East End Eats: Food Between Films

Job’s Lane Gastro Pub 

(and others . . .)

10 Windmill Lane

Southampton

631-287-8703

Daily from 11:30 a.m.

So you’re in Southampton for the Hamptons International Film Festival, going from the Southampton Cinema to the Southampton Arts Center, and you’re really hungry and want to grab a bit to eat between films. Where to go? Luckily, there are quite a few options, from the simplicity of a healthy smoothie or salad from the Village Gourmet Cheese Shop to the quiet opulence of Sant Ambroeus.

Here are some of your choices, all within blocks of the Southampton Cinema at 43 Hill Street. 

Le Chef Bistro serves simple and delicious French fare in a cozy setting. Besides the a la carte menu, you can enjoy tempting prix fixe items such as country paté, sautéed local flounder, and creme brûlée. 

Paul’s Italian Restaurant offers hearty Italian dishes and is probably the closest to the theater. Closer to the arts center, the Southampton Publick House, located in the old Driver’s Seat, has a wonderful selection of its own fine beers and IPAs, along with good pub grub like short ribs and quesadillas. 

The Village Gourmet Cheese Shop on Main Street has a huge variety of sandwiches, along with super healthy build-your-own salads and smoothies. Down the street, 75 Main has everything from branzino to beef hash, and some excellent sidewalk people watching. Silver’s is another charmer, famous for its B.L.T.s made on Eli’s Tuscan bread, along with nicely balanced soups like Russian borscht and French potato leek.

In the mood for classic German fare? Check out Shippy’s Pumpernickel for sauerbraten, bratwurst, and tender chicken schnitzel. Le Charlot, on Main Street, offers French dishes like salad Nicoise and steak tartare. Sant Ambroeus, also right on Main Street, is famous for its silky gelato and dainty pastries, but also has a formal dining room offering sophisticated Italian items like vitello tonnato, seared octopus salad, and delicate raviolis stuffed with spinach and ricotta. Save room for the Gianduia and an espresso. This hazelnut sponge cake layered with mousse, wafers, and cream will fortify you for the next movie. Or make you want to take a nice nap. 

On a recent visit, we tried Job’s Lane Gastro Pub, formerly the Tuscan House, located very close to the theater. It has a beautiful, long, dark wood bar and open, airy seating in the dining room. There are many, many large flat screen TVs around the space, so if you need to catch up on any sporting event around the world, this is the spot. 

The portions are huge, so be prepared to share or have leftovers. It has a brick pizza oven and the menu leans more towards Italian than gastro pubby fare. We tried the bruschetta, which was absolutely delicious and could have easily fed four people. It was four slices of hot, grilled garlic bread topped with sliced cherry tomatoes with a touch of vinaigrette and shredded basil. It was one of the best versions we’ve ever had, so good that we asked where the bread came from. All we could get out of our waitress was “Brooklyn.”

We also tried the Job’s salad, which was a tasty mountain of mixed greens, slivered sun-dried tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, red onion, and goat cheese, surrounded by warm, grilled quarters of portobello mushrooms. My guest ordered the wagyu beef burger, which was cooked to order, served on a toasted English muffin with excellent hand-cut fries. The service was friendly and leisurely, so if you’re in a hurry, be sure to tell the waitstaff. Prices are $18 to $32 for starters, salads, and specials. Pizzas are $25, paninis, burgers, and pastas are $14 to $34, and sides are $8 to $16.

The weather just might be pleasant enough to enjoy outdoor dining, and quite a few of these restaurants offer that. And hey, if you feel like straying farther afield, take a stroll down North Sea Road to the sweet cottage that is Tate’s Bake Shop. You will find cookies and baked goods worth bringing home from your trip to Southampton, like the addictive cayenne chocolate cookies that aren’t sold anywhere else. 

Enjoy the 25th Hamptons International Film Festival, our beautiful East End, and sample some of our fine local restaurants between flicks. Go Killer Bees!