babette’s

NOT FOR PENNE PINCHERS AND AN OBITUARY ON MAIN STREET.

The New Saint Ambrose…. I mean Sant Ambroeus.

Sant Ambroeus, a popular Italian restaurant chain (with 11 locations it’s a chain – like Olive jardin but with no bread sticks) recently opened their second Hamptons location in East Hampton. The new location is situated at 66 Newtown Lane in the building that was recently sold for a whopping $28 million. I haven’t had a chance to eat there yet, but a few friends did this past weekend and I’ve been hearing all about it. Here’s what people are saying.

On the one hand, people are raving about the cuisine. They say the food is fantastic and the restaurant is quite the scene. On the other hand, they’re not so thrilled about the price tag. “Expensive” is the word I’m hearing most often. A Caesar salad will set you back $28, while a veal chop will cost you a cool $57. Even the clam chowder is a pricey $49. So yes, the food is really good… but it doesn’t come cheap. So think of it this way, it’s the Ticketmaster of Italian food where there’s a service charge to go and be seen.

Even though I didn’t eat in the EH location, I did manage to sneak a peek inside. The interior was redone by the same team that worked on Surf Lodge and Ruschmeyer’s, but it still looks quite similar to the old Babette’s. So, if you liked Babette’s, you’ll probably feel right at home at Sant Ambroeus.

We hardly knew ye’ – Main Street Tavern

Meanwhile, It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Main Street Tavern Amagansett. The restaurant, which opened with a lot of fanfare in July of 2020, was not able to quite catch on and win over the hearts of locals IMHO. It’s unfortunate, but I guess the team behind 11 Madison Park and the always crowded Highway Restaurant were unable to replicate their success with this venture. The building is now up for sale for $5 million. Maybe it will become Indian Wells Tavern again. That would be awesome.

Hello Strangers!

It’s been a few weeks/months/days since I visited my favorite Hamptons blog. Yes, this blog is now reminding me of the new “Sex and the City.” It’s past its prime and we’re not sure if anybody is really clamoring for more. So much as happened since I posted last. About 70% of the Covid Campers have left. 27 is no longer a parking lot. Babette’s in East Hampton closed. It’s allegedly soon to be occupied by Saint Ambrose. Mary’s Marvelous in East Hampton is closed. Hampton Chutney is going in the old Mary’s location and Bamboo Sushi is allegedly going in next door.

NOW IN SOUTHAMPTON!

So now that we got out of the way, let’s discuss what’s new. Everyone is talking about squatters in the Hamptons. A NY Post article highlighted one particular situation where the fed up landlord started a “squatters database.” The new SQUATTER RREGISTRY is up and running with tales of tenants milking the current NY State eviction moratorium. But either way I’m not getting involved but the signs all over town warning of the guy discussed in the article above are hilarious and apparently effective.

Now for some good news, Lobster Roll has finally opened in the former location of Princess diner. I’m glad that the location is no longer empty and finally there’s a good pit stop for those coming into town. Is it Ironic that one of the most calorically laden meals is now available next door to Barry’s Bootcamp? If you’re curious about the new menu in Southampton you can click here.

Speaking of Southampton activities, tomorrow is the 18th Annual Polar Bear Plunge. Yep for those of you who take joy in goosebumps and shrinkage this is the event for you! Benefitting the Heart of the Hamptons, the plunge will take place rain or shine and will benefit local families with food and services. If you want to register and participate be shore or sure to click here. If you’re curious what a Polar Bear Plunge looks like, look no further than the East Hampton New Years Plunge from a few years ago. I’m the guy in the parka taking the video and not jumping in frigid waters. It ain’t my thang.

RECON FROM HARBOR MARKET AND THE BEST OF OVERPRICED HAMPTONS!

The New Harbor Market!

