Nevada Hotel’s Lulu’s tiki bar at York Beach now open to public: ‘I’m definitely excited’

YORK, Maine — Long Sands Beach’s newest tiki bar is open to the public after a holdup this summer in the restaurant’s approval process.

Lulu’s has been serving guests of the Nevada Hotel since its historic reopening this summer by Joe Lipton, who completely refurbished the establishment and added a third floor. Initially, town officials required the restaurant to remain exclusive to hotel guests until a change of use was approved.

However, two weeks ago, code enforcement informed Lipton that the restaurant could now open to the public. The delay was due to a stream overlay district intended to protect a non-existent stream, mistakenly marked on the town’s maps.

“They realized that they can now make a determination the stream never even existed,” Lipton said.

Lipton had been using guest day passes to give people access to Lulu’s while he awaited approval for the restaurant to be public. With Lulu’s open to guests only, he allowed people to request the passes so they could get full access to the hotel’s amenities, including the restaurant.

Now, Lulu’s is preparing to hold a celebration on Sept. 8 with a live steel drum reggae band from 3 to 6 p.m. commemorating the first summer open at the Nevada.

“We want people to know that, especially for the locals heading into September, we’re open,” Lipton said.

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What’s on the menu at Lulu’s at York Beach?

Lulu’s, named after Lydia, the daughter of Lipton and Michelle Friar, and her childhood nickname, offers a mix of Mexican and Polynesian cuisine. Tiki-style restaurants and décor, which gained popularity in the 1950s, complement the Pacific Rim theme that aligns with the Nevada’s naval motif. The hotel itself is designed to resemble a battleship flybridge, similar to the one founder Henry de la Pena served on during World War II.

Lulu’s focuses less on imagery like native tiki masks and more on the connection between food and nature. On the menu is a raw bar with ceviche, rice and noodle bowls and al pastor – pork cooked vertically, rotating underneath a pineapple from which juice flows down.

Lulu’s is one of three restaurants operated by Lipton and Friar at their three hotels. The other two are A Little Auk at the ViewPoint Hotel and Stones Throw, which has both a restaurant and hotel rooms.

Lipton said he plans to offer a shuttle service between Long Sands Beach, where the Nevada and Stones Throw are located, and the ViewPoint on Nubble Road, which overlooks the Nubble Lighthouse.

After completing work on all three establishments in recent years, he intends to take a break from major projects for a while.

“One of the things we really wanted to do was be able to share the Nevada and Lulu’s with the people, with the town,” Lipton said. “I’m definitely excited.”

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