The 2023 Hamptons Edition
...new and favorites for this summer in the Hamptons
We perennially turnover restaurants and shops in the Hamptons, mainly I think because it is a summer destination. But since COVID when so many people began to work remotely, our demographic has changed towards a more year-round community since so many people decided to move here full time.
Still, while more and more restaurants and shops are now staying open full time during the year, we do have some newcomers to talk about for this summer, which usually open around Memorial Day. So let’s talk about them!
In Montauk:
Maverick’s Restaurant, 51 South Edgemere, Montauk mavericksmontauk.com
This menu speaks to me. A brand new restaurant from Chef Jeremy Blustein, lately of Showfish at Gurney’s Star Island, he’s serving fresh, local, imaginative fare they call “surf and turf”. Jeremy is known for his contacts with local beekeepers, cheesemongers, fishermen, farmers and foragers so you know his offerings are going to be exciting and really great quality.
I was reading the menu and I was immediately hooked when I saw PARKER HOUSE ROLLS! Served with cultured butter and Lemon Lime Sea Salt. Yay! There’s a Spicy Harissa Lamb Sloppy Joe, Swordfish Bacon BLT, Korean Fried Chicken for lunch and Porterhouse for Two, Montauk Fluke Meurniere and so many other tantalizing things to try for dinner. I understand there are water views as well.
Maison Close, 435 East Lake Drive, Montauk maisoncloserestaurant.com
There seem to be more and more French restaurants opening lately in the Hamptons. This is a new export from Soho in the city. It’s a French Mediterranean inspired casual bistro with a waterfront location. Definitely one you want to reserve a table at this summer!
Talya: 161 2nd House Road, Montauk in Russchmeyers Hotel talyarestaurant.com
Talya is part of the Maison Close group and is Greek inspired. In a beautiful big open space in Ruschmeyer’s Hotel, Chef Geofrey Lechantoux from Maison Close is working on this menu of Greek with a touch of French. He has quite a background, having worked with Alain Ducasse and Gordon Ramsay. It should be fun!!!!
In Southampton:
Enchanté, 210 Hampton Road, Southampton enchantebistro.com
Opened in the old Red Bar space in Southampton as a “modern French inspired bistro”and brought to us by the group that developed SiSi in East Hampton, Enchanté is now open for brunch, drinks and dinner.
I’m excited to go try it because the online menu just posted is so old world French, and that is something I sorely miss. I love modern French, however a good chicken mousse or a paté en croute, trout amandine, filet mignon Rossini….well they are all on this menu and just waiting for me to taste. I am going to give the restaurant a couple of weeks to get going then visit and report back.
In Sag Harbor:
Sag Harbor Kitchen, 26 Bay Street, Sag Harbor
Coming June 15. A new restaurant will be locating in the old American Legion Building facing the harbor. Led by Chef Melissa O’Donnell, the creative force behind it, this new offering could be interesting. With Stella, she apparently introduced the concept of communal dining to the NY restaurant scene and will be doing the same here, with a communal table and open kitchen concept. Her restaurant Salt in NYC won her a Michelin award. Her next restaurants in the city were Thelma and L’il Gem. There will be indoor and outdoor seating.
Vin sur Vingt, 29 Main Street, Sag Harbor
Opens June 2. This new wine and cheese bar will feature an extensive list of continuously rotating collection of 250 wines - with over 40 different wines by the glass - coupled with a French bistro menu.
What the Falafel, 51 Division Street wtfalafel.co
New and exciting little spot in Sag Harbor offering light and fluffy falafels (they’re usually hard as hockey pucks, right? these aren’t!) I order “dippers”, six to go with a variety of their sauces and homemade freshly baked pita to take home or on a picnic. You can also order falafel stuffed pita sandwiches or on burger rolls with all the toppings, or in bowls with salad below. I hear there will be an Indian take-out next door, so this little corner of Sag Harbor could become a dining destination for casual good food.
Worth the Drive to Shelter Island:
Leon1909 on 29 West Neck Road, Shelter Island leon1909.com
Another French inspired restaurant, this one is on Shelter Island. Chic and sophisticated, there’s an open kitchen and lovely big wood burning oven they cook in. It’s Provencal-country-style cuisine includes homemade bread, fire roasted clams, Black sea bass, rib eye, risotto and pastas.
