Anthony's Food Shop in York, Maine

Anthony's Food Shop is a counter-serve market and bakery tucked into a gas station on the York side of things, but don't let that fool you. They're slinging wood-fired pizzas, loaded deli sandwiches, and a serious bakery operation that handles custom orders and dietary requests without making a fuss. The kind of place locals grab lunch and regulars order cakes for every holiday.

• Homemade meatballs and fresh sauce in massive subs
• Bakery cakes and pies for holidays and celebrations
• Gluten-free custom orders handled without fuss
• Wood-fired pizza from a gas station stop

Start with the meatball sub if you're hungry, or the pastrami with fries if you want it gone in two minutes. The cherry cheesecake is dependably soft and flavorful. Grab one of the oversized Italian anisette cookies for the drive. The pies and cakes for takeaway are why people phone in orders weeks ahead. Pizza's available too if you want to eat there.

Counter service, casual, quick. It's a gas station food stop, so you're in and out or ordering ahead for pickup.

The meatball subs come with homemade meatballs the size of softballs. The pastrami is cooked right. The cherry cheesecake is soft and tastes like someone's aunt made it. Tammy, one of the bakers, takes special orders seriously, including gluten-free custard work that fools the whole table. You can order online or call and she'll answer your questions.

People drive back to York specifically for the cakes and pies. One guest said the cherry cheesecake reminded them of homemade ones from childhood. Regulars order everything from custom gluten-free Thanksgiving pies to Italian cookies for the beach. The portions are generous and the staff works hard to get orders right.