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Babette’s Restaurant Closes
On Sunday, October 17, Babette’s Restaurant, located at 66 Newtown Lane in East Hampton, a 27-year tradition in the same location, served its delicious healthy offerings for the last time. Owner Barbara Layton and her son and chef Zack Layton toured the tables to say farewell to the patrons.
The restaurant has been a favorite of locals and celebrities alike, and led the way in organic and clean eating on the East End. First opened in 1995, Barbara’s original vision was to “make healthy eating cool, exciting, and rich with ambiance.” The menu has consistently featured a balanced selection of options for all diets utilizing locally grown ingredients, the objective being to turn people on to delicious non-GMO whole foods.
Expressing her gratitude for the support she has received from the community over the years, Layton said, “My love and admiration for East Hampton is unbounded and I am excited to see the unfolding of our next adventure — as individuals and together. We are a community of vision. We are a community of strength and love. We are a community of courage and wisdom. We are committed to inspiring one another to always be better as we honor those who came before us, creating this heavenly place we call home — East Hampton.”
According to a statement from the restaurant, Layton would like to express her thanks for the loyal patronage of Babette’s guests and to the staff, past and present, who together co-created a space of real food, real conversation, and real connection over these last 27 years. She would also like to extend special thanks to her co-creator Daniel VanDerBeek, her son Zach, her mother, and all the friends she had the honor and privilege to meet throughout the lifetime of Babette’s.
Claude’s
Beginning October 22, Claude’s Restaurant at the Southampton Inn will offer dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 to 9 PM. There will be a prix fixe offered along with a new menu. Claude’s Restaurant will continue to offer its award-winning brunch from 11 AM to 2 PM Saturday and Sunday.
Highway Restaurant & Bar
Highway Restaurant & Bar in East Hampton offers handmade ricotta cavatelli with veal ragu and apple crumble on their menu, which is locally-sourced in partnership with Balsam Farms. Fan favorites like Peking duck and Korean chicken buns return; in time for the cooler weather. Highway has also partnered with Sagaponack Farm Distillery, utilizing the space for off-site Autostrada pizza events.
La Fondita
La Fondita in Amagansett will celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with traditional specials available Sunday, October 31 to Tuesday November 2. Specials include enchiladas de pollo en salsa roja for $15, tamal de pollo en salsa verde for $13, tamal de rajas for $13, tamal de puerco en salsa roja for $13, and Champurrado, a chocolate based atole, for $4.
Coche Comedor
Coche Comedor in Amagansett will honor Dia de los Muertos with specials available on Tuesday, November 2 and Wednesday, November 3. There will be chile en nogada for $15. Considered by many to be the national dish of Mexico, chiles en nogada showcases the colors of the country’s flag: green, white, and red. Created by nuns in Puebla in 1821, the dish was presented to the general of the Mexican Army, Agustín de Iturbide, after signing the treaty that recognized Mexico’s independence from Spain. The nuns used the best of the late-season harvest in the dish, including poblano chiles, peaches, pears, apples and walnuts grown in farms near Puebla.
Short rib barbacoa will also be available for $32. The dish is layered with refritos and short rib barbacoa topped with mole coloradito, pickled onions, and micro cilantro. The short rib is first marinated for 24 hours with guajillo chilies, pullia chiles, and garlic, the meat is then wrapped in plantain leaves with avocado leaves and bay leaves and steamed.
Arroz con leche, dolce de calabaza, a creamy rice pudding with stewed sweet pumpkin and vanilla ice cream, will be $12.
Main Street Tavern
Main Street Tavern in Amagansett has a new brunch menu that offers a brioche French toast, grilled hanger steak, and salmon platter, and among the new dishes on the fall menu, including a chicken pot pie with spit-roasted chicken and local vegetables. Every Thursday, the tavern serves up chicken and steak tacos in addition to the fish variety on the daily menu. For October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Tavern has partnered with Coalition for Women’s Cancers at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and Lobos tequila, donating $2 of each Spicy Pineapple Margarita and taco special sale on Thursday evenings. On Fridays and Saturdays, guests can indulge in the famously delicious late-night burgers and fries starting at 10 PM, with a daily happy hour from 3 to 5 PM.
Rita Cantina
Rita Cantina in Springs offers a fall menu that utilizes elements that “swim, graze, and grow” in the surrounding area, featuring a range of ceviches, tacos, quesadillas, slow-cooked birria, and large plates sourced from purveyors like Satur Farms, Multi Aquaculture System, and Gosman’s Dock. This fall, the restaurant offers chicken tinga tacos, slow cooked mole baby chicken, and hamburger with chorizo and melting jack from their new menu, including apple cider margaritas and agua frescas. They also recently launched a takeout menu for those looking to enjoy Rita at home.