Extra planning and consideration are required when traveling and eating out this summer. Before you visit one of these restaurants, call or check online to see if any offerings have changed, what protocols are in place, and if reservations are needed.

There’s no better time than summer to eat your way across Maine. All over the state, farmers are harvesting produce, fishermen are hauling in their catches, and restaurants are setting up sidewalk seating and opening decks. This list, curated by our editors, will take you from Kittery to Sinclair and down the coast. These aren’t all Route 1 lobster shacks (although there are a couple of those). You’ll find everything from white-tablecloth dining rooms with ocean views to wood-fired pizza on a farm. While some establishments have shifted their dining models or shrunk their number of seats, all of them are ready to welcome you this summer.

ARAGOSTA
300 Goose Cove Rd. | Deer Isle
207.348.6900
aragostamaine.com
Dining at Aragosta, relocated last year to Goose Cove resort in Deer Isle, is a quintessential Maine experience in food and ambiance. Chef and owner Devin Finigan showcases the freshest ingredients from the harbor and nearby farms, such Bagaduce Farm duck and Blue Hill Bay mussels. Mirroring the attention to detail present in all of Finigan’s cooking is the wine list, which she developed in collaboration with the front-of-the-house staff.

BARNACLE BILLY’S
50–70 Perkins Cove Rd. | Ogunquit
207.646.5575
barnbilly.com
An Ogunquit favorite for nearly 60 years, Barnacle Billy’s is actually two side-by-side restaurants in the heart of Perkins Cove. The original establishment serves lobsters of all sizes, steamers, and chowder, along with a few sandwiches. Next door, there’s a larger menu including fried seafood, scallops, shrimp, fish, and even steaks. With a rum punch in hand, you can watch the boats come and go from the waterfront deck.

BECKY’S DINER
390 Commercial St. | Portland
207.773.7070
beckysdiner.com
Becky’s is the early-morning gathering spot on the waterfront for everyone, from lobstermen to lawyers to tourists, in search of a down-home Maine experience. You would be hard-pressed to meet any Portlander for whom Becky’s doesn’t hold a special place in the heart—and stomach. Family owned and run since 1991, the diner also serves dinner, including beer and wine.

CHASE’S DAILY
96 Main St. | Belfast
207.338.0555
chasesdaily.me
Owned and run by multiple generations of the Chase clan, Chase’s Daily is a landmark restaurant, bakery, market, and art gallery with a genuine farm-to-plate method. The vegetarian restaurant is currently selling to-go meals, produce, baked goods, and drinks.

CHAVAL
58 Pine St. | Portland
207.772.1110
chavalmaine.com
Damian Sansonetti and Ilma Lopez have made a longtime neighborhood spot their own—and one of the hottest tickets in town. The menu includes French, Spanish, and Italian influences, an affordable wine list, an excellent cocktail program, and Lopez’s heavenly desserts. In warm weather the outdoor patio is the place to be on the West End.

CROWN JEWEL
255 Diamond Ave. | Great Diamond Island
207.766.3000
crownjewelportland.com
Having flown onto the scene in 2018, Crown Jewel is a seasonal gem open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. The casual and colorful tropical decor—its logo is a pink flamingo—makes the restaurant an ideal spot for a getaway lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. The seafood-focused menu is full of fresh flavors, and you can take the Casco Bay Lines ferry or a water taxi from Portland and make a day of it out on scenic Great Diamond Island.

EL EL FRIJOLES
41 Caterpillar Hill Rd. | Sargentville 207.359.2486
elelfrijoles.com
Run by the wife-and-husband team of chef Michele Levesque and Michael Rossney, this cheekily named Mexican restaurant on the Blue Hill peninsula is open year-round but perfect for the warmer months. Inspired by the taquerias found in the couple’s previous home of San Francisco, the restaurant serves made-from-scratch dishes that often utilize local ingredients, including black beans and lobster. On especially warm days, don’t forget to order a house-made agua fresca to enjoy with your meal on one of the outdoor picnic tables.

