Dining With That Special Someone

In celebration of my and my husband’s eight-year wedding anniversary, I am looking back and reminiscing how our relationship grew throughout the years and how we decided to settle down full-time on the East End. Many of our memories etched out east are of when we dined out at some of our favorite spots, which I recommend as being some of the perfect dining destinations to bring that special someone for almost any occasion.

Below are our five favorite romantic restaurants in the Hamptons, and what we both love to order at each.

The Palm

A staple for us. We have been dining at The Palm at The Huntting Inn for over 15 years. We love that the food is consistent, the portions are large and perfect for sharing, and we always like to sit in the sunroom and order colossal portions of steak and lobster. We love to start with either the lobster bisque, Monday Night “Chop Chop Salad,” or the watermelon and burrata salad in-season.

The American Hotel

We would walk to The American Hotel at least twice a week and play backgammon for hours while sipping cocktails or tea. Its late afternoon cheese fondue is one of our favorite treats. If we come in for dinner, we sit in the back room and have the lobster BLT or the bacon-wrapped bison fillet.

The 1770 House

We love to particularly dine at The Tavern downstairs as we can usually come in without a reservation during the week. The Tavern has such a relaxing, low-key vibe, making it a perfect spot to escape for a couple of hours. We order the Tavern Burger and always for dessert, the sticky date cake, salted caramel gelato, and toffee sauce. A visit to the Hamptons is simply not complete without experiencing a taste of the sticky date cake. Note, the menu rotates with the seasons.

Il Capuccino

A favorite of ours and our families for over 20 years, we have loved dining at Il Capuccino and have ordered almost every dish on the menu. Of course, the garlic knots are simply the best and we always take several home with us to reheat in the oven the next afternoon. We love its Salmon Capuccino and Capelli D’Angelo ai Gamberi: angel hair pasta tossed with shrimp, scallions, and plum tomatoes. We finish off the evening by splitting the tartufo. And in the autumn, we simply cannot resist their pumpkin raviolis with seasoned Alfredo sauce.

La Fine

La Fine at Montauk Manor is a charming, family-style restaurant that we have enjoyed visiting for the past four years. We love to head out to Montauk during the week and eat on the back patio. We love to split Grandma’s Meatballs and then dive in to our Bolognese smothered in beef, veal, and pork with Nonna’s marinara and fresh roasted tomatoes, finished with fresh ricotta and fresh basil. For dessert, the Italian cheesecake, light, buttery ricotta cheese pastry with orange zest and hints of vanilla, is always a winner.

Which are your favorite restaurants? Where are you dining this weekend? Share by tagging @EastEndTaste and using the #EastEndTaste.