With the Summer Season here, we would like to provide our dinning notes on our most recent dinning experiences around the East End over the past few weeks.
The 1770 House Restaurant & Inn
143 Main Street
East Hampton, NY 11937
631-324-1770
The name "The 1770 House" alone raises concerns this is one of those classical colonial American dinning places that populate New England and the Middle Atlantic states, and the appearance along Main Street in East Hampton re-enforces the stereotype that the dinning will be acceptable but not memorable.
However, once one steps inside the traditional/colonial architecture derived dinning room of The 1770 House, one realizes this is in fact one of the top restaurants one can experience anywhere.
The front staff is 100% professional, the dinning room is well laid out, the chairs and seating at the tables is comfortable. The lighting is perfect and sets a relaxed/romantic mood. The stemware, plate and silverware are first class, which sets a perfect mood for great food, wine and service. And that is exactly what one receives at The 1770 House.
The menu is composed of modern American/International cuisine, featuring local products whenever they are available. Salads use locally grown greens. Oysters on the half shell featured Peconic Pride oysters that can challenge the best world class oysters for flavor, meatiness, and texture. Main courses feature local fish, duck, and meats. The kitchen executes with near perfection. The combination of composition, ingredients, and preparation of the dishes result in a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting.
The wine list is comprehensive, featuring excellent examples of local, American, New World and European wines. Wine service is professional.
Overall the wait service is world class, and remarkable for an East End restaurant.
The 1770 House Restaurant & Inn - Highly Recommended
Plaza Cafe
61 Hill Street
Southampton, NY 11968
631-283-9323
This hidden away restaurant with an entrance in the back of a nondescript building off a small street, is a truly a hidden gem.
The interior is somewhat neutral and nondescript with limited interior design features other than the height of the room which is impressive. The overall design is not offensive and perhaps even romantic due to a large and functional fireplace that warms the room on a cool or cold night.
The modern American menu feature local products, prepared in most satisfying ways. The menu is dominated by seafood, most of it local. While the prices tend towards the high end, during the week there are fixed priced menus that are great values, and allow a diner to sample some of the kitchen's more interesting dishes.
The wine list features American wines, including a limited number of Long Island wines. Prices are slightly higher than at comparable places, but overall the wine list is acceptable.
Service while earnest, it is not up to the high level of the food, and some management attention to service is warranted.
Plaza Cafe - Recommended
Inn Spot on the Bay
32 Lighthouse Road
Hampton Bays, NY 11946
631-728-1200
The location of Inn Spot directly on the Shinnecock Bay just before the Ponoquogue Bridge from the mainland to the barrier island, makes it one of the most perfect places to enjoy the beauty of the East End.
The sparse New England decor matches the panoramic views from both the dinning room and porch areas, and adds to the nautical feel.
Like many East End places the service is marginal at best and sometimes far worse than that, at least based upon a recent dinning experience. While well meaning the service execution at our last meal was amateurish and occasionally down right infuriating.
The menu is modern American, with emphasis on seafood and local products. Unfortunately not all the products seem to be of the highest quality or freshness. And the execution of kitchen under the direction of a co-owner and chef is spotty. Not all preparations are first class. The recent meal had a number of lows; poor selection of oysters on the half -shell, over sauced local duck, and a very over sauced fillet Mignon.
Wine selection is limited, eclectic, fairly priced and quite acceptable.
Inn Spot on the Bay - Acceptable
Robert's
755 Montauk Highway
Water Mill, NY 11976
631-726-7171
Other than its yellow paint, Robert's would be a somewhat undistinguished saltbox located on the Eastside of Water Mill directly on Montauk Highway. The charming decor of this country inn type restaurant and garden makes an inviting environment.
The front desk was professional and willing to accommodate our reservation request.
Unfortunately based upon a very recent meal, the kitchen has lost not one recipe but all recipes. The Italian influenced menu promises far more than we experienced. Salads were sad affairs unceremoniously dropped on bowls. Pasta dishes were composed of ill prepared pasta mismatched with other ingredients and sauces that defy recognition.
Even more unfortunate is the fact that the Hamptons’ crowd that dines at the latest trendy places keeps Robert’s alive, whereas in Manhattan it would not survive a month.
The high priced wine list was acceptable.
Service while friendly, perhaps too friendly, was marginally acceptable.
We rarely have dined at a place we would not return to for at least one more opportunity for it to redeem itself, but Robert’s is not worth a return visit.
Robert's - Unacceptable
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