To The Races

Where to eat before and after the Classic.

You’ve come for the races. But that’s only half the story. What you eat before or after really makes the Hampton Classic the full August experience. It’s an end-of-season tradition. Eat. Drink. Watch the horses. Be merry. Luckily, Bridgehampton and the surrounding hamlets provide ample opportunity for good dining. We’ve put together the ultimate guide to eating before and after this year’s Hampton Classic, regardless of whether you prefer a fancy night out on the town or a casual post-races meal with friends. 

Relative newcomer Dopo Il Ponte is the perfect setting for those in search of an al fresco experience either before or after the races. Maurizio Marfoglia, the man behind Dopo La Spiaggia in East Hampton and Sag Harbor and Dopo Argento in Southampton, opened his third Dopo in the former World Pie space two summers ago, reviving the hamlet’s long-standing tradition of pizzas with a little pizzazz. The wood-burning oven continues to churn out crispy and compelling pies, like the margherita, diavola, and funghi, but don’t be fooled; there are plenty of other options at this Bridgehampton spot, too. The tuna tartare, made with sushi-grade tuna, avocado, and tobiko, is a showstopper, as is the spicy rigatoni, amplified with Calabrian chilies and just a touch of cream. It’s so good you may forget you came for the Classic. (But don’t, we beg of you.) 

Just a little way down the road, in Southampton, Ketchy Beach, open this summer at the Capri Hotel, is the perfect summer après Classic experience. After a hot afternoon, cool down with watermelon tataki, made with green onion, ponzu, togarashi, and ricotta salata. The yellowfin tuna is its own star, a brilliant fish dish that’s a flavorful combo of mango, coconut milk, blood orange, sambal, and ginger. As the evening wraps up, dig into a plate of the blue crab bucatini, an indulgent pasta dish that highlights the crab, yes, as well as local tomatoes, corn, and a to-die-for shellfish cream. 

Those in the market for a casual denouement to a formal and exciting day at the races will fall head-over-heels for Smokey Buns, the newest enterprise from Tip Top Hospitality (the team also owns K Pasa, Kizzy T’s, and Kumiso). This East Hampton smashburger joint, where casual eats are the name of the game. Order the All-American Smash Cheeseburger, the Double Smash, the Double-Cheese Smash, or even the Mushroom Smash, which is made from a vegetarian recipe that’s cooked in-house. Fries, ice creams, and even boozy shakes are on the menu, too.  

But for those who want more of a sit-down vibe, there’s also the Sag Harbor Tavern, now open in what was, for many years, the Dockside Bar & Grill (and, ever so briefly, the Sag Harbor Kitchen). It’s a Red Hook outpost, transported to the Hamptons, and casual looks good on Bay Street. The famous eight-ounce burger has landed with equal enthusiasm out East, but who wouldn’t want the shrimp cocktail with Bun’s fancy cocktail sauce? Dinner concludes with rainbow cookies from Hafley Baked, or, for the more outrageous sinners, a sundae fashioned from Dolce Brooklyn fior di latte gelato.