Here are some of the most eye-catching and delicious dishes we reviewed this year, starting with ... the fava spread at Emilitsa in Portland.

A Single Wide serving of Big J's chicken with Brussels sprout and kohlrabi slaw.

Hot Suppa!'s Hot Cat is a cornmeal-crusted fillet of fried catfish.

The hot pot at Portland’s Ginza Town features house special broth, fish cakes, raw steak, rice noodles, shiitake mushrooms, bok choi and fresh tofu.

Zapoteca's Veracruzano halibut ($28) is made with green olives, capers, raisins and diced tomato, with thick slices of pickled carrots and jalapeños.

Nosh Kitchen Bar's Mac 'N Stack, which consists of two fried mac-and-cheese patties as buns, American cheese, smoked BBQ sauce, smoked bacon and a grass-fed, all-natural Nosh beef patty.

Penang poached lobster tail at Tempo Dulu.

Korean BBQ pork nachos at Foulmouthed Brewing.

Vegetarian Sampler at the Red Sea restaurant in Portland.

Everything comes together in the seafood pappardelle from South Portland's Saltwater Grille.

A Dirigo burger on one of the restaurant's highly regarded house-made sandwich rolls at Dirigo Public House.

The ribeye was cooked to perfection Carriage House in East Boothbay.

Shrimp Sugarcane at Veranda Noodle House.

The Garganelli dish served at The Corner Room.

Bang Bang Cauliflower at Somerset Tap House.

The Bosque Negro at Local 188 is a dense triple chocolate brownie dripping with slow-melting charred vanilla ice cream and dotted with deep red pickled cherries.

The mezze plate at Tiqa in Portland.

Marinated bluefish at Drifters Wife natural wine bar in Portland.

Fish and shellfish stew, with fresh squid, tomato fennel broth and grilled bread at Scales.

Three-fish salad at the Tree House Cafe.

Khao mun gai is steamed chicken over seasoned rice with homemade sauce at Thai Esaan.

Old Vines Wine Bar's steak frites include herb-marinated flatiron steak, fries sprinkled with pecorino romano and a watercress salad topped by pickled onions and a lemon horseradish vinaigrette.

Braised Pork Shank with white bean stew at Woodford Food & Beverage.