Where Design is King

These Modern Restaurants on the East End Are Making Waves

The era of the modern restaurant has arrived. From Southampton to Montauk, restaurateurs are stepping up their design, embracing sleek and modern looks to bring their spaces into the foreground of design. We’re not picking any favorites, but here are a few of the East End’s interesting modern interiors that you can experience just by dining out this winter. Come for the décor, but stay for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

Step into Scarpetta Beach, in Montauk, and you’ll find it hard to believe that you’re not at the restaurant’s other, equally chic Empire State outpost, in New York City’s Meatpacking District. This sleek and modern space is populated by just enough wistful beach décor, but mostly you can get your moody blue hues from the view outside; the restaurant has the glorious distinction of being one of the Hamptons’ proud and few restaurants that looks directly out onto the ocean. Start with the yellowtail crudo with olio di zenzero and pickled red onion, along with the restaurant’s signature spaghetti with tomato and basil. Then, follow it up with a picture-perfect plate of veal tenderloin, served with semolina gnocchi, baby turnips, carrots, gremolata, and crispy sweetbreads. 

In East Hampton, O by Kissaki, now painted a deep and mysterious blue on the exterior, is a modern paradise on the inside. A long, sleek, white bar, punctuated by gold columns and cobalt blue bar chairs, enliven this bold dining room. A wall of plush, velvet banquettes are both inviting and chic. The food, of course, is equally modern. O by Kissaki serves contemporary takes on classic Japanese dishes, like a kampachi carpaccio, shaved-thin fish enhanced with truffle-soy, shiso, and watermelon radish. The umami-rich spaghetti, tossed in a creamy, dashi-based sauce and topped with sesame breadcrumbs, is an utter delight, but then, so is the uni lardo crispy rice, a dish finished with wisps of lardo, dashi soy sauce, and wasabi. 

Southampton’s Tutto Il Giorno South, with its clean aesthetic, is a modern take on Italian food. The room is stunning and simple, with low-slung chairs, wooden accents, and a rustic-yet-modern appeal. All the better to enjoy the restaurant’s superlative menu. Start with the ostriche, for instance: half a dozen broiled local oysters, served with a basil sabayon and a potato gaufrette. And do not skip the rigatoni, served in a sumptuous ragu of veal, beef, spicy sausage, tomato, peas, and a touch of cream. 

No search for the perfect modern Hamptons restaurant would be complete without a visit to the new Carissa’s Bakery in Sag Harbor. The recently opened Bay Street space is just as monochromatic as the pastry chef’s earlier spots — a symphony of white on white. Beneath glass cloches, patrons can find whole pies with sworls of meringue and rotating daily pastries, while open white shelving boasts a vibrant and colorful array of curated foodstuffs. Order a spicy kimchi cheddar croissant, a package of colorful marshmallows, and maybe an iced hibiscus tea. Enjoy it all in the most modern, most serene surroundings in all of Sag Harbor.