Get to know East Quogue
Livability and lifestyle are the watchwords of East Quogue, a hamlet of 11.5 square miles nestled in the town of Southampton between Quogue, Westhampton, and Hampton Bays. With its prime position on scenic Shinnecock Bay, the manta ray-shaped East Quogue isn’t flashy, pretentious, or as pricey as Quogue, but it is picturesque, with ample protected natural reserves and lovely white sand beaches backed by dunes. East Quogue is also convenient, with an adequate amount of restaurants, shops, and professional or other services — from lawyers, accountants, and dentists to home care and boat care — all located on (or right off) Montauk Highway, which serves as Main Street and snakes up the hamlet in a northeasterly direction past the inlets of the irregular coastline. (You can also get your hardware and fishing supplies here.) One of the best things about tiny East Quogue is that it’s not a day-tripper or glam destination, so residents can have it (almost) all to themselves.
History & Culture
East Quogue, known as Fourth Neck when it was settled in 1673, earned its current name in 1891. If you notice the last names Carter, Downs, Phillips, Jackson, Foster, Howell, Reeve, and Squires, these were the families that settled the hamlet in the 19th century. According to the East Quogue Historical Society, which houses a trove of information, some of the early settlers were woodcutters, in addition to the usual suspects — fishermen and farmers. In some ways, the hamlet is less of a resort destination today than it was in the 1920s and ’30s, when well-heeled hunting parties went off into the woods, when there were local baseball teams, and, with East Quogue lacking a bridge, when boats would ferry the holiday crowd to the beach. Today, the hamlet’s lifestyle is still centered around fishing, boating, swimming, and beachcombing, with cultural events pegged, for year-rounders, to the doings at the local elementary school.
Dine & Shop
For fine dining, the first name on people’s lips is the Stone Creek Inn. More than 20 years ago, Frenchman Christian Mir, a chef, and his wife, Elaine DiGiacomo, restored a historic home to offer prix fixe and a la carte dinners with menu items like chicken liver mousse, Provençal bouillabaisse, and, for Bistro Mondays, escargot, poulet a la Normandie, and profiteroles. On the coast, the sunsets from Dockers Waterside are so stunning that the place draws diners from nearby towns. The seafood menu includes oysters, littleneck clams, lobster mac ’n’ cheese, and cioppino. Plus, Dockers has a voted-best happy hour and does a mean Sunday brunch, from the hearty (short rib hash) to the decadent (challah French toast). For sushi on Montauk Highway, there’s Sakura House Inc., and for pizza, heros, soups, and breakfast sandwiches, head to East Quogue Pizza and Deli (delivery available). Shopping — that means flowers, kids clothing, cards, jewelry, and home décor — can be found up and down Montauk Highway and Jessup Avenue.
