Portland Lobster Company in Portland, Maine

Portland Lobster Company is a no-frills counter-service spot right at the working docks where you order at the bar, grab a drink, and eat outside overlooking the boats. They do lobster rolls, whole lobsters, crab cakes, and mussels without pretense. It's seasonal, crowded, and exactly the kind of place locals and visitors queue up for on a warm Maine evening.

• Harborside location with views of working fishing docks.
• Crab cakes rank among Maine's best, no filler.
• Fresh lobster rolls and whole lobster dinners, properly cooked.
• Live music some evenings, covered patio seating.

Get a lobster roll or go for the whole lobster dinner (1.25 to 1.5 pounds is standard). The crab cakes are worth ordering even if you're here for lobster. Mussels come in a slightly spiced broth that's worth the price alone. Skip the whoopie pie (dry, undersized) but the blueberry pie is solid. Local beer pairs well with everything.

Covered outdoor patio directly on the working waterfront. It fills up fast on nice days, but the harbor breeze and boat traffic keep it lively rather than cramped. Noise level is moderate to high when there's live music.

Come for the lobster but don't sleep on the crab cakes (packed with actual meat) or the mussels in their spiced broth. The blueberry pie is worth the room. On good nights there's live music. It's not tablecloth dining, but that's the whole point.

Guests rave about the fresh seafood and the unbeatable location. One recent visitor called it the best crab cakes they'd tasted. The consensus is that counter-service is a small trade-off for eating this close to the water with good food at a fair price. Fall evenings here are especially popular.