Must-see restaurants in Maine

  • Cohill's Inn

    Down East

    In a central location near the waterfront, Cohill's is an Irish-themed pub that serves up tasty shepherd's pie, pan-seared salmon, and juicy lamb burgers…

  • Stonewall Kitchen Company Store & Cafe

    Southern Maine Coast

    Fill up on dozens of free samples (wild blueberry jam, tapenade, caramel sauce) at the flagship store of the Stonewall Kitchen specialty foods empire,…

  • Lisa's Legit Burritos

    Inland Maine

    On Augusta's restaurant-lined main drag, Lisa's serves up outstanding burritos as well as tacos, quesadillas and tortilla-free bowls. The build-your-own…

  • Beth's Kitchen Cafe

    Western Maine

    Hands-down the best place in town for breakfast (served all day), Beth's has all the sunrise classics – French toast, pancakes, three-egg omelets, granola…

  • Maine Lobster Lady

    Down East

    Right beside the Isle au Haut General Store, this food truck doles out delicious lobster rolls and fried haddock sandwiches, which go down nicely with a…

  • Kennebec River Brewery

    North Maine Woods

    After a day of rafting, enjoy a burger or steak and a 'Let 'er Drift' summer ale. The brewpub is inside the main lodge at the Northern Outdoors Adventure…

  • Sudbury Inn

    Western Maine

    The elegant dining room inside the Sudbury Inn serves up excellent fare, including some of Bethel's best seafood plates. On cold nights, book a fireside…

  • Eventide Oyster Co

    Portland

    Rocking seafood-lovers' worlds since opening in 2012, Eventide still has plenty of hype, and one look at the raw bar here explains all: fresh Maine…

  • DiCocoa's Market & Bakery

    Western Maine

    This funky orange bungalow is a morning must for espresso-based drinks, and draws a loyal local crowd. It also serves wholegrain baked goods, croissants,…

  • Stress Free Moose

    North Maine Woods

    The liveliest dining spot in town, the Stress Free Moose serves up fish tacos, pastrami reuben sandwiches, NY strip steak, smoked trout and other comfort…

  • Scales

    Portland

    A cavernous dockside warehouse is the setting for this superb seafood restaurant, with impeccable pedigree (it's from the team behind the acclaimed Fore…

  • Cho Sun

    Western Maine

    Korea meets rural Maine at this unassuming Victorian house, whose interior has been transformed into an Asian oasis of bamboo and paper lanterns. Try…

  • Mache Bistro

    Mount Desert Island

    A strong contender for Bar Harbor's best midrange restaurant, Mache serves contemporary, French-inflected fare in a stylishly renovated cottage. The…

  • Sips

    Mount Desert Island

    The liveliest spot in town, Sips serves creative salads, risottos, crepes and pastas, plus delicious appetizers (try the Mediterranean plate with hummus,…

  • Vivo

    Western Maine

    There's a fabulous pedigree behind the owners of this venture: popular Boston-area chef Jimmy Burke and his wife Joanie Wilson have some 40 years of…

  • Barnacle Billy's

    Southern Maine Coast

    This big, noisy barn of a restaurant overlooking Perkins Cove is a longtime favorite for casual seafood – steamers, crab rolls, clam chowder and, of…

  • Front Room

    Portland

    Crowded, noisy and perfumed with smoke from the open kitchen, this Munjoy Hill hot spot is a sweet neighborhood refuge from chilly Portland evenings…

  • Fiddlehead

    Inland Maine

    The young chef at this downtown place has been earning raves (and a packed dining room) for her international spin on local, seasonal ingredients. Think…

  • That Place

    Southern Maine Coast

    Hip, smart and a cut above the usual high-end dining options on the south coast, That Place mixes up new American vibe, Asia Pacific influences and…

  • Coastal Cafe

    Midcoast Maine

    Coastal Cafe is an exceedingly fine place to get coffee and breakfast; the latter can take the form of giant buttermilk pancakes, baked French toast, cage…