Worth the Drive to the Northfork:
Southold Social: 56125 Main Road, Southold….southoldsocial.com
Famous pastry chef Francois Payard, whose resume includes having worked as pastry chef at La Tour d’Argent and Lucas Carton in Paris, Le Bernadin and Restaurant Daniel in New York City, author of cookbooks, is behind the stoves here. So you know this is going to be a superb experience. It has a great menu plus you get Francois Payard’s hand made desserts! You have to try the Chocolate Dome. Thank you.
My favorite food sources in the Hamptons that I would like to share:
Round Swamp Farm: roundswampfarm.com
With outposts in Bridgehampton, East Hampton and Montauk, this family-owned farm shop offers top quality vegetables, fruits, jams, homemade cakes and pies, plus daily takeout entrees. They are expensive, but then I realized one day that their packages are big enough to feed two people, so in retrospect they are a good buy and certainly less expensive and time consuming than cooking the same dish at home.
I love their Tripple Berry Pie, the small size is perfect for two people. Oh, and go in the morning when they have warm out of the oven berry streusel muffins!
Jack’s Coffee: jacksstirbrew.com
Their new store opened in Sag Harbor next door to Goldberg’s Bagels. I go for their organic beans which I grind at home.
Provisions: provisionsnaturalfoods.com
With Sag Harbor and Water Mill locations, Provisions is a great health food market and cafe. I go for their wonderful fresh produce, organic smoothies, vitamins, bread, and many other items. I can’t pass by and not go in to take out their chicken rice soup for a quick lunch.
Citarella’s: citarella.com/bridgehampton
With locations in Bridgehampton, Southampton, and East Hampton, this is my source for fish, meat, cheese, good butter, and bread. They have a convenient hot breakfast bar that opens at 7 am, a soup bar, and a salad bar.
Tate’s Bakery: tatesbakeshop.com
In Southampton. I go here for their Mary Antoinette Cake, a many splendored layering of cake and mousse and marzipan and jam, and for their famous cookies. If Round Swamp Farms pies are sold out, I buy my pies here.
Lighthouse Seafood Market: lighthouseseafoodhb.com
(the same as Cor-J) , 36 Lighthouse Road, Hampton Bays.
Super fresh and they will clean and filet a whole fish for you free of charge. Jimmy Coronesi is still there and cuts the fish. Call ahead to order the shrimp cocktail so they can prepare it before you get there. Fish is fresh off the boat, whatever catch the boats bring in that day.
Carissa’s Bakery: carissasthebakery.com
In East Hampton and Sag Harbor. I am addicted to their Pickle Juice Rye Bread which I toast then top with a poached egg in the morning. I love their cookies. They make amazing croissants. The pistachio cream and chocolate cream croissants are thrilling (yes, for me, a croissant can be thrilling!) You are pretty sure if you try anything that it will be excellent.
Armin & Judy: arminandjudy.com
In Bridgehampton. The bakery set up within the restaurant is my happy place for fresh croissants in the morning. For also picking up a fresh baguette for later in the day. And for a coffee or tea with friends in the afternoon. They also have a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu.
Marilee’s Farm Stand: marileesfarmstand.com
Sagaponack. For me, the best produce I can find locally.
Curated Meats: curatedfinemeats.com
This just opened so I visited and recorded the following short video review for you. They call it a “jewel box” of curated prime meats. The concept is that everything is already cut, vacuum packed and ready for you to take out. I liked it and I think it will be very handy during the summer entertaining months when you have unexpected people coming and need something for the grill, or something to pop in the fridge ready for when you arrive the next weekend. Take a look……click below.
News:
A new farmers’ market is open in Bridgehampton! Across the street from the Candy Kitchen, Thursdays 3-6 pm. Yay!
Cookbook Review:
The Hamptons Kitchen, by Hillary Davis and Stacy Dermont
Can I review my own cookbook? I am so proud of it. My co-author, Stacy Dermont and I wrote this as an ode to the wonderful farm and sea produce that we use in cooking in the Hamptons, and Stacy wrote pairings for each recipe using local wines from our vineyards. Each recipe is seasonal, so you can go to a farmers’ market here, buy what looks good, and cook from our cookbook.
"Hillary Davis and Stacy Dermont capture the spirit of cooking and eating simply, seasonally, and locally in the Hamptons." ― Chef Éric Ripert, best-selling author, chef and owner of Le Bernadin, and Daytime Emmy Award-winning host of Avec Eric
Please feel free to pass this along to friends or family….!!! Next week’s newsletter will focus on the best sweets in the Hamptons, so you won’t want to miss that one!