Hawthorne Lobster House, Portland

Hawthorne Lobster House brings a taste of East Coast seafood to the land of dungeness crab and salmon. The restaurant's signature lobsters fly in from Australia and Honduras as well as New England, while produce and other ingredients are sourced from local vendors. And though guests of this charming, nautical-themed eatery might be tempted by traditional dishes such as bouillabaisse and lobster ravioli, the kitchen also crafts less expected seafood plates. Here's a sampling of what to try:

• Lobster pop: This appetizer features a full lobster tail, skewered, wrapped in bacon, and deep-fried until crisp.
• Lobster bisque: The soup is made from scratch every day using a secret recipe.
• Seafood towers: Served European-style on ice, stacked bowls cradle lobster tails and claws, along with prawns and other shellfish.
• New England–style lobster roll: The iconic sandwich inspired the opening of this restaurant, after one of the founders came home from a trip East raving about the delectable dish. Hawthorne Lobster House's version is served hot or cold on buttery texas toast and sided with coleslaw and fries.