Squaretoe's Restaurant in Kennebunk, Maine

Squaretoe's is a family-owned breakfast and lunch place in Kennebunk where the menu is short, the portions are big, and regulars know each other by name. The kitchen turns out pancakes the size of dinner plates, omelets that won't fit on standard dishware, and corned beef hash made in-house. You'll rub shoulders with locals at the counter, and the staff treats everyone like they're in on something special.

• Blueberry pancakes loaded with fresh fruit, oversized
• Paula's homemade corned beef hash, local favorite
• Counter seating, you're part of the room
• Fresh ingredients, fair prices, no shortcuts

Start with the blueberry pancakes if they're running them, order the corned beef hash on the side, and get eggs cooked however you like them. The omelets run large. One guest singled out the French toast. Hollandaise comes on the menu, and the Bloody Mary is worth ordering.

Small, counter-heavy room with locals and visitors mixing shoulder to shoulder. The vibe is warm and unhurried.

This is the kind of place you stumble into once and find yourself thinking about weeks later. One recent visitor said the hollandaise sauce was 'out of this world,' and the Bloody Mary holds its own. The blueberry pancakes come loaded with actual berries, and Paula's corned beef hash is a regular mention across reviews.

Guests rave about the size of the portions and the fact that everything tastes fresh and homemade. Regulars come back specifically for Paula's corned beef hash. One recent visitor called the hollandaise 'out of this world,' and folks from out of state say they leave feeling like they're in on a local secret.