Portland, Maine, Tavern Named Among Best Hole-In-The-Wall Spots in America

For a very long time now, Maine has been home to some of the best small town diners, seasonal food shacks and drive-in restaurants you'll find anywhere in the country.

As Portland, Maine, rose to prominence as a culinary destination, it did so on the back of some comfortable joints that presentation and pre-fixed menus and more about serving up delicious bits at reasonable prices.

Those small restaurants remain an important part of communities across the country, especially in Maine. Yahoo! attempted to identify the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants across the country and landed on one in Portland that makes a whole lot of sense for Maine.

Yahoo! named Ruski's Tavern as one of the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in America. Locals who frequent Ruski's are probably ready to punch the screen, not wanting to let the secret of this neighborhood favorite out in to the universe.

Ruski's isn't fancy and it's not trying to be. It's a bit of throwback to the days when Portland had a lot of small, corner pubs that served up quality dishes and strong drinks.

Ruski's has a lengthy history. It once served as general store followed by operating as a bakery. The restaurant space has had 7 different names over the last century, including two separate stints as Ruski's.

While the history is rich, what makes Ruski's one of the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in the country is its simplicity. The food menu is straightforward but diverse. No frills but damn delicious. Sometimes there's breakfast, sometimes there isn't.

You won't find their menu online. Instead, just grab a seat and take a look at their handwritten specials while you're there. Ruski's often feels like you're hanging out at someone's house where they happen to serve drinks and food.

Thankfully, Ruski's Tavern remains one of the last old school neighborhood dives throughout all of Portland. The last of its kind sounds about right.