Restaurants
$$$
Japanese
Saco
Hand-rolled sushi and house-made ramen in Saco with serious broth and fresh fish.
Diner
Portland
Waterfront diner slinging lobster rolls and classic sandwiches to fishermen and hungry tourists alike.
Seafood restaurant
Lobster rolls and fresh seafood in a red-and-white diner slinging local brioche and creative sides.
Belgian restaurant
Duck-fat Belgian fries and creative sandwiches in a spirited Portland sandwich shop.
Fast food restaurant
Bangor
Bangor's Chick-fil-A serves crispy chicken sandwiches and fresh salads fast and cheap.
Kittery
Contemporary Maine seafood in Kittery with local catch, craft beer, and killer lobster rolls.
Breakfast restaurant
Bar Harbor
Classic Bar Harbor diner famous for wild Maine blueberry pancakes and friendly, no-frills breakfast.
Spacious Portland seafood spot with raw bar, wine, and seared scallops that people plan weeks ahead for.
Italian restaurant
Freeport
Modern Italian with local ingredients and a brick oven in Freeport's shopping district. Cocktails, cozy tables.
Brewery
Brewer
Riverside beerhall in Brewer with its own brews, killer burgers, and pork cracklings worth the trip.
Bangor's compact seafood spot slings oversize lobster rolls and all-you-can-eat fish fry with river views.
Pizza restaurant
Augusta
Wood-fired pizzas and house brews in an industrial-chic Augusta brewpub.
Bar & grill
Yarmouth
Wood-grilled steaks and seafood with marina views in Yarmouth. Reserve ahead.
Wells
Rustic seafood shack in Wells with lobster rolls, fried haddock, and a trolley car dining room.
Restaurant
Portland's Central Provisions serves small plates and craft cocktails in a brick-walled space where you taste your way through the menu.
Chinese restaurant
Locally sourced Cantonese dishes and dim sum in a bustling Portland spot with an upstairs music hall.
Pristine local fish simply grilled or roasted in a snug cobblestone alley bistro.
Barbecue restaurant
Alabama-style smoked meats in a Grateful Dead-themed spot. Counter service, serious sides.
American Restaurant
Asian-inspired noodles and bold small plates in a lively Portland bistro with killer cocktails.
Fryeburg
Southern-style smokehouse in Fryeburg with house-smoked ribs, pulled pork, and sides that keep locals coming back.
Hamburger restaurant
York
Counter-service burgers in York with Angus, bison, and veggie patties, hand-cut fries, and Old West charm.
Cafe
Brunswick
Scratch-baked goods, sandwiches, and soups in a welcoming Brunswick café with plenty of gluten-free and vegan options.
Latin American restaurant
Upscale Latin-American spot in Bar Harbor with house-made mushroom spring rolls and fresh Maine seafood.
Inventive Texas-style BBQ with Mexican flair and house-smoked meats that'll surprise you.
