Stay Inn For Dinner

“It’s good for people to know that we’re still here during off-season,” said my server for the night, Bradley, at Claude’s Restaurant at Southampton Inn.

Southampton Inn may be a place for guests to rest their heads at night, but at Claude’s, everyone has a seat at the table. Chef Carlos Cortes serves up a consistently delicious $32 prix-fixe dinner including a starter, entree, and dessert, Wednesday through Saturday, from 5 to 9 PM.

Starter choices include items such as a Caprese salad, crispy shrimp and calamari, eggplant rollatini, or baked stuffed mushrooms. The “Soup of the Moment” that night happened to be asparagus watermelon. Chef Cortes takes a summertime taste and grills two slices of watermelon just so, drizzling them with balsamic, and placing them on the side. The two flavors creatively blend together in a seasonal, healthy style. I dipped some warm, flakey bread into the soup for that added flavor.

Entree options range from shrimp cappellini to a 10 oz New York strip steak served with Yukon golden potatoes and roasted seasonal vegetables. The “Chicken Prepared My Way” was a home-run hit, chicken Milanese. It was so buttery a fork cut into it just so. Chef Cortes revealed his breadcrumbs include a mix of parmigiana Romano cheese to give the chicken a nice, lightly crisp outside. If you’re a dish sharer, you may want to keep this one all to yourself. It’s served hot with a cold arugula, cherry tomato, and goat cheese salad on top.

To finish off the meal a taste of chocolate mousse cheesecake and house-made tiramisu.

Claude’s proves to be a homey place, even for the local down the street. Its atmosphere is inviting and it’s more relaxed than other spots in town — an option even for those who may prefer to dine alone or get some work done while enjoying a good meal.

Claude’s serves breakfast daily with highlights including a banana stuffed brioche French toast and a smoked salmon benedict. There is also brunch on the weekends. The restaurant supports on-site functions, from weddings to meetings. And, for a cozy night, enjoy live music on scheduled nights, with s’mores over a fire pit and hot cider or hot toddy in your hands.

Next weekend Claude’s continues its theater and dining package in collaboration with the Southampton Cultural Center. Enjoy dinner or brunch and a production of “The Little Mermaid.” Thanksgiving offers a full package for two for $270, which includes an overnight room, dinner, and breakfast. Claude’s also offers holiday events for 10 to 200 guests.

Book your stay or dining experience at www.southamptoninn.com.

nicole@indyeastend.com