The SeaGull Restaurant & Gift

The SeaGull sits right on the water in Boothbay Harbor with the lighthouse practically in your lap. They sling fresh seafood and bake their own desserts, no frills. The room fills with regulars and tourists who come as much for the ocean view and gift shop as for the food. No liquor license, but they're fine with you bringing your own, and Monday nights there's live folk music.

• Homemade pies and baked goods.
• Direct lighthouse and ocean views from your table.
• Attentive, quick service at breakfast and dinner.
• Relaxed, unpretentious vibe without tourist crowds.

Get the admiral's pie if there's scallop and lobster in it. The tater tot nachos sound odd but work, loaded with black beans, corn, cheese, and jalapeños instead of chips. Blueberry pie is a standout. Iced coffee here is done right. And if you're catching sunrise, breakfast is fast and comes hot.

Bright and casual, facing the water with the lighthouse visible from most tables. Moderate noise at breakfast and dinner service, quieter on weeknights.

The gift shop is attached and stocked with Maine stuff, some of it at resort prices. Still, regulars and visitors pick through for postcards, jams, knickknacks. The owners clearly run the place with care. Service is attentive without hovering.

Guests praise the speed of service and the quality of the ocean view. One recent visitor called it "easily the best breakfast spot around." People linger over coffee and pie, then wander the gift shop. The Monday night live music draws couples looking for a low-key date night.