The Beach Basket in Ogunquit, Maine

The Beach Basket sits right on the water in Ogunquit, slinging lobster rolls, breakfast sandwiches, and seasonal salads alongside a roster of fresh-squeezed and puréed fruit juices. It draws families, regulars who've been coming back for years, and anyone craving something brighter than typical beach-town fare. The owner's usually around, and the staff knows how to work a busy season.

• Lobster rolls hit the mark every time, butter or mayo.
• House-made juices with puréed fruit flavors, not bottled syrup.
• Breakfast sandwiches and avocado toast done right.
• Owner presence and attentive staff.

The lobster rolls are the anchor, choose butter or mayo depending on your mood. Avocado toast on thick bread, egg sandwiches for breakfast, and the turkey BLT round out a solid order. Don't skip the lemonades. They come in rotating fruit flavors, all made in house, and they're noticeably fresher than anything pre-bottled.

Bright and open with water views. It can get busy, especially at lunch, but the noise is the good kind, families and repeat customers making a meal of it.

The kitchen leans on seasonal produce and fresh proteins. Lobster rolls come two ways (butter or mayo), the avocado toast shows up on thick bread, and egg sandwiches are a breakfast draw. The lemonades steal the show more often than not. Service moves quickly, even when it's slammed.

Guests praise the lobster rolls and rave about the house-made juices, which show up as a highlight more often than the entrées themselves. One recent visitor called the lemonade "the unexpected star." Regulars have been coming back for years, and the owner's involvement doesn't go unnoticed.