Wine and Dine at Vine Street Café

Whether you’re a Shelter Island native or first-timer, one step inside Vine Street Café and you’ll feel right at home. Regulars come from all over for good reason: to savor a meal done right. Savor the food, the atmosphere, cocktails, company, and lots of local goodness.

photo 1(1)The greeting upon entering a restaurant sets the mood instantly. Anna and team welcome every single person warmly, whether stranger or life-long friend. This kindness and personality shines throughout the experience as each server is pleasant and attentive, taking their job far beyond serving the meal itself. Visit Vine Street with company you’d like to spend a whole evening with. The wait can be long during peak times and the experience is not meant to be rushed. If you don’t have time to wine and dine, you can always stop in to the gourmet market to bring Vine Street home, great for picnics and signature gifts.

photo(186)The restaurant’s atmosphere is just as welcoming as the company at Vine Street. With rustic wood beams, dim lighting, simply decor, and a beautiful bar, it’s like ski lodge meets chapel meets fisherman’s hideaway…or something like that. Summer at Vine Street feels lively and easy while winter is warm and cozy.

Although the bread is great and the wine is better, I suggest spending some time with the menu itself. Come hungry, leave happy. Each and every dish is created on-site with the best of ingredients and intentions. The theme is local creativity. From local oysters to fresh salads, the starters are just as deliciously crafted as the entrées.

photo(11)Plats Du Jour offers a variety of seasonal staples and the menu itself includes extensive options for every preference, combining the best in local seafood, decadent pastas, fresh produce, and seasoned steak, accompanied by select sauces, sides, and wine to fulfill your palette.

You’ll most likely be perfectly satisfied after the main course, but the dessert menu at Vine Street is gravitating. Whether you’re a sweets connoisseur or not, I recommend indulging in a dessert (when in Rome Shelter Island, right?!) The sticky toffee pudding can only be described as heavenly, in good company with mint chip profiteroles and chocolate gateau; just a couple of bites is enough to melt.

photo 2(1)One Healthy Breakdown: wining and dining at Vine Street Café is well worth the trip!

The Bell & Anchor: Love at First Sight

I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but before I even stepped foot inside, I just knew The Bell & Anchor, Noyac Road in Sag Harbor, was going to get a permanent spot on my favorites list. I was head over heels with the place when I saw the huge anchor outside of the building – what says ‘fresh fish, fun atmosphere’ better than a gigantic anchor?!  It gets better! The food is flipping fantastic.

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The restaurant, set on Mill Creek Marina, is very spacious, so you won’t be squished up against the next table – I hate that!  The water view is absolutely beautiful, but the atmosphere is just feel good throughout, so any table in the place is a good one.

The menu looked great, each and every option enticing.  From chicken to steak to a burger, and a pork chop, there’s definitely something for everyone, even the non fish-loving (not I.)  To start things off right, I had a large glass of Pinot Noir and shared the Lobster Cobb Salad and the Tuna Bowl with my mom. Both were fresh and tasty. The only struggle was enjoying the apps without filling up too much before the main course. Ugh, talk about life’s hardships, #hamptonsproblems!

My entree choice was easy when our waitress mentioned the whole branzino special…and it was everything I wanted in a fish and more. Cooked to perfection, a perfect combination of light white fish drizzled with a rich and savory sauce.  The whole fam was happy with their meals and we walked out of there a satisfied bunch. From hostess, to waitress, to the chef that booked my reservation over the phone, all were super nice, welcoming, and personable. Our waitress, Tina, showed a genuine interest in us and making sure we enjoyed our meal as much as possible, mission accomplished. In addition to the meal and atmosphere, positive personal interactions with the staff always makes an impact on me and the whole dining experience.  Start to finish, The Bell & Anchor was a hit, hence this post and my return a few weeks later.

Round two was equally note-worthy, delicious, and enjoyable. Only thing better than an impromptu Wednesday night out was seeing lobster on the pre-fix – score! Bell and Anchor is sitting comfortably on my list of favorites, and I have yet to try their famous raw bar or Sunday brunch, which means I’ll be back again very soon!

One Healthy Breakdown: The Bell and The Anchor, this place is the whole shebang.

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Brunch at Babette’s – Dilemma Solved!

When I first ventured to Babette’s (66 Newtown Lane, East Hampton) for brunch years ago, I knew I’d be back…again…and again. This place instantly jumped right to the top of my list of brunch spots, and for good reason. Just looking at the menu made me feel light, cheerful, and hungry! There’s something for everyone and everything is fresh and organic. From simple classics like pancakes, French toast, (Nick’s choice, pictured below) omelets, and eggs, to super creative creations too!

photo(25)First and foremost, Babette’s serves breakfast until 4:30pm, (as a huge fan of breakfast for dinner, this sits well with me) in addition to lunch and dinner too.

One of my all-time favorites is the poached eggs with market vegetables and pesto. It’s fresh, light, and pesto-freakin-tastic. The eggs were delish, super fresh, and the pesto added a flavor I could only dream of. The bed of veggies perfectly balanced the rich pesto flavor. I had a few bites of oatmeal too, which was simple and good. One of these days, I’ll get around to (attempting to) recreate this gem in my own kitchen (good luck to me.)
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Our sunny, cozy table by the window also provided some good entertainment as East Hampton’s mid-morning crowd strolled down Newton Lane. Babette’s won my heart (and my stomach) long ago and I will be back soon for sure!

One Healthy Breakdown: Delightful and delicious – a must.