New Hamptons, Montauk restaurants for 2024 summer
Another year, another turn of the Hamptons restaurant merry-go-round: Which places survived the offseason? What is making a South Fork debut?
The short answer: There’s a good deal to look forward to this season.
In the Hamptons, you'll find a few new bistros (including a notable offshoot from Brooklyn's Red Hook Tavern in Sag Harbor’s American Legion Hall). as well as new red sauce joints, and hopeful whisperings of a popular roadside stand revival along Napeague stretch that involves bananas and Bailey’s. There’s a Motorino pizza truck for hire, another bagel “PopUp” sure to get weekenders up early for carbs, and for dessert, a new outpost of Grindstone Donuts. Naturally.
Besides the brand new spots, there are sleepers that opened late last summer or in the offseason that flew under the radar.
NEW HAMPTONS RESTAURANTS
Arthur & Sons, Bridgehampton
The West Village’s Arthur & Sons, from chef Joe Isidori — co-founder of NYC’s Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beers — expands east this summer, bringing the restaurant’s '90s hip hop theme and menu of Italian American red sauce classics to Bridgehampton. Vintage Tiffany lights and Rat Pack-era photos trick out the 70-seat space, which boasts an outdoor patio for warmer days. A mix of family recipes (hence the restaurant’s name) and new dishes will include meatballs with ricotta, Caesar salad, fried calamari, baked clams Oreganata and sausage & peppers with shaved provolone. There’s spicy rigatoni alla vodka, chicken Parmigiana, shrimp scampi, spaghetti Carbonara and veal Marsala. End the meal with a signature spumoni. The cocktail menu features twists on faves such as the espresso martini and limoncello spritz.
More info: 203 Bridgehampton Sag Harbor Tpke., Bridgehampton, arthurandsonsnyc.com
Sag Harbor Tavern
The team behind Red Hook Tavern in Brooklyn is slated to open its first sister restaurant in the former American Legion Hall on the marina. Chef Billy Durney announced the new spot on his Instagram — to much excitement. The space, which looks to be as clubby and warm as the Red Hook location, will feature more seafood than Brooklyn, with a nod to local fluke, steamers and oysters. Still maintaining a classic American bistro vibe, there will be a “couple more pastas, a second steak — a hangar with chimichurri,” said chef Billy Durney, as well as that wonderful house cheeseburger. Pair with one of the many hand-chosen bottles of wine, sit on the dock and watch the Sag yachts cruise by.
More info: 26 Bay St., Sag Harbor, sagharbortavern.com
Uncle Joe’s Famous Pizzeria, Hampton Bays
Uncle Joes, a local institution since 1985, was recently purchased by Scott and Tana Gerber who are buying up local pizzerias and turning them into a whole family of Uncle Joe’s. At the mothership, a gut renovation transformed the front room into a retro-chic pizzeria; the backroom into an intimate, brick-lined wine cellar — with a surprising selection of small producer wines. The menu features classic pies, pastas and Parms plus signature pizzas such as the Hampton Bays Hawaiian and La Carne Suda (meatballs, sausage, pepperoni, ham and bacon). You’ll also find sweet “doughknots” that come dusted with cinnamon sugar, served with gelato or dipping sauce.
More info: 42 E. Montauk Hwy., Hampton Bays, 631-728-1234, unclejoes.com
El Verano, Southampton
Lobster tacos at El Verano in Southampton. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
Mexico City-born chef Julian Median is known for his spots in the city like Toloache, Coppelia and Tacuba. Although it means “summer” in Spanish, El Verano is open year-round and serving an exceptional and elevated take on coastal Mexican. Tacos include a lobster with togarashi mayo, quesadillas are laced with huitlacoche, or corn fungus, a Mexican delicacy, and carnitas are simmered low and slow with local duck.
More info: 10 Windmill Lane, 631-377-3050, elveranony.com
Grindstone Donuts, East Hampton
Grindstone Donuts is expanding to East Hampton. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
This expansion of the beloved Sag Harbor doughnut and coffee shop hits Race Lane this year, giving East Hampton sweets and caffeine fans the brioche and cake doughnuts that made this brand a cult hit. The small-batch doughnuts ($3.50) are topped and/or filled with fresh fruit glazes in flavors like blueberry, strawberry, stuffed full of vanilla cream and drizzled with dulce de leche and chocolate (churro), or fat and fluffy cake doughnuts generously sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. The coffee here is just as meticulously prepared as at the original, available as organic drip (from $2) and local cold brews. Specials include peanut butter mocha latte and honey lavender latte.
More info: 27 Race Lane, East Hampton; grindstonedonuts.com
Hampton Eats, East Hampton
Hamptons Eats features food items from a range of East End-based vendors. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
The Hamptons’ first multi-vendor eatery, launched last fall, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner from local food businesses. “Customers don’t have to travel all the way out to Montauk for their favorite jelly croissants from Montauk Bake Shoppe,” said owner Rashid Sulehri. The light, bright space just off Main Street also stocks signature items from nearby Villa Italian Specialties and Beach Bakery & Grand Café in Westhampton' Stuart’s Seafood in Amagansett, Paul’s Pizza in Southampton, as well as Hampton Coffee and Manhattan-based Eli’s Breads. A self-serve frozen yogurt station with a buffet of toppings, plus bubble tea, smoothies and juices satisfies sweet teeth. Coming later this summer: a new Mediterranean menu and refreshed burger menu.
