DINING
Bell & Anchor
By Joe Cipro
It’s already shaping up to be a memorable summer, especially in the restaurant scene. This summer will bring all of you Hamptons foodies plenty of new restaurants to enjoy along with the classic places you have come to know and love here on the East End. I was invited to attend the soft opening for one of these new highly anticipated restaurants, Bell & Anchor, open now in Sag Harbor. The Bell & Anchor is brought to us by renowned Hamptons restaurateurs David Lowenberg and Sam McCleland of the long time Sag Harbor staple The Beacon. The kitchen is run by executive chef Dave Liszankie formerly of Fresno in East Hampton. The menu has an emphasis on locally sourced seafood. It’s located on the pristine Mill Creek Marina which delivers one of the bests views in the Hamptons. The décor is simple yet elegant and really makes for a comfortable and pleasant dining experience. Upon arrival we were greeted by warm smiling faces as we were swept away to a corner table overlooking the water. We were then treated to a large platter of clams and oysters on the half shell, one of my favorites. I love clams so I had to try the crispy fried Ispwich clam bellies. They were light, crisp and tender. I will certainly be back for more. For my entrée I had the Cioppino (fish stew), which was
delicious and had just the right amount of spice. For dessert, the key lime pie was some of the best I’ve had. It was very well balanced, not too sweet or tart. Overall, I had a wonderful time and was more than impressed with the new establishment. Bell & Anchor 3253 Noyak Road Sag Harbor
Hamptons Players Club One establishment that’s new to the Hamptons this year is The Hamptons Players Club. Team Frank Cilione, Neil Levinbook, and David and Carolyn Levinbook have transformed the restaurant located at 103 Montauk Highway in East Hampton (formerly Beachouse). I was lucky to sneak in for an early reservation on a Saturday night. The décor is sharp and inviting with a large bar area perfect for early evening cocktails. The outside terrace has been turned into a beer garden and offers a large selection of craft beers from around the Northeast, as well as a light fare menu served exclusively in the beer garden. Our service was certainly notible, everyone was very attentive, knowledgeable and accommodating. The menu is vast, offering a great selection of whatever you are in the mood for. Tapas samplers and specialty thin crust pizzas are the way to go after a couple of happy hour drinks. If you want a nice steak, pick your cut and a couple of sides too. I went for the crab cake and was very impressed. I grew up in Baltimore and hold crab cakes to a high standard. This one was fantastic, huge pieces of warm jumbo lump crab seared to perfection on the outside with mashed avocado, a nice lemon butter sauce, and a potato wrapped prawn. It was delicious and is worth going back for again and again. Executive Chef Hector Diaz has constructed a very creative, well balanced, ambitious menu that highlights the best of what’s local, and caters to the sophisticated palates of the people who will be enjoying his cuisine.
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By Joe Cipro
Hamptons Players Club 103 Montauk Highway East Hampton 631-324-1663