Taco Tour of the Hamptons
Taco Tour of the Hamptons
......and some swell margarita spots
The summer is when I most crave Mexican food, tacos, and icy margaritas….yet the Hamptons is not known for Mexican food. I’m not craving creative combination tacos that feature alligator or caesar salad or Nutella. I want soul-satisfying. I want the real thing. So I made it my mission to take myself on a taco tour to find my go-to places.
Luckily, only this past week I quite literally stumbled upon a two-week old Mexican restaurant in Southampton that fulfilled most of my yearnings. It serves street food, food-truck food, and damn good margaritas. Its name?
44 Hampton Road, Southampton
631-259-3827
It’s open 7 days a week, from 12-9. Convenient.
As you walk in your eyes are drawn to the right where an open kitchen line is busy preparing food, while at the very back of the restaurant a small bar is busy shaking up the most amazing cocktails (some off the menu you have to ask for)…..mostly frosty margaritas of every variety. The entire wall behind the bar is filled with all types of tequila. And the atmosphere and service is smooth and courteous and fun.
The tacos are brilliant. You know how they usually fall apart when you bite into them? Well these are crispy, then have a second layer of soft taco cradling them, which essentially solves the problem and produces a deeply satisfying taco. The tacos are generously filled and topped with pico and guacamole (picture above) Delicious.
I also love their enchiladas. And don’t get me started on the margaritas because I could go on and on. Trust me, try one. You’ll want Uno Mas.
For years I have been a loyal diner at a Mexican “street food” stop in Amagansett called:
74 Montauk Highway, Amagansett
631-267-8800
When I go, I always come away with a couple of bottles of their homemade hot sauces. I make my own but these are really good. Then I stand in line and order. Their menu is quite large and they also have daily specials. I normally opt for a fat burrito and a Mexican beer to take out to their picnic tables, or their aqua fresca…which are freshly made fruit juices. If I am with friends, I order extras to share of Mexican corn “off the cob”, nachos, chips and guacamole. More times than I can remember, I have seen Alex Baldwin leaving with a huge shopping bag of take-out for his ever-growing family.
Next door they opened a more formal Mexican restaurant called Coche Comedor. Nick and Toni’s owns both. Coche Comedor serves larger meals in a sit-down environment, while La Fondita is outdoorsy and casual and serves more of the kind of Mexican food that I have cravings for.
In Sag Harbor, I head for:
2 Main Street, Sag Harbor
631-800-8226
The tacos are really small. But they pack a great deal of flavor, which usually means I have to order times two to get as much as I want for a meal. Then why do I go? They make some of the best margaritas in the Hamptons. There’s a view of the harbor. I go for breakfast sometimes for their Huevos Rancheros (awesome). And everything is delicious. Just small.
1615 Sag Harbor TPKE, Sag Harbor
631-725-1045
You’ve passed it a million times. The little place by the side of the road always jammed with cars. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner 6 days a week, with an outdoor garden with picnic tables in the back and a small dining room inside, Estias has been a local favorite for years. If you are traveling from Bridgehampton to Sag, it is on the left.
After a late night out, their bounteous breakfast hits the spot. Literally. Their Mexican-American menu is famous for using almost exclusively local produce, including their own grown veggies. You have to go.
The next newest boy on the block (other than Uno Mas) is:
10 Windmill Lane, Southampton
631-377-3050
More expensive than the others, this corner restaurant in Southampton is quickly becoming a hot spot for more “elevated Mexican food”. Notably not a taco joint or a place to get a saucy cheesy enchilada, this restaurant you might dress up for and treat more slowly. It says it offers over a 100 types of tequila. For food, think rib-eye or local fluke tacos. I can vouch for their tortilla soup and a lovely atmosphere when you score a table near the open air windows or outside. How can I explain their overall approach? Well, if you order guacamole, you can add on caviar for a total of $125. But go. It’s a good spot for good times, just a bit more expensive!!
So dear ones, enjoy and go forth.
Let me know your favorites?
And see you soon…..Hillary