By Nancy Kane
Southampton
Residents were alarmed when Southampton’s treasured Ye Olde Bake Shop closed, but hope is at hand as Windmill Lane Bakery and Cafe opens under the guidance of private chef Andrew Molen, who will offer an array of baked goods as well as healthy grab-and-go items with lots of choices for vegans and vegetarians. 17 Windmill Lane.
Around the corner, Provisions moves into 15 Hill Street—the popular healthy eating cafe and health food store will be a perfect stop before the beach. Word on the street is that the block will soon house two upscale boutiques from Manhattan’s Upper West Side as well as a well-known hair stylist, also from NYC. El Verano, Julian Medina’s elevated Mexican restaurant, opened this past winter, and with signature dishes like the huitlacoche and black truffle quesadilla and toro taquitos, it’s no wonder it’s thriving.
10 Windmill Lane.
On Hampton Road, another Sag Harbor staple, Buddha Berry, opens.
Bamboo restaurant launches Uno Mas on Hampton Road, a cozy takeout and eat-in place for tacos and tequilas.
Hen of the Woods has closed, but further down Hampton Road, proprietor Jonathan Bernard is opening Farm & Forage—a market and chef’s pantry offering local produce and homemade culinary delights made on premises by chef Anna Lembo. On Main Street, health food store Second Nature Markets will become a gourmet Italian market, helmed by culinary pros Dane Sayles and Piero Zangarini.
The historic Old Post House, most recently Blu Mar, becomes Il Pellicano at Bijoux—nightlife impresario Kyky Conille’s (of Provocateur and PM fame) return to the Hamptons scene. The restaurant/cocktail lounge hybrid will feature an authentic Italian restaurant with a menu by chef Rocco DiSpirito. 136 Main Street.
Current Home, the premier destination for home decor and table essentials, will open its first Hamptons location in Water Mill at 710 Montauk Highway.
currenthomeny.com
Sag Harbor
Sag Harbor welcomes new shops and familiar ones such as Sage and Madison, which now has its own coffee and tea brand, Sage and Madison Coffee/Tea, offered inside the boutique and from its very own coffee truck. 31 Madison St., 631.530.0977. Also new to Sag Harbor is Dôen, the breezy California women’s fashion brand from sisters Margaret and Katherine Kleveland. Southern Tide comes from the Tommy Bahama group, and will feature a mix of preppy and Southern styles for the whole family, and Andrew Rosen, founder of fashion brand Theory, opens TWP. Take a break from shopping and try out the new Sag Harbor Tavern, from restaurateur Billy Durney, who runs the popular Red Hook Tavern. His Sag Harbor outpost will be seafood-focused with classics such as his famous burgers. Or try Nikki’s Not Dog Stand, which will be serving up veganized classic American regional hot dogs with all the fixings, under the guidance of Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe. 51 Division St.
Bridgehampton
Arthur & Sons, the beloved West Village Italian American restaurant, will open in Bridgehampton with a dining room, patio and spacious bar, creating an old school-new school vibe, according to acclaimed Michelin star chef Joe Isidori. “I have always had a true love and passion for all things out East, so it’s nice to bring a piece of my personal heritage to the community for all to experience,” says Isidori. The decor is reminiscent of the Rat Pack era. 203 Bridgehampton Sag Harbor Tpke.
East Hampton
East Hampton is bustling this year with the old Rowdy Hall (which moved to Amagansett’s Main Street) becoming a casual French restaurant, Village Bistro, featuring a stunning copper bar. Expect classics like duck confit and more creative items such as a burger with raclette. 10 Main St.
By the train station in the former home of Buttero is a pop-up introducing the bountiful talents of culinary couple Cédric and Ochi Vongerichten called Wayan and Ma-dé, an outpost of their popular Nolita Indonesian and Balinese restaurants, where patrons can sample Wayan’s signature wavy wheat noodles with lobster, peekytoe crab fried rice, whole black sea bass and octopus la plancha. 31 Race Lane. London’s luxury womenswear brand ME+EM opens on Newtown Lane.
The Matsuoka brothers of Sen Restaurant and Manna at The Lobster Inn fame with partner David Hart will introduce a darling new spot called Smoky Buns, which offers smash burgers, shakes and ice cream. “One of the best parts of my job is research, so I’ve been tasting dozens of different styles and flavors of ice cream, gelato and sorbets,” says Jesse Matsuoka. 68 Park Place. They opened Kizzy T’s in the old O by Kissaki space (47 Montauk Hwy.), featuring a decor of curated Japanese retro posters in a lively space with a game room—it’s billed as a Japanese American gastropub.
