Your Dining Guide to Summer in the Hamptons

Salt Drift Farm is a rustic farmhouse eatery from Louisa Young and Lexi Ritsch, co-founders of “farm-to-fete” catering and events company, Hamptons Aristocrat. The menu here is summer in a nutshell: lobster rolls, farmer’s nachos, salads, and tostadas– made with hyper-local ingredients. Dinner will be offered (a la carte) from Thursday through Sunday, all season long, and they’re also serving up a prixfixe brunch on weekend mornings. Best of all, there’s patio seating and a garden on-site.

Still fresh off a gorgeous renovation in March of last year, Wölffer Estate’s Tasting Room is airy and modern, with deep leather booths and exposed wood beam ceilings. Better yet, it overlooks lush vineyards to the east and a rolling Hamptons landscape to the west. Here, you can learn about and sample their award-winning wines by the glass, by the bottle, or a flight of greatest hits for $25. If you’re feeling snackish, enjoy seasonal small plates, cheese, and charcuterie featuring local products. And stay tuned—reservations for luxury tasting experiences and private tours are coming soon.

Wölffer Kitchen’s Sag Harbor outpost serves modern American cuisine with Mediterranean influence. The focus is on local, seasonal, and, of course, wine-friendly food. Highlights include lamb chop lollipops, branzino with artichoke puree and broccoli rabe, and truffle parmesan fries from chef Brian Cheewing. The setting is light, bright, and meant to echo the Bohemian spirit of the Hamptons. Brunch offers satisfying and casual fare, like a mushroom frittata and an Angus burger, and the wine is always flowing (natch). Reservations are only for parties of 6-10, but smaller parties are encouraged to walk right in.

Over in Amagansett, on the square in the center of town, Wölffer Kitchen goes all in on the coastal American vibe with fresh, healthy, “rosé-inspired” cuisine. Pizzettas, roasted meats, and fish from the wood-fired oven are served in a cheerful room decorated with turquoise-painted walls, white tile ceilings, and a long floral banquette. If you need a little fresh air, there’s an open-air porch that’s ideal for hanging out with a glass of wine and great company. Currently, you can grab a dinner reservation for as early as tonight, while breakfast and lunch slots are bookable from June 1st onwards.

The sunsets here are something else—and give new meaning to the best seat in the house. Located right on the water, Bay Kitchen Bar is a destination for dock-to-table dining. By partnering with local fishermen and farmers, chef Eric Miller is able to serve fresh and expertly crafted seafood-based fare like Montauk tuna tartare, lobster rolls, and harbor fluke alongside salads, chicken, and steak. Sea breeze flows through the waterfront windows of the dining room, which offers unbelievable views of Three Mile Harbor. Pro-tip: Be sure to order oysters, because The Miller brothers — chef and manager, respectively — grow their own as part of the East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery program to repopulate the harbors and keep local waters clean.

18 Bay is owned and operated by chefs Elizabeth Ronzetti and Adam Kopels– recently named semi-finalists for the James Beard Foundation’s award for Best Chef: Northeast. The husband-and-wife duo serves a four-course, weekly-changing, Italian-inspired menu that’s a direct reflection of the local farmers markets. Dinner begins with antipasti, followed by a handmade pasta, an entree, and a dessert. Furthermore, handcrafted cocktails are made with organic syrups and the wine list offers local wines (including two on tap) alongside international wines from small producers.

Southampton Social Club is a fine dining, high energy restaurant and lounge that serves crowd-pleasing fare (burrata caprese, roast chicken, lobster tacos) in an “Old World Hamptons”-style dining room, from chef Scott Kampf. The perfectly manicured grounds—nestled near the Southampton train station—feature expansive gardens, South Beach-style cabanas, and an outdoor fire pit. Stick around after dinner, and you’ll find it turns into a nightlife destination.

After a summer off, Moby’s is back — and in a totally new location, at East Hampton Point. The restaurant has maintained its modern aesthetic with an added coastal element, given that its new, dock-side digs look out on Three Mile Harbor. Enjoy market-driven pizzas, pastas, and fresh seafood, paired with a seasonal cocktail or a bottle of rosé for good measure.

Hamptons stalwart Nick & Toni’s is revving up for yet another summer season. For three decades and counting, it’s been a bona fide mainstay, leaning heavy on seasonally available ingredients and the deft touch of a chef, Joe Realmuto, who understands the virtue of combining impeccable skill and effortless restaurant. Roasted beet salad with blood oranges and tahini yogurt? Hand-cut tagliatelle with lamb ragu, fava beans, and Pecorino Romano? Seared scallops with lemon risotto and a spring pea salad? You really can’t go wrong.

Babette’s East Hampton began from a dream and evolved out of sheer desire. Open since 1995, the signature is clean food (read: organic, local, seasonal, and supportive of farmers and growers that practice sustainability). The menu caters to vegetarians, vegans, and those who are gluten-free. There is vegetable tagine and pan-seared local bass and chicken mole enchiladas. And, fun fact: the name Babette’s was inspired by the cult-classic food flick Babette’s Feast.

Open year round, East Hampton Grill sees all seasons in an area steeped with a rich history and storied beauty. A member of the Hillstone clan, it’s deeply reliable and ever-consistent; dishes like rosemary buttermilk biscuits, oysters on the half shell, and the EHG cheeseburger always deliver. Add to that gracious and attentive service, and you’re in for a meal that is bound to satisfy.