Among the Big Apple’s top chefs are packing their knives and toques to open latest restaurants within the Hamptons because the summer season unofficially kicks off this Memorial Day Weekend.
Star chef Laurent Tourondel – who created the BLT Steak chain, although he is not any longer involved in it, together with L’Amico, Skirt Steak and the Vine in Manhattan – will try his deft hand with a Mexican concept, eLTacobar, in Sag Harbor.
The restaurant, which is able to take over the space where his popular LT Burger once stood, has a menu that features a local corn and lobster taco and a Mongolian pork taco.
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“After 13 years as LT Burger, it was time to begin something latest,” Tourondel tells Side Dish. “I like Mexican and it’s something I’ve all the time desired to do.”
Sag Harbor may even soon have an outpost of the favored French wine bar Vin Sur Vingt, led by Sebastien Auvet, who has six locations in Manhattan, including on the Upper West Side and Nomad.
The brand new bistro opens in mid-June, at 29 Predominant St., and could have a rotating list of 200 wines — and a complete of 70 seats in and out. It should be open for lunch and dinner, with a menu inspired by Auvet’s grandmother and a French-inspired craft cocktail menu. Night owls can enjoy 25% off any bottle after 10 pm until closing.
“We now have been a component of the Sag Harbor community for a couple of years now with our other brand, Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee, so it felt like the fitting place to be. People listed below are wonderful! The community is close and it’s an all-year town,” Auvet tells Side Dish.
Vin Sur Vingt’s Croque Madam, which is comprised of Black forest ham, aged gruyere, bechamel.Vin Sur Vingt
Jack’s Coffee and Vin Sur Vingt Wine Bars merged to form a latest parent company, TenEleven Hospitality last yr. It’s led by VSV founders and operators Auvet, Rakesh Chandiramani, and Dilip Hari.
Michelin award-winning chef Melissa O’Donnell also plans a mid-June opening for Sag Harbor Kitchen in partnership with Kiitch, a web based culinary platform. The ocean-to-table eatery at 26 Bay Street within the American Legion constructing plans to be open 10 months a yr, closed January and February.
O’Donnell, known for Stella, Salt and Salt Bar, Thelma on Clinton and Li’l Gem, has received five Michelin Bib Gourmand awards. Kiitch, which connects chefs and consumers online and in person, is backed by investors like NBA star LeBron James.
Sag Harbor Kitchen’s menu will likely be farm and sea-to-table.Sag Harbor Kitchen
SHK may even host events to help local veterans and their families. Menu items will include steamers, lobster, and whole grilled fish including branzino on the bone and olive oil poached cod with orange reduction and dill — in addition to burgers, vegetarian and vegan specialties.
Southampton also has a slew of latest openings, led by Chef Julian Medina – owner of Manhattan’s Toloache, Coppelia, Tacuba Mexican Cantina, La Chula Taqueria, El Fish Shack and Kuxé – who’s launching El Verano. “I even have a house in Quogue and have been on the lookout for the right location. El Verano will likely be open all yr round with my signature dishes just like the huitlacoche and black truffle quesadilla, lobster tacos, ceviches and carne asada,” Medina said.
Chef Andrew Molen will likely be executive chef/partner at Michael Pitsinos’ Capri Hotel in Southampton — a 29-room hot spot that boasts Naia and the poolside Bathing Club. Expect farm-to-table wagyu steaks and burgers, homemade pastas and harissa lamb chops. Pavlos Devaris will likely be joining Molen as head chef.
Chef Melissa O’Donnell planting in Sag Harbor Kitchen’s kitchen gardenSag Harbor Kitchen
Enchante Bistro may even finally open at Red Bar Brasserie’s former space on Route 27, with south of France classics like Nicoise salad and Dover sole.
Predominant Prospect, at 15 Prospect St., will unveil a personal lounge upstairs, Nolan’s Room, with karaoke, video gaming and a personal members cigar lounge. Also they are offering a beach concierge service.
Meanwhile, Claude’s Restaurant on the Southampton Inn, at 91 Hill Street, has a tavern-style menu from latest chef Darren Cucia.
