By: Sydney Evans
In a Hamptons scene brimming with beachy bistros and trendy pop-ups, The 1770 House endures as the gold standard for fine dining. It’s not flashy; it’s soulful. The historic bones amplify every flavor, turning a meal into a memory. As Ina Garten puts it, “The food is fabulous and the cheese cake is out of this world.”
On a crisp December evening in 2025, as the holiday lights twinkle along Main Street, I stepped through the doors for an unforgettable fine dining experience. If you’re craving a meal that feels like a warm embrace from the past, laced with modern culinary wizardry, this is your spot.
Heritage & Luxury Dining in East Hampton
The 1770 House is a seamless blend of heritage and luxury: antique furnishings, Frette linens in the adjoining inn rooms, and a crackling fireplace that sets the winter mood just right. As I descended the steep staircase from the street-level entrance, the air grew thick with the aroma of roasting meats and fresh herbs—a promise of the delights to come.
What truly sets this place apart is its dual personality. Upstairs in the intimate 40-seat main dining room, or in the summer, outside on the gorgeous patio (a “celestial experience,” as Modern Luxury Manhattan once raved), you’ll find sophisticated fine dining. Downstairs, the Prohibition-era Tavern beckons with cozy pub fare, including the legendary meatloaf that’s been immortalized on The Barefoot Contessa.
We claimed a corner table in the main dining room. Chef Michael Rozzi is the maestro behind the magic. His philosophy? Contemporary American cuisine that honors the farm-to-table ethos of the East End, with a nod to global influences. Recent accolades from The New York Times and Newsday praise the “firepower in the kitchen” and “flawless innovation.” Rozzi’s menu changes seasonally, but in late 2025, it’s a celebration of winter’s bounty. The 2-course prix fixe offers a curated path through his greatest hits.
We began with a signature cocktail in the lounge: the 1770 Old Fashioned, a twist on the classic with house-infused rye and a Luxardo cherry that dissolved like a sweet memory. Then, to the table starting with a silky kabocha squash soup, velvety and spiced with ginger. It was a blustery night outside, and this warmed us from the inside out.
For appetizers, I couldn’t resist the Hudson Valley foie gras torchon, paired with seasonal figs and brioche toast points. The foie melted like butter, its richness cut by a balsamic reduction. My companion opted for the Balsam Farms beet salad, a vibrant tower of roasted beets, goat cheese, and candied pecans—simple, yet executed with the precision of a Michelin hopeful.
The entrees stole the show. My Himalayan salt dry-aged New York strip was a masterpiece: 28-day aged for that funky umami edge, grilled to a perfect medium-rare, and sided with truffled fries and a red wine demi-glace. The meat was tender enough to cut with a butter knife. Across the table, the pan-seared halibut arrived with a lemon beurre blanc and heirloom carrots, flaking apart under the fork. Sides like the creamed spinach added creamy depth, sourced from nearby farms that Rozzi champions.
Dessert? A shared warm apple crostata with vanilla bean ice cream, refined with a caramel lattice. The sticky date cake is a house favorite. The wine list, heavy on East Coast varietals and Old World classics, paired seamlessly.
Service with a Smile
Service was intuitive and sommelier suggestions felt like old friend advice. As Haute Living notes, it’s a celebrity haunt for good reason—discreet, polished, and utterly attentive.
If you’re plotting a Hamptons getaway—be it a starry-eyed date night or a special occasion—book now. Pro tip: Pair dinner with an inn stay for the full immersion. As Ina Garten herself attested on Food Network, some dishes here outshine even the best home cooking. At The 1770 House, history doesn’t just dine with you; it elevates every morsel. Until next time, East Hampton—bon apetit!
