Montauk Restaurants

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.

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.

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.

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.

Although it’s been a Montauk staple for decades, the buzz around Duryea’s has grown lately, thanks to a sleek makeover a couple of years ago. Instead of rustic picnic tables and a BYOB policy, there are now bottles of Provençal rosé, white banquettes, and clean-lined, bleached wood tables and chairs that create a setting that wouldn’t look out of place on Mykonos—especially with its waterside view of Fort Pond Bay. The steamed lobster and lobster rolls are a no-brainer, but also consider the perfectly grilled skirt steak, the small plates (baked cherrystone clams and steamers), the lobster club salad, and oysters from Orient Point, just across Gardiner’s Bay.

As the name suggests, this quirky, dive-y restaurant sits a few steps away from one of the main fishing docks in Montauk and serves hearty, straightforward dishes of the kind you want after a day on the open water (many of the regulars are fishermen). There’s clam chowder, soft shell crab sandwiches, grilled tuna steaks with coleslaw and fries, and a peanut butter and chocolate pie that’s probably the most decadent dessert in Montauk. The décor, meanwhile, is an eclectic mix of taxidermied geese and deer heads, Halloween-worthy masks, and vintage model sailing ships.

At the entrance of Montauk Harbor, Gosman’s (which opened in 1943) epitomizes a kind of classic, unfussy seafood restaurant visitors have come to associate with the town. A bright, airy dining room looks out over passing fishing boats, and the menu is dominated by regional comfort food like Atlantic cod fish and chips, baked stuffed clams, steamed lobster, and Maryland-style crab cakes with a corn and jicama slaw. There’s also a walk-up window for those who don’t want a full sit-down meal, where you can order huge lobster rolls and plates of crisp, fried calamari to take to the water for an impromptu picnic.

Go to the Crow's Nest's restaurant for the same reason you'd stay at the hotel—the incredible atmosphere created by Sean McPherson's incredible eye. Indoors, the vibe is an eclectic mix of design pieces that still feels thoroughly Hamptons—whiteboard walls are decorated with earthy mud cloths and pirate flags, and Mediterranean mezze platters and hearty salads are served on warm wooden boards. If possible, book a table on their outdoor patio or—better yet—on the lawn, where four-tops are situated under elegant wooden cabanas.

Father-and-son duo Eric and Adam Miller opened this eatery in Montauk in recent years–and we've heard nothing but good things. Eric (chef) sources local seafood and meats to create his dishes, which he whips into small plates and crudo, with a few larger selections, while Adam mixes specialty cocktails.

Arbor serves a mix of Mediterranean-inspired dishes and seafood, pizzas, small plates, and the usual go-tos (raw bar, cheeseburger, mussels, and fries). The space is romantic but contemporary and clean, dressed in hanging exposed lights, with a long, generously stocked bar. The wine list here is good, as is the beer lineup, which includes some local IPAs and ales. And new this summer: The Garret at the Arbor, a breezy new patio and outdoor bar with a curated drink menu.