Palace Diner

Palace Diner is a tiny counter-serve in an actual railcar, the kind of place that makes you wonder how they fit so much talent into such a small footprint. They open early for breakfast and lunch, slinging eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, and fries to a loyal crowd that's grown since the Somebody Feed Phil feature. Seating is tight (bar stools only), but they've got a text system to let you know when your spot's ready, and locals say the wait is never wasted.

• Scrambled eggs seasoned with cheese and pepper, cooked perfectly.
• Pancakes made from scratch, fluffy and crisp outside.
• Tuna melt ranks among best in the state.
• Crispy fries and fresh burgers at fair prices.

Start with the scrambled eggs if you're there for breakfast. They come with crispy breakfast potatoes and toast (ask for blueberry jam). The pancakes are non-negotiable, fluffy and golden. The tuna melt is a full meal, and the French toast has a crunchy exterior that lives up to the hype. The brown butter banana bread with a sprinkle of salt on top is worth sharing. Don't skip the fries, crispy, not greasy.

Narrow railcar with bar seating only. Vintage and authentic, spotlessly clean despite the tight squeeze. It's loud when busy, quiet during off-season mornings. No frills, no table service, just focused energy.

Breakfast is the main event. The eggs come seasoned with cheese and pepper that make them taste almost fancy without pretension. Pancakes are fluffy, crispy on the outside, and people drive from hours away for them. Lunch holds its own: the tuna melt ranks high enough that visitors rank it among the best meals of their Maine trip. It's not a destination for Instagram or scene-hunting. It's a destination for food that tastes like someone cares.

Guests consistently rave about the quality and care baked into simple food. One recent visitor called the scrambled eggs the best they'd ever had. Another drove from Boston specifically for the pancakes, calling them the best in the world. Most note the wait is worth it, and the text-alert system keeps you from stranding yourself without a table. Service is genuinely warm, even when the diner's packed.