Passover week begins April 12, and you can already taste the matzo ball soup…which, perhaps, you don’t want to cook yourself. East End restaurants are giving you a hall pass this year with menus allowing you to celebrate the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt with a much shorter journey. With premade dinners boasting all the unleavened fixings, you’ll find charoset, chopped liver, karpas and other full meals or supplements that’ll help you lighten (or altogether remove) your load. These East End Passover menus are so tasty — and convenient — you might decide to order them again next year (and for generations to come).
L&W Market, 2493 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, 631-537-1123
The fresh food market has long had an our-table-to-yours approach to its catering menu, hence its staying power. The Passover menu shows the team thinks of everything. There’s a returning classic, Grandma Weiner’s rich-yet-sweet chopped liver, and a seder plate complete with a shank bone. A braised brisket main comes in a large size fit for a party of six to eight and a small size for tables of two to four. Place orders online by April 10 for pick-up on April 12.
Rowdy Hall, 177 Main St., Amagansett, 631-324-8555
Rowdy Hall is known for its French-English pub grub. But this April, you’ll find Passover fare and a no-clean-up required sit-down meal. On April 12 and 13, Rowdy Hall will offer a special a la carte menu with matzo ball soup and red-wine braised brisket. The main comes with symbolic sides: Roasted root vegetables, fresh horseradish and apricots, which prove that life can taste better after the bitterness.
Nick & Toni’s, 136 N Main St., East Hampton, 631-324-3550
Nick & Toni’s will also serve up a sit-down Seder on April 12 and 13 in its dining room beside a one-acre garden. The menu at the Mediterranean mainstay is a la carte but leans into fresh, seasonal and traditional fare. Start with matzo ball soup seasoned with dill before moving on to the classic braised short ribs dressed in Turkish apricots and cipollini onions. A pavlova with strawberry mouse and fresh berries makes for a sweet ending. Reservations are recommended. You can make them online or via phone at 631-324-3550.
Purchase supplements or the whole seder shebang prepared by pro-chefs. Citarella is offering an ultimate appetizer package (including matzo crackers, chopped chicken liver and the smoked salmon spread), poussin or braised brisket feast and a dessert package with macaroons, poached pears and assorted cookies made using almond flour. But soups and other fixings are available a la carte.
Art of Eating, 264 Butter Lane, Bridgehampton, 631-267-2411
A slow-braised brisket steals the show on the menu for Art of Eating, the decades-old brain (tummy?) child and touted catering company helmed by Cheryl Stair and John Kowalenko. Meaty, melt-in-your-mouth brisket aside, you’ll also find Matzo Ball Soup, roasted lamb bone, chinky apple sauce and other Seder staples. And, delicious as the brisket is, a bag of Stair’s homemade chips made from local potatoes is a pleasant Passover surprise you won’t be salty about.
Bistro Ete, 760 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, 631-500-9085
This Water Mill restaurant has made its mark because of its French coastal cuisine, dry-aged steak and—as in-the-know types can tell you—matzo ball soup. The latter is making a grand return for Passover. Other treasured staples back on the menu include potato latkes, beef brisket and tzimmes.
Sydney’s “Taylor” Made Cuisine, 32 Mill Road, Westhampton Beach, 631-288-4722
This gourmet restaurant and catering establishment has a pages-long Passover menu that’ll have you at hors-d’oeuvre. On that portion of the menu, you’ll find potato latkes with sour cream and apple sauce, mini hotdogs in puff pastries and smoked salmon with dill and cucumber. Matzo ball soup, of course, makes the list, but so does the so-seasonal cream of asparagus. Briskets, chickens and duck are among the protein-packed entrée options. A flourless chocolate cake makes following the rules look and taste so good. Email [email protected] with questions or to place your order.
