RESTAURANT NEWS AND IS AMAGANSETT GOING JERSEY?


Well, folks, it seems it’s time to dust the cob webs off of this little blog. Especially now that the Hamptons dining scene is going through a bit of a rollercoaster ride “post summer.” We’ve bid a tearful (or maybe not so tearful) farewell to not one, but two of our beloved eateries. First on the chopping block was Buttero, or should I say “Doppo”? Apparently, they decided to undergo a transformation from a charming Italian joint into an Italian steakhouse, because, well, the Hamptons definitely didn’t have one of those. Guess they thought we were all clamoring for more beef and fewer carbs. Bravo, Buttero, or Doppo, or whatever. It had a great staff, good food and an incredible location so this one has me a little sad.

But that’s not all, dear readers. The Hamptons foodie rollercoaster continues with the impending closure of Wolffer Kitchen in Amagansett Square. And what was their brilliant strategy for going out with a bang? Hiking up their prices and embracing an even darker atmosphere. Because, clearly, the best way to win over Hamptons diners is to make them squint in the dark while their wallets weep. Maybe if they started serving meals by candlelight, just to complete the ambiance. Darkness can be quite appealing (not that I’m commenting on bad face lifts).

MEANWHILE… In a truly shocking twist of events, rumors are swirling that TV producers are calling real estate agents and scouring Amagansett for a place to shoot a reality show, and word on the street is that it might be the return of MTV’s “Jersey Shore.” So, does this mean Snookie is heading to the Hamptons to hang with the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Stella McCartney this summer? Well, it would be quite the culture clash, wouldn’t it? The Hamptons, where Prada, Louis Vuitton and quiet sophistication could soon collide with fist-pumping and tanning oil – what could possibly go wrong? As a guy from “Jersey” i just love the ideas. Stay tuned, dear readers, because this summer promises to be one heck of a show, on and off the reality TV screen.

I STILL CAN’T HEAR YOU… CITARELLA IS GOING WHERE?!

Voice mail a day late, dropped called, unsent text messages and lots of screaming “Can you hear me now!?” Yes, phone service is that bad in the Hamptons.     If you’re curious how bad, look no further than the map right below.  It’s from a website called Open Signal  (you can click here)and it details just how difficult it is to get a call through on the East End.  To add more fuel to the fire, consider the surge of summer visitors (all with smart phones) which tax an already inadequateScreen Shot 2018-08-01 at 4.28.30 PM number of cell towers to the point where communicating is virtually impossible.  But it’s more than just a problem with AT&T, Verizon or T-mobile.    We the residents of the Hamptons need to speak out to our elected officials and say, allow new towers to go up.    It’s not a matter of cell phones being a luxury, they are a necessity not only in business and basic communications but in safety as well.   So many residents out here don’t even have land lines and the spotty service is now endangering lives.     Our officials are doing what we on the East End tell them to do.  But enough is enough, we need to bite the bullett and run the risk of having towers in our own back yards so perhaps we can avoid a tragedy before it happens.

Meanwhile, there is a big rumor floating around Sag Harbor.   Unfortunately, I’m having

citarella2
Citarella East Hampton

a hard time confirming but several well placed sources have told me Citarella will soon be landing in the village.    I don’t want to say where it will be going but thank heaven you folks don’t need me to tell you.      So, is it a good thing or bad thing?   That depends upon who you ask.   I will say it’s almost as controversial as when CVS was coming to town.  Look for some shuttered doors in the fall and the market to be going into the vacant spaces after a major renovation.