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.

IS THE BUOY A BUST?? PLUS, HAPPY AS A CLAM IN EAST HAMPTON.

After floating gossip it seems, Bagel Buoy in Sag Harbor is no longer sunk.
The Village staple shuttered it’s doors or rather the lox were changed earlier this week.  A “notice of closure” was posted on the door and that had lips flapping all over town.

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Bobba Bye Buoy!?

While I am not a huge fan of Bagel Buoy and the surly staff it’s always sad to see this sort of thing happen.   Rumor has it a deal is in the works to bring Goldberg’s Bagels to the Bay Street location.   If you take a look at what they’ve done with the nightmare that was “Twice Upon a Bagel” in Wainscott, we can all rest easy knowing we’ll still have a good place to nosh!   But the story isn’t over yet, apparently the buoy was bobbing with business earlier today.   So grab your popcorn this battle of the bagels has apparently just begun.

Meanwhile, the site of the former “Service Station” (loved the salads and sandwiches) has reopened as the Quiet Clam 2.0 earlier this week.

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Have you ever met a noisy clam?

While I haven’t been in yet, my spies say it’s actually worth a visit. The menu is a throw back to when the establishment was “The Quiet Clam” before it was “Nichol’s” back in the last century. Yes, they have clams on the menu along with burgers, pizzas and more. I promise I’ll have more to come. But from what I’ve been hearing on social media the place will be getting a thumbs up.

UPDATE:   I went in and it was “meh.”  Right now there is no liquor license so it’s BYOB.   The lunch menu was limited and there were NO clams but the dinner version seems a bit more promising.   I’ll have to go back when they get their act together.

Finally, in case you missed it EMP House reservations went on lin

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$95 and NO Doritos bag!?

e earlier this week via an American Express website. Well if you snooze you lose and I apparently snoozed. After going live at 9am, by noon the only slots left available were at 5 pm or 10 pm. While this might not pose a problem if you’re 25 or 85 years old, the rest of us younger side of middle age folks (no comments from the peanut gallery) are S.O.L. While there still be walk-ins available for the picnic tables in the back, my attention is more focused on something called the “Taco Experience” for $95 – $125 per person. I’m just hoping that tequila is included with that number!  Hahahahhahhhahhaahhhhahah. I know it’s the Hamptons!