Barnacle Billy's in Ogunquit, Maine

Barnacle Billy's sits right on the water in Ogunquit, a seasonal seafood restaurant that's been drawing locals and visitors for decades. They do lobster rolls, baked stuffed lobster, fried clams, and a killer clam chowder. It's the kind of place with enough character that you might spot a famous face, and the staff knows the room's history cold.

• Lobster meat comes in generous lumps, not shredded filler.
• Clam chowder hits the right potato-to-clam ratio.
• Gulf views and proximity to the water.
• Fried clams are lightly battered and fresh-tasting.

The lobster roll arrives cold on a toasted bun packed with whole pieces of claw meat. The baked stuffed lobster pairs well with the baked potato and garden salad, though some diners also grab the scallops appetizer first. Fried clams come lightly battered and full of flavor. Don't skip the clam chowder. Buffalo chicken mac and cheese works if you want something off the seafood path. The caramel cheesecake has earned praise for being worth the price.

Tables face the water, and boats and crashing waves outside the windows set the mood. It fills up quickly, especially at lunch and during shoulder season, so expect a wait and a crowded room.

Guests rave about the view and the fresh seafood. One recent visitor called the mussels "incredibly buttery and tender" and said the lobster rolls were "packed with whole lumps of claw meat." People drive from Boston specifically for the lobster roll and chowder.