THE JOURNAL

Duryea’s Lobster Deck. Photograph by Mr Jason Penney, courtesy of Duryea’s
The best vacation dining spots, as recommended by the Style Council members.
We know your Hamptons schedule must be pretty busy. There are beaches to lie upon. Books to read. Cocktails to drink. Friends to see. Shopping to do (with same-day delivery from MR PORTER until 10 September, why not?). But at some point during the day, you’re going to have to squeeze in lunch. Yes, we know you’re supposed to be chillaxing and it all might seem like a bit of an effort. But it’s undoubtedly worth it. If you don’t believe us, do yourself the favour of perusing the choice restaurant options below, which comprise careful recommendations from The Style Council. Browse the full selection on our dedicated Hamptons page, or scroll down, and prepare to have your appetite whetted.
DURYEA’S LOBSTER DECK, MONTAUK

Seafood sharing plate at Duryea’s. Photographs by Mr Jason Penney, courtesy of Duryea’s
Nobody likes change. Especially if, as is the case with Duryea’s Lobster Deck, the change in question is to an 80-year-old, family-owned Hamptons institution. Yet, since New York entrepreneur and private equity investor Mr Marc Rowan scooped up this fabled eatery in 2016, the changes have been far from jarring. In fact, though new dishes such as clam bake and chicken paillard are now served family style and the interiors have been sharpened up slightly, all the important elements are still present – a fresh fish market, a beautiful view of the sea and, yes, one of the finest lobster rolls to be found in the Hamptons. Don’t think about it, do it.
NICK & TONI’S, EAST HAMPTON

Wood oven-roasted whole fish at Nick & Toni’s. Photographs by Mr Eric Striffler, courtesy of Nick & Toni’s
A longtime favourite among Hamptonites, Nick & Toni’s not only offers superlative Mediterranean and Tuscan-inspired food, made with locally sourced ingredients (some of which are farmed on site), it also does a mean brunch, handily separated into options that are “More Like Breakfast” and “More Like Lunch”. In the former category, you have things such as buttermilk pancakes, smoked brisket hash and a Yukon potato and house-cured pancetta frittata. In the latter, steak and eggs, crispy pork belly salad and local rabbit bolognese. Whichever side of the divide you may find yourself on, rest assured you’ll be deeply satisfied with the results.
NAVY BEACH, MONTAUK

Maryland jumbo lump crab cake at Navy Beach. Photographs by Mr Noah Fecks, courtesy of Navy Beach
Set on a 200ft private beach, Navy Beach is a particularly great place for a late lunch – the kind that might turn into dinner, with the help of a few bottles of rosé – because it’s a marvellous place to watch the sunset. But even if you’re not prepared to settle down for a seven-hour session, you’ll enjoy this laidback restaurant’s wide-ranging menu of coastal cuisine, which features fresh salads, a huge selection of delicious appetisers and mains, including fire-roasted sea scallops, blackened mahi mahi and (for the what-the-hell-I’m-on-holiday set) buttermilk fried chicken.
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