Our Favorite Eats around the Hamptons

The Best Thing I Ever Ate In The Hamptons...

I love that television show and it's great fun to see what my favorite chefs have to say about local haunts.  After many years living in the Hamptons, my family has very strong opinions about the food at the restaurants and shops.  You may remember my Autumn post last year Bounties of Fall, which outlines the many farm stands during the Harvest Season.  But, here we are in the height of summer so I'll give you our "best of the best" and spare you what we dislike...some cheap eats, some fine food and lots of great finds at our favorite markets.  Our favorites from East Hampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton, Wainscott, Amagansett, Montauk and Sag Harbor:

Restaurants

Suki Zuki's Chinese chicken salad

Gabby’s favorites

Chinese Chicken Salad at Suki Zuki, Watermill.

This salad is hands down a family favorite.   It’s creamy, simple and delicious and has a slight tangy flavor and oh the crunch from the bean sprouts and crunchy topping. This restaurant is packed all summer long and a local favorite for us all year round.

Tomato Bread soup a.k.a Pappa Al Pomodoro soup from Cittanuova, East Hampton

This hearty soup is more like a meal.  It is full bodied, tangy and delicious and they take it off the menu from time to time and after much pleading by my daughter, they've put it back on again for the Fall

Fried Calamari from Bobby Vans Restaurant, Bridgehampton

crispy and a little spicy, she loves the dipping sauce too

Not in the Hamptons?  Try making Pappa Al Pomodoro soup like the one at Cittanuova -- Mario Batali's version Here -- we made it recently and it's similar



bobby Van's fried calamari



Tamara's favorite pasta from Tutto Il Giorno in Sag Harbor

rustic Italian charm at Tutto Il Giorno  restaurant

Sant Ambroeus egg salad and tomato finger sandwich

Tamara’s favorites:

Spaghetti tomato w/ basil & garlic from Tutto Il Giorno, Sag Harbor

Simple yet divine, and some of the best pasta and sauce I’ve had outside of Italy. The pasta is homemade and the restaurant's ambiance is rustic Italian.  

Chocolate cake w/green tea ice cream from Nobu at Capri, Southampton

We had a great meal for our 19th year wedding anniversary and topped off with a scrumptious, dense chocolate molten cake and green tea ice cream

finger sandwiches from Sant Ambroeus in Southampton

A little bit of Milan right here in Southampton -- tres chic to stand at the counter and order an iced cappuccino (best iced and hot cappuccino in the Hamptons) and nibble on those light sandwiches served crust less and on a dainty plate -- yum! Two of my very favorites -- the egg salad with tomato and the ham and cheese on a roll

New York Strip Steak from The Palm Restaurant, East Hampton

We order the double cut steak and share one large steak with our whole family -- don't forget to ask for it sliced.  It is pricey, but perfection and the sides from half and half potatoes and creamed spinach make the meal

Nobu's chocolate cake and Green tea ice cream

great cocktails at Nobu in Southampton

Onion Rings from Sen, Sag Harbor



Sant Ambroeus Ham and cheese panini 

Miles favorites:

Cheese burger meal at LT Burger, Sag Harbor.

The milkshake, skinny fries and burger combination is a must have for lunch (especially for kids). Check out their lengthy menu for virtually any kind of milkshake you can think up - Miles' favorite milkshake is the American Puff, which has a peanut butter flavor 

Fish & Chips at Bostwick's Chowder house Restaurant, Amagansett

Miles favorite restaurant in their new digs, the salty and flaky cod is very moist and he loves it!

Tempura Onion Rings with two dips from Sen Restaurant, Sag Harbor

These take fried onion rings to another level and one dip is spicy while the other sweet

LT burger special come with a delicious milkshake:  many choices...Miles favorite is cookie crunch

La Fondita's counter, Amagansett

   Randal’s favorites:

steamed mussels in white wine from Shagwong Tavern, Montauk

large fresh mussels in a simple and garlic-y broth that is worth dipping into

grilled octopus from Trata in Watermill

As you enter this restaurant and walk by the fresh fish display, you feel as if you are in Greece.  The octopus is salty and tender and the perfect amount of char

fish tacos from La Fondita, Amagansett

outside of San Diego these are the best Baja-style in the East End



round swamp farm market

Our Favorite Markets, Specialty Shops

& Farm Stands

Gabby's Favorites:

blueberries and melons at the Country Gardens Farm Stand, Bridgehampton

the blueberries are plump and fresh in August and the melons are piled high and readily available -- several different varieties!

Salad Bar at Citarella, Bridgehampton

a lengthy selection from lettuces to prepared pasta salads this pay-by-the pound salad bar is perfect take-to-the-beach or barn lunch

Three Bean Dip at Round Swamp Farm, East Hampton

heat and serve with crispy corn chips this dip is Gabby's favorite appetizer. Beans, cheese, guacamole and sour cream--this is rich and layered.

Tamara's Favorites:

local tomatoes at Round Swamp Farm, East Hampton

the yellow and red tomatoes offered up daily at my favorite market are perfect for bruschetta, tomato mozzarella salad or simply sliced and eaten with a touch of salt

Fresh pizza dough and focaccia bread from, Villa Italiana, East Hampton

made fresh daily both the homemade focaccia bread, which is sprinkled with salt and rosemary, and the ready to make pizza dough are amazing

live lobsters by the pound from Stuarts Seafood Shop, Amagansett

all the seafood is good but the lobsters per pound are offered up in a large tank and always fresh

Randal's Favorites:

Pineapple and bacon wrapped chicken skewers from Ciriello, Wainscott

ready to BBQ these skewers are perfect when grilled fifteen minutes

Lobster salad from Round Swamp Farm, East Hampton

big chunks of lobster and very little celery and just the right amount of mayo  -- worth the expensive price and umm-- unlike Zabars -- it's real lobster!!!

fried chicken from Brents Country Store, Amagansett

make sure to call ahead and order it fresh and it could be the best fried chicken you've had in Long Island

Miles Favorites:

Cinnamon Buns at Round Swamp Farm, East Hampton

made fresh daily these rolls are sticky with sweet white icing and cinnamon swirls inside -- great for breakfast and to greet weekend guests

French bread from Blue Duck bakery at Sag Harbor farmer's market

They sell a variety of breads, but this has a slight sourdough taste and very light with a delicious crust

Chocolate Chip Cookies at Tates Bake Shop, Southampton

thin, crispy cookies with the perfect amount of chocolate chips

Wolffer estates -- local vineyard

special note that both my kids think Serafina in East Hampton has the best pizza in the Hamptons
light crust, not too much cheese and great sauce with a touch of basil

This is our Best Of Eats -- hope you enjoy!

Stop back next week

for a look at the Sag Harbor Farmer's Market

and the local "Foodies" delicious bites