Jake's is a Portland institution and has been serving up crawfish and other seafood dishes since 1909 in a space that holds a back bar that came all the way around Cape Horn in 1880. Much of the rest of the decor looks just as old and well worn as the back bar, but therein lies this restaurant's charm. However, it is the great seafood at reasonable prices that really makes this place a winner.

There's a daily fresh sheet listing a dozen or more specials, but there's really no question about what to eat at Jake's: crawfish, which are always on the menu and are served several different ways. Monday through Friday from 3 to 6pm, bar appetizers are only $1.95. The noise level after work, when local businesspeople pack the bar, can be high, and the wait for a table can be long if you don't make a reservation. However, don't let these obstacles put you off.