Southampton, NY: a Veritable Food Bazaar

Southampton is famous for many things: for lovely seaside dunes, fresh and salty sea air, a plethora of highly interesting historical landmarks, and for a great variety of quality dining establishments and eateries. Tourists say they come for the sake of those other reasons listed above, but we suspect that the food is the real reason they come, and viewing nature, learning of the town's history, shopping, golfing, sailing, and all that is just added on since they were already in town, having come to Southampton for the food. Restaurants in Southampton NY abounds in not only down-home American cooking that is sure to please, but also has a crowd of foreign-food establishments that make a real "food bazaar" of sorts.

Restaurants in Southampton NY offer a great variety of atmospheres, some of them warm and cozy, some of them fancy and elegant. Being a tourist town, there is a noticeable price adjustment ofttimes, but most visitors expect that and are at least thankful for the excellent dishes, prompt and friendly wait staff, and interesting painting, artifacts, and conversation pieces viewable from their tables. It is common to walk into restaurants in Southampton NY and find them crowded but friendly- everyone is happily enjoying their food! The managers and chefs in many places come out and check on the customers, and ask them if they are enjoying their dining experience. Some customers have commented that when eating in restaurants in Southampton NY, "you feel like a king."

The restaurants in Southampton NY come in many forms: cafes, steak houses, bake shops, buffets, seafood places, bistros, unforgettable foreign cuisine, and more. Some of the the best loved dishes include: tuna tartare, local style BLTs, flat iron steak, cod encrusted with horseradish, striped bass, Dover sole, organic field greens, vegetarian soup, an array of hearty cream soups, the Provence salad with chicken, good old American burgers, grilled cheese, and shepherd's pie. The bread, dipped in olive oil and coated with herbs, or toasted and covered with garlic, is often warm and delicious. Many places have a long wine list, and some serve wine made from local vineyards. Lobster is especially popular, the Lobster roll on a toasted brioche, lobster bisque, and lobster corn chowder topping the list of lobster delicacies.

For desert, there is plenty of pie and cobbler on hand for the hungry tourist with a sweet tooth. Peach cobbler with ice cream and apple-pecan pie are great choices. Popovers, turnovers, and donuts are not hard to find either.

Foreign-cuisine restaurants in Southampton NY include an Indian (Asian Indian), Japanese, Italian, and French restaurant, among others. There is also a restaurant on the grounds of the adjacent Shinnecock Indian Reservation. Some excellent sushi, the gigantic Godzilla roll, or the amazing Amazing roll are on the menu along with Japanese barbecue. Italy's smoked salmon, kobe beef, bronzino, and other Mediterranean dishes are for the tasting. India's curry-laden cuisine, vindaloo, and bitter leaf kulfi (Indian version of "ice cream") can be experienced amidst the aroma of Indian spices floating through the dining hall. French entrees and lobster salad will make you say "Bon Appetite!"

Restaurants in Southampton NY are as varied as the taste buds of tourists and cater to the preferences of every honored guest to town. Many places have not only indoor, but outdoor seating where you can feel the fresh sea breeze and gentle sunshine on a nice day. The ambiance of elegant chandeliers, wall-hung watercolor paintings, an antique cash register, or a black and white checkerboard floor will add interest to the dining experience. There are many reasons to visit Southampton, and touring the restaurants is not at all low on the list.