More info: 74 North Main St., East Hampton, 631-604-6600; hampton-eats.com
Village Bistro, East Hampton
The new Village Bistro retains the outdoor courtyard from the former Rowdy Hall in East Hampton. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
Setting up shop in the iconic location formerly occupied by Rowdy Hall, Village Bistro's classic menu hits notes from French onion soup to oysters and crab cakes, as well as upscale plates like foie gras mousse and steak tartare. Entrees include a requisite burger to steak frites, herbed chicken, fish and chips, as well as an ever-changing list of daily specials. The cozy spot — now outfitted with teal leather banquettes, globe sconces and spare greige walls — leaves no trace of its previous occupant, but does offers the same shady alleyway seating for those that prefer to dine al fresco. Apps range from $14 to $26, entrees from $15 to $44.
More info: 10 Main St., East Hampton, villagebistroeh.com
PopUp Bagels, Amagansett
PopUp Bagels is opening in Amagansett Square for the 2024 summer season. Credit: Jen Goldberg
The Instagram sensational PopUp Bagels could be found behind a spray painted blue “bagels” sign in East Hampton last summer. This year’s pop-up will be located in Amagansett Square, with preorders starting Memorial Day weekend for pickups from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. There, the IYKYK crowd will pick up preordered bagels, schmears and butters at their prescheduled time, throw them into a complimentary “Not Famous but known,” tote bag and head off for the rest of their weekend. Known for being served hot and whole (no sandwiches), buyers are encouraged to “grip, rip, and dip.” Choose from sesame, plain, poppy, everything or salt bagels. Add scallion, chimichurri or everything herb schmears of cream cheese — plus whatever specialty flavor they’re offering — for the dip. Preorders come by the dozen (including two schmears), for $42.
More info: Meeting House, 4 Amagansett Square, popupbagels.com
Rowdy Hall (2.0), Amagansett
After 26 years on Main Street in East Hampton, Rowdy Hall — known for killer burgers, a robust beer selection and warm hospitality — has moved. When the opportunity to lease a larger space arose in Amagansett, the Honest Man Hospitality group — which also owns Nick & Toni’s, Coche Comedor, La Fondita and Townline BBQ — jumped. In keeping with tradition, the new restaurant's facade is painted black, just as it was in East Hampton. The Amagansett menu retains the popular Rowdy burger ($20.50), layered French onion soup, spicy wings, Roquefort-walnut salad, pan-roasted chicken ($26) and steak frites ($32). New items include boards that can be customized with cheeses, paté and meats. Daily specials include plenty of local catch, a raw bar with oysters, littleneck clams and shrimp cocktail. If you’re just in it for the drink, Rowdy Hall’s beer selection includes favorites like Brooklyn Brewery, Schlafly Beer, Springs Brewery, Captain Lawrence, Radiant Pig and Guinness. Three-pour tasting flights of draft beer and wines are available for those who can’t make up their thirsty minds.
More info: 177 Main St., Amagansett, 631-324-8555, rowdyhall.com
N'Amo Seafood & Raw Bar, Montauk
Another new spot from the prolific team behind Sí Sí, Sunset Harbor, Enchante and Village Bistro, above: N’Amo Seafood & Raw Bar is located in the former Le Fin, N’Amo is Italian slang for “fish hook” with the restaurant billing itself as “Italian American seafood.” What is Italian American seafood, you ask? Here, it will include a catch of the day, an iced seafood display highlighting oysters, whole fish and other choices like the Dungeness crab that fills its ravioli. Beyond fish, handmade pastas will include a garmigna verde with Romagna sausage ragu. Tip for boaters: You can dock and dine on N’Amo’s marina deck.
More info: 474 West Lake Dr., Montauk, namoseafood.com
Shark Bar, Montauk
If you've spent any time loitering on the Highway out east, it was definitely with a BBC (Bailey's Banana Colada) in hand at Cyril's Fish Shack, the legendary roadside establishment in the Hamptons. While Cyril's served its last cocktail in May of 2016 — complete with a fried fish-heavy menu — the ante should be upped when a new incarnation of the glorified beach shack reopens this season. This go-round will be called Shark Bar and will see Jeremy Blutstein, of Maverick's, in the kitchen.
More info: 2167 Montauk Hwy., Montauk
Monte’s at the Manor, Montauk
Yes, this is Monte's, the Brooklyn-based brand with a Hamptons history; Nick and Angelo Monte owned Gurneys from 1956 to 2013. It opened late last summer to a quiet reception within Montauk Manor. From its vintage neon sign to its red bar seats and leather banquettes to its red sauce — which will be sold on-site — expect Italian classics with a side of celebrity sightings.
More info: 236 Edgemere St. Montauk, 631-238-5508, montesmanor.com
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.