Countryside Diner in Augusta, Maine

Countryside Diner is a straightforward breakfast and lunch spot in Augusta where the kitchen makes everything from scratch, including pies that draw special requests from coast dwellers. Locals cycle through regularly, and you'll find the room full of the kind of people who know a good scrambled egg when they taste one. Service is quick without being rushed, and the prices won't wreck your budget.

• Scratch-made pastries and pies, including rare Graham Cracker variety.
• Full breakfast: omelets, French toast, Eggs Benedict all solid.
• Dinner options include poutine burgers and brisket.
• Friendly staff and locals make the room feel genuine.

Start with a Western Omelette or go straight to French Toast. The Eggs Benedict and Brisket are solid dinner picks. Grab a Blueberry Turnover or Crème Brûlée Donut on your way out, and if you're willing to call ahead, ask about the Graham Cracker Pie. The poutine burger gets a second mention from regulars.

Bright and compact, with a working-kitchen energy. The room fills up with locals and passers-through, all there for the same reason: solid, honest food.

Guests rave about the value and the pastry case. One recent visitor called it "adorable" and singled out server Debra's poutine burger recommendation. Another diner who's tried every breakfast spot in the area crowned it the best, praising both the food and the small-town diner feel.