Cozy Up at These SoFo Restaurants for the Holiday Weekend

October has arrived, and with it a breath of fresh air. Instead of mourning the passing of summer, let’s revel in the newfound cool. It’s cozy season. Pull out your favorite sweaters, prepare yourself for the pumpkin frenzy that lies ahead, and get out your boots. The weekends of leaves and late-afternoon cider-sipping are here. What else does this mean? It means that every South Forker will want to know what the coziest restaurants to eat at is, and for that, we have a handy guide. For the coziest restaurants to visit this holiday weekend, read on. Check each restaurant’s website for guidelines regarding reservation policies and safety protocols.

Rowdy Hall
Is it the fireplace that makes this East Hampton pub so cozy, or is it their bubbling French onion soup, which comes with a cap of cheese and bread so thick that you nearly need a knife to crack it? That’s difficult to say. Locals know that there are few better places to hang out on a chilly fall afternoon than inside this two decades-old stalwart, where the food is always delicious and the spirit is always convivial (and, if you can get a seat near it, the fire is always warming).

1770 House
For more formal meals, head to a cozy restaurant indeed, where meals feel like they are being served in a dear friend’s rustic home. Fireplaces, antique furniture, and wooden beams make this restaurant a cozy paradise — matched only by the expert food dished out by chef Michael Rozzi. The spicy Montauk fluke tartare with wasabi tobiko is always a winner, as is the roasted rack of Australian lamb. The restaurant is currently running dinner as a prix fixe, three courses for $75.

Lulu’s Kitchen & Bar
In Sag Harbor, Lulu’s Kitchen & Bar benefits from an open dining room and an open kitchen, and the coziness abounds. A wood-burning oven makes the entire room smell like the holidays, all year long. Curl up with the one you’ve been socially distancing with in one of the restaurant’s massive leather booths and while away an afternoon over oysters, a wood-fired pizza with egg and raclette, and maybe even a skirt steak with chimichurri.

Almond Bridgehampton
Dim lighting, comfortable seating, and a bistro menu with a focus on seasonality makes Almond the place to go if you’re looking for a cozy fall meal. Since food changes with the season, expect a true reflection of the East End’s produce for October, along with a regular rotation of plats du jour (Friday is duck night, Saturday is Berkshire pork night, and Sunday is BBQ night, and chef-owner Jason Weiner always has fun with those interpretations). With windows facing adorable Bridgehampton, this is a sweet and lovely place to sit back and enjoy that glass of red wine you’ve been craving.