Lulu's Restaurant in York, Maine

Lulu's sits overlooking the water in York and cooks global comfort food, from Maine oysters with blueberry mignonette to al pastor tacos and salmon yaki onigiri. It's part of the Stone's Throw family, which means the same thoughtful ownership and hospitality you'd expect from their other spots. The crowd's mixed: couples on date night, families at lunch, hotel guests wandering down from upstairs.

• Salmon yaki onigiri is standout, crispy rice cake with raw salmon
• Ocean views from the dining room and outdoor seating
• Strong vegetarian and vegan options beyond standard fare
• Manager Andy and team go above and beyond on service

Start with the daily special oysters (blueberry mignonette was a recent highlight). The salmon yaki onigiri is worth the trip on its own, a crispy rice cake that lands differently than anything else on the menu. Al pastor tacos, tofu spam, and anything vegetarian rounding out the selection. One guest flagged the tiki drinks as decent but pricey, so order a beer or wine instead.

Casual but polished, with wide views and enough ocean breeze to feel like a real destination rather than a hotel restaurant. You can have a normal conversation without shouting.

The kitchen goes adventurous. You'll find vegan and vegetarian riffs (tofu spam is real), daily oyster specials, and dishes that don't fit neatly into one cuisine. It's the kind of menu where you might try something you've never heard of and walk away grateful you did.

Guests rave about the food and the staff, particularly manager Andy, who goes out of his way to make nights memorable. One diner called the salmon yaki onigiri "one of the best things" they'd ever eaten. The vegetarian options draw strong praise, though the tiki drinks landed as pretty but not worth the markup.