11 New Hamptons Restaurants Popping Open This Summer Season
What’s hot and fresh for summer 2019
Diners arriving at the sweet farmhouse on Route 27, hoping to have dinner at Eleven Madison Park’s Summerhouse, or hitting the waterfront spot on Three Mile Harbor eager to enjoy the creations of chef Eric Miller along with the sunset at Bay Kitchen and Bar, will be surprised to find those restaurants are gone.
But so it goes each new season, new ones have taken their place. The dining rooms and venues look similar each summer, but each spring, fresh places blossom at many of the familiar sites, bringing new menus and new owners to town. Below, a guide to some of the most promising new spots out east this year.
SOUTHAMPTON
Blu Mar
Terrence Brennan, whose Picholine received a Michelin star, shuttered that restaurant in 2015 and has been consulting since, but this Friday he will open this coastal Mediterranean spot. Fish will be wild, caught or flown in daily and much of it served whole and priced by the pound. There will also be a “simply grilled” section served with a choice of sauces, as well as pastas and vegetable sides. In addition to dinner and weekend brunch, Blu Mar will have a nightly happy hour. 136 Main St., near Post Crossing, Southampton; (631) 488-4570
Silver Lining Diner
Eric Miller has closed his popular Three Mile Harbor waterfront spot Bay Kitchen and Bar, and co-opted the iconic Southampton Diner instead. He’ll open it as deco-inspired Silver Lining in June. Miller still has relationships with the area’s farmers and fishermen, so look for dishes like Long Island-raised crescent duck with roasted sweet potatoes and Montauk fluke with kale, spinach, and long grain rice. 32 Montauk Hwy., near Flying Point Road; (631) 901-1800
Brooklyn Chop House
Jue Lan Club may have shuttered in Southampton, but this week owner Stratis Morfogen is opening an offshoot of his FiDi steakhouse within the Capri Hotel. Pat LaFrieda meats will share a menu with Peking ducks and fusion dumplings ranging from French onion soup to pastrami. Poolside brunch will be served on weekends. 281 County Rd. 39A, near North Main Street, Southampton; (631) 500-9055
T-Bar
After eight years away, restaurateur Tony Fortuna will again export his buzzy Upper East Side steakhouse/lounge to Southampton, serving steaks, sushi, local fish and oversized salads. There will also be new resort options such as whole grilled lobsters and a surf and turf lobster roll. After dinner, the lounge kicks in along with a late happy hour featuring light bites and drink specials. 268 Elm St., at Powell Avenue, Southampton; (631) 283-0202
Union Burger Bar
Patties and shakes, a rare find in Southampton, are on the menu at this new spot adjacent to Mexican restaurant Union Cantina. These are not the skinny variety; Niman Ranch meat is being flown in and offered up with hand-cut fries and a large selection of craft beer and small batch bourbon. 40 Bowden Sq., at North Sea Road, Southampton; (631) 377-3500
Sag Harbor
Ed’s Lobster Bar East
Lobster meatballs, fried scallops, and other favorites from Ed McFarland’s Soho flagship will travel east to a new location. A wood-burning oven means additions like lobster pizza, too. A 30-seat outdoor area will have live music and soft serve ice cream. 1742 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Tpke., between Carroll and Hildreth streets, Sag Harbor; (631) 725-1131
Bridgehampton
Armin and Judy
Photographer Susan Meisel and her art dealer husband Louis purchased the space that had housed Mercado and most recently Hudson Blue Crab House. It’s for their friends Armin and Judy Bellova, who owned the East Village restaurants Tappo and Casanis. The Bellovas will now open an affordable Mediterranean restaurant and bakery, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The emphasis will be on fish from Montauk, along with pasta, local produce, and chicken from Iocana Farms. 1770 Montauk Hwy. between Lake Road and Newlight Lane, Bridgehampton; no number yet.
East Hampton
Paola’s
The regional Italian Madison Avenue haunt has taken over the former EMP Summerhouse space. Familiar dishes including tomato and watermelon salad with goat cheese and balsamic reduction; pan-seared artichokes; and chicken Milanese with arugula and cherry tomato will be served alongside nightly specials. The large outdoor area will play host to live jazz. 341 Pantigo Rd., between Maple Lane and Spring Close Highway, East Hampton; (631) 359-3100
Amagansett
Coche Comedor
Rotisserie fish and birds enhanced with Mexican spices, as well as moles and ceviches, are the draw at this spot opened by Nick and Toni’s owners Mark Smith and Toni Ross, who also own nearby taqueria La Fondita. Some of the produce will be sourced from their own gardens; sangria will flow from taps and fresh margaritas range from tamarind to prickly pear. 74A Montauk Hwy., between Oak and Three Sisters lanes, Amagansett; (631) 267-5709
Morty’s Oyster Stand
Cyril’s, the packed roadside party bar on the Napeague stretch en route to Montauk, closed three years ago, but Ferris partner Charles Seich and local builders Jack Luber and Jeremy Morton have taken over the space and landed former Surf Lodge chef Sam Talbot. The new spot will focus on mollusks from around the country; lobster rolls and cioppino will also be on the menu. Cyril’s famous Bailey’s banana colada will rise from the ashes for the locale’s renaissance. 2167 Montauk Hwy., near Napeague Harbor Road, Amagansett
Montauk
Showfish
As part of a $13 million renovation that transformed the old Montauk Yacht Club into Gurney’s Star Island Resort and Marina, that hotel’s sleepy restaurant was remodeled and reborn. Jeremy Blutstein, formerly chef at Crow’s Nest and executive chef at Almond, has taken the reigns and created a menu with such options as roasted tile fish with vinegar-braised leeks, chive blossom, and crab toast; house dry-aged, bone-in tuna rib eye; and seared scallops with duck prosciutto. 32 Star Island Rd., off West Lake Drive, Montauk; (631) 668-3100
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