Baker's Way in Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Baker's Way is a Vietnamese restaurant and full bakery operation in Boothbay Harbor that feels like eating at someone's grandmother's kitchen. They run breakfast all day, serve pho and vermicelli bowls at lunch and dinner, and pull fresh donuts and pastries from the kitchen constantly. Service carries that same homey generosity, staff keep encouraging you to eat more, like you're family. The place moves steadily, especially mornings, so plan ahead if you're catching a boat.

• Donuts so good they convert donut skeptics.
• Pho broth that smells incredible, tastes better.
• Breakfast sandwiches served all day, generously portioned.
• Bakery pastries and apple fritters rival the mains.

Start with a Vietnamese or Thai iced coffee. Get a breakfast sandwich (egg and cheese on a croissant is a regular move, but the vegetarian options are equally wicked good) and a donut or apple fritter. If it's lunch or dinner, order a bowl of pho or vermicelli. The pot stickers work as a starter. Grab a pastry before you leave.

Casual and open, with a back deck overlooking the harbor. It fills up steadily, especially mornings, but stays relaxed and welcoming.

They make everything to order. The pho broth is aromatic and deep, the breakfast sandwiches are oversized and properly seasoned even when vegetarian, and the donuts are moist without tipping into cloying sweetness. Vietnamese coffee arrives strong and smooth. Prices undercut most of Boothbay by a fair margin.

Guests rave about the generosity of portions and the homey service that feels like being fed at grandma's house. One recent visitor said their wife, a longtime donut skeptic, ate three-quarters of a vanilla sprinkled donut in the car. Regulars return for breakfast and stick around for dinner, and locals grab pastries before heading out of town.