Dine Around The World From The Comfort Of The East End

Get Travel Inspiration From These Local Restaurants 

Traveling the world at the holidays is nice, but if you find that this year’s plans have you home, never fear. A trip around the world is as close as the East End’s restaurants. From Japan to Italy to France, you can take a tour of the world’s finest cuisines without leaving the Hamptons. Where should you start? That much is up to you. But we’re highlighting a few of our favorite cultural touchstones this season. The adventure, as always, begins on your plate. So dig in. 

Take a trip all the way to Japan without leaving home via Sen, the established restaurant in Sag Harbor that has long been a part of the Hamptons local scene. Jesse and Tora Matsuoka own the restaurant and have dedicated their careers to understanding and appreciating Japanese cuisine, and this comes across in every detail of the restaurant, down to the sushi bar and intimate cocktail room at the restaurant’s rear. Whip-fresh fish is always a delight (opt for the Chirashi, which features 14 different varieties of sashimi, along with vegetables, over rice, a Japanese classic), as is the restaurant’s stunning pork ramen: springy noodles simmering in a rich tonkotsu broth. The only thing you’ll miss out on are the frequent flyer miles. 

Transport yourself to the Italian seaside with a trip to Amagansett’s Il Buco al Mare. With a dedication to seafood and produce, this restaurant replicates the simple pleasures of the Italian seashore. A whole branzino with shaved fennel, herbs, and cracked buckwheat recalls fish caught from the nearby shoreline, the briny air in Italy, the licorice-inflected bulbs pulled from the hot midday soil. Close your eyes and you’d swear you were there. Charred octopus, charred prawns: were these plucked right from the Italian mare today, or is it best left up to the imagination? Travel is a play between memory and imagination when dining at al Mare. It’s an adventure of the palate, and it’s not too far off to envision oneself in a small, slippery boat, hauling in the day’s saline treasures. 

If a trip to France isn’t in the cards this year, head directly to Bridgehampton instead, where Pierre’s can offer up a taste of the country’s most iconic dishes. Inside, a stark white interior plays at East End décor, but the food holds nothing back. A crock of practically overflowing onion soup with a brûléed top is one of the most stunning things to come out of the petite kitchen. Don’t stop there. Burgundy escargots, set ablaze with a hint of Pernod and served with garlic-parsley butter (and bread, naturally) are the pinnacle of French dining. Thin, salty, and divine French fries go with practically everything on the menu. Dive into a bowl of mussels, cooked in shallots and cream; a plate of beef tartare; or a rare and tender hanger steak, served with Sauce Béarnaise. No jetlag suffered, you’ll find yourself ready for the world again after a nightcap. (Pierre’s has those, too.)