Comfort Food To Uncover In The Hamptons

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As the winter chill begins to set in, there is nothing more desirable than a savory stew or soup, or even a hearty bowl of pasta prepared fresh daily. Plenty of satisfying options await at year-round restaurants on the East End from Southampton to Montauk.

East Hampton

Tucked away in the hamlet of Springs is Bel Mare Ristorante. It is serving up pappardelle ragu. This specially portioned dish is made from the pork shoulder, slow cooked for 10 hours and sautéed with onions, parsley, garlic, and various spices. It is cooked in imported Italian crushed tomatoes. Pair this pappardelle dish with Barolo wine.

East Hampton’s beloved bakery, Carissa’s, founded by Daniel Boulud and Eli Zabar alum Carissa Waechter, is well-known for its sour and salty pickled rye loaves and gorgeous hand-painted meringue pies and macarons. But did you know that its second East Hampton location has an all-day café and will be serving up some all-new hearty dishes? These include a brisket sandwich and panade. The brisket is braised in an “autumnal potion” of red wine, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, local apples, carrots, and red onions. It is then served on Carissa’s house stout bread with horseradish aioli and a beet slaw made from local beets and cabbage. The panade appetizer is crafted with day-old sourdough that soaked in chicken stock and layered with butternut squash, caramelized onions, gruyere, and herbs like thyme and rosemary, with fresh pecorino shaved on top.

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Highway Restaurant and Bar is no stranger to serving up some of the best comfort dishes out east. Chef Justin Finney’s chicken pot pie is considered one of the ultimate comfort foods. This savory dish is filled to the brim with a chicken stew of fresh, local ingredients, and covered in a deliciously light and flaky house-made crust. It is available every Monday night.

A staple of the Hamptons, The 1770 House is always warm and inviting. The downstairs Tavern Menu is reflective of this comforting ambiance. Particularly, the Tavern Thursday menu is one not to miss. Choose from Chef Michael Rozzi’s signature dishes like his chicken Parmesan or St. Louis style ribs ($17.70 per entrée). A must is the meatloaf, which sits atop a potato purée and spinach, and is topped with roasted garlic sauce. It’s no surprise that Ina Garten refers to it as one of her “all-time favorite” comfort foods.

Montauk

Celebrate Football Sundays at Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa. Happening until Super Bowl Sunday, February 2, guests and locals alike can cheer on their favorite team in Gurney’s Regent Lounge while enjoying the specialty menu. This menu includes all your comfort food favorites, such as burger sliders, sesame chicken wings, and even duck confit tater tots. Additional notable menu items include traditional lobster roll sliders, herb guacamole with blue corn tortilla chips, and Nashville crispy chicken with pickled mango slaw.

Sag Harbor

Escape the cold and step into Lulu Kitchen and Bar for one of its wood fired pizzas like the well-loved Trufata with stracciatella cheese, exotic mushrooms, and arugula that is perfect for sharing on a brisk afternoon. A side dish not to miss is the harvest stuffed pumpkin (for two), filled with an array of flavorful ingredients like foie gras, chestnuts, mushrooms, and cranberry brioche. A particular weekly special is its Tuesday night All You Can Eat Mussels ($29).

Tutto Il Giorno is a favorite among many for dozens of reasons. As the ideal destination for some of the best pasta dishes in the Hamptons, there is no shortage of comfort favorites. Start with its creamy burrata served with panzanella, organic tricolor cherry tomatoes, and basil. Follow it up with the paccheri: classic Neapolitan beef ragu with provolone and herbs, parmigiana, or even one of their risotto dishes, where the preparation changes daily. Tutto Il Giorno also has a location in Southampton.

Southampton

Silver Lining Diner, with its kitchen helmed by Executive Chef Eric Miller, offers chowder that is a hearty blend of local clams with potatoes and apple wood-smoked bacon. This comforting and creamy New England-style soup, created by Chef Paul Roman, is the perfect dish for the fall and winter.