Is it musical restaurants? Restaurant roulette? Whatever you call it, there has been a flurry of announcements of restaurants moving or expanding or simply opening for the first time on the East End.
Alex Rossi, the founder of the Springs Tavern and Grill, will open Lion’s Nook Bar and Grill in the space long occupied by Rowdy Hall in early summer at 10 Main Street in East Hampton Village. The venture is a partnership with Gary Fuhrman, an entrepreneur and East Hampton Village resident.
While the Springs Tavern was Mr. Rossi’s first restaurant, hospitality is in his blood. His father, Rubrio Rossi owned Parioli Romanissimo, an Italian restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side that in 1974 earned four stars from The New York Times. Today, more than 50 years later, it remains one of only two Italian restaurants so honored. (The other came in 2010 for Del Posto.)
That restaurant closed in 1999, but Rubrio hasn’t stopped cooking. His recipe for porcini mushroom risotto is on the Springs Tavern menu, and he is developing a new risotto for Lion’s Nook. While Alex worked at Parioli as a host during the summers in his youth, “My father was very adamant that my brother and I not go into the restaurant business,” he said. “I think he thought it was hard on family life.”
Taking that advice, Alex went in a different direction professionally, but later he began thinking about coming back into the hospitality business. Four years ago, living in Springs with his family, he heard that the old Springs Tavern, “formerly Wolfie’s, formerly Jungle Pete’s, formerly a lot of stuff,” had become available. The restaurant took off quickly. “It’s been a very nice experience, and I feel very indebted to the community for embracing us.”
As for Lion’s Nook, “This just seemed like the right fit, the right timing. The idea of once again bringing a new restaurant with community appeal was intriguing to me, especially in the village, which I think could welcome more places.” The menu, which is still being developed with Fabian Rodas, the chef in Springs, will be different from that restaurant’s, but not dramatically so. “People like a good burger, a good steak, and we’ll certainly have those on the menu. But we’re working on a couple of new ideas.”
As was the case with the Springs Tavern, “We’d rather pay homage to the past than reject it,” he said. “I used to go to O’Malley’s in the Parrish Mews, and Rowdy Hall is a legend. Why not embrace that?”
Since last year saw the arrival of several high-end restaurants, among them Swifty’s and Lucky’s, it’s refreshing that a new arrival, also bearing an apostrophe, calls itself “a finer diner.” Babe’s will open in mid-May at 51 Division Street in Sag Harbor, the former home of Nikki’s Not Dog Stand. It will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Julian Cavin, the proprietor of Greenberg’s Bagels in Brooklyn and the West Village, and Martine Langatta, his wife, have partnered with Jonny Shipes, a record executive and entrepreneur, to launch the restaurant. Anthony Petty, formerly of Almond, Topping Rose House, and the Amagansett Golf Club, will oversee the kitchen.
Among the menu options, according to a release, will be breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, cheeseburgers, tuna melts, triple decker club sandwiches, Greek and Caesar salads. and three flavors of homemade milkshakes.
“In addition to our normal service,” said Mr. Cavin, “Babe’s will be hosting restaurants and creators from New York City and around the country for tasting menu style dinners during peak summer weekends. We are looking to curate a family-friendly spot during the day, with a supper club in the evening worthy of hiring a babysitter.”
The first supper club, which will happen Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, will feature Eric Huang, a chef whose resumé includes Eleven Madison Park and Pecking House. P.J. Monte of Monte’s at the Manor in Montauk, will bring his acclaimed tomato sauce and other comestibles to the supper club on May 24. Reservations will be available on Resy for the supper club only.
“At Babe’s Diner we pride ourselves on our kid-friendly menu,” said Ms. Langatta. “Perfectly situated on Division Street, families can eat in or take our sandwiches and milkshakes to go and enjoy a short walk to Marine Park or Long Wharf.”
At the other end of the dining spectrum is Jean’s, a trendy bistro located on NoHo’s Lafayette Street and set to take over the Old Stove Pub in Sagaponack. A nightclub as well as a restaurant, Jean’s has “brought out stars like Busta Rhymes, Bad Bunny, Parker Posey, and Erykah Badu,” according to Page Six of The New York Post.
Jeffrey Chodorow and Max Chodorow, father and son restaurateurs, are behind the Sagaponack restaurant, which they plan to keep open year round. “It’s really about farm to table, and celebrating local fisherman and farms out there,” Max Chodorow told Page Six.
While it is not expected to open until 2027, the team will host some guest dinners, special events, and private parties this summer. One thing is certain: The Old Stove Pub sign will be gone. That restaurant’s previous owner, Joseph DeCristofaro, now the owner of La Goulue in Southampton, told Eater New York, “They bought the real estate, but I own the name.”
