Bagaduce Lunch
19 Bridge Road
(Route 176), Penobscot, Maine
207-326-4729
Basic crab roll $8.25
The plain white building with red trim and a sweeping view of the Bagaduce River and Reversing Falls looks like a postcard from the 1950s. The takeout has been run by the same family since 1947. The crab roll is a delight here. Immaculately picked and lightly mixed with Kraft mayonnaise, the meat is served on a grilled hamburger bun. Try the cool, crisp, and finely minced coleslaw. Clean portable toilets are available. Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday-Wednesday 11-7.
Country View Drive-In
4200 Snow's Cove Road
(Route 15), Sedgwick
207-359-2214
Basic crab roll $8
Sunset is a magic time to get a bite at this takeout straddling blueberry barrens and lush green fields. Decades ago, Sedgwick resident Nellie Smith started the takeout as a seasonal occupation while her husband, Milton, worked during the week unloading produce trucks in Boston. Families can spread out at one of the round picnic tables covered in oil cloths in the outdoor dining pavilion. Sweet, finely picked crabmeat bursts out of the grilled and well-buttered hot dog bun. Daily 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Crosby's Drive-In & Dairy Bar
30 State Route 46, Bucksport
207-469-3640
Crosby's, a cocoa-brown structure with mint-colored trim, is a stone's throw from US Route 1. ''Fats" Crosby, who peddled Down East fare at country fairs, started the classic drive-in when his trailer broke down here in the late 1930s. Crosby's serves sweet-tasting crabmeat, barely dressed in restaurant mayonnaise, in a grilled and buttered hot dog roll. A crisp iceberg lettuce leaf tucked in the bottom of the bun adds a satisfying crunch. This bustling place boasts outdoor dining and pristine rest rooms. Daily 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Down East Lobster Co.1192 Bar Harbor Road
(Route 3), Trenton
207-667-8589
Basic crab roll $6.99
Lobsters and crabs, looking lively in a well-aerated tank, with crystal-clear sea water, make a good first impression at this classic seafood takeout. The pistachio-colored interior is spotless, and owners Ron Doane and Susan Waite repaint the entire inside every year. A screened dining area provides protection from mosquitoes. The crab roll comes in a grilled hot dog bun. Lightly dressed in Cains mayonnaise and dusted with paprika, the finely picked crabmeat tastes fresh and sweet. Daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Jordan's Snack Bar
200 Down East Highway
(US Route 1), Ellsworth
207-667-2174
Basic crab roll $7.75
This wildly popular takeout makes up for its highway setting with good food, excellent service, picnic tables, and a playground. Folks also can carry their food and drinks into a dining room with rest rooms, jukebox, and a coin-operated airplane ride. Crabmeat is prepared with Miracle Whip and served on a toasted hot dog bun. Daily 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
