Sea Glass

Sea Glass sits inside the Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, serving upscale New American food with occasional Argentinean touches. The dining room and deck overlook the water, and guests range from hotel guests to locals making the short drive for a special meal. Breakfast draws crowds too. Be aware that consistency can swing, though the burgers and seafood usually land.

• Burgers consistently praised as among the best in Maine.
• Blueberry pancakes with local maple syrup and blueberry butter.
• Ocean views from the dining room and patio.
• Original cocktails and attentive bar service.

Order the burger if you come for lunch or dinner. Blueberry pancakes with blueberry butter and local maple syrup are the breakfast draw. The lobster-topped Eggs Benedict comes with asparagus and a hollandaise that visitors return for. Fish stew and swordfish (it comes with cumin) round out the seafood side. Mushroom and mozzarella frittata is another breakfast winner, especially with the crispy potatoes on the side.

Bright, ocean-facing dining room with a fireplace bar and access to a patio. Quiet and unhurried, the kind of place where you can talk without straining.

This is a place for when you want to dress up a bit, eat seafood or meat done well, and not think too hard. It works for a resort meal or a drive from Portland. Breakfast is genuinely strong, with pancakes and omelets that show care.

Guests rave about the views and the burger, often calling it the best they've had in years. Breakfast gets consistent praise for locally sourced ingredients and careful presentation. The bar earns repeat visits for original cocktails. One recent visitor noted the meal was "well-presented" with an "excellent view." Quality swings sometimes, though; a few diners have hit rough nights with kitchen execution.