Harbor Bistro

Ricardo’s has been an empty shell for at least the last 5 years.  Someone finally took over the key and a new Hampton’s restaurant is born.  Literally 2 seconds past East Hampton Point, on the same side, is Harbor Bistro. 

The setting is very mellow and beach like.  There is an area inside with air conditioning, a pretty ample sized bar area and a large space for eating outside.  Who knew that the setting would be so beautiful.  The tables all over look a serene harbor.  Just gorgeous.  Watch the sun set.  Check the boats going out for an evening sail.  Tranquil. 

Now let’s get to the heart of the matter, the food.  The menu is eclectic.  Appetizers run the gamut from Mongolian ribs to deep fried duck rolls with mango sauce.  Salads, four of them, have their own section.  There are also four pastas.  Fish and Meat.  I saw a beautiful veal chop coming out of the kitchen layered over truffle mashed potatoes and asparagus.  I could smell the truffles.  It looked beautiful but I have a hard time eating that heavy in the heat.  I am actually surprised that more of the restaurants out here don’t do a special summer menu that is oriented towards light recipes.  Maybe more people like to eat hearty every night than I realize.

We both started with a salad.  Fred had the wedge.  A wedge of iceberg lettuce, red onions, blue cheese dressing and bits of bacon.  Just what you would expect.  I had the house salad.  Lots of green over a layer of delicious tomatoes and a light balsamic vinaigrette.  Nothing spectacular but a good salad.  We weren’t that hungry, at least I wasn’t.  I had the Mongolian ribs, the appetizer, for dinner.  Presentations were consistently beautiful coming out of the kitchen.  The ribs were layered in the middle of a square white plate with green oil underneath the ribs.  The ribs were sticky, fell off the bone and were quite tasty.  A bit too salty but good.  Fred has the seafood pasta.  Ziti with shrimp, clams, mussels, tuna and salmon mixed with a light vodka sauce.  Again, good not great.  Fish does not belong in a seafood pasta.  It falls apart and gets overdone.  If they had eliminated the fish, it would have been much better. 

I overheard a few people having problems with the kitchen.  Not rare as they had ordered, that type of thing.  I am not sure how long the place has been open but my guess is they are still working out the kinks. 

On the views alone, I will return.  Typical Hamptons fair.  Good not great.  But I am willing to give Harbor Bistro another shot.  My friend has gone a few times now and is a bit fan, so I’ll be back for more.