Amato's in Rockland, Maine

Amato's is a take-out counter operating from a food truck on a little pier in Rockland, slinging made-to-order Italian sandwiches with a Philly-style oil and vinegar soak. Locals and tourists line up for the meatball and chicken parm sandwiches, which come loaded with green peppers, onions, olives, tomato, and pickles. The tomato sauce tastes like tomatoes, not sugar. It's quick, inexpensive, and you can eat outside looking at the harbor.

• Meatball and chicken parm sandwiches are the real draw.
• Authentic tomato sauce that tastes like tomatoes.
• Cheap, quick, and you can eat overlooking the harbor.
• Made-to-order and consistently fresh.

Get the Meatball Parmigiana or Chicken Parmigiana sandwich. The original Italian is solid if you want something lighter. One guest notes that asking the person taking your order for a recommendation often pays off. The hoagies come loaded with green pepper, onion, pickles, tomato, and olives, dressed Philly-style with oil and vinegar. There's also pazzo bread, which locals love.

It's a food truck on a pier with picnic tables nearby. Casual, no frills. You get a view of the harbor while you eat.

This is the spot when you want to eat well without fuss or expense. Go for the sandwiches. Come hungry and don't overthink it. The service is minimal but efficient.

Locals and visitors consistently praise the sandwiches for being fresh, well-priced, and made right. One recent visitor noted their Italian wife approved of the tomato sauce's authenticity. The speed of service comes up often, though the counter interaction is no-nonsense.