The Black Birch

The Black Birch is a no-reservation spot in York that packs in regulars and road-trippers alike for cocktails, craft beer, and a tight menu of small plates and entrees. The kitchen sources from nearby farms and leans hard into seafood, but there's enough variety that you won't be stuck if you're not in a shellfish mood. Expect a wait on weekends, but the bartenders will call you when your table's ready.

• Deviled eggs that have developed a cult following.
• Fish and chips with crispy batter and perfectly cooked cod.
• Twenty tap beers plus an inventive cocktail menu.
• Attentive staff who know the beer list cold.

Start with the deviled eggs if they're on the menu. Get the fish and chips if you see it. The mussels are plump and cooked to order. The strip steak comes with roasted radishes and is worth the price. Ask your server about the beer pairings, they know what they're talking about.

Cozy, dimly lit, with music from vinyl. Gets packed on weekends and noise builds as the room fills, but it's a good-natured crowd.

The beer list is deep and changes regularly. The cocktails are inventive, not gimmicky. Food is gastropub fare done right: deviled eggs that supposedly justify a drive from New Jersey, fish and chips with crispy batter and flaky cod, mussels cooked exactly right. Plates are sized for sharing or for building a meal across several small dishes.

Guests rave about the consistency across visits, and the cocktails and seafood in particular inspire loyalty. One recent visitor drove from New Jersey specifically for the deviled eggs. Bartender Shawn gets mentioned by name. The wait is worth it, regulars say.