Although the Italian American Feast of the Seven Fish is a nod to the traditionally Catholic observance of abstinence from meat until Christmas Day, nowadays it’s widely regarded as a pure joy celebration of local seafood. That’s totally the kind of thing we can get behind here on the East End, as our local waters provide us with some of the best seafood found along the East Coast.
Procuring all the ingredients to make all seven (or eight, or nine) fish-centric courses for the meal can be a bit of a bear, so, make sure you do it up right and hit up these South Fork shops and markets to get all your seafood goodies.

Montauk Seafood Company 12 South Etna Ave., Montauk, 631-668-5957
Open since 2020 and owned and operated by local fishermen Wes Peterson and Doug Davidson, this locally driven spot features a tight, high quality menu sporting premium, responsibly sourced seafood as well as prime meats, produce and other provisions. Options include halibut, codfish, fluke, sea scallops and cherry stone clams as well as myriad sizes of lobster for available for order. They’ll even steam and crack the lobsters for you, just give ’em a little advanced notice. Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday thorugh Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Closed Wednesdays.
The Seafood Shop 356 Montauk Highway, Wainscott, 631-537-0633
For over 50 years now, this Wainscott mainstay has remained a Hamptons favorite, beloved for not only serving locally caught, fresh fish and seafood, but also having a plethora of take-away and catering options available as well. Owned by Colin Mather since 2000, the Seafood Shop’s market offers everything from slabs of filleted bass, tuna and fluke to whole live lobsters, piles of locally harvested oysters and colossal shrimp. A small yet abundant grocery section stocked with seafood cooking essentials is also onsite and don’t forget to check out their hors d’oeuvres and canapé platter offerings, perfect for any Christmas party. Open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Clarks Island Seafood, 20 South Cartwright Road, Shelter Island, 631-903-0931
Commercial bayman and fisherman Sawyer Clark comes from a long line of seafaring folks on Shelter Island, and likely had his sea legs before most kids utter their first word. He only sells what he catches, fresh and ready to go from a roadside cooler on the honor system. He’ll even smoke some of it for you, too. For the holidays, he’s happy to take orders via phone, email ([email protected]) and even Instagram or Facebook messenger. And if you have holiday hopes of Peconic Bay scallops, definitely get your order in ahead of time.
Citarella Multiple locations, 631-283-6600
Owner Joe Gurrera (who served as the original fishmonger for Citarella and authored the book Joe Knows Fish) prides himself on offering the freshest, never frozen seafood within his seven market locations throughout the East End, New York City and Connecticut, as well as his nation-wide delivery services. Fish options are available in both whole, fillet or steak format, ranging from the familiar to the exotic. Nautical treats also include myriad shellfish, smoked fish and mollusk options. Citarella also offers domestic caviar, as well as Osetra, Beluga and White Sturgeon options for your pre-dinner bites plus a plethora of top-notch, ready-to-eat seafood platters. Open every day from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the East Hampton location (2 Pantigo Road); 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Bridgehampton (2209 Montauk Highway); 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Southampton (20 Hampton Road).
Serene Green Farm 3980 Noyac Road, Sag Harbor, 631-808-3203
Owner and South Fork native John Smith is a farmer at heart with a clear understanding, passion and appreciation for East End bounty. Since opening his Noyac-based farmstand-like store back in 2010 — with an acre of working farmland located directly behind the storefront — his offerings have exponentially evolved from more than just pretty produce. Among the vast selection of prepared fresh and frozen foods from East End restaurants and purveyors, the seafood selection may be the jewel in Smith’s countryside crown. Large, old-school, cooler-like bins are stocked daily containing almost exclusively local fish ranging from halibut, sea bass, fluke, flounder and lobster. Place your fish orders a day in advance. They’ll even cut your seafood into portions or clean your shrimp, if you need! Open daily from 10 a.m. to p.m.; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Commander Cody’s Fish Shoppe 41 Smith St., Shelter Island, 631-749-1851
Fisherman Jimmy Hayward’s fish market and restaurant is an island institution. If you hear the words “Take it light!” from the octogenarian owner on your way out, you know you’re welcome back anytime. The fish market is open every day except Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. (although it’s never a bad idea to call and check), and you can get all your holiday swimmy goodies here. “The sooner the better is always our motto,” says manager Aiden Poleshuk if you want something like Jimmy’s dreamy smoked fish or lobsters for a crew, but three days’ notice ought to cover it for anything special.
Stuart’s 41 Oak Lane, Amagansett, 631-267-6700
It’s a tucked away treasure. “Follow the fish to Stuart’s and you’ll get the catch of the day.” So has been the slogan at Stuart’s Seafood Market since it was originally opened in a tiny shed in the backyard of an Amagansett residence in the early 1950s by Stuart Vorpahl and his two sons. Now, Stuart’s is the oldest continuously operated seafood market on the East End, maintaining a close-knit relationship with local baymen since its inception. Local favorites like striped bass, fluke, bluefish and flounder are ubiquitous, for sure, but lobsters are a Stuart’s specialty, as jumbo, cold water Nova Scotia lobsters are nearly always available. Don’t feel like cooking ‘em? No problem! The state-of-the-art convection steamer at Stuart’s has got you covered. Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Bostwick’s Seafood Market 283 Pantigo Road, East Hampton, 631-324-2700
Everybody knows and loves sister restaurants Bostwick’s on the Harbor and Bostwick’s Chowder House, highly lauded by locals and visitors alike for serving classic sea-side dishes in easy, summer-in-the-Hamptons-style atmospheres. But it’s through another member of the Bostwick’s brigade, the just-over-a-year-old Bostwick’s Seafood Market where the culinary magic of East End seafood can be brought to life at home. Inhabiting the former space of Bostwick’s Clambakes & Catering, offerings at the market include live lobsters, freshly caught fish from Montauk Point, homemade chowders, baked clams, crab cakes and shrimp cocktail. A collaboration of chowder house owners Chris Eggert and Kevin Boles, along with fourth generation Montauker, commercial fisherman and owner of Montauk Seafood Company Wes Peterson, we trust the young yet mighty operation is serving some of the best seafood this side of The Canal. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Clamman Seafood Market Caterer 235A North Sea Road, Southampton, 631-283-6669
Do your Feast of the Seven Fishes up right with help from the Clamman Seafood Market. Items found within the bountiful seafood spread include fillets of fish hand-harvested from local waters as well as cockles, mussels, clams, caviar, calamari, shrimp and those highly coveted bay scallops. Founded by the late Paul Koster in the early 1980’s, the Clamman also provides abundant holiday platters featuring shrimp cocktail, poached salmon, pepper crusted tuna and lobster tarts. Open daily at 10 a.m.
Lighthouse Seafood 36 Lighthouse Road, Hampton Bays, 631-728-5186
Overlooking Shinnecock Bay nestled in the northern end of the Ponquogue Bridge, this fresh fish Mecca is armed with an impressive arsenal of premier seafood. Priced by the pound, there are nearly two dozen whole fish options available as well as steaks and fillets of local halibut, striped bass, swordfish, monkfish, skate, cod, tilefish, blackfish and at least a dozen more. At least six different varietals of clams are available plus oysters, mussels, whelk (sea snails), lobster and blue claw crab. They’re also offering fresh bacala, just in time for the holidays! Open every day at 10 a.m.
North Fork Seafood, 87 N. Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-905-1123
Jermain Owens is back on Shelter Island, and so is the little fish market helmed for decades by the Ryder family a stone’s throw from the IGA. Owens specializes in things like sushi-grade tuna and other fresh catches, but for the holiday give him a little warning and he can probably pull in whatever seasonal options are your heart’s desire. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.