gurneys

Sea’s the Moment: Moby’s Swims Into Sag & the Hamptons get Lucky

Just when you thought your summer dining spreadsheet was complete, the Hamptons restaurant scene went ahead and did what it always does—flipped the table, changed the seating chart, and added four more courses (plus a DJ). From steakhouse takeovers to disco seafood lounges, here’s your definitive, no-reservations-left guide to the new kids on the East End block. And yes, I broke the news on some of these. You’re welcome.

🍝 Moby’s (soon in Sag!?)
📍 TBA
RUMOR HAS IT… The team behind the OG East Hampton hotspot is doubling down and dropping anchor in Sag Harbor—. Moby’s 2.0 promises pizza, cacio e pepe, and just enough boat-shoe glam to keep your waterfront date night looking “effortless.” Expect a crowd that smells like sunscreen and Sauvignon Blanc.

🥩 Lucky’s Steakhouse
📍 85 Montauk Highway, East Hampton
Let us bow our heads. Cove Hollow Tavern—home to flattering lighting, low-key cocktails, and the best damn French fries in the Hamptons—has been taken over by Lucky’s, the Montecito and SoHo steak slinger. The East Hampton outpost is set to open in June, just in time to soak your summer in dry-aged decadence. Will the fries survive? One can only hope. Expect prime cuts, plush booths, and more Burgundy flowing than at a Sotheby’s afterparty.

🎉 Mary Lou’s
📍 474 West Lake Drive, Montauk
From Palm Beach to Montauk, Mary Lou’s brings a disco ball and a dream. The vibes are pure 70s/80s decadence—think caviar towers, wagyu sliders, and cocktails with names like “Studio Fifty-Sip.” It’s not so much a dinner as it is a throwback fever dream with seafood.

🌊 Gigi’s at Gurney’s
📍 290 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk
Scarpetta has sailed off into the sunset, and now Gigi’s is taking over the primo ocean-view perch at Gurney’s. Expect steak, seafood, and enough white wine to fill a plunge pool. Opens mid-June, just in time to “accidentally” order a second shellfish tower.

🧂 Sea Salt at Sole East
📍 90 Second House Road, Montauk
Melissa O’Donnell (formerly of Duryea’s fame) is helming this Mediterranean reboot, which includes bouillabaisse, crab spaghetti, and monkfish in red wine reduction. It’s like the Amalfi Coast… if the Amalfi Coast had mosquitos and TikTokers in cowboy hats.

🍽️ Swifty’s at Hedges Inn
📍 74 James Lane, East Hampton
Swifty’s has finally returned to the Northeast after cozying up in Palm Beach. Now at Hedges Inn, expect crab cakes, meatloaf, and a dining room filled with people who still own pagers “just in case.”

🍕 Camp Rubirosa
📍 31 Race Lane, East Hampton
The red-sauce royalty from Little Italy has moved in for the summer, bringing Staten Island-style pies, house-made pastas, and chicken parm that could probably double as a space heater. You will stain your shirt. You will not care.

🍽️ Crazy Pizza
📍 47 Montauk Highway, East Hampton
This is not your nonna’s pizzeria. Imported from Europe with a SoHo soft opening, Crazy Pizza features spinning dough, yeast-free crusts, and toppings so luxe they need a trust fund. Great spot if your Margherita order comes with a Cartier bracelet.

🍣 Namiro
📍 76C Jobs Lane, Southampton
Namiro mixes sushi with swagger—think raw fish, vegan rolls, Korean fried chicken, and enough mood lighting to cause a vitamin D deficiency. It’s chic, it’s sleek, and it’s probably already on your ex’s Instagram stories.

🌿 Fēniks
📍 75 Jobs Lane, Southampton
Chef Douglas Gulija and cousin Skip (yes, Skip) rise from the ashes of Plaza Café with this new Croatian-tinged culinary playground. Highlights include a $250 chef’s counter and surf-and-turf sliders upstairs. Because why not pair escargot risotto with bottle service?

