Dunton's Doghouse in Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Dunton's Doghouse is a roadside stand in Boothbay Harbor that does one thing well: pile fresh lobster onto a roll and fry it golden. Locals steer visitors here, and the outdoor picnic tables fill up fast. It's cash only, unpretentious, and exactly what a Maine lunch counter should be.

• Lobster rolls stuffed with meat, $37 worth of actual lobster
• Cash-only keeps it honest and old-school Maine
• Handcut fries and grilled hot dog buns done right
• Fast service, no wait, picnic tables feel like home

The jumbo lobster roll is the reason people drive here: chunky, juicy meat on buttered bread with fries alongside. The footlong hot dog comes on a grilled bun with all the fixings you'd want. Onion rings and hand-cut fries are both worth ordering as sides or to split. One recent visitor praised the hot dogs with grilled buns as just right.

Picnic tables in back, open air, casual as it gets. Service is friendly and quick, and you'll run into families, tourists, and locals all eating side by side.

This is casual to the bone. Vinyl-clad picnic tables, a soda machine, condiments in squeeze bottles. Nobody's here for decor. Families with kids, whale-watchers in transit, and locals who know better than to pay restaurant prices all work just fine at the same table. You'll eat quickly, spend real money on lobster, and leave happy.

Guests call it quintessential Maine and say the lobster roll is the best they've had. Visitors appreciate the laid-back vibe, generous portions, and that it doesn't feel touristy despite its location. The combination of cash-only ordering and real food keeps people coming back.