Unearth The Voyage
Maine is famous for lobster rolls and chowder, but the state’s Reuben sandwich scene deserves a serious spotlight. From cozy coastal diners to lively brewpubs, talented cooks across Maine have mastered the art of stacking corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing between slices of perfectly grilled rye bread.
Whether you’re road-tripping up the coast or exploring small towns inland, a great Reuben is never far away. Here are 12 Maine spots where the Reuben sandwich is absolutely worth making the trip.
Krista’s — Cornish
Locals in Cornish will tell you with zero hesitation: if you haven’t had Krista’s Reuben, you haven’t really eaten in western Maine. Tucked away from the tourist trail, this spot earns its reputation one sandwich at a time.
The corned beef is piled generously, the sauerkraut has just the right tang, and the Swiss melts into every bite like it was always meant to be there.
The rye bread gets a golden, crispy press that holds everything together without making a mess. That’s harder to pull off than it sounds.
Krista’s keeps things simple, and that restraint is exactly what makes the Reuben so satisfying.
First-timers often order something else and then watch a Reuben pass by — and immediately wish they’d chosen differently. Regulars know better.
Cornish isn’t exactly on the way to anywhere famous, but this sandwich makes it a worthy detour all on its own. Pair it with a cup of soup and you’ve got one of the best lunch deals in the whole county.
Hazel’s Take-Out — Rockland
Rockland is a town that punches well above its weight in the food department, and Hazel’s Take-Out is a big reason why. The menu leans into coastal comfort food, but the Reuben sits proudly alongside the seafood favorites — no apologies, no asterisks.
It’s just a really good sandwich that earns its place on the board.
What makes Hazel’s version stand out is the personality behind it. The ingredients feel carefully chosen rather than grabbed off a shelf.
The bread is properly buttered and grilled until the outside crackles just slightly. Inside, the corned beef is tender and the sauerkraut is never soggy — a common crime at lesser spots.
The vibe here is casual and unpretentious, which fits Rockland’s creative, artsy energy perfectly. You might be waiting next to a local fisherman or a gallery owner from the nearby Farnsworth Art Museum.
Either way, everyone leaves happy. Hazel’s proves that take-out doesn’t mean cutting corners.
This is the kind of place that surprises you in the best possible way, and you’ll be thinking about that Reuben long after you’ve hit the road again.
The Great Lost Bear — Portland
Few Portland institutions carry as much history as The Great Lost Bear. Open since 1979, this beloved bar and restaurant has outlasted trends, recessions, and countless food fads simply by being consistently excellent.
The beer list is legendary — over 70 taps on a good day — but the food more than holds its own.
The Reuben here has deep roots. For decades, the menu has featured not just the classic version but also a vegetarian Reuben that’s been winning fans since long before plant-based eating became trendy.
That kind of forward thinking, wrapped in a totally unpretentious package, is pure Great Lost Bear.
The classic version stacks up beautifully — thick corned beef, properly fermented kraut, gooey Swiss, and a generous slather of dressing on marble rye. The sandwich arrives alongside your choice of sides, and the whole experience feels like a warm hug from Portland’s food scene.
If you’re visiting the city and skipping this place, you’re genuinely missing out. Grab a pint from a local Maine brewery on tap and settle in.
This is exactly the kind of meal you plan a return trip around.
Leavitt & Sons — Portland
Walk into Leavitt and Sons and you’ll immediately feel like you’ve stepped into a proper deli — the kind where the staff knows their stuff and the ingredients are treated with respect. Portland has no shortage of great food, but a true deli experience used to be harder to find.
Leavitt and Sons fills that gap with confidence and craft.
Their Reuben is all about balance, and that word gets thrown around a lot but rarely delivered. Here, the rye bread is crisp without being dry, the corned beef is sliced thin enough to be tender but thick enough to feel substantial.
The dressing ties everything together without drowning the other flavors out.
