One of the perks of the winter season here on the East End is the numerous dining deals available at a vast array of restaurants. In a way, the offseason is a resto’s true time to shine, as menus not only tend to showcase the continuing ample winter bounty of the South Fork, dinner won’t completely break your bank. The idea behind offering prix fixe and other dining promotions is simple: you give some of your favorite restaurants business in the offseason months and the restaurant returns the favor by offering their fare at a pocket-easier rate.
It’s a total win-win.
Here are some eateries offering offseason dining deals across the Hamptons and Shelter Island.
Southampton Town
R.aire, 259 East Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, 631-728-4184
Led by Spain-born chef Alex Bujoreanu, this Hampton Bays-based eatery set within the decades old Hampton Maid showcases Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine, with authentic tapas options and Burjoreanu’s signature paella as house staples. A three-course prix fixe for $45 is available Tuesday through Thursday and diners can also enjoy 30 percent off on bottles of wine. Menu items are slated to include house ground prime beef and chorizo meatballs, croquetas of the day, and calamari a la romana. A grilled duck breast with crispy spinach polenta, a mushroom fideua (made with short pasta noodles) and a specialty burger (with brava sauce) rank among winning entrée items. Open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m.
Almond, 1 Ocean Road, Bridgehampton, 631-537-5665
The offseason promotions at chef Jason Weiner and proprietor Eric Lemonides’ Bridgehampton eatery are plentiful. Occurring each night the popular resto is open — beloved for both its French bistro-inspired menu items as well as its uniquely creative blending of international cuisines — Almond offers a two-course prix fixe for $39 Tuesday through Saturday, offering a choice of appetizer and entrée. More often than not options come directly from the regular menu, with Weiner usually throwing in a few special options to spice up the usual suspect choices. On Tuesday and Wednesday the prix fixe is available all night long, while Thursday through Saturday it’s from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Additionally, Tuesday is “Burger and a Beer” night while on Wednesday it’s “Bottomless Mussels and Fries.” Both are $25 each and according to veteran bartender Bobby Weissleder the record for plates of mussels consecutively eaten by one person is five. On Thursdays the resto offers their “Ramen du Jour” for $29 (options tend to run the gamut here, so be sure to give ‘em a ring to check). Almond is open Tuesday through Saturday at 5 p.m.
Bobby Van’s, 2393 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, 631-537-0590
For the Hamptons OG steakhouse, comfort food reigns supreme. During the winter months, this esteemed Hamptons haunt serves up a dinnertime prix fixe for $46.96 all night Sunday through Wednesday and on Thursdays until 6:30 p.m. First course options include choice of soup, Caesar or mixed green salads, as well as some house staples like maple-balsamic glazed thick cut bacon, baked clams and escargot. Red meat centric steak tacos and beef carpaccio round out the appetizer options. For second course, options include parmesan crusted salmon, moules frites, chicken pot pie, chicken Milanese and chicken parmigiano. Beefy entrée options include filet tip au poivre with mushrooms and onions, mashed potatoes and creamed spinach, Bolognese with pappardelle pasta, broiled 14-ounce sirloin steak with French fries and petite 9-ounce filet mignon. Open every day for lunch from noon to 3 p.m. and for dinner starting at 5 p.m.
Bridgehampton Inn Restaurant, 2266 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, 631-537-3660
Owner Sybille van Kempen and chef Alejandro Osorio’s prix fixe offering is basically an abridged menu of the a la carte menu featured at the decade-old eatery, curated with an equal amount of expertise and love. Two courses are available for $50 per person and is available on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Heavily French, with additional touches of European influences prominent throughout, the farm-to-table menu boasts three starters (a soup du jour, classic Caesar salad and a wild mushroom risotto) and three entrees (usually a fish, a chicken and a red meat option). Half a dozen supplemental side dishes are available (don’t miss that blue crab au gratin) as are five decadent dessert options made in house. Bridgehampton Inn Restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday starting at 5:30 p.m.
Bell & Anchor, 3253 Noyac Road, Sag Harbor, 631-725-3400
Owned and operated by David Loewenberg and chef Sam McCleland, this beloved seafood centric eatery perched over Mill Creek Marina in Noyac offers several weeknight specials for both loyal patrons and first-time visitors to take advantage of. Each night highlights a specific entrée special while accompanying appetizer choices come straight off the regular menu (some apps are available for a supplemental charge). On Tuesday nights, it’s panko fried chicken Milanese topped with a mini mountain of mixed greens, shaved fennel, cherry tomatoes, shaved parmesan all tossed in a Champagne vinaigrette for $36. Wednesday is “Lobster Night,” with entrée options including the fan fave “Old School” Lobster Garganelli with corn, basil and saffron cream ($42), a steamed 1 ½-pound lobster served with haricots verts and fingerling potatoes ($65) or surf turf, featuring a butter poached lobster tails paired with a 7-ounce grilled filet mignon, haricots verts and fingerling potatoes ($72). Thursday is “Bouillabaisse Night” with two courses offered at $48. On Sundays, diners can enjoy Ramen Night for $30. To take a peek at daily specials sample menus, click here. Bell & Anchor is open Tuesday through Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
East Hampton Town
1770 House Restaurant & Inn, 143 Main St., East Hampton, 631-324-1770
At 1770, the early bird gets the discount. This East Hampton mainstay offers an early dining special from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, where chef Michael Rozzi’s $65 two-course prix-fixe is available for $50 along with a discounted glass of wine for $10. Options usually include a handful of salads, a soup and two of Rozzi’s signature dishes: the spicy Montauk fluke tartare and seared Hudson Valley foie gras (for an $8 supplement). For entrees, there’s almost always a roasted chicken, strip steak, and roasted salmon with additions including braised rabbit, seared sea scallops and braised Berkshire pork cheeks stuffed into a housemade raviolo. If you’re looking for a more casual situation, don’t forget to check out 1770’s slightly less formal (but equally beautiful) tavern downstairs from the main dining room. Tavern specialties can range from BBQ pork ribs, a roasted veggie lasagna, and sweet potato and chickpea curry, but the true stars of the show are the staples: a burger that still remains one of the best in the Hamptons and the famous meatloaf that’s been shamelessly promoted by the likes of Ina Garten for over a decade. 1770 House is open every day starting at 5:30 p.m.