EVENTIDE OYSTER CO.
86 Middle St. | Portland
207.774.8538
eventideoysterco.com
Much has been written about the glory that is Eventide, so let’s just say the place will challenge your assumptions about seafood. Along with an array of oysters from Maine and away, beautifully displayed and with a full range of traditional and surprising accoutrements, Eventide’s offerings go far beyond the ordinary. Their browned-butter lobster roll served in a steamed Asian-style bun is a new standard. A glass of something bubbly is the preferred beverage here.

FORE STREET
288 Fore St. | Portland
207.775.2717
forestreet.biz
The restaurant that first put Portland on the culinary map remains one of the most popular dining destinations in the state. James Beard Award–winning chef Sam Hayward and his staff go to great lengths to secure the best ingredients on a daily basis, and the level of hospitality is second to none. Simple but beautifully cooked food is prepared in an entirely open kitchen featuring an impressive wood-fired oven, a well-seasoned turnspit, and a wine list driven by food pairings.

LUKE’S LOBSTER
60 Portland Pier | Portland
207.274.6097
lukeslobster.com
Luke’s Lobster’s only year-round location in Maine features two floors of dining rooms and decks with unparalleled views of Casco Bay. The menu includes steamed whole lobster, fried or broiled haddock, lobster mac and cheese, and, of course, lobster rolls. The classic hot dog buns are toasted with butter while the seafood is dressed with a whisper of mayonnaise and sprinkled lightly with a signature blend of celery salt, oregano, thyme, and pepper.

MOODY’S DINER
1885 Atlantic Hwy. | Waldoboro
207.832.7785
moodysdiner.com
What started in 1927 as three cabins for travelers driving up Route 1 has become an iconic pit stop for visitors from both Maine and away. The lodg-ing operation now includes 18 cabins, but most people stop for the generous portions of classic diner fare and desserts, including homemade doughnuts and famous fresh-baked pies.

NEBO LODGE
11 Mullins Ln. | North Haven
207.867.2007
nebolodge.com
Breathtaking views of Penobscot Bay are just the beginning of this very special Maine experience. The charming dining room serves a casually elegant menu, including island-grown organic produce and meats, and, of course, local seafood. Extend the adventure and book a room in the inn, or Nebo can arrange round-trip transportation from Rockland.

PAI MEN MIYAKE
188 State St. | Portland
207.541.9204
miyakerestaurants.com
Acclaimed chef Masa Miyake’s more casual restaurant is not just a noodle bar. In addition to the traditional ramen, make sure to try the outstanding pork buns, addictive Brussels sprouts, and sushi, which includes a few favorites from the flagship Miyake. There’s an intriguing list of cocktails, sake, wine, and beer, including foreign and local brews.

RED’S EATS
41 Water St. | Wiscasset
207.882.6128
redseatsmaine.com
The long line of people wrapped around Red’s is a testament to its iconic, overflowing lobster roll, named in countless lists. The buttery roll cradles the sweet meat of an entire lobster, with butter or mayo on the side. Fried clams, scallops, and non-seafood items are available, too, all for enjoying on the patio out back. It’s worth every minute of the wait.

SCALES RESTAURANT
68 Commercial St. | Portland
207.805.0444
scalesrestaurant.com
This seafood-with-a-view establishment from the unbeatable team of Dana Street and Sam Hayward is as close to Portland’s working waterfront as you can get. With chef Frederic Eliot at the kitchen’s helm, dishes featuring Maine’s best are inventive and well prepared, including pan-roasted lobster, smoked fish chowder, and seafood cassoulet. The bar offerings include an extensive wine list and signature cocktails named for local landmarks.

SEA GLASS RESTAURANT AT INN BY THE SEA
40 Bowery Beach Rd. | Cape Elizabeth
207.799.3134
innbythesea.com
With a breathtaking view of Casco Bay just beyond the wide green lawn, Sea Glass is a celebration of fresh seafood and local farms. Chef Andrew Chadwick creates dishes in a style that’s progressive but unpretentious, and always in tune with the season. Flavors are pulled from global sources: Southern, Asian, and Mediterranean. There is even a special menu for your canine friends.