Bitter End

Bitter End is a walk-ins-only seafood restaurant in Wells that's part dinner house, part bar, part art gallery. The menu swings from fried clams and crab cakes to pan-seared halibut and mussels provencal, with sides like truffle shoestring fries and Thai Brussels sprouts that hold their own. The room fills up fast most nights, but the staff moves efficiently even when slammed, and the eclectic decor and rotating art on the walls give you plenty to look at while you wait.

• Whole belly fried clams done right, no sand.
• Pan-seared cod and halibut, perfectly flaked.
• Cocktails made correctly by bartenders who care.
• Ever-changing art and decor, live music some nights.

Start with fried clams or crab cakes. The pan-seared cod is the anchor, but don't skip the mussels provencal or seafood stew if you're there for a full dinner. Thai Brussels sprouts and truffle shoestring fries are the sides worth ordering. Chicken taquitos and the original onion strings round out the menu if you're not in a pure seafood mood.

Eclectic and busy, with rotating art on the walls and enough going on that conversation competes with the energy of the room. Free parking and both indoor and outdoor seating give you options.

This is the kind of place regulars come back to again and again because the food never misses and the service keeps up even when they're turning tables fast. Taylor and the other servers know the menu cold and read the room well. First-timers should expect a wait, especially weekends, but staff will quote you honestly and often seat you faster than promised.

Guests praise the kitchen for never missing and staff for staying attentive even on crowded nights. One regular noted the place "under promises and over delivers" on wait times and keeps showing up because the food and service are consistent. The playlist and decor draw compliments, and one visitor called it "unique and eclectic" with "wonderful service."