In the Hamptons, diners are a dying breed. So, when a late-March Instagram post announcing a new diner was coming to Sag Harbor turned up, the community’s response was enthusiastic, to say the least.
Babe’s Diner — led by husband-and-wife team Julian Cavin and Martine Langatta, along with their business partner, record executive Jonny Shipes — has moved into 51 Division Street, in the space that was formerly Nikki’s Not Dog Stand.
Looking to open its doors in early May, the diner will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., year-round. A bit ambitious, but its the sort of schedule diners are known and beloved for, and it seems Cavin, Langatta and their team are more than up for the task.
Cavin is the Brooklyn-born proprietor of Greenberg’s Bagels, with locations in Bed-Stuy and Manhattan. After moving out East full-time with Langatta, of Springs, and their two children a couple of years ago, he says the itch to open up a place on the East End has long been waiting to be scratched.
“This is what we do, food,” he says. “Being so separated from the bagel stores (which he still checks on at least one day each week), being out here, I’ve wanted something that’s convenient to operate and really be in the guts of the business.”
When the Sag Harbor space became available, Cavin was intrigued, particularly by the decor and overall feel of the place.
“We’ve been looking for a while and when we saw this space, it looked really cool,” he says. “It was very enticing with the sheet metal. Our bagel store has a very similar vibe. It’s all sheet metal walls. The square linoleum tile floor, it’s a very classic Americana deli diner. So, immediately, I was drawn to the space.”
Cavin also says he very much liked the manageable size of the space, which he had tweaked, extending the counter to now accommodate eight, bolted down, classic diner seats. Service will be on a first come, first serve basis.
Armed with a menu of classic diner dishes, including five types of breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, cheeseburgers, tuna melts, triple decker club sandwiches, Greek and Caesar salads, and homemade milkshakes, the kitchen will be helmed by East End chef Anthony Petty, formerly of Almond, Topping Rose House and the Amagansett Golf Club.
Additionally, Babe’s Diner will eventually host special supper club meals, hosting renowned chefs from across the county for tasting menu style dinners during select weekends throughout the summer.
“The supper club is kind of like a little cherry on top, but it’s not the primary part of the business,” he says. “The primary part of the business is that it’s a classic diner. There’s nothing super fancy about it, except the ingredients are all really good.”
To stay updated on what’s happening at Babe’s Diner, check out their Instagram page here.
