Thomaston Cafe in Thomaston, Maine

Thomaston Cafe is a neighborhood spot in Thomaston where locals rotate in for dinner a couple times a month, and tourists stumble in hoping for fish and chips. The kitchen does New England classics without fuss: wings, haddock, fried fish served in generous portions. The room itself is plain, the bar is cramped, but the staff moves with purpose and the food lands right.

• Fish and chips with an enormous, perfectly cooked fillet.
• Generous portions that leave you fully stuffed.
• Staff is attentive and kind to kids and adults.
• Local crowd keeps coming back two or three times a month.

Start with the chicken wings. Order the fish and chips and expect a massive piece of fish that works its way through two meals. The baked stuffed haddock comes with garlic mashed potatoes and side salad, and holds up well. If you can fit it, dessert apparently deserves a mention, though most diners leave too full to try.

Plain and casual, with a tiny bar that fills first. When busy, it gets loud and the dining area hums with talk.

The kitchen keeps things simple and honest. Baked haddock comes with garlic mashed potatoes and a side salad. Fish and chips arrive with a piece of fish so large it's hard to finish. Wings come out properly cooked. One server brought a drink described as "quite strong," and the Allagash beer selection matters to the regulars.

Guests rave about portion size and the quality of the fish. One recent visitor called it "the biggest, perfectly cooked piece of fish" they'd had. Staff gets consistent praise for being upbeat, attentive, and welcoming to families. A few note the room lacks character, but food and service make up for it.