The Pickled Wrinkle in Birch Harbor, Maine

The Pickled Wrinkle sits quietly off the main drag in Winter Harbor, serving straightforward American fare to locals and tourists alike. The kitchen is small and built for made-to-order cooking, which means your food takes a little longer but tastes fresher for it. The room has a nautical bar area, plenty of seating inside and out, and enough decor to keep you entertained while you wait. Most nights are busy, especially in summer.

• Baked haddock, chowder, and Maine drafts on tap.
• Brussels sprouts and green beans that taste intentional.
• Blueberry margarita worth the trip alone.
• Service stays friendly even during peak summer weeks.

Start with the baked haddock plate (comes with roasted vegetables and is enough to share), the haddock chowder, or the blueberry margarita if you drink. The chicken tenders and pretzel bites are solid sharers. The Brussels sprouts are roasted until they're nutty and caramelized. The lemon blueberry cheesecake rounds things out nicely.

Nautical bar area with enough decor to hold your attention during waits. Casual, comfortable; gets packed in summer but the noise stays friendly. Patio seating available if you want air and light.

This is a place where a family of four can order pretzel bites, wings, tenders, and a burger for under 60 dollars and leave satisfied. It's also where you can get baked haddock with roasted green beans and brussel sprouts, or a blueberry margarita that sticks with you weeks later. The menu's broad enough that everyone finds something.

Guests rave about the efficiency despite the small kitchen, the quality of ingredients, and the fact that everything tastes fresh. One recent visitor called the blueberry margarita alone worth five stars. Regulars call it their first stop when visiting Winter Harbor.