The Hamptons Restaurants
Establishment
neighborhood
Kissaki x Fish Cheeks
467 E Lake Dr., Montauk
Japanese sushi-meets-Southern-Thai at Montauk Angler’s Club is a thing through October 31st. The spicy-sweet-sour flavors mark a departure from the classic coastal seafood served throughout the East End. Expect lobster stir-fried with scrambled eggs, scallions, and chili jam, coconut crab curry, seasonal nigiri, and hearty futomaki rolls. This pop-up is operating on a drop-in policy, so be sure to get in early to beat the crowd. (Or skip the crowd entirely and order takeout to enjoy at home.) Images courtesy of the Montauk Anglers, Kissaki, and Fish Cheeks.
It’s a Dinner
368 Sagg Rd., Sagaponack
Ana Hito is a true multi-hyphenate. The former goop food editor designs cute tees with inked anchovies on them, tends to her farm in the Hudson Valley, and hosts the most sublime dinner series ever, aptly named, It’s a Dinner. This summer, Hito is hitting the East End, curating a series of field-to-table dinners in Sagaponack. Reserve a weekend that suits well in advance, roll up with a group of friends to a seasonal cocktail, five courses of heavenly food (with wine pairings), and something sweet to end on. While Hito’s food is always insanely delicious, it’s the company that sets this dinner series apart from others: You might find yourself sipping a Cynar spritz with a magazine editor, passing the carrots to a local farmer, or swooning over the peach galette with a nuclear physicist.
Rita Cantina
28 Maidstone Park Rd., East Hampton
Balmy summer nights and dinner plans with a crowd call for the shareable feasts Mexican cuisine does best. Rita Cantina is new to the Springs and sticks to local bounty (where possible) for its menu of wagyu short rib birria tacos, fried scallops, and grilled Mexican street corn. Great food aside, the yellow-and-white patio with its stripey parasols is a sunny, happy place to hang out both day and night. Images courtesy of Eric Striffler.
SíSí
295 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Rd., East Hampton
SíSí is a pan-Mediterranean concept dishing out Levantine, Greek, and Italian classics like Fattoush salad, pasta, and tahini-and-charred-lemon drizzled everything. In other words, all the exploding-with-flavor veggie-forward food that feels so right on hot summer nights. Located within the newly-opened EHP Resort & Marina, the view—especially at sunset—is spectacular. If you happen to be exploring the East End by boat, the marina accommodates anything from twenty-five to one-hundred-and-twenty footers, making docking and dining a total breeze.
La Fin
474 W. Lake Dr., Montauk
Tucked into the former Swallow East space, La Fin brings a touch of St. Tropez to the Montauk seafront. While chef and co-owner James Tchinnis cut his teeth at Le Cirque, the food at La Fin is simple, sustainably sourced from local farms, and healthy-ish. The setting, on the other hand, has a touch of that unmistakable Riviera glitz with plush turquoise seating and a stellar playlist. The morning menu is a light one, featuring juices, paleo muffins, and chia puddings. Dinner centers on oysters, seasonal seafood, and seriously good lobster toast.
Il Buco Al Mare
231 Main St., Amagansett
NYC staple Il Buco has landed in East Hampton. In a nod to Il Buco’s sister restaurant in Ibiza, Bottega il Buco, you’ll notice tinned fish like Spanish anchovies, grilled whole mackerel, and tons more seafood goodness on the menu. What are we eating? Fava beans flecked with pecorino and goat cheese, fluke Crudo, and blistered prawns. Reservations essential. Images courtesy of Noe Dewitt.
Morty’s Oyster Stand
2167 Montauk Hwy., Montauk
A toasty lobster roll, crisp fries, and a cold glass of Chablis are the components of summer on a plate. Morty’s Oyster Stand excels at the hyper-fresh, sustainable-when-possible seafood and salad we all crave when the soupy summer heat sets in. Both the indoor and outdoor seating areas are perfect for bigger groups, but there’s something whimsical about the nautical-themed wallpaper and white-wood interior that encourages lazy suppers. Plus, there’s a live (and resolutely laidback) comedy night every Tuesday. Images courtesy of Eric Striffler.
Babette’s
66 Newtown Ln., East Hampton
In the Hamptons, lunch is a verb, and nowhere embodies this more than Babette's. Located on bustling Newtown Lane in Easthampton, the menu is a clean one, filled with all-organic meats; wild, local fish; and lots of gluten- and grain-free options.
Sant Ambroeus
30 Main St., Southampton
Breakfast at Sant Ambroeus on Saturday mornings is, for many Upper East Siders and West Villagers, a standing order. When those same crowds descend on the Hamptons for the summer, not much changes.
Showfish at Gurney’s
32 Star Island Rd., Montauk
Make a reservation at Showfish for a celebratory meal, an engagement, a birthday…any excuse to be extravagant and order the showstopping Fruits de Mer Showfish platter.