Savoring the Season

The holiday season inspires a longing for special occasion dining with sophisticated service, luxury ingredients and a Martini

R.Aire at The Hampton Maid
The holidays are a good time to branch out and try something different. Chef Alex Bujoreanu brings Spanish cuisine to the Hamptons at R.Aire at The Hampton Maid in Hampton Bays. Guests can indulge in a paella for two (offered as a special on Sundays with a pitcher of Sangria for $60) or a selection of traditional tapas such as patatas bravas, gamba ajillo (shrimp with garlic), octopus, or croquetas of the day. For years, the boutique hotel’s cheerful whitewashed restaurant was known for breakfast and brunch. Chef Alex recently initiated dinner service with the taste of his homeland including a full blown six-course tasting menu.

La Goulue Sur Mer
This summer La Goulue Sur Mer took over the site formerly occupied for years by Red Bar and more recently by Enchante in Southampton. Mustard color walls, oxblood leather banquettes, bistro chairs imported from Paris, and a brass rail bar conspire to set a Parisian vibe. There’s a definite appeal to Francophiles and to well-dressed and well-heeled diners already familiar with La Goulue in Manhattan and Palm Beach who also have Hamptons homes. The lively Parisian inspired bistro named for a famous Moulin Rouge can-can dancer offers French classics such as onion soup, endive/roquefort salad, asparagus with hollandaise, roast chicken, rack of lamb, and seared salmon with lentils and mustard sauce. Owners are Southampton natives and hospitality veterans Joseph De Cristofaro and Anthony Punnett.

The American Hotel
The American Hotel was built n 1846 at the height of the whaling era in Sag Harbor. It retains a historical character and an elegance punctuated with white tablecloths, linen napkins, and a dress code that guarantees you won’t be offended by the sight of other customers in tank tops or gym shorts. The high end cuisine is described as French/American. You might start a meal with veal sweetbreads a la grenobloise, Long Island duck confit, or bison carpaccio. Then move on to entrees such as fresh local flounder a la meuniere, brace of quail, or roast loin of rabbit au jus. A Grand Award winning wine list offers abundant pairing options. Locals gather at the  convivial bar and there is a 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. happy hour. Brunch is popular here.

Cowfish
Cowfish is a light and bright restaurant with great water views over the canal in Hampton Bays. The new American menu features appetizers such as crispy Brussels sprouts and Guinness braised pork belly. Mains include seared ahi tuna with pineapple coconut fried rice and  a signature prime cowboy rib eye steak. Banana cream pie and iron skillet cookies are popular desserts. It’s also open for lunch and weekend brunch. The spacious interior makes it ideal for groups celebrating birthdays or wedding showers. They’re busy booking holiday parties.  They also cater a number of on-site and off-site weddings.