It’s the kind of sandwich that reminds you why simple food, done well, never goes out of style. No gimmicks, no fusion twists — just quality ingredients treated with care.
Locals who grew up eating deli sandwiches will feel right at home, and newcomers will quickly understand why this spot has earned its following. Leavitt and Sons is proof that Portland’s food scene has room for tradition right alongside its trendier offerings.
Don’t sleep on the pickles on the side either.
Becky’s Diner — Portland
Becky’s Diner has been feeding Portland’s waterfront crowd since 1991, and its reputation for honest, hearty food is rock solid. Most people come for the legendary breakfast — the lines on weekend mornings stretch out the door — but the lunch menu deserves equal attention.
The Reuben, in particular, is a sandwich that earns its place on a menu already packed with crowd-pleasers.
There’s something especially satisfying about eating a big, no-nonsense Reuben while watching boats move through Portland Harbor. The setting alone adds something to the experience.
Big windows, worn counter stools, and the smell of coffee and toast make this feel like the real Maine — unpretentious and full of character.
The sandwich itself is generous without being sloppy. The corned beef is tender, the sauerkraut has a good bite, and the Swiss gets properly melted under the press.
Becky’s doesn’t try to reinvent anything; it just executes the classics with the kind of quiet confidence that comes from decades of practice. If you’re in Portland and you’ve already done the lobster roll thing, swing by Becky’s for lunch and let the Reuben show you what this city does with a different kind of classic.
Gilbert’s Chowder House — Portland
Gilbert’s Chowder House is the kind of place where you walk in expecting chowder and clam cakes — and you should absolutely order those — but then someone at the next table gets a Reuben and suddenly your plan changes entirely. That’s a real thing that happens here, and nobody regrets it.
The Reuben at Gilbert’s is a sleeper hit in the best sense. It doesn’t get the marketing push that the seafood does, but regulars know it’s worth ordering.
The corned beef is rich and buttery, the bread gets a satisfying golden press, and the whole thing comes together with a depth of flavor that feels almost surprising for a spot best known for its fish.
Old Port explorers who need a mid-afternoon refuel will find Gilbert’s perfectly positioned and always reliable. The atmosphere is casual and friendly, with that classic Maine coastal warmth that makes you want to linger over your meal.
Order the Reuben, grab a cup of chowder on the side, and consider yourself well fed. It’s the kind of combination that makes you realize Maine’s food scene doesn’t have to choose between land and sea — it does both beautifully.
Kennebec Tavern & Marina — Bath
Sitting on the banks of the Kennebec River with boats drifting by outside, this spot in Bath delivers one of the most scenic Reuben experiences in the entire state. The setting alone makes it worth the stop on any Maine road trip.
But the sandwich needs no help from the view — it stands on its own.
The Reuben here is solid and satisfying, built the right way with corned beef that has good color and flavor, sauerkraut that adds a clean tang, and Swiss that melts evenly across the top. The grilled rye brings a slight crunch that contrasts nicely with the soft, savory filling inside.
Bath is a fascinating city — home to one of America’s great shipbuilding traditions — and the Kennebec Tavern fits its character well. It’s relaxed, welcoming, and unpretentious, with a menu that covers the bases without trying too hard.
If you’re driving up the coast and need a proper lunch break that doesn’t feel rushed, this is the spot. Pull up a chair near the window, watch the river, and enjoy a Reuben that’s been put together with care.
Sometimes the best road trip moments are the unplanned ones.
The Liberal Cup — Hallowell
Hallowell is one of those Maine towns that feels like a well-kept secret, and The Liberal Cup is a big part of why food lovers make the drive. This brewpub brews its own beers on site and pairs them with a comfort food menu that takes the concept of pub grub to a noticeably higher level.
The Reuben is consistently one of the most talked-about items on the menu.
