$$$
Japanese restaurant
Freeport
Fresh sushi and tapas in Freeport with strong service and a welcoming room.
Restaurant
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor spot with live music, strong cocktails, and Maine blueberry pie worth the trip.
Sandwich shop
South Freeport Village Market serves fresh bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries at fair prices.
Cocktail Bar
Portland
Whiskey bar in downtown Portland with knowledgeable staff and a solid selection.
Boothbay Harbor
Seafood and steaks with sunset views over Linekin Bay in Boothbay Harbor.
Contemporary American
Kennebunkport
Fine dining prix fixe in Kennebunkport with ocean views, scallops, and wine pairings that match the Maine coast.
Coffee shop
Farm-to-table coffee shop in Freeport with wood-fired pizzas and fresh breakfast sandwiches.
American restaurant
Old Orchard Beach
Waterfront steakhouse in Old Orchard Beach with live music, karaoke, and views since 1898.
Bethel
Wilderness-themed American fare in a fireplace-warmed lodge. Steaks, burgers, and fresh haddock done right.
Bar Harbor burger and lobster spot with killer corn appetizer and live music most nights.
Seafood restaurant
Seafood-focused pub grub in Bar Harbor with steamed lobster and fish and chips that hit the mark.
Steak house
Bangor
Texas Roadhouse in Bangor serves steaks and Southwestern fare with legendary house rolls and attentive service.
Portland pier seafood spot known for steamed clams, oysters, and lobster rolls.
Wells
Casual seafood shack in Wells slinging massive fried clams, lobster rolls, and steaks.
Classic Maine seafood spot in Wells with award-winning clam chowder and baked stuffed lobster.
Hamburger Restaurant
Bar Harbor seafood tavern slinging crispy fish platters and lobster rolls that locals can't stay away from.
No-frills seafood counter in Old Orchard Beach serving fried clams, lobster rolls, and house-made tartar sauce.
York
No-frills seafood spot in York with ocean views and a sprawling menu of New England classics.
Downeast seafood in a Victorian boarding house where lobster bisque and craft cocktails hit the mark.
Lobster rolls and chowder steps from Nubble Light, with ocean views and a loyal crowd.
Bright seafood cafe in Bar Harbor known for tender lobster rolls and early-bird specials.
Dock-side lobster pound in Freeport serving boiled lobster, fried clams, and rolls with river views.
Harbor-view seafood spot in Bar Harbor with late-night hours, fresh lobster mac and cheese, and a loyal following.
Seafood Restaurant
Acadia National Park
Boiled lobster dinners and takeout at a rustic counter-service pound near Bar Harbor.
Housemade sausages and creative hotdogs with craft beer in a casual Portland spot.
Boothbay Harbor seafood spot slinging the freshest fish and chips and lobster dinners with water views.
Bar & grill
Augusta
River-view bar and grill in Hallowell with live music, strong drinks, and fish and chips worth the trip.
Pizza restaurant
Freeport pizzeria with Italian, Greek, and American comfort food. Thick-crust pies and a sprawling menu.
Italian restaurant
Ogunquit
Italian restaurant in Ogunquit with fine dining feel, strong desserts, and a solid wine list.
Breakfast restaurant
Jeannie's packs Bar Harbor's best breakfast, think fluffy pancakes and savory skillets with lines out the door.
Bar
Smash burgers and South Shore bar pizza till late at this Portland upscale pub.
Ellsworth
Thin-crust New York pizza and subs in a retro Ellsworth spot with an arcade room.
Brunswick
Creative pizzas and craft beers in a warm, easygoing Main Street spot in Brunswick.
Classic Maine lobster dinners and seafood in casual Kennebunkport spot known for fresh, homey cooking.
Lively Wells spot serving fried clams, steak tips, and fresh lobster rolls with live music on the patio.
Ogunquit seafood house where you pick live lobsters from tanks, then watch them cook.
Casual Italian spot in Portland with housemade pasta, an attached sports bar, and parking that actually works.
Upscale seafood and steak in Old Orchard Beach with ocean views and attentive service.
Kennebunk
Classic diner breakfast in Kennebunk with huge portions, fair prices, and loyal regulars.
Seafood-focused spot in Brunswick with fresh haddock, lobster rolls, and attentive service.
Rockland
Rockland institution slinging seafood chowder, lobster rolls, and a fish cake that's worth the drive.
Contemporary harbor-side seafood spot known for fresh fish, oysters, and bang bang shrimp in Portland's Old Port.
Snack bar
Roadside snack bar in Ellsworth slinging lobster rolls, burgers, and Gifford's ice cream since forever.
Brunch restaurant
Warm Ellsworth brunch spot with all-day breakfast, blueberry French toast, and house-made sausage gravy.
Waterside seafood shack slinging lobster rolls and oysters on an Old Orchard Beach dock.
Deli
Camden
Fresh sandwiches and soups in Camden with harbor views and a relaxed counter-service vibe.
Upmarket seafood in Ogunquit with a garden-facing room, plus live concerts most nights.
Bagel shop
Bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and homemade pastries in a cozy Old Orchard Beach spot.