  • Petite Jacqueline

    Portland

    Jacqueline is an excellent throwback to the sort of old-school French cuisine food writers used to dream about. Roasted chicken with rainbow chard and…

  • Ports of Italy

    Midcoast Maine

    This upscale, romantic Italian spot earns well-deserved raves for dishes like lobster-filled ravioli, filet mignon with gorgonzola sauce, and classic…

  • Lubec Brewing Company

    Down East

    This lively food-and-drink hall is a family-friendly, dog-friendly space that draws a good mix of locals and out-of-towners. Stop by for tasty sourdough…

  • Side Street Cafe

    Mount Desert Island

    At this buzzing bar and eatery, pub grub comes with the occasional twist – think build-your-own burgers or mac 'n' cheese with gourmet toppings. Plenty of…

  • Damariscotta River Grill

    Midcoast Maine

    Seared tuna, lobster cakes and potato pancakes are all on the menu at this upscale but casual seafood restaurant, but the main draw, as you might guess,…

  • Young's Lobster Pound

    Midcoast Maine

    Choose your lobster from the pound, or order from the short, simple menu, then tuck in at the waterside picnic tables – Young's has the no-frills lobster…

  • Contented Sole

    Midcoast Maine

    We admit: we initially checked this spot out just because of its name. But then it turned out it had really great food! Freshly shucked oysters, smoked…

  • Chaval

    Portland

    A hip, inviting dining room caters to customers looking for French- and Spanish-inspired small and big plates, ranging from duck rillettes on duck-fat…

  • Flo's Hot Dogs

    Southern Maine Coast

    Flo's is a local institution: a little roadside shack doling out steamed hot dogs a few hours a day around lunchtime. What brings the crowds is the star…

  • White Barn Inn Restaurant

    Southern Maine Coast

    One of Maine's most renowned high-end restaurants, the White Barn boasts country-elegant decor and a menu that changes weekly. Expect top-quality local…

  • Anju Noodle Bar

    Southern Maine Coast

    Noodle soup is practically perfect – the right bowl mixes broth, protein, veggies and just enough carbs. The folks at Anju have figured this out and offer…

  • Lobster Pound Restaurant

    Midcoast Maine

    Fresh local lobster is the name of the game at this recommended seafood joint on Lincolnville's beach, though there are plenty of other options (fishy and…

  • HB Provisions

    Southern Maine Coast

    Ostensibly a country store (incongruously located in the middle of the Kennebunks' main tourist drag), HB is a great spot to pick up a deli sandwich (try…

  • Jordan Pond House

    Acadia National Park

    Afternoon tea at this lodge-like teahouse has been an Acadia tradition since the late 1800s. Steaming pots of Earl Grey come with hot popovers and…

  • Ondine

    Midcoast Maine

    Oysters and wine? Yeah alright, and more of both. This oyster and wine bar specializes in shellfish, but you can also find charcuterie plates, duck confit…

  • Honey Paw

    Portland

    A creation from the owners of a few highly regarded restaurants around town, Honey Paw has a cool warehouse fit out and a menu of hipsterized pan-Asian…

  • Larson's Lunch Box

    Midcoast Maine

    This seasonal walk-up is immensely popular with locals and tourists, who pack in for burgers, chili dogs and, of course, thick lobster rolls that are…

  • Pier 77 & the Ramp

    Southern Maine Coast

    In a genius move, this Cape Porpoise gem has one location but two faces: sit upstairs in Pier 77 if you're after a fancy(-ish) night out, or downstairs in…

  • Hoot

    Midcoast Maine

    The Hoot is a farm-to-table restaurant in the original sense – ie it's a restaurant attached to a farm, located about 3.5 miles south of Belfast in…

  • Sammy's Deluxe

    Midcoast Maine

    Plenty of restaurants try to recreate the atmosphere of a cozy home dining room; Sammy's pulls this off with aplomb. The seasonal, ever-changing menu is…