Nikanos Mediterranean Bar & Grille in Ogunquit, Maine

Nikanos sits in Ogunquit's restaurant row and does straightforward Mediterranean food, Greek lamb, saganaki, dips, flatbreads, without the fuss. The bar pours serious cocktails, and the room comes alive when there's live music. It's the kind of place that feels like a small vacation without leaving Maine.

• Lamb shank so good diners remember it for weeks.
• Nick's craft cocktails are worth ordering a second.
• Patio lights and live guitar make it feel like vacation.
• Portions large enough to take half home at reasonable prices.

Start with the trio of dips and the calamari. The lamb shank is the signature, tender, well-seasoned, served with feta mashed potatoes and flatbread. The flaming saganaki is a show and tastes like it should. Flatbreads work as shareable starters or light mains. Don't skip the pasta if you're here for entrees.

A mix of indoor and outdoor seating, with the patio lit by string lights. It can feel relaxed or buzzy depending on the night, especially when there's live music.

Order the calamari and the trio of dips to start. The lamb shank is the draw, cooked long enough that people still think about it weeks later. Flatbreads, saganaki (fried cheese, flaming), pasta, and feta mashed potatoes round out what you'll see on tables around you. Portions are generous.

Guests praise the lamb shank as some of the best they've had. One recent visitor called Nick's cocktails "outstanding" and noted the reasonable prices for the portion sizes. The outdoor seating with evening lights gets mentioned often as romantic and vacation-like.