Festival Feasts

Lion’s Nook Bar & Grill, East Hampton
Lion’s Nook Bar & Grill opened this summer in the Parish Mews space where Rowdy Hall held sway for years. It was renovated and opened by Springs Tavern & Grill owner Alex Rossi. The name references Lion Gardiner, an early East Hampton English settler, not the king of the beasts. It spotlights local fish and produce, tavern classics, and a remarkable number of Italian specialties. Not a surprise because Rossi’s father, Rubrio Rossi, owned Parioli Romanissimo, a noted Manhattan Italian restaurant where Rossi worked as a young man. The porcini risotto is prepared according to the Parioli recipe. There’s also a Milanese veal chop, linguine Fra Diavolo, and  vitello tonnato. But there’s always a Nook burger with hand cut fries. Seasonal outdoor seating enhances the convivial atmosphere.

East Hampton Grill, East Hampton
East Hampton Grill, past of the Hillstone Restaurant Group, is open for dinner year round in the charming brick building on Main street that once housed Della Femina. It’s hard to resist biscuits described as “heavenly worth the wait” with rosemary butter and Hamptons honey or crispy calamari served with both cocktail and remoulade sauces. House specialties range from cheeseburgers and crispy chicken sandwiches to tuna tartare and steak frites. And there’s key lime pie for dessert. The wine list is international with an emphasis on Napa Valley and some local labels as well.

Tutto Café, East Hampton
Tutto Caffe is as chic as one would expect from Gabby Karan de Felice who executed the design working with Bonetti/Kozerski, the architecture firm she and her mother, the celebrated fashion designer Donna Karan, worked with for years. She also sourced Italian elements such as the charming Italian dinnerware. Friends Gianpaolo Felice and David Mayer were inspired to open the café in 2022 following the success of Il Giorno in Sag Harbor. The café opens at 8 a.m. and attracts patrons with its selection of coffees overseen by Gally Mayer and pastries. As the day progresses, there are salads, panini, charcuterie boards and a few more substantial dishes such as eggplant parmigiana and lasagna. There is seasonal outdoor seating.

Swifty’s at The Hedges, East Hampton
For years Swifty’s was the society restaurant on Manhattan’s upper East Side. After its closure in 2016, it was revived as a pop up at the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach. The Colony owners Sarsh and Andrew Wetenhall bought the Hedges Inn last year and installed a Swifty’s outpost there. The Hedges, a 12 room inn originally opened in 1873, reopened in June after a major redesign by acclaimed designer David Netto. It’s now positioned as a full service luxury hotel with prices to match. Swifty’s, a dining destination familiar to many celebrities and well-heeled socialites who migrate between the Hamptons, Manhattan, and Palm Beach, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in both indoor and outdoor settings. Executive chef Tom Whitaker oversees both the Hamptons and Palm Beach locations. An evening might start with Martinis at the Limestone bar and move on to the raw bar. Starters include a warm tomato and leek tart with Mecox Farm cheddar and a bruleed goat cheese/summer berry salad. Of course, the famous Swifty’s designer meat loaf originally credited to American fashion icon Bill Blass is a popular main dish but there’s also pan seared fluke with wild mushrooms and a showstopping fennel and pink peppercorn-crusted pork Tomahawk.

Beverly Stephen writes about food, travel, design, and lifestyle. She is co-owner of Flavor Forays, a culinary travel company.