Some of our favorite fall restaurants on the East End
Bell & Anchor, Sag Harbor
This waterfront seafood spot on Noyac Road just minutes from Sag Harbor village is tackling fall head on with weeknight and Sunday night specials aimed at attracting customers in off times. Tuesday stars chicken Milanese topped with shaved fennel, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan, and Champagne vinaigrette. Wednesday features lobster served one of three ways: with garganelli, steamed, or poached with a seven ounce filet mignon. Thursday is bouillabaisse night and Sunday is ramen night. Owned and operated by David Loewenberg and Sam McCleland, Bell & Anchor is the sister restaurant of the Beacon in Sag Harbor.
Springs Tavern and Grill, East Hampton
Sometimes referred to as a hidden gem, Springs Tavern is located off the beaten track on Fort Pond Blvd. It has historically been a neighborhood watering hole since 1934 under various names such as Wolfie’s and Jungle Peet’s and was frequented by Jackson Pollock himself. In 2022, Alex Rossi introduced this more up market but still casual version by giving the interior a refresh, creating a stylish beachy outdoor dining area, and upgrading the menu. Though Rossi is the son of restaurateur Rubrio Rossi of Manhattan’s renowned Parioli Romanissimo where he sometimes worked as a young man, this is a career change from finance and his first foray in the restaurant business. His goal, he says, is “to be as accessible as possible with a real welcoming vibe and energy.” That’s particularly evident at the popular year-round happy hour from 4 to 6. Transitioning into fall, there will be more emphasis on burgers, short ribs, pastas and risottos and a Wednesday fajita night. Salmon with cauliflower puree is a standout. This summer Rossi opened a second restaurant, Lion’s Nook in the former Rowdy Hall space.
Fresno, East Hampton
Fresno is a friendly neighborhood restaurant tucked away on a side street behind the railroad station, but locals and weekenders alike have no trouble finding it. Two years ago owner Michael Nolan and his wife Helen Gifford celebrated the restaurants 20th anniversary and did a refresh that includes chic Farrow & Ball charcoal gray paint and dazzling overhead lights from Gifford’s HelenBilt design company. Nolan grew up in Sag Harbor, and this summer opened Miracle there. Jesus Gonzales is executive chef at both spots. Local fish and produce are emphasized. The fall welcomes taco Tuesdays and some heartier dishes such as grilled Berkshire pork chop with roasted Balsam Farm fingerling sweet potatoes, charred broccolini, and black cherry port wine sauce and pan roasted Jurgielwicz farm duck breast with Moroccan couscous and black currant gastrique. There’s always a black Angus burger with pommes frites. A creative list of cocktails and mocktails enhances the lively bar scene.
Photo: Eric Stiffler
Lunch, Lobster Roll, Southampton
It may be chilly outdoors, but “summer never ends” at Lunch, Lobster Roll. The second location of Amagansett’s iconic seafood shack, which appeared in “The Affair”, operates year round in Southampton in the site formerly occupied by Princess Diner. Even though it’s called Lunch, the restaurant also offers dinner items in addition to its signature hot and cold lobster rolls, clam chowders, and fish and chips. There are oysters, clams on the half shell, fried calamari, seafood nachos and salads which can be topped with crab cakes, salmon, or tuna steaks. And fall is promoting drinks from rosé all day on Thursday to bellinis and bubbles on Sunday.
Beverly Stephen writes about food, travel, design, and lifestyle. She is co-owner of Flavor Forays, a culinary travel company.
