Summer 2021 Hamptons Restaurant Openings to Get Excited About

by BETH LANDMAN  | EATER NEW YORK

Get Your Appetite Ready!

The Hampton’s culinary landscape alters each season as chefs and restaurateurs head out to the eastern end of Long Island and unveil their newest projects. Other establishments often revamp their offerings, move locations, and some even say goodbye all together to the East End. During the pandemic, however, some restaurants in the Hamptons were busier than ever — especially beyond the confines of the Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends — because of their ample outdoor seating arrangements. It’s bound to be another busy season ahead as New York continues to reopen at full capacity. Here are the latest spots to debut this summer.

Sagaponack: Old Stove Pub, the legendary steakhouse that has drawn crowds since the 60s, was most recently taken over by Joseph DiCristofaro. On Tuesday nights, talent manager Scott Feldman, who’s worked with countless well-known chefs, will be organizing a visiting chefs series called Pop Up Nation. Among the participating chefs who will each prepare a multi-course meal using local ingredients: Marc Murphy, Michael Symon, Alex Guarnaschelli, Jonathan Waxman, Josh Capon, Esther Choi, and Leah Cohen. 3516 Montauk Highway

Seafood is the focus on Il Buco al Mare. Courtesy of Il Buco

East Hampton: Il Buco has taken over the space that formerly housed Italian restaurant Sotto Sopra, along with the adjoining space next door. Il Buco Alimentari chef Justin Smillie will helm the new spot, called Il Buco al Mare, as well as a market and coffee bar called Il Buco Vida. He is planning to focus on seafood, as the name suggests, serving a range of dishes from fresh whole catches to tinned fish to blistered prawns with fresno chili and ginger. Among the other selections are dry rub duck wings and smoked chicken with sweet potatoes and cilantro pesto. 231 Main Street

East Hampton: A resort and marina on Three Mile Harbor, East Hampton Point was purchased and renovated this year. Now called EHP, it will house a coastal Mediterranean restaurant called Sisi, helmed by former Gurney’s chef Dane Sayles. Look for fattoush salad with charred lemon and sumac vinaigrette and barrel aged feta; za’atar roasted cauliflower with a whipped goat cheese and herb tahini vinaigrette; espelette crusted halibut with by beluga tabouleh and charred lemon; and whole roasted branzino stuffed with baby spinach, roasted mushrooms and olives. Sayles is also overseeing a new bakery in Montauk, at 5 South Embassy Street, called Buongiorno, which already has lines down the block. 295 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Road

Lobster from Fish Cheeks. Courtesy of Fish Cheeks

East Hampton and Montauk: Kissaki is in serious expansion mode. After opening an outpost in Water Mill last summer, owner Garry Kanfer has set his sights eastward, unveiling a robata and sushi restaurant called O by Kissaki at 47 Montauk Highway in East Hampton, and a collaboration with Fish Cheeks, Kissaki X Fish Cheeks at 467 East Lake Drive in Montauk. Look for a mix of Southern Thai and Japanese dishes.

Montauk: Nearby, the owners of Swallow East have transformed the former Montauk party spot into a more upscale French-accented place called La Fin Kitchen and Lounge. Chef and co-owner James Tchinnis, who trained at the International Culinary Center (which was known as the French Culinary Institute for years) and worked at Le Cirque, has a menu ranging from a toasted quinoa bowl with charred cauliflower and peach to organic roast chicken breast with fresh herbs. 474 West Lake Drive

Sag Harbor: Carissa Waechter is adding a third location of her bakery-restaurant, Carissa’s Bakery, set to debut later this summer. 3 Bay Street

Southampton: The Lobster Inn space, which closed in 2016 after decades, will live again as Manna at Lobster Inn, a new concept from Sen co-owner Jesse Matsuoka. The focus will be on sustainable seafood with selections like trout carbonara and lobster bisque ramen with poached egg and bean sprouts. 5 Inlet Road West

Southampton: Wishbone Farms, a “market to fridge’’ gourmet shop has opened in with a curated selection of locally produced small craft items and prepared foods. There is a coffee bar with home baked goods that can be enjoyed in the landscaped backyard. Wishbone will also prepare customized weekend boxes containing anything from breakfast to barbecues. 54 Hampton Road

Rita Cantina serves a menu focused on Mexican cuisine — with a modern twist. Eric Striffler / Rita Cantina [Official]

Springs: Eric Miller, who owned popular Bay Kitchen and Bar next door to East Hampton Point and has been whipping up outstanding prepared food for Provisions in Water Mill, is also opening a place in the burgeoning Springs area. Called Rita Cantina, it will feature modern Mexican food including such dishes as Crescent Farms duck carnitas with butter lettuce wraps, guacamole and salsa; local harvest fluke with pickled cabbage slaw and crema; and lamb barbacoa taco. 28 Maidstone Park Road