Truffle Porcini Ramen from Chef Robbie Felice will likely be on the menu at pastaRAMEN’s Hamptons Pop Up at Kissaki in Water Mill.Courtesy of Peter Bonacci
The ever-popular Union Burger Bar – from owner Ian Duke with award-winning Executive Chef Scott Kampf, with their Colorado Beef burgers – is launching an all-new outdoor Sushi Bar at 40 Bowden Square.
And popular restaurateur Tony Fortuna and Derek Axelrod, the team from T-Bar Steak and Lounge on the Upper East Side, have revamped the surface terrace and garden space at T-Bar Southampton — a classic spot for evening cocktails and dinner, at 268 Elm Street.
In Westhampton, Chef Drew Hiatt, an alum of Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Topping Rose House, will open Fauna.
Further east in Montauk, Sean Feeney is opening a Fini Pizza outpost. There’s also Mavericks, a latest local surf-and-turf eatery at 51 South Edgemere Street. It boasts a 275-bottle wine list — from James Beard-nominated chef Jeremy Blutstein, the previous chef at Crow’s Nest and Showfish at Gurney’s Star Island, and partner/sommelier Vanessa Price, wine director of Wildflower Farms.
Private omakase room at Kissaki.Courtesy of Ben Hon
The 200-seat eatery, with a 40-seat outdoor patio, features an in depth global wine list and views of Fort Pond. Floor-to-ceiling windows lining greater than half the restaurant offer sunset views. There’s also a 12 seat bar, and decor includes an original Andy Warhol screen print from his Cow series.
South Fork veteran Zach Erdem, of 75 Predominant and Blu Mar, can also be bringing his cuisine to the North Fork with Zerdem, which opens this weekend. It has 120 seats, 40 indoor and 80 outdoor.
“It’s been my goal for the past few years. There’s a lot of people, events, similar price points and 42 wineries. It’s like Napa on the East Coast, with farms, local produce and native fishermen,” Erdem said.
The patio at Kissaki in Water Mill.Courtesy of Ben Hon
“The food will likely be Mediterranean Greek/seafood,” he added.
As for pop-ups, there’s an onslaught. Charlie Bird and Little Owl will launch a dining series at Rosie’s Amagansett.
In Water Mill, Kissaki, at 670 Montauk Highway, will host Miami’s Lilikoi in the course of the day, from chef/owner Manuel Torterola, before Kissaki opens for dinner service. Lilikoi offers an informal, healthy, Hawaiian-style vibe — think acai bowls, juices, smoothies and al fresco dining.
The Rosé Soirée will likely be held May 28 on the Southampton Arts Center.Danâs Papers
PastaRAMEN may even launch at Kissaki for a special weekly banquet series — from Kissaki owner Garry Kanfer and Montclair Hospitality Group’s founder Luck Sarabhayavanija and CEO Joey Simons. Two 12-person seatings will likely be offered on Sunday and Monday nights from June 26 through Aug. 28.
Dan’s Taste of Summer will rejoice all the brand new cuisine with five events.
The primary launches the season with a toast on May 28 on the Rosé Soirée, which will likely be held on the Southampton Arts Center, celebrating local vineyards, international wines and 18 top chefs from Long Island.
The next month, on June 22, Chefs of the Hamptons will launch at EHP Resort & Marina’s Si Si Restaurant headlined by Tourondel and Medina.
Next up is a Clambake at Gurney’s Montauk Resort on July 13.
Rounding out the series is the GrillHampton barbeque event with a live concert at East Hampton Clubhouse on Aug. 5 and Dan’s Taste x Gurney’s curating top chefs from across the country on Aug. 17.
Tickets range in price from $149 to $350 for VIP experiences.
“We’ve had unprecedented participation from the East End restaurant community,” says Donny Evans, the chef whisperer who has produced the Hamptons Taste of Summer events for the past 12 years. “We’ll be showcasing classic restaurants, like Union Steak and Sushi, Si Si at East Hampton Point and Gurney’s, in addition to a few of the latest ones — like Laurent Tourondel’s eLTacobar and Julian Medina’s El Verona.”