Hamptons Eats

It is a strange thing to go out to the hamptons before Memorial Day weekend, really only to be described--however cliche it may seem--as the calm before the storm. In my one past experience at the famous THE LOBSTER ROLL a.k.a. Lunch, I had remembered long waits and harried servers but on Saturday when our large group of bachelorette celebrants arrived for lunch the hostess seamlessly led us from doorway to table in less than 2 minutes.

Once seated, the service was efficient, friendly and accommodating--the waitress brought me an entire plate of pickles when I asked if it would be possible to give me one on the side. I ordered a salad for the table to share, nothing fancy and not worth explanation, and a lobster roll with fries. I would like to say here that were more restaurants named after a particular dish I think my life and the overall anxiety I feel in the ordering process would be greatly diminished. The roll aspect of the lobster roll was perfection, a lightly toasted hotdog roll that was dense like potato bread but still moist and with plenty of butter. The lobster salad, however, had too much mayo and was not meaty enough--think square cut potatos in minestrone soup size rather than beefy clawmeat. With a dish that serves as the restaurant's namesake, they should know to celebrate the lobster's fresh taste instead of supressing it with too much sauce. The fries where ridged and big and reminded me of what fisher price would envision if they were to make a fast food themed toy line but even after a heavy handed treatment of salt I found that they still lacked character.

Overall, I think the food was perfectly good, but my feeling is that if they are trying to go for the roadside shack mentality than they need to deliver on the unspoken promise that a shack experience will leave you thinking that you couldn't have gotten a better (insert whatever food you would like here) at any other place.

Dinner brought our intimate group of 12 to PACIFIC EAST, which is normally a hopping Japanese/fusion restaurant in Amagansett. On this pre-season night, however, it was practically empty. No matter to us, as we were planning to make our own party and were almost assured of doing so after consuming a fair amount of champagne prior to landing on Pacific East's shores. The table was perfect for a group of girls and the menu had something for everyone but I was not overly impressed by the food. I know, I live in the city and I am very spoiled but East Hampton is even more expensive, and all I hear about these days is how chi chi chefs have relocated to cash in on the crowds. My tuna tartar was not very flavorful and although the texture was good--not to mushy--and the presentation quite pretty, I was hoping for more in a $17 appetizer. Same with my black cod. Good, and definitely more good than bad, but it was slightly overcooked and unexciting-- like an Uncle Joey instead of Nobu's and Buddakan's Uncle Jesse. Bright notes were the sushi and sashimi and the delicious side of bok choy that we specially requested and was, very nicely, made for us. The desserts were good as well but unfortunately for readers interested in a good, accurate description, the saki bombs were better, or rather, more powerful.

I hate to sound like Debbie Downer in these reviews but I can't help but feel that when the crowds drop off in the Hamptons, so does the kitchen's (Pacific East more than The Lobster Roll) attention to detail.