Landing somewhere between fast-food and restaurant fare are Smokey Buns, a conveniently located burger joint, and Scoop and Waffle, a sweet little ice cream spot, off Park Place in East Hampton.
The location makes the sister establishments the perfect spot for a bunch of teenagers to have a casual meal together on a Friday afternoon. The students of The Star’s Summer Academy did just that, taking the opportunity to try their hands at restaurant reviewing. Here’s what they thought.
Fries Were ‘Perfection’
As we walked into Smokey Buns, we were greeted by a nostalgic playlist and the tempting smell of burgers and fries. The casual environment provided a great place for a quick bite to eat with friends. Upon entering, we seated ourselves at one of the many comfortable booths and grabbed menus from the bar. Scanning the very reasonably priced menu, I decided to order a burger, fries, and a lemonade.
Unlike a traditional sit-down restaurant, Smokey Buns has a quick and easy ordering system. You order at the bar, give your name and phone number, and receive a text message when your food is ready. As we waited for our food, I sipped my sweet lemonade. The waitress called our names one by one as our meals came out of the kitchen.
My fries were salted to perfection, which can make or break a meal for me. My burger was pretty good, made more flavorful by the fried onions. After we finished our food, we walked to the other side of the restaurant and ordered ice cream from Scoop and Waffle. I ordered strawberry ice cream in a sugar cone, which was the highlight.
I would definitely recommend Smokey Buns if you are looking for a simple, quick meal in East Hampton.
— Quinn Corleto
A ‘Crispy and Soft’ Fish Burger
The sun was shining and the birds were chirping as we made our way down the brick alleyway from Starbucks to Smokey Buns, but once we stepped into Smokey Buns, it felt as if we were in a whole new world.
Smokey Buns is a dimly lit, cozy little restaurant that specializes in burgers, with shelves of alcohol on display, walls covered in framed quotes and pictures, large cushioned benches on opposite sides of the room, TVs tuned to sports channels, and peppy pop music streaming from the speakers. It reminded me of a little cabin in the woods.
The menu is large. One feature is a section titled “Daily Favorites,” which lists specials available on certain days of the week. On Monday, there is a Vietnamese cuisine-inspired banh mi; there’s also the Tuesday Jerk, the Hamptons Hippie on Wednesdays, a chicken Caesar wrap on Thursdays . . . you get the idea.
I ordered the Friday special, Fish on Fridays ($13), and a nonalcoholic cucumber nojito ($8). My nojito arrived first. The drink contains cucumber, lime, mint, simple syrup, and sparkling water, and I was overjoyed. The bubbles were sparkling and popping, and it reminded me of the way a spa smells. My dry throat was immediately soothed with the cool cucumber drink, and just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, my fish arrived.
Going by the menu, which described the Friday special as “tempura cod, crispy potatoes, and tartar sauce,” I had expected a fish and chips kind of meal. Instead, I was surprised when I saw that all of the ingredients were wrapped up in a burger bun. I don’t like sauces very much, so at first I was a bit dismayed, but the tempura cod was delicious. The tastes melted together on my tongue, and the fish was the perfect combination of crispy and soft.
Over all, the food was amazing with the perfect balance between texture and flavor. The final item I ordered was a Choco-Taco ice cream, which is made of vanilla ice cream swirled with fudge. It was creamy and smooth, like a short drive into the sunset.
— Paloma Demers
The Milkshake Dilemma
Smokey Buns is perfectly fine for a burger spot, but the fries and milkshake I ordered really stood out. The fries were similar to those of McDonald’s in shape and size, but slightly more well done, giving them a crisp and full feel.
The chocolate milkshake was, in an unusual twist, the first thing served in the meal, which presented the strange dilemma of either having dessert first or letting your milkshake melt. The shake itself was rich; I tasted little bits of chocolate throughout, which gave it a nice flavor. The chocolate was slightly too dark for my taste, lacking the sweetness of other milkshakes, but this is simply a personal preference and I know others would disagree.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was sleek, with a slight rustic touch and warm orange lights to set the mood. The best part of Smokey Buns is the value for the price: A burger will cost you $10 and a side of fries is $5, not bad for a spot in the middle of East Hampton Village. If you are in East Hampton, want a burger, and don’t want to break the bank, Smokey Buns could be the restaurant for you.
— Benjamin Shapiro
A Positive Recommendation
At Smokey Buns, the lights were low and the liquor was on display, similar to how a local bar might look and feel. But once I tasted the food, it exceeded any expectations I could have had.
I ordered a fried chicken sandwich with French fries — actually my second option. I sadly realized the chicken Caesar wrap was only available on Thursdays, and our visit was on a Friday. The Coke I ordered before my meal was a bit lukewarm.
My meal arrived about seven minutes after I had ordered from the sweet and attentive lady behind the counter. It looked enticing and smelled amazing. The sandwich was crispy, filling, and juicier than imaginable. The bun was smoky, of course, and eating it felt like an experience. The fries — crispy and very salty — were similar to McDonald’s (take that as a compliment).
The meal left me feeling full and satisfied, but I obviously had room for ice cream. I ordered a cup of the strawberry flavor, which had chunks of frozen strawberries. It was tart and fresh tasting. The ice cream itself was just the right amount of creamy, and lingered on my tastebuds for less time than it did on my mind. It was also the perfect consistency to dip French fries in, which is always a plus for me. The saltiness of the fries mixed with the sweetness of the ice cream was the best combination.
Over all, Smokey Buns was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and one I recommend wholeheartedly.
— Rafaela DeMartis
Enjoyable and Fairly Priced
The tasty smell lured me into Smokey Buns on a recent Friday afternoon. The staff was friendly, the restaurant was clean, and the seating was inviting; favorite tunes played on the speakers as I sipped on my sweet lemonade.
After ordering, it didn’t take long for my name to be called, and the server handed me my hamburger and fries across the counter. As I sat down, the perfectly golden fries caught my attention — salty enough, but not too salty. I moved on to the burger, which featured nicely crispy bread, though the burger itself was a bit overdone.
I headed over to the ice cream shop located on the other side of the restaurant and ordered a sugar cone with rocky road. The service was quick, and I received a rather large scoop of ice cream coated in rainbow sprinkles to end the experience.
Over all, I would highly recommend this restaurant. It is easily enjoyable, fairly priced, and generally a great experience.
— Tatiana Basch
Relaxed Vibe, Quick Service
Smokey Buns, the burger joint located at 68 Park Place in East Hampton, greets you with a casual, classy atmosphere. Tall liquor cabinets, wooden tables, and warm lighting create a comfortable but deluxe setting.
The burgers are clearly the main attraction. The patty on the French Onion was cooked well, with a pleasant char and a soft bun, though the seasoning leaned toward mild. Toppings were fresh though standard; however, the sautéed onions added a nice, flavorful kick.
The fries came hot and crisp, with a healthy amount of salt. The Oreo milkshake was thick and creamy, and added a sweet touch to an otherwise savory meal.
The service was efficient without being overbearing, and orders arrived without a long wait. The restaurant’s relaxed vibe make it a great spot for a quick meal, but nothing here pushed beyond the classic burger-and-fries formula.
— Isaac Lefcourt