Red's Eats

An eatery has operated on this corner since 1938, and the red-and-white shack sitting at the intersection of Water Street and Main Street in Wiscasset has been in its current spot since 1954. The building is roughly the size of a minivan — one window for ordering, no indoor seating — and it sits right at the western end of the bridge where Route 1 crosses the Sheepscot River. The lobster roll is the main event: fresh claw and tail meat piled into a toasted split-top bun, with butter and mayo served on the side so you dress it yourself. The menu also runs to fried clams, scallops, burgers, and hot dogs, so riders who skip the shellfish aren't out of options.

There is no getting around the line. Wait times of an hour or more are common during the summer season, and Route 1 traffic through Wiscasset is heavy on peak days — both factors worth knowing before you pull off. The picnic tables sit on the riverbank, fully open to sun, wind, and whatever the Maine coast decides to do that afternoon. Red's runs from mid-April through mid-October, so it's a warm-season stop only. Going early in the morning or later in the afternoon tends to shorten the wait.