🌟 Ruschmeyers Beach Grill
📍 161 Second House Road, Montauk
Ruschmeyers has ditched Placebo (both literally and metaphorically) for a new coastal menu: monkfish tail au poivre, lobster spaghetti, and a vibe that’s more barefoot-chic and less “bottle-service-in-Birkenstocks.”

🌊 Bagatelle Montauk
📍 500 West Lake Drive, Montauk
RIP Gosman’s. Bonjour, Bagatelle. The international brunch mecca has taken over Montauk’s most iconic dockside location and will soon be serving Saint-Tropez vibes, Champagne-fueled brunches, and possibly the highest heels you’ll see on a dock this side of Cannes.

🌅 Wayan & Ma-De at EHP Resort
📍 313 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Rd, East Hampton
French-Indonesian power couple Cedric and Ochi Vongerichten have moved their culinary empire to EHP, offering sambal-drenched sea bass, pork ribs, and crab fried rice—plus a sunset view you’ll pretend you’re not photographing.

That’s the summer scoop, folks. If you need me, I’ll be sobbing quietly into my old Cove Hollow Tavern napkins and praying Lucky’s doesn’t touch the fries.

Finally, The Hill has just published their list of the top beaches in the US according to coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman. Yes, that’s his real name and no Two Mile Hollow is not on the list but Main Beach in East Hampton and Coopers Beach in Southampton did. You can read all about it here.

Follow along at Hamptons Chatter—because I eat, drink, and gossip so you don’t have to.

“Tacos Fold, Traffic Flips, and Gurney’s Gets gigi-fied: Just Another Week in the Hamptons”

El Taco Bar going back to the burgers!

Just a few short seasons ago, El Taco Bar in Sag Harbor salsa’d onto the scene with a flurry of fanfare, promising handmade tortillas, curated cocktails, and “authentic Mexican cuisine” courtesy of Chef Laurent Tourondel. But now? The only thing sizzling is the rumor mill. Despite signs on the door boldly declaring they’ll be back this spring, brown paper over the windows tells a different story—the first clue that a makeover is clearly underway. And spoiler alert: it’s not a fresh coat of lime paint. Word on the street is that El Taco is folding faster than a soft-shell tortilla and making way for an revamped —LT Burger (not sure if they’re actually keeping the name). Yep, they’re shelving the tacos and tequila and going back to burgers and fries. It’s a full circle moment, or should we say a full patty comeback. Apparently, they couldn’t taco the pressure. Forgive me while I add one final comment on this makeover, maybe add some smiles to the staff and management.

More food news: Gurney’s Montauk is shaking things up this summer with the debut of not one, but two new dining spots. Coming early summer 2025, they’ll unveil gigi’s montauk—yes, all lowercase, because it’s casual but make it fancy. Billed as their new flagship, gigi’s promises New-American fare where “coastal charm meets seasonal innovation” and menus inspired by the sea and local ingredients. Meanwhile, a more laid-back café called Dune will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner—perfect for post-beach bites or a pre-spa latte. But while Gurney’s is riding the rebranding wave, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Scarpetta, once their culinary crown jewel, has since taken up very stylish residence at the Maidstone Inn in East Hampton. Will gigi’s make the same splash? Or is it just another tide rolling in? Time—and reservations—will tell.

Get ready, Hamptons commuters—traffic on County Road 39 is about to get a major remix. Starting Monday, April 21, and running for two weeks, Southampton Town is rolling out a bold traffic experiment. From 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, key intersections between North Main Street and Sunrise Highway will be switching things up: think blinking yellows, steady greens, and absolutely no left turns. That’s right—cross traffic and left turns at Sandy Hollow, Magee, and Tuckahoe Roads are getting the red light (literally), all in the name of easing the eastbound crawl. Police will be out in full force—on the ground and in the air, thanks to drones—making sure no one pulls a sneaky U-turn. If you live on a side street, brace yourself: you’ll need to plan alternate routes and make peace with the right turn. The hope? A smoother, faster commute. The reality? We’ll see and it’s ONLY APRIL!