Mexican restaurant
Mexican food in Brunswick with tableside guacamole, strong beans and rice, and a festive outdoor patio.
Waterfront seafood spot in a historic Kennebunk building with views of a 19th-century schooner.
Homestyle American breakfast, lunch & dinner with live music. Known for generous portions and friendly service.
Waterfront seafood in Kennebunkport with views, valet parking, and cocktails worth the wait.
Burger-and-pizza spot in Old Orchard Beach with cocktails that pack a punch and ribs that fall off the bone.
Thin-crust pizza and calzones made fresh. Antigoni's has been a Brunswick go-to for two decades.
Upmarket American seafood in Kennebunkport with a classic bar and river views.
Waterfront steakhouse and seafood spot in Camden with views of the harbor and a solid bar program.
English pub classics and local beers on Ellsworth's main street. Try the Reuben.
Harborside lobster pound in York with upscale seafood, craft cocktails, and water views.
Burgers, BBQ, and fish tacos in a working historic railway station with live music.
Irish pub
Irish pub in a Federal-era tavern with burgers, shepherd's pie, and live music on weekends.
Casual seafood spot near the marina with a killer peppercorn whiskey steak sauce and fresh lobster rolls.
Northern Italian cooking in Rockport with river views, warm service, and a chef who works the room.
Ogunquit spot slinging Neapolitan pizza, raw oysters, and fried haddock with a lively, welcoming vibe.
Seasonal New American cooking and house cocktails in Portland's most polished casual room.
Craft brewery and distillery in Kennebunk with fresh seafood tacos, wings, and house-made spirits.
Chinese restaurant
Casual Chinese spot in Augusta with river views, handmade egg rolls, and a lunch buffet.
Rockland's Ada's Kitchen serves house-made pasta and wood-fired pizza in a buzzing, cocktail-friendly bistro.
Upscale seafood and steaks at Bar Harbor Inn, with live piano and sweeping water views.
Takeout restaurant
College Carry-Out serves fresh-dough pizza in Augusta with hit-or-miss execution and solid prices.
Family-owned spot in Northeast Harbor with stellar seafood pizza, clam chowder, and fresh-baked pastries.
Fried seafood spot in Bethel where locals grab haddock and clams without the drive to the coast.
Hotel
Harbor views and pet-friendly rooms steps from Boothbay's shops and restaurants.
Contemporary Japanese spot in Brunswick with fresh sushi, udon, and tatami seating plus cocktails.
Wood-fired pizza in Hallowell with river views and gluten-free options.
NY-style pizza in Ellsworth with solid subs and a welcoming staff.
Cantonese and Sichuan spot in Bethel with steamed dumplings and wonton soup that draw regulars back.
Thai restaurant
Thai, Japanese & Vietnamese in a low-key Bangor spot. Duck pho and crispy pad Thai draw crowds.
Walk-in seafood spot in Wells with crispy fried clams, pan-seared cod, and cocktails that know what they're doing.
Sunrise Cafe serves classic Maine breakfast in Freeport with fresh ingredients and quick service.
Barnhouse Grill & Pub in Wiscasset serves huge portions and pulled pork that lands for some, misses for others.
Casual Italian cafe in Ogunquit with 11-inch pizzas, gelato, and ocean-view deck seating.
Ogunquit seafood spot with a lively patio, killer haddock sandwiches, and cocktails that shine.
Italian kitchen in Bethel where the pizza and wings justify the hype and the service shines.
Mediterranean restaurant
Greek and Mediterranean cooking in Ogunquit, with craft cocktails and a guitarist some nights.
Fresh-cut fries and a standout lobster roll in Ogunquit, with serious gluten-free credentials.
Asian restaurant
Asian noodle spot in Augusta where robots deliver your miso ramen and boba tea to the table.
Italian Restaurant
Italian cooking in Camden with a lively bar; lobster cakes and puttanesca draw repeat visitors.
Seafood in Boothbay Harbor with lighthouse views, homemade pies, and a Maine gift shop.
Upscale American and European dishes with inventive cocktails in relaxed Kennebunk spot.
Traditional Thai curries and seafood in Old Orchard Beach, with a patio and serious vegetarian options.
Oyster Bar Restaurant
Raw bar and seafood grill in downtown Bar Harbor with standout fried snapper and octopus carpaccio.
Waterfront seafood spot in York with lobster rolls, river views, and a loyal dog named Brownie.
Classic seafood spot on York Harbor with water views, screened porch, and attentive service.
Pier-side seafood spot in Rockland with fresh lobster rolls, bisque, and harbor views.
Cape Elizabeth
Upscale seafood on Peaks Island with pistachio halibut, scallop scampi, and housemade carrot cake.
Augusta barbecue spot with house-smoked meats, live music on Wednesdays, and cornhole in the yard.
Wells seafood pub with fried fish specials, wings, and chowder. Casual sports bar vibe.
Creative global menu in downtown Waterville. Pork belly tacos and gnocchi standouts.
Freeport brewpub with house beers, smashburgers, and wings. Order via QR code at your table.
Boothbay Harbor's year-round American spot with standout seafood and a fireplace that feels like home.