Ellsworth Marketplace Deli in Ellsworth, Maine

Ellsworth Marketplace Deli sits inside a market on the edge of town, split between a grab-and-go counter and a small dining room. The kitchen turns out pizza by the slice and to order, plus a breakfast menu that's earned a devoted following from Bangor and beyond. Expect inconsistency: some days the pizza is fresh and solid, some days it's not. The morning crew, especially the person handling omelets and corned beef hash, is where the real loyalty lives.

• Breakfast omelets and corned beef hash cooked to order, exact requests honored.
• Pizza made fresh in a small kitchen, solid when it's made well.
• Staff are genuinely nice and will accommodate what you ask for.
• Local spot with loyal regulars and reasonable prices on most items.

Get the omelets and corned beef hash for breakfast, made however you want them. The pizza is worth a slice if it looks fresh from the oven, or you can order one made to your specs. One guest noted they drive from Bangor for the breakfast alone, so don't skip it if you're in town at 8am.

Compact and casual, feels like a market attached to a small diner. Not loud, but not quiet either. It's functional, not a destination room.

If you're coming for breakfast, go early and ask for what you want cooked a specific way. The hash and omelets have fans who drive 40 minutes to eat them. Pizza is worth trying fresh, though the deli acknowledges it's unpredictable by the slice. Staff are uniformly friendly and will help you navigate the menu, but during peak times, service can feel slower than a convenience store should be.

Guests who come for breakfast are devoted. One regular drives from Bangor repeatedly for the omelets and hash, saying the breakfast cook makes them as well as any they've found in Maine. Pizza gets praise when it's fresh and made to order, though consistency has been hit-or-miss. Service has caused frustration during busy times when staff seem distracted, though everyone agrees they're friendly.