Garden seating, Sunset views, and Family Style Gourmet…just what you want at the end of a beach day!

Spending time in Montauk this summer? My family tries to get out to “The End” for at least one day trip each summer, and as we’ve been going for years, we’ve developed a bit of a tradition:

1. Drive out on a TUES/WED/THURS…less likely to deal with “weekender” traffic.
2. Visit Hither Hills state park…awesome beach with a very important must have: indoor showers with changing rooms.
3. Utilize said showers/changing rooms and head into town.
4. Browse through cute shops in town offering up everything from high end jewelry, to kitschy “montauk” apparel and possibly eat some fro-yo.
5. Head out to Gosman’s and end the day with drinks, dinner, and maybe even more ice cream.
6. Drive home because staying in Montauk during “the season” costs your first born.

Honestly, this has been the tried and true schedule for visiting since I was a CHILD….and only lately have we altered off course. It started when Swallow (formerly of Huntington) opened Swallow East; it opened up right across from Gosman’s and quickly became a new favorite. Now that you can’t get their food in Huntington Village anymore, it’s all the more reason to visit. Located where the charter boats go out for their day trips, dinner or cocktails taken on their back patio gives an interesting new meaning to “and a show”. You may be so lucky as to catch the fishermen cleaning and cutting up the catch of the day!! This time, we were treated to two rather large seagulls attempting to retrieve their dinner from the cast-off bucket…and their ensuing fight over who had dibs. Cocktails here are $17 a piece when ordering from their pre-designed cocktail menu.

OK OK I know…you’re wondering about Harvest on Fort Pond, after all that’s what I told you to come here for!! So upon a recommendation, we decided to further break with our Montauk routine and head to this hidden gem. Or not so hidden, as the place was jammed with families having dinner (at 5:30 on a Wednesday!!), but it’s certainly tucked off the beaten path. At a dead end, don’t be discouraged by the seeming lack of parking, follow the road to the actual “end” and there’s a rather large parking lot…way better than being that guy who blocks the whole road with his SUV because he’s “that important”; also it’s nice to the folks who live on the street who are likely sick of tire marks on their lawns….use the lot!

We had no reservation…prospects looks grim, but the hostess sat us in their herb, vegetable, and flower garden within minutes. It’s beautiful out there; mint and sunflowers framed by hollyhocks and tomatoes. Plenty of space for the younger patrons to stretch their legs (aka run around like maniacs) without ruining other diners dinners. Inside there is “first come” seating at high top tables around the bar, along with a lovely dining room that directly overlooks the pond.

Food is served family style, although it seems certain dishes are more generous than others. We started with Fresh Burrata over beefsteak tomatoes with a pesto and fig reduction drizzle, Char Broiled Oysters with spinach, and the Lamb Ribs (OMG OMG OMG!!!). Shared between three adults, the burrata and oysters went quickly; the ribs portion was GINORMOUS and we ended up taking about a dozen home…yes a dozen HOME after eating about as many!

Well after all that, YES, we were still hungry!It was very hard to narrow our dinner selections down to only two, but we finally chose the Salmon with over a Cucumber and Tomato salad with dates and walnuts in a lemon butter sauce and the Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Apple Chutney and Prosciutto over a Watercress and Pine Nut salad. Oh, and a side of Garlic Mashed Potatoes because OBVIOUSLY. It was a tie between which dish was better….although we could decide that the Pork would be better in the fall?? Something about a chutney just screams leaves, pumpkins and sweaters I guess? Both were delicious, and filling…good thing we didn’t opt for a third dish!

Sadly, we did not leave room for dessert….that’s not saying I wasn’t 100% tempted to order it. they boast a “family style” trio of Cream Puffs; who wouldn’t make some room for that?? Oh well, a reason to come back again (as if the rest of the meal wasn’t enough!) Super impressed with this restaurant, from the amazing ambiance and the perfect location to the quality of service and amazing tasting food. It’s a little pricey, but hi, you’re in MONTAUK….you should go into this knowing you’re going to be spending some bucks. Well worth it, and I really will have to return (cream puffs or not!)

Reservations are really recommended. I think we got extremely lucky…and when we were leaving around 7:30ish, it was really starting to get packed with parties waiting around in parking lots and walkways. If you choose to walk on the wild side and just wing it, go early.