Bayley's Lobster Pound in Scarborough, Maine

Bayley's is the kind of no-frills lobster pound where families load up on whole lobsters for the cooler or grab a lobster roll between beach trips. The menu sticks to what it does: lobster in most forms, clam chowder, oysters. You'll eat outside on a big deck overlooking the water, and the older servers move with the efficiency of people who've done this for years.

• Lobster rolls that regulars keep coming back for
• Whole lobsters sold retail, cooked to order
• Clam chowder is thick and genuinely good
• Outdoor deck with water views, no stuffiness

Get the lobster roll if you're in a hurry, the lazy man lobster if you want meat without the shell cracking, or a whole lobster dinner if you're settling in. The baked stuffed lobster pairs meat with breadcrumb topping nicely. Clam chowder is dense and warming even on cooler days. Oysters are a solid opener if the season's right.

Large outdoor deck in the shade with views. It gets crowded and lively on warm days but never feels chaotic. Noise level picks up when the place fills, but it's the good kind of crowd.

The lobster arrives fresh and substantial. Lazy Man lobster (meat already picked), baked stuffed lobster, whole lobster dinners, and lobster rolls are the backbone. Clam chowder is thick and worth ordering on its own. Oysters show up sweet and briny. Portions are generous and prices sit well below what you'd pay at fancier joints nearby.

Guests consistently praise the freshness of the lobster and oysters, the patient and efficient older servers, and the fact that the check doesn't sting like it does elsewhere. One recent visitor called the lobster meal 'big, juicy, and incredible' and noted the price was very reasonable for the quality.