Cittanuova, 29 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, 631-324-6300
This Milanese style trattoria offers a three-course prix-fixe for $39 available for restaurant diners Sunday through Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m. Starters include their staple minestrone, hummus with grilled flatbread, panko-crusted mozzarella, a roasted artichoke heart, arugula and radicchio salad, and a beef carpaccio (+$7). Second course options feature a roasted eggplant parmigiana, chicken Milanese and pasta with sausage and broccoli rabe, as well as pan seared salmon, strip steak (for a supplemental charge of $10 and $15, respectively) and a chef’s choice entrée. Desserts include chocolate bread pudding, tiramisu, and artisanal gelato and sorbet. One of the few year-round spots located in East Hampton Village, Citta is open every day for lunch at noon and dinner at 5:30 p.m. Walk-ins only.
Coche Comedor 74A Montauk Highway, Amagansett, 631-267-5709
Honest Man Hospitality Group’s dive into authentic Mexican fare, but make it Hamptons style, offers a $29 prix-fixe for three courses. Offered all night on Wednesday and Thursday and until 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, diners have a choice of three starters and three entrees plus a choice of two desserts. Options include riffs on familiar favorites, like chilaquiles (with the option to add on chicken, chorizo, avocado or an extra egg for a couple of bucks more), pork fajitas, a little gem salad done in the style of a Caesar, and a toasted coconut flan. Taco Tuesday is also available, with two flour tortillas stuffed with a choice of skirt steak or al pastor pork for $21. Quick sidenote: If you’re looking to liven up your week, head to Coche for live salsa and cumbia night, with tunes from Nick Correrdor and the Los Del Son Band, from 8 to 11 p.m. Coche’s dining room is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. Walk-ins only.
Nick & Toni’s, 136 North Main St., East Hampton, 631-324-3550
A two-course pizza and pasta prix-fixe is available at this Hamptons culinary institution all night, every Monday for $32. Starters include a choice of salad (Caesar or arugula and shaved fennel) — a smart move to keep them light as the offerings that follow are certainly carb heavy! Choose between a wood-fired margherita pizza made with house mozzarella and pomodoro sauce (additional toppings include arugula, roasted garlic, marinated anchovies, mushrooms and pepperoni) or a nightly homemade pasta dish. Quartinos of wine are also available for $11 each, as is the booze-free Phony Negroni. Nick & Toni’s is open Wednesday through Monday starting at 5:30 p.m.
Fresno, 11 Fresno Place, East Hampton, 631-324-8700
Nestled in East Hampton Village, just a couple of blocks away from Main Street, owner Michael Nolan’s contemporary American cuisine-style spot is offering a three-course prix fixe menu for $49. Available Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m., options include a good chunk of menu staples (think Prince Edward Island mussels steamed in a lemongrass-coconut broth and pan seared Scottish salmon with baby bok choy and black forbidden rice). The restaurant will also host “Date Night” every Wednesday and Thursday, which features Fresno’s exclusive $30 wine list. Fresno is open Wednesday through Monday at 5 p.m.
Shelter Island
Isola, 15 Grand Ave., Shelter Island, 631-749-9036
Open all year, Brad Kitkowski’s warm and welcoming Italian-leaning island staple keeps the warm vibes going with a recently introduced three-course daily prix fixe featuring all your faves (meatballs, arancini, chicken parm and even the wood-fired pizza) for $39. But the best part: It runs all night, so you don’t have to early-bird it over to Grand Avenue.
Léon 1909, 29 W. Neck Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-9123
On the rock, Valerie Mnuchin’s open-fire foray into restaurant ownership has proven to be a hot ticket. But if the usual prices feel a little dear, at least for your average mid-week meal, you’ll be stoked to hit up their new ample-option three-course $37 prix fixe, daily (!) from 5 to 6 p.m. for chef Armond Joseph’s excellent dishes, like velvety carrot, saffron and melty cheddar custard, Montauk-caught red shrimp curd, duck confit or their famed Léon burger with ají dulce pepper jam and comtè cheese. Bonus: an excellent red and white by-the-glass as well as a classic Negroni are nicely discounted at $12 and $15, respectively.
The Chequit, 23 Grand Ave., Shelter Island, 631-749-0018
Think prix fixe is only for weekdays? Not at the Chequit. Grab your Friday night date by the hand and head over for chef Joe Smith’s three-course $39 weekend kick-off menu featuring entrees like duck confit ravioli, pork Milanese and warm sugar donuts for dessert. Bottles of the Soloviev-owned bar-restaurant’s sister winery, Peconic Bay, are half off, too.23 Dinner starts at 4pm, so early or late eaters can grab a seat when they like.
Vine Street Café, 41 South Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-3210
Owned by chef Terry Harwood and his wife, pastry chef Lisa Murphy-Harwood, since 2003 Vine Street’s wintertime prix fixe is $40 per person and is available Thursday through Monday from 5 to 6 p.m. and all night on Sunday. The heavily French-influenced menu features made-from-scratch dishes highlighting locally sourced ingredients. Select wines from Vine Street’s cellar will also be available for $40 for the bottle, $11 for a glass. Vine Street is open Sunday, Monday and Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.
