Bear Belly's Tap & Table in Phillips, Maine

Bear Belly's Tap & Table sits just outside Rangeley and does something rare: it feeds everyone well. The kitchen turns out straightforward comfort food, burgers, wings, steaks, fresh fish, but with real care for dietary needs, from vegan cheese to a full gluten-free case. Owners Martha and David have built a place where regulars book repeat visits and live music draws crowds on summer weekends.

• Gluten-free pizzas, buns, and a full dessert case, rare in rural Maine.
• Fish and chips and maple Dijon salmon done right.
• Owners Martha and David are genuinely present and kind.
• Live bands summer weekends; vegetarian and vegan crowds feel at home.

Start with the chicken wings. Move to the maple Dijon salmon or baked haddock if you want fresh fish, or the New York strip if you want meat. The fish and chips are the kind you'll want again immediately. Loaded smashed potatoes are a side worth ordering twice. Veggie burger with vegan cheese for anyone skeptical, it surprises people.

Casual and relaxed, friendly enough to bring kids but lively on live music nights. It can get busy during peak times, but the energy is good.

The kitchen isn't reinventing anything, but it executes. Fish and chips, maple Dijon salmon, prime rib specials, loaded smashed potatoes, baked haddock. Chicken wings that pull people back. Veggie burgers that surprise meat eaters. They rotate specials and keep a real eye on dietary restrictions, carnivore options, vegan options, kids' meals at fair prices. Portions land right: filling without excess.

Guests rave about feeling welcomed by the owners and finding reliable, thoughtful service. One recent visitor noted the knowledgeable staff and "such a rare find" gluten-free selection. Families say they ate there twice in one trip and would've gone back again.