Andrew and Evan DeRobertis, brothers born and raised in the restaurant business, have taken on their own endeavor in Hampton Bays.
Just over a month ago, the hospitality-honed sibling duo opened the doors of DeRo’s Food & Family (149 West Montauk Highway, 631-594-3379).
“The first place I came home from the hospital to was the restaurant,” says Andrew.
Their father, Paul DeRobertis, owned and ran Paul’s Italian Restaurant on Hill Street in Southampton for 50 years. He sold the business in 2023, and his sons stayed on staff.
Last year, Andrew and Evan parted ways from the formerly family-owned spot and pursued other employment in restaurants on the East End.
In early 2025, on a drive out to meet a friend, Andrew saw a sign posted outside of the property at 149 West Montauk Highway. It advertised a turnkey restaurant, ready for rent.
On his way back east, he called the number and was met with the familiar voice of John Tortorella, a former Paul’s regular.
“He gave us the chance of a lifetime, and this is where we ended up,” says Andrew.
The Italian-American joint serves everything from chicken parm to chicken, shrimp and vegetable pot stickers; beef, black bean and turkey burgers; steak; ribs and brunch on Sundays. Ninety five percent of the food is made in house.
“The way I designed the menu is, if you had a house full of 13 guests, there’s something on the menu for everyone,” says Andrew.
The pair also features condiments from their other business, Hampton Dressing Company, including blue cheese, caesar and Italian. The caesar is their grandmother’s 80-year-old recipe. They started bottling up their product when Paul’s was up and running.
“Customers would come in and buy bottles and say you should sell this in stores,” says Evan.
The most important thing about their new quest, however, is that it caters to the community that it’s a part of.
“What my father taught us about the restaurant business, is you have to take care of the locals,” says Andrew.
Their clientele is composed of people from East Hampton, East Quogue, Hampton Bays, Riverhead and Southampton.
One very special feature of DeRo’s: wall panels designated to highlight good deeds. For each panel, they have a spot set aside for members of the Coast Guard, first responders, fire fighters and police to sign. Kids can also sign the wall.
“There’s three ways they can write their name on the wall,” says Andrew. “If they do well academically, they do well in sports or they do a good deed. Let’s say a kid helps an old lady with her groceries, they get to write their name on there.”
As for being business partners, nothing is new the brothers said.
“We’re three years apart, so our parents always kind of put us together,” says Evan. “So, it’s natural.”
DeRo’s is open seven days a week, Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
After Memorial Day, they will be open for brunch on Saturdays as well.
