Maine Diner and Gift Shop in Wells, Maine

Maine Diner is the real thing. You'll find lobster pie, fried clams, chowder, and all the seafood classics alongside breakfast omelets and pot pie in a warm, straightforward room. Regulars and travelers both pack the place, and the staff moves with the kind of ease that comes from knowing what they're doing. It's the sort of spot where you'll see families, couples on vacation, and locals who've been coming for years.

• Blueberry pie wins repeat visits from out-of-state guests
• Fried clams and seafood platter come fresh and succulent
• Homemade chicken pot pie and clam chowder, diner staple done right
• Lobster pie tastes like people remember it after 12 years

Start with the clam chowder (guests split on the seafood version, so clam is safer), then move to the fried clams or the seafood specialty platter with haddock and scallops. The lobster roll is a classic, though the sweet roll is an acquired taste. Chicken pot pie is homemade and fills you up. End with blueberry pie, or try the carrot cake if you're feeling adventurous.

It's a working diner. Friendly noise, tables close together, the kind of place that fills up quick on weekends. Parking is easy.

One diner noted the lobster in the pie was chewy on a recent visit, so quality can vary. But enough guests rave about the fried clams and blueberry pie to suggest when they're on, they're genuinely good. Service is consistently friendly. It's a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives location, which should tell you something.

Guests come back for the blueberry pie and keep coming back. One recent visitor called the fried clams "the best around, hands down." Others who remember the lobster pie from years ago make the stop again when they're in Maine, though consistency can vary. Service gets consistent praise.