Fans of this sandwich come back for the combination of a perfectly grilled exterior and a filling that’s layered with intention. The corned beef is thick-cut and flavorful, the sauerkraut has a fermented depth that plays well against the richness of the meat, and the Swiss cheese gets melted to just the right gooey consistency.
It’s the kind of Reuben that makes you slow down and actually pay attention to what you’re eating.
Pairing it with one of the house brews is practically mandatory. The malty, slightly bitter notes of a good amber ale cut right through the richness of the sandwich in a way that feels almost engineered.
The Liberal Cup has built a loyal following for good reason — it’s creative, consistent, and genuinely fun. Hallowell deserves more visitors, and this brewpub is the perfect excuse to finally go.
The Front Porch Restaurant — Ogunquit
Ogunquit draws crowds for its stunning beach and vibrant arts scene, but The Front Porch Restaurant has been giving people another excellent reason to visit for years. The menu here is wide-ranging and confident, covering everything from pasta to burgers, and the Reuben holds its own comfortably in that lineup.
It’s not an afterthought — it’s a featured player.
The sandwich gets built with care: corned beef that’s been properly prepared, sauerkraut with real tang, and Swiss that goes fully molten under heat. The rye bread gets a butter-grilled finish that gives the whole thing a slightly nutty, toasty edge.
It’s a Reuben that respects the tradition while delivering it in a setting that’s anything but stuffy.
The atmosphere at The Front Porch is lively and welcoming — the kind of place where the energy is good and the staff seems to genuinely enjoy being there. Ogunquit can get busy in the summer months, so arriving a little early or during off-peak hours makes the experience even better.
After a walk along Marginal Way or a morning at the beach, this Reuben hits every note you want from a satisfying lunch. Coastal Maine eating doesn’t get much more enjoyable than this.
Finn’s Irish Pub — Ellsworth
There’s something deeply fitting about eating a Reuben in an Irish pub. Corned beef has long been tied to Irish-American food culture, and at Finn’s in Ellsworth, that connection feels natural and unforced.
This is a small-town pub with real personality — the kind of place where everybody seems to know each other and strangers quickly feel like regulars.
The Reuben at Finn’s comes out hot and properly pressed, with the cheese fully melted and the bread carrying that satisfying golden color. The corned beef is the star — seasoned well, tender in texture, and generous in portion.
The sauerkraut adds the necessary contrast, keeping each bite from feeling too heavy or one-note.
Ellsworth sits at the gateway to Acadia National Park, making it a natural stopping point for travelers heading to Bar Harbor and the surrounding area. Finn’s gives those travelers a reason to slow down before hitting the park.
Grab a stool, order the Reuben, and maybe a cold drink to go with it. The pub atmosphere adds a layer of comfort that makes the whole meal feel like a genuine pause rather than just a quick pit stop.
Maine’s western coast gets a lot of attention — but Ellsworth delivers too.
The Sea Basket — Wiscasset
Wiscasset calls itself the prettiest village in Maine, and while that title is cheerfully debated up and down Route 1, The Sea Basket is a genuinely undisputed winner. Most visitors come for the fried seafood — the clam strips and chowder are legitimately famous — but the Reuben quietly earns its spot on the menu without making a fuss about it.
Calling it a surprise standout feels accurate. You don’t walk into The Sea Basket expecting to think much about a corned beef sandwich.
Then someone at a nearby table gets one, and it looks better than you anticipated. The bread is properly grilled, the filling is hearty, and the Swiss cheese does its melty job without any drama.
It’s simple, honest food done right.
After a scenic coastal drive along Route 1, pulling into Wiscasset for a meal at The Sea Basket is a deeply satisfying ritual for Maine regulars. The Reuben pairs surprisingly well with a cup of their chowder — the richness of the sandwich balances nicely against the creamy, briny soup.
It’s the kind of unexpected combo that makes you feel like you’ve discovered something. For road-trippers building a Maine food itinerary, Wiscasset and The Sea Basket belong on the list.
