Park Place in East Hampton has long been known as the home of two long-standing, family-run restaurants: John Papa’s Café and Fierro’s Pizza. While these establishments have been popular with locals and tourists alike for decades, East Hampton Village’s foodie offerings have expanded significantly in the past two years. Restaurants like Tutto Caffè, Kumiso, Smokey Buns, Scoop & Waffle, and Amber Waves Farm offer a wide range of dining experiences.
Old, reliable
The iconic restaurant John Papas Café is the picturesque setting for cozy ambience, reliable home cooking, friendly staff and a place with a deep sense of community, full of good memories, nostalgia and authenticity. Despite initial concerns regarding John Papas’ retirement and the transfer of ownership to Klever Lopez in 2021, the café has remained a culinary gem. The versatility of the menu offers something for everyone; from omelets and pancakes to sandwiches and salads, no one will leave hungry.
Likewise, Fierro’s Pizza is the restaurant with the longest history in the Reutershan parking lot, celebrating its 40th year as a popular hangout for socializing, nice dinners, or just a place to grab a slice of pizza any time of day. It’s hard to stop there without seeing someone you know, and many of the same people who were serving pizza slices 20 years ago are now feeding the children of their oldest customers.
Big changes
The culinary revolution in East Hampton Village began two years ago with the opening of Tutto Caffè, which brought the unique and luxurious taste of a city-centric cafe to East Hampton. With a sophisticated and cosmopolitan aura, a wide selection of tasty beverages, Italian cuisine from delicious pastries to salads to sandwiches/toasts and the bar scene, Tutto Caffè, Gianpaolo de Felice and David Mayer have hit the nail on the head with this beautiful yet incredibly intimate cafe.
Amber Waves Farmhouse in East Hampton supplies its produce from Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett and offers locally grown produce, beverages, baked goods and packaged goods. Amanda Merrow and Katie Baldwin have strong backgrounds in agriculture and organic farming, which is reflected in their success with not one but two farm store locations. Amber Waves Farmhouse provides an easily accessible point of sale for fruits and vegetables, allowing customers to support local businesses while enjoying a delicious grab-and-go lunch.
Kumiso brings a touch of Japanese cuisine to Park Place. Two of the owners, Tora and Jesse Matsuoka, also own Sen in Sag Harbor and responded to the need for an affordable and creative restaurant by gifting East Hampton Village with its first-ever izakaya, which literally translates to “place to stay and drink.” Like Sen, Kumiso immerses itself in Japanese customs and culture. The varied tapas-style food gives customers the opportunity to expand their palates and try a wide variety of uniquely prepared dishes. The crispy rice perfectly marries crunchiness with a variety of different options, including avocado or fish, the ramen dishes are creative and substantial, catering to even the pickiest or most sensitive of groups, and the rolls are perfectly seasoned to have just the right amount of spiciness.
The latest development
The Matsuoka brothers and their partners didn’t stop with the opening of Kumiso. They’re also behind Smokey Buns, a new restaurant closer to Main Street next to the parking lot. The team at Smokey Buns recently had a soft opening period to adapt and refine its approach, including its desire to become a community-based social gathering spot. The focus is primarily on casual comfort food, including sandwiches and burgers, as well as vegetarian options that many burger restaurants seem to forget about. The ice cream parlor counterpart, Scoop & Waffle, is the cherry on top of this fun and easy smashburger sensation, giving guests the opportunity to grab a bite to eat without the fear of having to dress up for most other East Hampton restaurants.
With the addition of these new destinations, Park Place has transformed the dining scene in East Hampton Village. The offerings are diverse and offer something for every taste, and the list of must-try dishes is endless, bringing a new local feel to a village often associated with luxury brands.
