oven pizza and farm-fresh buffet near Baxter State Park, seasonal operation.
Old Orchard Beach cafe with serious coffee, fresh pastries, and sandwiches that surprise.
French restaurant
Locally sourced French dinner spot in Kennebunk with pristine gnocchi and frites that justify the drive.
Latin American restaurant
Authentic Colombian fare in Cape Elizabeth. Bold Latin flavors, fresh juices, crispy arrepas.
Old Orchard Beach fish shack where the batter crackles and the fish stays impossibly moist inside.
British restaurant
British pub with Irish flair in Portland's West End. Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, killer happy hour.
Local seafood and meat in a historic Bangor building where casual meets refined.
Fine dining restaurant
Seasonal fine dining in Bangor with local seafood, meats, and a serious cocktail program.
Asian fusion tavern in Portland with knockout cocktails and wings in three flavor profiles.
Bethel's sourdough-and-pastry beacon draws pilgrims for hand-shaped bagels and naturally leavened bread.
Bangor food truck slinging lobster rolls and hand-cut fries that regulars swear by.
Thai cooking in Augusta with cocktails, sunset views, and staff who treat you like a regular.
Cilantro serves authentic Indian cooking in Ellsworth with biryani, curries, and house-made naan.
Authentic Thai in Bangor with killer crab rangoon and curry dishes that draw crowds from neighboring towns.
Seasonal New American cooking in a converted mill, booking through lottery or walk-in lunch service.
Buttermilk Kitchen serves crispy, flavor-packed breakfast and lunch in downtown Camden.
Market
Fresh lobster rolls and live seafood in Freeport, run by an owner who clearly cares.
Portland tavern with fresh seafood and housemade pasta in a cozy, candlelit space.
Italian spot in Bethel with house-made gelato, fresh pasta, and eggs benedict that skiers and shoppers rave about.
Brewery
Orono Brewing's tasting room in Bangor serves house IPAs and creative food in a sprawling industrial space.
Federal-era B&B in Brunswick with hot breakfast, onsite pub, and walkable access to restaurants and Bowdoin.
Fresh lobster and smash burgers near the docks in Rockland, with onion rings that rival the seafood.
Sushi & Seafood
Hand-rolled sushi and locally sourced seafood in Portland's most talked-about sushi spot.
Northern Italian
Intimate Portland Italian spot with rotating menus and house-made pesto that keeps regulars coming back.
Creative cocktails and inventive small plates in a Kennebunk spot with serious bartender chops.
Fresh-baked subs and a hidden whiskey bar in Boothbay Harbor's best sandwich shop.
Bar Harbor American restaurant with schnitzel, mussels, and house-made care in every plate.
Seafood Restaurant
Creative American cooking in a 1823 farmhouse. Smoked salmon, beef medallions, and a wine list worth lingering over.
Azul Agave makes fresh Mexican food in Lebanon with house-made tortillas and ceviche.
Fresh sushi rolls and ramen bowls near York's main drag. Staff that actually cares.
