Hamptons Dining Dish: Mercado, CJ's, aLure, CittaNuova
Mercado Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar in Bridgehampton is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Select menu items include: grilled Mexican street corn with grated cotija cheese, cilantro, chile powder and seasoned garlic aioli; guacamole made daily and served with warm tortilla chips – available mild, medium or hot; crispy corn empanadas filled with jumbo lump crab meat, served with avocado-salsa verde puree and mango-pineapple salsa; chicken mole poblano, pan-roasted breast with mole sauce, served with rice, fried plantains and sesame seeds; carne asada, grilled skirt steak in adobo of guajillo, cascabel and pasilla chiles with rajas and caramelized onions, served on a bed of poblano-jalapeño mashed potatoes, soft tortillas and roasted tomatillo-chipotle salsa. 631-237-1334. mercadony.com.
CJ’s American Grill in Mattituck serves lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday from noon to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 12 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. Select menu items include: French onion soup with Gruyere cheese; frito misto, calamari and shrimp with red pepper aioli and marinara; mussels made with corn Andouille and tomato with a touch of cream; primavera pasta, local vegetables sautéed in garlic, oil and fresh herbs; half-roasted duck with raspberry demi-glace; teriyaki salmon with cucumber wasabi and pickled ginger; and pecan-crusted chicken with maple-bourbon glaze. 631-315-5311. cjsamericangrill.net.
aLure Chowder House and Oysteria in Southold will reopen today, February 12, after a winter vacation. Dinner will be served Thursdays and Sundays from 5 to 9 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 10 p.m. In celebration of the reopening, a special three-course prix fixe will be available on February 12th and 19th for $20.15. Menu selections are subject to change. First-course features choice of: field green salad with roasted shallot vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes and red onion; a ‘big bowl’ of PEI mussels with Thai red curry, coconut and lime ($2 supp.); Manhattan clam chowder; New England clam chowder; or baja-style fish tacos with guacamole, tomato-chili salsa and chipotle aioli. Second-course features choice of: grilled Scottish salmon with roasted vegetable cous-cous and tomato-olive relish; macadamia-coconut crusted flounder with key lime beurre blanc, sweet potato puree and tiny French beans ($2 supp.); linguine and clams with white wine, garlic and pancetta; fish and chips, beer-battered and served with malt vinegar, lemon and mushy peas; or 8-ounce cheeseburger served with hand-cut fries, lettuce, tomato and country slaw. Dessert features choice of: assorted ice creams and sorbets or “Jeff’s food for the Gods.” 631-876-5300. alurenorthfork.com.
CittaNuova in East Hampton is open Sunday through Thursday from 12 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 12 to 11:30 p.m. Select menu items include: polpette al forno, beef, pork and veal meatballs with tomato sauce and grana; cavolini di bruxelles, Brussels sprouts, arugula, fuji apple, white-balsamic vinaigrette and pecorino cheese; pollastello, roasted Cornish hen with pea greens, roasted potato and herb sauce; or maiale, pork chop with collard greens, mashed potatoes and red wine reduction. 631-324-6300. cittanuova.com