2 Best Restaurants in Side Trips From Portland, Maine

Forget New England nautical; Crown's Jewel's owners went in a completely different design direction when they created it, and instead leaned into Latin American and Miami vibes. And in fact, the flamingos and palm trees dotting the decor here embody the whimsical spirit of the entire place, found in its partylike feel as well as the fun cocktails and in delicious dishes like mussels escabeche and lobster arancini.

Whether you dine on the large, airy deck or out on the lawn that stretches to the water, you're in for a real treat: creative surf-and-turf dishes featuring locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Start with a few items from the excellent selection of hot and chilled seafood—the scallop crudo is superb—and then move on to one of the extremely fresh entrées, which include a bouillabaisse filled with mussels, fresh catch, salmon, cod, shrimp, scallops.