Batson River Fish Camp in Wells, Maine

Batson River Fish Camp is the Wells outpost of a four-location Maine brewpub group. They brew their own beer (an in-house lineup that skews hoppy) and focus on casual seafood and pub fare. The place fills up fast, especially on weekends and holidays, but the bar offers quicker seating. It's the kind of spot you'd wander into from a nearby motel and stay longer than planned.

• In-house craft beer selection and a festive drink menu
• Fish and chips are crispy and tender
• Truffle fries and wings are solid bets
• Quick bar seating even when the dining room waits

Start with the wings or mussels. Go for the fish and chips if you want the kitchen's best seafood play. The truffle fries are worth ordering as a side. The burger is decent but lean on portion. Skip the Brussels sprouts (too much honey) and the fish tacos (saltiness complaints). The mac and cheese portion is tiny for the price.

Rustic hunting lodge interior with a cozy, lived-in feel. It gets loud and busy, especially weekends and holidays, with a wait often pushing past an hour.

Guests praise the comfortable seating, friendly service (one waiter named Armani stood out), and the truffle fries. But portions and seasoning are inconsistent. One recent visitor noted the fish tacos were oversalted and the mac and cheese was disappointingly small for $10.