This Iconic Spot Was Named the ‘Best Casual Restaurant’ in Maine

There are a lot of legendary places to get some good, casual grub in Maine, but this place was ranked as the best.

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Maine does a lot of things right. We’re ‘The Way Life Should Be,’ right? Our Pine Tree State is beautiful, filled with several landmarks that folks from away travel for miles to see. Landmarks include natural wonders like Acadia National Park or the beautiful beaches by the Atlantic Ocean, and man-made attractions, such as our lighthouses or Stephen and Tabitha King’s house in Bangor.

Maine is also filled with easy-going folks. Although Noah Kahan may disagree, having said ‘I’m mean because I grew up in New England’ in his song ‘Homesick,’ it's worth noting that Noah is from Vermont, and while Vermont is indeed in New England, it’s not Maine.

With Mainers being so easygoing, it’s no surprise that we also appreciate our fair share of casual food.

For all the things that Mainers and Maine are known for and do right, our food, particularly our seafood, may be the thing that we do best.

But why does Maine have the best seafood? The Atlantic Ocean is frigid, cold, and clean, and those waters produce flavorful, high-quality, healthy seafood that our state is recognized for worldwide. Cold water significantly impacts the quality and taste of the seafood, both shellfish and finfish.

Additionally, that’s why Maine has such an affinity for its official state crustacean, the lobster. Easily the most recognizable and popular dish in Maine has to be boiled lobster. People come to Maine year-round to feast on our lobsters.

We have plenty of restaurants in Maine that specialize in seafood.

The Daily Meal released a list of the best casual restaurants in every state, and Maine’s pick is an iconic one.

With all that in mind, what makes a restaurant 'casual,' exactly?

The Daily Meal’s main criterion was the price factor: Can two people fill themselves up and get out for less than $50, excluding tip and alcohol? Other factors that they took into account were an overall comfortable and relaxed ambiance, a 'destination' status, and a proven reputation and longevity.

Their selection for Maine was J’s Oyster over on the Portland Pier in Portland. Their description of one of Vacationland’s favorite spots reads:

Sure, it's touristy, but the tourists are there for all the right reasons: The no-frills J's is located right on the wharf and has a huge bar, a wide selection of oysters, and world-class lobster rolls. For $13, you get a toasted hot dog bun, some lettuce, and a pile of fresh-picked lobster meat, and that's it. A couple packets of mayo and a container of butter come on the side so you can dress it up yourself, but the real star of the show here is the lobster, served with as few bells and whistles as possible. And thankfully it's not too filling, so you can also get your fill of steamers, whole belly clams served in a big bucket.