Litchfield's Bar and Grill in Wells, Maine

Litchfield's is a busy, welcoming bar and grill right in Wells that leans hard on New England classics. You'll find regulars at the bar, families in the dining room, and a genuinely friendly staff. They're open year-round, which matters in a seasonal town, and the kitchen moves fast even when the place is packed.

• Kitchen nails steak temps; one guest got medium rare perfect
• Fried clams and Captain's Platter are serious portions
• Server McKenzie and staff handle requests without fuss
• Raw oysters fresh; roast beef sandwich messy-good

Start with the fried pickles (huge) or soft pretzels with dip. The fried clam strip platter is the play if you want classic Maine seafood. Go Captain's Platter if you're hungry and want to try everything at once (haddock, scallops, shrimp, clams). The lobster roll is pricey but solid, and the steak tips with baked potato come out quick. Roast beef sandwich deserves a spot too, messy and excellent.

Loud and lively, packed with locals and visitors both. The outdoor patio is bigger and quieter, good for actual conversation or watching the band when they play.

Go for the seafood. The fried clam strips come in a huge portion, tender and crispy. The Captain's Platter stacks haddock, scallops, shrimp, and clams into something that could feed two. Fresh raw oysters show up regularly. Skip the coleslaw (it's not their thing), but grab the roast beef sandwich if it's on and don't mind the mess.

Guests rave about speed and portion sizes. One recent visitor got their steak cooked to order in under 22 minutes. Another called it the best casual restaurant they've had. People love the seafood freshness and the server attentiveness, though the coleslaw is consensus skip.