The area known as The Hamptons is a destination in itself but its dining scene makes it even more so. Writer Meryl Pearlstein guides RealFoodTraveler.com readers through some of the best Hamptons restaurants to try.

Save this article to Pinterest to help you plan your culinary visits to Hamptons restaurants. Photos top-down, Smoked Oysters at R.Aire; Canoe Place; Enchante banquette seating; paella at R.Aire, linguine with prawns and truffles at Buttero. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

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A new spate of eateries has taken root on the restaurant landscape in the Hamptons. On both the North Fork and the East End of Long Island, you’ll find globe-spanning choices that are open almost year-round. Thanks to the increase in visitors to the Hamptons during the pandemic and continuing now, the restaurants have bravely taken up the challenge to attract diners in what used to be called the “off season.” It’s chillier now, but you can still dine indoors where it’s warm and delicious at these wonderful new (or newish) restaurants.

New on the Menu at Hamptons Restaurants

Mediterranean
A beautiful redo of an old-time property, Canoe Place Inn & Cottages in Hampton Bays is a cozy place to spend the night, sit by the fireplace, and grab a cocktail in rooms that are historic as well as lovely. Those familiar with the former use of the building as a nightclub or even before as an inn with its canal setting will be astonished to see the restoration – you might recall that this is the site of the nation’s oldest inn. Gorgeous, stately but with modern touches throughout and a spa, the inn is once again the beating heart of the entrance to the Hamptons. Canoe Place’s restaurant, Good Ground Tavern, is equally popular, taking advantage of the Hamptons’ farm and sea bounty in stellar ways. You’ll find cod, clams, and Long Island fluke crudo-style probably fished out of the ocean that morning and enhanced with local greens and seasonal veggies. Meat lovers and vegetarians aren’t ignored. The wild mushroom agnolotti and whole roasted chicken with black truffle bread pudding are comfort food headliners.  And, there’s a modern take on a tavern standard, a juicy burger with truffles adorning Wagyu beef patties topped with cheddar. Chef Jarrod Huth also stone bakes pizzas and tarte flambé if you’re looking for something lighter, perhaps to enjoy at the bar with a selection from the tavern’s extensive wine list. During warmer weather, the beautiful garden terrace is the preferred area for seating. If you were curious about the name, Good Ground refers to the favorable ground over which you would carry your canoe.
239 East Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays.

Roast chicken is a classic dish at Canoe Place Inn & Cottages. Photo courtesy Canoe Place Inn & Cottages.

Spanish
For another stop where you can sleep and dine, the new R.AIRE at The Hampton Maid is an exciting choice for fans of Catalonian cuisine. Chef Alex Bujoreanu hails from Barcelona and many of his dishes will be recognizable by frequenters of Spain’s tapas and paella scene. Among my favorites, the fideuà with seasonal mushrooms is something I order every time. Distinctly different from paella, the dish uses small pasta noodles instead of bomba rice, enriched by the savory sauce. Fideuà isn’t easy to come by in the United States, so you should definitely add this to your must-eat list. Along with that, small plates like gambas al ajillo, sardines, crispy artichokes with black garlic aïoli, and patatas bravas are stunning with their bright flavors. There’s also a selection of platos principals covering the Hamptons basics of local fish, organic chicken and duck breast. 17 wines by the glass are offered including Spanish varietals like verdejo, albariño, tempranillo and bobal. On select afternoons, happy hours are all about oysters and margaritas, a reflection of the local culture. A tasting menu is offered at various times as well. For those who remember the former dining space, the Hampton Maid’s famous breakfast is served in the brighter, refreshed R. Aire.
259 E. Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays

Paella de Marisco at R.AIRE. Photo courtesy of R.AIRE.

French
Fans of Red Bar brasserie in Southampton were overjoyed when beautiful Enchanté took over the space which had stood empty for more than three years. Now adorned with bright flowers, pops of orange, and brass trim in striking contrast to its dark exterior, Enchanté feels like an immersion into Provence or Paris or wherever your France fantasies take you. The dishes, settings and service are meticulous and classic, as you might expect in a Parisian bistro. Décor is seaside France. The starter bread and butter are so delicious that you could easily fill up on it (the butter is imported from Paris). Steak tartare is melty perfection in its combination of capers, raw egg and beef, accompanied by perfect frites as only the French could deliver (sorry, McDonalds). Escargot come dripping with garlic and butter. Each night features a plat du jour like lobster gnocchi or duck confit. Ask for one of the curved banquettes from which you’ll have full view of the classy clientele. If you’d prefer to linger, the bar setup from Red Bar is still a great place to enjoy an artisanal cocktail or Enchanté’s happy hour drink specials, martini night and ladies night. The restaurant belongs to the EHP Group which also includes popular Hamptons restaurants Sí Sí and Sunset Harbor.
210 Hampton Road, Southampton

The bar area at Enchanté, one of the Hamptons restaurants to try now. Photo courtesy Enchanté.