LIFE IS A CABERNET! PLUS BEFORE THE CROWDS, 5 IDEAS FOR ENJOYING THE HAMPTONS.

WILL THE NEXT RESTAURANT ENTER AND SIGN IN PLEASE!

Sag Harbor get ready to raise your glass! Although, I have no doubt it will be a costly one. Vin Sur Vingt, one of the best wine and cheese bars in NYC according to CBS News Online (which is kind of like Bon Appetite but it’s online and it’s from CBS News) is coming soon to 29 Main Street. With several NYC outlets and one in D.C., the wine bar is said to be opening sometime this spring. After some minor renovations the merlot and chablis will be flowing at the former site of Montauk Lobster Company, Wolffer Kitchen, and a few others I can’t even remember. After perusing their website we can expect an experience a tad different from Murph’s as their menu features light dishes like charcuterie boards, pizzas, tartines and other bistro-inspired bites. The Hamptons has been missing out on a traditional wine bar so fingers crossed that Vin Sur Vingt has the right tannins. If it’s a hit, we can skip tipping the box of wine and Ritz Crackers for a nice night out.

@windycity_Pizza on Twitter

So here we are it’s April and it’s only a matter of weeks before we will be at full tilt here on the East End. That means the warm breezes, brilliant sun and bumper to bumper traffic will all soon be the norm. But before things get too crazy, now is the perfect time to enjoy the Hamptons and a few of the best things that life or at least Long Island has to offer.

Spa Day at Gurneys – it’s like a mini vacation. Have a work out followed by a massage, sauna, swim and a lunch overlooking the water. What could be better? Go Monday through Thursday and even save a few bucks. If you want more information; click here.

The dining room at Leon 1909

Try Some New Food – Two new eateries opened since last summer and both will no doubt have a hefty waiting list this summer. My favorite of the two is Leon 1909 on Shelter Island. A cool setting, top notch service, interesting menu and most importantly some really good food. The other is The Good Ground Tavern at Canoe Place Inn of Hampton Bays. A major renovation of the once hopping hot spot has created a stunning yet casual experience. The service is great as are the appetizers. The main courses were a little sub-par (we had the chicken and the poached black bass) but it was overall an enjoyable evening. I expect both joints to be packed by Memorial Day.

Trivia Night at Town Line – Gather your smartest friends and head to Townline BBQ every Thursday night at 7p in Wainscott, although I suggest getting there much earlier. There, you can put your knowledge to the test with 6 rounds of trivia based on various themes – from current events, pop culture and even song clips! A $10 entry fee per person gets pooled together so that 1st place will take home 60% of it, 2nd place 30%, 3rd 10%. Plus there’s an added bonus: whoever wins big throughout the season-long competition walks away with The Golden Pig trophy at Memorial Day weekend! Apparently smart folks take the summer off as that is the final weekend till fall.

Live Music and Wine Tasting at Wolffer Vineyards – Come out and experience a cozy night of music and wine at the beautiful Wölffer Estate Vineyard tasting room! Every Friday starting at 4:30 you’ll be able to listen to talented local musicians as you sip on their new releases for this winter. Indulge in seasonal pairings, delicious wines & ciders, speciality cocktails – all while relaxing with friends around candlelight tables. Reserve your spot now before it’s too late! Click here for more details about each week’s musical performance lineup.

Go RIde a Bike – With summer on the horizon, it’s time to get out and explore the beauty of The Hamptons! A few years ago Curbed.com did us all a huge favor by putting together five stunning bike tours for the area – so why not hop on your two-wheeler before Mr & Mrs Magoo take over our roads. Enjoy some fresh air and amazing scenery as you make your way through these picturesque routes – click here to see where they recommend taking in all this lushness that makes living (and biking!) in The Hamptons unforgettable. Click here for the details.