Hi all, just remember Hamptons Chatter is not a daily, a weekly or any other type of regular anything.  I also refuse to take any sort of literary Metamucil!   I only speak when I feel inspired to speak, when the muses have touched me or when something around town really pisses me off.    So guess what? The muses haven’t touched me but I am a little…. wait no negativity here either.   I need to breathe.   Hmm.   OK now for the not angry edition of Hamptons Chatter or as Curbed.com editors have been known to call this “HC.”    I can live with that… HC!

Well, I finally had the chance to go the new Harbor Market and Kitchen in Sag Harbor to see if all the fuss and arguing was worth it.  Well, here I am to tell you it was much ado about nothing!   The place looks fantastic, beautiful barn doors, cedar shingles and the whole exterior of the place is totally in keeping in with the neighborhood aesthetic.     The food by the way, is also pretty good especially the pizzas but only order when you’re not in a hurry.   As for the much feared industrial sounds coming from the roof and the awful unattractive roof…. well it’s pretty damn quiet and its way more attractive than that house on 114 that looks like it’s being built for the Munsters or the hideous colors radiating from Yummilicious!   Not that I don’t love Yummilicious.

I don’t know the owners of the market but I can tell you they’ve had their hands full battling to open the market… remember this is the same street where panties were twisted over a huge pair of legs…. but there efforts have paid off.    The interior is beautiful and the sandwiches, salads and the macaroni and cheese are pretty good too!    So go, check it out and decide for yourself…. and decide if the world really changed that much on Henry Street!?

But you know different things find different things offensive.     What do I find offensive??????   Some of the prices we are forced to pay here around town in the Hamptons!  Here is my brief list of some of the worst offenders.  Now remember, I don’t mind paying big bucks for the guacamole at Round Swamp Farm because it’s amazing.   What I do resent is mediocre products at premium prices. But remember, this is not an angry blog.  I’m staying positive.   So here are some of the most positively overpriced items I can think of on the East End…. 2015 Edition!

No supersizing here – Sanscerre that is Sen-sationally expensive!!

Sen Restaurant – This Sag Harbor establishment is always packed and I get it.   The food is good but a dinner for two with a few glasses of wine and some sushi shouldn’t cost nearly $300 bucks!    Well, part of it might have been the very stingy pours of Sancerre wine, I’m convinced that I the owner or manager was inspecting before going to the waiting tables.  REALLY? It’s a $14 dollar glass of wine… you’re not going to lose money if they give some lucky diner an extra ouce!    It will be a long time before I go to Sen again, instead I’ll head to Zokkon in East Hampton which is a fraction of the cost and just as good.   It’s also never packed there…. but it should be… great food and friendly prices!

Any Taxi in the Hamptons – I recently went from the Hampton Jitney to BMW in Southampton.   How far was that?  What 300 yards?!  It cost me nearly $20 dollars because it was a flat rate. Apparently that is for all cabs across the board… or so I’m told   Now before you all go saying I’m lazy and should have walked, I had a ton of luggage.   But really… $20?!  I could have taken a cab from the Upper East Side to Midtown for less.   But hey, it’s the Hamptons where some take the motto “if you have to ask the price then you shouldn’t be here!”

Babette’s East Hampton –  How much would you pay for a Western Omelette?     How about $18.95 at this Village eatery.   There really isn’t much to say here… I mean it’s an omelette!    Instead of getting eggs here, how about getting the same dish at Princess Diner for $9.95.   By the way, what’s with the .95 cents, is it some sort of weird egg law or tax?   For crying out loud people, say what it is for real;  $10 and $19.

East Hampton and Southampton Parking Tickets – Go to the beach without a permit or park on one of the lanes and you’re going to get slapped with a $150 parking ticket.   Yup, that’s like getting two California Rolls and a glass of wine at a certain restaurant!  By the way, don’t try messing with any of the brownies – the kids that write the tickets… nothing to do with Tate’s or Round Swamp Brownies…. wait I’m hungry!   OH, don’t mess with the kids writing tickets in any of the villages, they may be taking their SAT’s in the fall but these kids do not fool around!

Well, I’m back to pure happy thoughts now!    So I’m done writing.