Cape Neddick Lobster Pound in York, Maine

Cape Neddick Lobster Pound sits right on the water in Cape Neddick, serving New England classics that don't mess around. You'll find tourists and locals shoulder to shoulder, especially at happy hour when the mussels are a steal. The room looks out on the harbor, and the kitchen treats its seafood with real care, no sand in the bellies, no chewy lobster.

• Lobster so tender it doesn't chew, bellies pristine.
• Happy hour mussels with perfect seasoning and portion.
• House-made chips with the lobster roll.
• Water views, winter or summer.

Start with happy hour mussels if you hit that window, or the fried clams appetizer. The lobster roll comes with house-made chips and shouldn't be skipped. For a full meal, try the Harborside Cioppino, the Fisherman's Choice (fried scallops and clams), or the fish tacos if you want something off the usual script. The seafood pasta rounds out the list.

Bright and upscale-casual, all windows and harbor views. Busy enough to feel alive, but not loud enough to stop conversation.

It's the kind of place where you can show up for a quick late lunch and end up staying longer than planned. Fish tacos sit next to a Harborside Cioppino. Happy hour mussel platters go fast. The side salads are big enough to split. People come back because the seafood is treated right and the staff actually cares.

Guests rave about the care taken with the seafood and the attentiveness of the staff. One recent visitor called it the best restaurant experience they'd had. The water views hold up even in winter, and the drinks are generous and properly made.