Nick's Beachside Grille in York, Maine

Nick's sits steps from York Beach's main drag, slinging pizza, lobster rolls, fried calamari, and steamed lobster dinners to a mix of locals and summer visitors. The space is compact but lively, with outdoor seating when the weather's right. Service tends to be attentive, though the kitchen's consistency can vary dish to dish.

• Full steamed lobster dinners, rare in Short Sands.
• Calamari and sauce combo guests actually remember.
• Attentive, friendly staff who check in often.
• Outdoor seating with easy beach access nearby.

Start with the calamari and its signature sauce, or the garlic rolls if you're in a fried-carb mood. The lobster roll and steamed lobster dinners are the main event here. Flatbread pizza (cheese, pepperoni, or topped with lobster mac and cheese) and the haddock sandwich are solid anchors. Mozzarella sticks and fries round out a casual order.

Small, rustic-tavern vibe with simple decor and outdoor seating available. Lively but not loud, the kind of place where you can hold a conversation.

The menu leans into what a beachside kitchen does best: fried appetizers, fresh seafood, flatbread pizzas, and lobster in a couple forms. Steamed whole lobster dinners are a draw here, one of the few spots in Short Sands offering them. Calamari shows up with a sauce guests remember. Haddock sandwiches and lobster mac and cheese appear on some tables. A burger, garlic rolls, mozzarella sticks. It reads like a solid beach-town grill, and most nights it delivers.

Guests praise the friendliness of staff like Jo, who made multiple visits feel special. One recent visitor called the calamari sauce 'unique and delicious.' The food presentation surprised a few diners who expected less from a beachside spot. Consistency gets mixed reviews, with lobster and seafood dishes hitting more often than appetizers.