The seasonal migration to the Hamptons is underway, and with it comes a wave of new restaurants catering to city escapees and locals alike. This week, traffic on Route 27 was steady as early summer arrivals sought out unfamiliar names on village main streets and back roads from Southampton to Montauk.

At the east end, a former bakery in East Hampton now houses a seafood grill run by a Manhattan chef, offering bluefish crudo and grilled clams at lunch. In Sag Harbor, a Brooklyn-based team opened a casual pasta and wine bar on Main Street, drawing crowds after 7 p.m. on Thursday. The bar’s $18 bowls of tagliatelle sold out by 9.

Farmers’ markets in Bridgehampton and Amagansett are supplying much of the produce on these new menus. One chef on Shelter Island highlighted local sugar snap peas in a salad served at Thursday’s dinner service. Menus reflect the early summer catch—fluke, scallops, and oysters feature prominently at several openings.

Not all changes are expansions. A few familiar names are missing this year, with several older restaurants closing quietly in May. In their place, pop-up concepts are testing the waters, some planning to stay through Labor Day, others through only July.

Restaurant operators say the pace of new openings has picked up compared to last summer. Reservations are tight for weekend nights, and walk-in lines have formed nightly outside several new spots since Memorial Day. With the July 4th holiday approaching, the local dining scene appears set for a busy season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What new restaurants have opened in the Hamptons for summer 2024?

A seafood grill run by a Manhattan chef has opened in a former East Hampton bakery, and a Brooklyn-based team has launched a pasta and wine bar on Sag Harbor’s Main Street.

Which local ingredients are featured on new Hamptons restaurant menus this summer?

Menus highlight local seafood such as fluke, scallops, and oysters, as well as produce from farmers’ markets in Bridgehampton and Amagansett.

Are any older Hamptons restaurants closing this year?

Several older restaurants closed quietly in May, making way for new pop-up concepts.

How busy are Hamptons restaurants since Memorial Day?

Reservations are tight for weekend nights, and walk-in lines have formed nightly at several new spots since Memorial Day.

How long will the new pop-up restaurants stay open in the Hamptons?

Some pop-up concepts plan to stay through Labor Day, while others are only staying through July.

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