Bull N' Claw in Wells, Maine

Bull N' Claw is a casual, old-fashioned seafood and steakhouse in Wells that draws a mix of tourists and locals. The kitchen does straightforward work: lobster rolls, baked haddock, prime rib, maple pork chops. There's a full soup-and-salad bar that regulars praise for staying fresh and stocked. It's the kind of place where you don't fuss with fancy plating, just solid coastal food and a relaxed vibe.

• Two-foot lobster roll is impressively fresh and bold
• Salad bar stays crisp with real variety
• Baked haddock and baby shrimp cooked hot and right
• Relaxed vibe, friendly staff on good nights

Start with the salad bar, which is the quietest overachiever on the menu. The Lobster Lover's Lust (that two-foot roll) is worth the ticket price if you're in a decadent mood. Baked stuffed haddock, baby shrimp with rice, and maple pork chops are solid picks. The Lobster Mac-and-Cheese runs rich and pricey but lands well. Skip the canned-fruit salads and stick to the fresh options.

Wood-trimmed dining room with a casual, slightly worn-in feel. It gets noisy when the bar picks up, but it never feels uptight.

This isn't date-night fancy or a destination for adventurous cooking. It's comfort food in a room that's been open long enough not to care about trends. Service quality seems uneven based on who's working, so manage expectations there. The place shines when you stick with the seafood specials and let the salad bar fill out the plate.

Guests rave about the two-foot lobster roll and the consistently fresh salad bar. One recent visitor called the baked haddock "cooked to perfection." Some diners note the interior is dated and wish for more consistency across the menu, but those who land on the right dishes, especially the seafood, leave happy.