Chinese: Ming Lee in Waterville for a sit-down place. For take-out, the Canton Express in Augusta. I've been to the Kowloon, and while their food was good, I didn't think it was as good as either of those two places.

Mexican: Las Palapas in Bangor or Brewer. It's cheap and satisfying, the way Mexican food is meant to be. It's about as close as I've found to what I ate as a teenager when actually went to Mexico some 20+ years ago. El Agave in Augusta isn't too far behind them.

Lobster: Just get it at a Hannaford's seafood counter. They'll steam it for you right there and it'll cost about half of what you'd pay for it at a restaurant. It's not like it'll taste any better at a restaurant. They pretty much all cook it the same way.

Thai: Red Curry in Augsta and Roselyn in Rockland. Rice and Noodle in Belfast is good for takeout, but I don't think they do dine in anymore.

Japanese: Shinbashi in Ellsworth or Green Tea in Bangor. I think they're related, because they both have this "rock shrimp" appetizer that I'm addicted to, and they both make it the same exact way.

Fried Seafood: The Eagle's nest in Brewer. Get the seafood platter. It's like $50, and you'll get three or four meals out of it.

Sandwiches: Big G's in Winslow.

Italians: Damon's in Augusta or Sonny's in Fairfield. Terroni's in Portland has gone out of business unfortunately, but they used to have the best.

Italian food: Marco's Ristorante in Lewiston is one of my favorites. Their marinara sauce is just sooo good.

Pizza: Alexia's in Belfast. Also have had very good pizza from the Milo House of Pizza, but it's been a long time since I've been there.

Diner: The A1 diner in Gardiner. The best burger I ever ate at a restaurant was right there.

Bakery: Hillman's in Fairfield. Also, the Abbott Village Bakery.

You should try more lobster rolls

I disagree with your top brewery assessment. The alchemist is good but it's overrated, and definitely NOT the best VT has to offer. And i think Heady Topper and Focal Banger taste extremely similar 🤫. I would pick Lawson's or Hill Farmstead any day of the week. And Fiddlehead! But I agree that VT microbreweries are better overall than ME microbreweries.

Oof Funky Bow? Only a cool vibe if you’re into a million kids running around playing in mud puddles in someone’s backyard. I don’t get the hype

Husband from Rutland loves Gill's, has the shirt.

I can only answer about half of these because my digestive system was designed by a moron and I can't eat a lot of stuff, but for what it's worth:

Grinders and Pizza: Village Trading Post in West Minot, ME. Hoping they'll still be as good when they reopen next year.

BBQ: Smokin' Dave's, formerly on Main St in Norway ME, is planning on reopening in a food truck; here's hoping.

Bagels: Been a few years since I was there, but Maple's in Yarmouth ME used to be damn good.

Ambiance: Cafe Nomad, Norway ME. Great place to sit and chill with either a scone and hot chocolate or a sandwich . Stairway Cafe in North Conway, NH.

Diner: Since my sister used to work there, I have to say the A-1 Diner in Gardiner, ME. But I also liked the Peterborough Diner in Peterborough, NH.

Asian: It's been almost twenty years since I've been there, but Tampopo in Porter Square, Cambridge, MA will always be my favorite.

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(My mother wants her opinion known: best lobster rolls are either Town Landing Market in Falmouth, ME or Higgins Beach Market in Scarborough, ME.)

T house is fantastic!