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.

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.