The Five Best Winter Dining Spots in The Hamptons

Here’s where to eat when the weather outside is frightful

The winter months can be long and cold in the Hamptons, with fewer dining options to choose from and less to do to stay busy. But more and more restaurants are expanding their winter hours, and winter can be an optimal time to dine in an area where getting a table in August is a non-starter. There are many great places to eat Out East when the weather turns cold. These are some of our favorites.

Nick & Toni’s

For over 30 years, this restaurant has held court in East Hampton, and the winter months are actually some of the best months to snag a seat. While reservations in summer are hard to come by, winter is a friendlier time, with fewer crowds and just as many seasonally sourced menu items to choose from. Although the menu is always changing in order to reflect the diversity of the seasons on the East End, diners can enjoy the fried zucchini appetizer all year round. Wood-fired pizzas, among eastern Long Island’s finest, are only available in the off-season, in case you needed an added reason to visit.

Old Stove Pub

Although it’s under new management, the Old Stove Pub, a historic steakhouse with Greek roots in Sagaponack, is still going strong. The restaurant continues to serve some of its classics, like the trio of dips (Baba ganoush, tzatziki, and hummus, served with pita chips), saganaki (Greek cheese baked with olive oil and lemon) and Sagaponack steak for two (a 20-ounce dry-aged strip loin). The restaurant is now offering brunch on Sunday, too, with a focused menu that still includes plenty of traditional touchstones, like the Old Stove pub burger, and the steak and eggs with Old Stove potatoes.

The 1770 House

This cozy East Hampton restaurant always has a fire going in the colder months and offers one of the most winter-friendly environments for diners on the East End. They are currently offering a two-course, $55 prix fixe menu, featuring a choice of appetizer and entrée (some selections include fettuccine rigate with a veal sugo, roasted Amish chicken, and braised beef short ribs). In the tavern, the restaurant’s more casual, downstairs dining area, guests can order a la carte classics, like the ever-popular tavern burger, which features local, grass-fed beef.

The Bell & Anchor

Perched on Noyac Bay, this Sag Harbor restaurant is known for its classic American cuisine and for its dollar oyster Sundays. In addition to the well-rounded menu, which features everything from bouillabaisse to grilled Duroc pork chops, guests can enjoy a newly installed Blue Air purifying system, which filters the dining room’s air every 12 minutes.

Shippy’s Pumpernickel

Few restaurants offer the old school appeal of Southampton’s Shippy’s, a German restaurant that almost feels out of place in the nouveau Hamptons. But be glad it’s still around, because Shippy’s serves compelling versions of German classics, from its long roster of sausages to its schnitzels. Other regional specialties, like sauerbraten, kassler rippchen, and beef rouladen are also available. Come for the meats, but stay for the Black Forest cake (or, if you prefer, the Bavarian crème pie).

Photos: Eric Striffler & Hannah Selinger