Hampton Eats, the Hamptons’ first multivendor foodie haven, launched this past fall and offers local culinary delights from Villa Italian Specialties, Montauk Bake Shoppe, Beach BakeryGrand Café, Stuart’s Seafood, Paul’s Pizza, Hampton Coffee Company and Eli’s Breads. 74 North Main St.
The storied Maidstone Hotel is under new management. LDV Hospitality brings a new experience, with chef Jorge Espinoza (Scarpetta) heading up the kitchen. Evocative of an Italian summer in the Hamptons, guests will savor spaghetti alla Nerano with fried zucchini and provolone, and squid ink linguine with crabmeat, uni, Calabrian chile and lemon, and an aperitivo hour from 3-6PM in the garden is offered daily. Updated rooms will feature luxury touches such as Frette linens and Santa Maria Novella amenities. “We are thrilled to become a part of the East Hampton community, right in the heart of the village and to play a humble role as the hospitality steward of the iconic Maidstone Hotel,” says John Meadow, founder and president of LDV Hospitality.
Sunshine, by Heidi Humes, has found a new home in East Hampton, moving her coveted shop from Amagansett. You’ll find a curated mix of Santorini room mists, home accessories and swimwear—all in a bright, breezy boutique. 98 Newtown Lane.
Amagansett
The Roundtree Hotel will offer guests room service from Il Buco al Mare right down the street. Giadzy by Giada De Laurentiis will pop up at Il Buco Vita, enabling patrons to purchase her imported organic Italian pasta line and a curated selection of products. 225 Main St.
Montauk
The folks behind East Hampton’s Village Bistro and Enchanté in Southampton—which adds live music and an exclusive wine series to its summer season—have opened N’Amo Seafood & Raw Bar at the former La Fin space, serving up classic dishes sourced locally.
The former Cyril’s Fish House in Napeague will open as Shark Bar, from the team behind Mavericks Montauk, emerging as a seafood shack with a contemporary twist. Dive Bar Pizza has found a new home farther east in Montauk Harbor, taking over the former Dave’s Grill on West Lake Drive.
Montauk Beach Bar & Grill has taken a cue from Cyprus-born Yannis Papagianni, director of operations, for its all-new Greek menu with selections such as, lamb burgers and shrimp Santorini. 55 S. Elmwood Ave.
Dinner series Fulgurances has taken over outdoor space at Inlet Seafood Restaurant and will host four dinners this summer featuring chefs such as Victoria Blamey, Nicholas Tamburo, Lee Hanson and Mads Refslund. Each dinner will feature local seafood, cooked over open fire. The $250 to $280 six-course meals will include a wine pairing.
Proper Hospitality will take over management and operations of the Montauk Yacht Club, the historic seaside resort and marina, debuting a multimillion-dollar renovation and brand-new restaurant modeled after the Ocean Club St. Barth’s—Ocean Club Montauk, helmed by chef Jarad McCarroll, (Chiltern Firehouse, The Ritz London). Dine on red snapper tartare and five-hour charcoal- and wood-roasted beef accented with smoked beetroot ketchup and watch the boats go by from the marina.
Known for pulling in top A-listers, The Surf Lodge (183 Edgemere St.) opens for its 16th season, setting the bar even higher with a new, Mediterranean culinary concept by chef Robert Sieber.
Motorino Mobile Pizza offers a full on-site pizza station, complete with refrigeration, tent and lights along with pizza favorites served with local fare and bounty from the East End. Neapolitan-style pizzas topped with fresh, seasonal ingredients include a cherrystone clam pie with fior di latte, freshly shucked local clams, oreganata butter, and a lemon wedge. Vegan pizzas are available upon request. motorinopizzamobile.com
Visitors have a whole new method of transport as Blade debuts its new Hamptons Streamliner, a luxury bus that provides comfort and amenities you’d expect on a Blade flight. There’s more leg room, the world’s only motion-canceling passenger seat that also reclines, as well as PopUp Bagels, streaming-fast Wi-Fi, cocktails and a Hamptons Survival Dopp Kit from Dria. blade.com