Magnus on Water in Biddeford, Maine

Magnus on Water is a small, eclectic restaurant where the cocktail program and kitchen both punch well above their weight. Co-owner Cat runs the show alongside bartenders JB and Isabella, who'll chat you up whether you're at the bar or on the patio. The menu shifts beyond familiar territory, but that's the point. People come back.

• Brown liquor cocktails (Stiletto, Oob Fashion) are genuinely exceptional.
• Standout dishes: amberjack tiradito, corn huancaína, crispy eggplant.
• Single shrimp sold individually, try before you commit to a full order.
• Chocolate cake worth skipping dessert elsewhere for.

Start with the amberjack tiradito or a few head-on shrimp served with heat. The corn huancaína and crispy eggplant are worth the detour from the expected. Order the cucumber salad if it's available. Steak is cooked precisely. And yes, the chocolate cake is unmissable.

Small and eclectic, with a strong bar scene and an inviting patio. Noise level sits somewhere between intimate and lively, especially if you grab a stool.

Guests consistently praise the bartenders' knowledge and the kitchen's care. One recent visitor called it one of the best meals they'd had in a while. Another noted the service was 10 out of 10. People who live hours away plan return trips.