3 Best Restaurants in The Southern Coast, Maine

Everything about this diner, set in an old-fashioned train car just off Main Street, is retro except the food. Hop on a stool at the counter (that's all there is), enjoy the Motown tunes, and tuck into one of the deluxe sandwiches for breakfast or lunch. The diner doesn't take reservations—and it's cash only—but it's well worth the wait.

This charming neighborhood restaurant and bar just steps from the beach serves up generous, deeply satisfying dishes filled with locally sourced ingredients. Seafood plays a big role in the menu, with lobster rolls brimming with fresh meat; fish tacos stuffed with cilantro, lime crema, and coleslaw; a seafood chowder; and a lobster tostada. But there are also options for landlubbers, like burgers, steak frites, and creamy peppercorn pasta.

You could hardly find a more satisfying, heartier breakfast than at this smart and busy joint just shy of the entrance to Perkins Cove where a lighthearted mix of retro advertising signs adorn the walls of the bright, open, and bustling dining room. The corned-beef hash is made with tender pulled brisket with spices and just a bit of diced potatoes and onions—try it topped with hollandaise in the Irish Benedict. For a really decadent start to your day, opt for French toast made with lemon pound cake and served with blueberries. The delicious coffee is roasted in small batches and shipped from San Diego.