UPDATE:

For a few minutes, let’s put the real estate market aside.

The biggest conversation in the Hamptons right now isn’t about listings, bidding wars, or who bought what—it’s about where everyone’s making dinner reservations.

Barlume: Living Up to the Buzz

Barlume in Montauk has officially opened, and so far, it’s delivering.

The buzz is so good, I’m pretty sure half the people there are reviewing the restaurant before they’ve even ordered. Whether it’s the food, the atmosphere, or simply the excitement of something new, the early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

If you haven’t been yet, it’s worth putting on your list.

Lions Nook: A Definite Winner

I finally made it to Lions Nook in East Hampton, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations.

The space is beautiful, the food was excellent, and it’s the kind of restaurant where you’re already thinking about your next visit before you’ve paid the check.

I think this one’s going to be… the Lion King.

(I’ll apologize for that joke now.)

Faraway Hamptons Gets It Right

One of my biggest surprises was the restaurant at Faraway Hamptons -“Zagara.”

Where others struggled in that location, this concept feels like they’ve finally cracked the code. The food is consistently good, the service is attentive, the pricing feels refreshingly reasonable by Hamptons standards, and perhaps my favorite improvement—they fixed the acoustics.

Imagine that… a restaurant where you can actually hear the person sitting across from you.

Still Waiting…

Of course, everyone keeps asking about two restaurants that haven’t opened just yet:

• Fairway Restaurant at Poxabogue
• Corner Bar

Every time I ask, I hear the same thing:

“Any day now.”

From what I’m hearing, both teams are hustling to get the doors open, so hopefully the wait won’t be much longer.

At this point, though, “Coming Soon” may officially qualify as the Hamptons’ longest-running tasting menu.

Final Bite

If you’ve tried any of these restaurants, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

And if you haven’t yet… make those reservations now.

Because hope is not a seating strategy.

---

And while we’re talking about great places in the Hamptons… if you’re looking for a great meal—or a great house—you know where to find me.