Almond: Meatless in Bridgehampton

2. Almond, Bridgehampton
Almond is the unofficial bistro du Hamptons, devoid of pretense and full of year-round style. You'll instantly feel as comfortable as a regular. Almond, which opened in 2001, relocated eastward to this bigger site and improved en route. Under chef Jason Weiner and maitre d' Eric Lemonides, the eatery is buzzing and relaxed at the same time. Recommended: shaved artichoke salad, house-smoked bluefish, scallop-and-fennel crudo, eggplant three ways, pan-roasted Montauk striped bass, hanger steak frites, Roquefort-topped burger, roast chicken, chive gnocchi, polenta-mascarpone raviolini, chocolate pot de crème.
Read our critic's review Credit: Newsday/Gordon M. Grant, 2011
Also, on Monday night, the restaurant will feature a vegetarian “plat du jour” as a special. This coming Monday, it will be “le grand aioli” — an array of about eight vegetables, cooked in a variety of ways and served with a crouton, an herb salad, served with saffron aioli and a hard boiled egg ($28).