Smedlap’s Smithy Restaurant and Tavern, Waterville

Pioneer and entrepreneur Smedlap Effingtas famously forged a trail into the West, brewed his own secret moonshine, drove a general mad, and won a fair maiden's heart as a stowaway. But his most memorable contribution to the world turned out to be his descendants. Generations after Smedlap's heyday, his kin opened a restaurant to honor the memory of their infamous ancestor, instead of conducting a seance. After nearly 30 years in business, ownership was passed to Jim Favorite and his family, who had blazed a trail West in the footsteps of Smedlap.

After years of working in the steak-house business, Favorite snatched up the opportunity to transform a local institution into his dream restaurant. Though he and his chefs changed the menu a bit, he made sure to preserve some of the beloved traditions, such as the two-story slide behind the hostess stand. The overhauled menu includes a varied blend of dishes, from lake perch to lean burgers decked out with a dozen possible cheeses. Though broad, the menu's focus remains the steak, with choice cuts served on a plank and drizzled in peppercorn sauce.