East Hampton
Newcomers include Rita Cantina, a vibrantly decorated Mexican restaurant replacing what was Michael’s in Springs. Eric Miller, the chef and an owner, will depend on mostly local ingredients for his interpretations of ceviches, tacos, birrias and wood-roasted fish, 28 Maidstone Park Road (Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Road), ritacantinahamptons.com. The waterfront EHP Resort and Marina has a new restaurant, Sí Sí, a Mediterranean affair from the chef Dane Sayles, opening May 28, 295 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Road, ehpresort.com. Kissaki, the Japanese restaurant that branched out from Manhattan to Water Mill last summer, has taken over the Zok-kon restaurant and will open O by Kissaki in June, with sushi, small plates of crudos and ingredients hot off the robata grill, 47 Montauk Highway (Cove Hollow Road), explorekissaki.com.
Amagansett
Donna Lennard, an owner of the various Il Bucos in Manhattan, is putting the finishing touches on Il Buco al Mare with the chef, Justin Smillie, overseeing the food and Eugenio Plaja as chef de cuisine running the kitchen. It will open early next month with a menu that says seafood but also includes duck wings with a dry rub, and smoked chicken, 231 Main Street (Conklin Lane), ilbuco.com.
Montauk
La Fin Kitchen and Lounge made its waterfront debut with rustic, beachy décor and a simple menu of oysters, fluke crudo, salads, lobster toast, grilled or roasted local fish, a burger, and a toasted quinoa bowl. The chef, James Tchinnis, has Le Cirque on his résumé, 474 West Lake Drive (Town Road), lafinkitchen.com. Kissaki X Fish Cheeks (see East Hampton) is also partnering seasonally with Fish Cheeks in Montauk to open a quick-serve pop-up with sushi and some of the Thai seafood items served at Fish Cheeks, 467 East Lake Drive (Montauk Angler’s Club & Marina), explorekissaki.com.
