Huot's Seafood Restaurant in Saco, Maine

Huot's has been slinging New England seafood since 1935 from a sprawling waterfront compound in Saco. You order at a window, grab a picnic table out back with an ocean view, and watch families and regulars cycle through all summer long. The kitchen does fried and baked seafood in generous portions, and there's an ice cream truck parked nearby. Weekends get packed, but that's part of the draw.

• Baked haddock and fried clam cakes cooked right, every time.
• Picnic tables feet from the ocean; walk the jetty at sunset.
• Family-friendly with games, ice cream truck, and room to spread out.
• Reasonably priced for fresh seafood on the Maine coast.

Start with the clam cakes and onion rings if you're sharing. The baked haddock comes golden and buttered, the way it should. Scallops and lobster are both solid choices if you want something less fried. Grab a frozen drink (the rum buckets are generous), and hit the picnic tables.

Outdoor picnic area with a casual, family-filled energy. It gets loud and busy on weekends, especially evenings, but that's when the place feels most alive. The ocean view from most tables makes the wait worth it.

The kitchen doesn't overcomplicate things. Fried seafood gets a light, crispy crust. Baked haddock comes buttered and golden. Scallops and lobster are cooked through with real care. Portions justify the price, and compared to other summer tourist spots, it's reasonable. People come back for the clam cakes, the onion rings, and the frozen drinks that pair with a sunset walk out onto the jetty.

Guests praise the fresh fish, generous portions, and hard-working staff who stay friendly even during rushes. One recent visitor called it a destination for anyone in Maine hunting good seafood. Families love the games and ice cream truck; the jetty walk at sunset has become a ritual for regulars.