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Italian Steakhouse
Old restaurants continue to become new favorites. The former Race Lane is now an elegant new steakhouse with a European twist. Comfortable and ebullient in style and crowd, Buttero offers a menu that’s as much steak as it is Italian. The name itself means cowboy in Italian so all comes together perfectly. You can order steaks, pastas and seafood, in a multitude of preparations. All the high-end, steakhouse choices are on offer – especially wonderful are the Wagyu steak, as fine as any piece of meat you might find in Japan; the bone-in ribeye; and lobster linguini. Portions are generous and thoughtfully presented. In popular Hamptons mode, house-made fettucine is adorned with truffles and prawns, and a whole branzino is served grilled and filleted. Wines and cocktails are creative, pairing well with both meat and seafood. In colder times, the oversized fireplace is a welcome addition but when the climate cooperates, the vine-covered garden seating is as much in demand as the comfy indoor pillow-strewn couches. The restaurant shares its credentials with the Dopo Hospitality Group which includes Italian standouts Dopo la Spiaggia and Dopo Argento.
31 Race Lane, East Hampton

Enjoy menu items like a bone-in ribeye served with Cabernet Sauvignon at Buttero.

Mexican
Chef Julian Medina is well known in New York City for his variety of contemporary Mexican restaurants. Theater-goers enjoy Toloache for a taco and tequila toast and El Fish Masqueria feeds Lincoln Center patrons upscale creative seafood. Now, in Southampton, Medina has taken over the space previously occupied by Jobs Lane Gastro Pub, bringing his elevated Mexican dishes to hungry Hamptonites and opening up the room to let in even more Hamptons conviviality. El Verano is noisy and inviting, and there’s outdoor seating for most of the year (dogs allowed). Much of the staff are transplants from Medina’s NYC empire and their polish and knowledge show. The cuisine incorporates local ingredients, changing seasonally. Share the quesadilla de trufa, a tangy version of the Mexican standard with local corn, huitlacoche, cream and shaved black truffle. Then add three creative tacos as starters: lobster, birria braised in chile and salsa verde, and ribeye marinated in beer. Medina’s signature carnitas de pato are served family-style featuring slow-roasted Long Island duck with a tamarind-chocolate habañero glaze. Cocktails are equally enticing, showing off mixology wizardry while packing a literal punch. Mexican ingredients dominate the menu with 8 kinds of tequila margaritas, a mezcal negroni, and red and white wine from Valle de Guadalupe. As with Medina’s restaurants in Manhattan, the tequila and mezcal list is extensive. El Verano adds huevos rancheros to the menu during lunch.
10 Windmill Lane, Southampton.

Carnitas de Pato is one of the popular menu items at El Verano, one of the Hamptons restaurants to try. Photo by Meryl Pearlstein.

Updated Fare to Try at Hamptons Restaurants

Pub Grub
In some cases, beloved friends move on, but sometimes to even better locations. In the case of Rowdy Hall, after waging a battle with the town of Amagansett about painting its exterior facade black, the English-style pub has settled into its new digs quite harmoniously. Larger than its former space in East Hampton, the restaurant now has two distinct areas, a lively bar and a very friendly dining room. The menu has grown a bit, too, offering much more than its previous pub style menu. You’ll still want to order one of their notable Rowdy burgers served with Rowdy’s great fries as always, or a half-dozen oysters to go with a martini. But now you can also enjoy charcuterie boards that pair well with the pub menu of draught beers, ciders, wine and cocktails. Daily specials offer prime rib, meatloaf, fried chicken and butternut squash lasagna. The finishing favorite is a slice of Rowdy Hall’s OG four-layer chocolate fudge cake. The new location is steps from Stephen Talkhouse music venue.
177 Main Street, Amagansett

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French
And speaking of a change of location, Madison Avenue fave Demarchelier has moved its French bistro trappings to a new home in Greenport on the North Fork. The paintings still adorn the walls, and they’re still for sale, in a tradition started by original owner photographer Patrick Demarchelier in Manhattan. For me, this is a happy situation. I can once again enjoy the great crispy bread, escargots, steak tartare and onion soup gratinée that I craved when I lived around the corner from the site. The room itself is right out of Paris with bistro seating and red leather banquettes, sunflower-yellow walls and a chalkboard menu. The well-curated wine list is very, very French as is the accent of current owner, daughter Emily Demarchelier. And there’s an added Hamptons benefit:  I can feel like I’m part of Parisian café society snagging a table outdoors. I’ll happily take two ferries from the East End to dine here. The family-owned and family-run restaurant fits into the North Fork neighborhood just as comfortably as it did into its former Carnegie Hill locale.
471 Main Street, Greenport

Steak Tartare is one of the updated dishes being offered at Demarchelier. Photo courtesy Demarchelier.

German
You may think you know everything about Shippy’s, the iconic German restaurant that’s been entertaining locals with schnitzel, sauerbraten and brews for nearly 70 years. But after a year-long shutdown to refresh the restaurant, Shippy’s has emerged as a bright and shiny eatery with a biergarden. Where ceilings, booths and walls were dark and confining, there is now wainscoting in bright Hampton-y greens and whites. The chef has more liberty now, too, in creating a menu that deviates from traditional German fare. You’ll find of-the-moment salads and Shippy’s smash burger. But, don’t fret – the plate-size veal and chicken schnitzels are still there as is the wurstplatte with 3 kinds of wurst, mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. You should also save room for the monstrous German pretzel that comes hot with homemade beer cheese and tangy Bavarian mustard. Add a stein of icy Warsteiner Pilsner or perhaps an Espresso Martini and you’ve got the makings of the old Shippy’s, done anew. There’s also a huge wine list now as well. 36 Windmill Lane, Southampton

-Story by Meryl Pearlstein

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