I just got back to West End Avenue a week ago from a visit to lobster roll country in Maine and Massachusetts. We had lobster rolls in Camden, Stonington and overlooking the surf in between excessive breakfasts and coastal dinners. (Read last week’s BITE: Seaside Escape).

The last time I came here it was the Bay Burger, and the first lunch of my 2018 Hamptons getaway.

          I didn’t expect to arrive in Bridgehampton last Thursday on my first visit to the heart of ostentatious pleasures in two years to discover that Bay Burger on the Sag Turnpike had vanished and lunch would be sea creatures in many forms, served by Ed’s Lobster Bar East.

There is an Ed and his name is Ed McFarland.

That’s a lot of lobster stuffed in the roll but isn't the price of $34 a bit outrageous?

          It was nearing two in the afternoon and the place was deserted. We were supposed to order from the kitchen and the waiter would deliver to our table. Last Thursday was one of those rare August days, not to hot, not too cool, not too humid. Fran anchored our table on the porch sipping her iced tea, while complimenting our server on his tattoos.

I rarely bypass a wedge salad and this one is fresh and crisp -- enough for three – at $14.

          Everything arrived at once. As usual, between me and Howard, we ordered too much of so good.  I couldn’t resist the massive wedge salad with a rubble of blue cheese, candied walnuts, bacon and a few cherry tomatoes.

Everything arrives at once. Photos are by Howard Schuster.

          We carefully divided the fried Ipswich clams with their fat breaded bellies and the crusty little Day Boat Scallops served beside sprawls of skinny fries and tartar sauce for dipping. We certainly didn’t need lobster mac and cheese to fuel our afternoon excursion. But any form of mac and cheese will rarely be overlooked by me.

          It was a deep bowl full of seafood chunks and pasta shells in a very rich soup, too much after too much already. I brought it home as a gift for my hosts. And yes, I had already delivered a raspberry-peach pie from the Round Swamp Farm Shop in Bridgehampton, which we -- mostly me -- would eat for breakfast.

Fried day boat scallops are banked with crisp fried potato thins and tartar sauce.

          As I’ve often said and want to believe, calories don’t count if it’s vacation excess. All my waistbands are elastic. I suggest any readers who are susceptible to my undisciplined habits favor them too.

Ed’s Lobster Bar East 1742 Sag Harbor Turnpike. Sag Harbor. 631 725 1131.Wednesday through Monday 11:45 to 10 pm. Closed Tuesday.
Round Swamp Farm. 97 School Street. Bridgehampton. 631 296 8078
Round Swamp Farm 184 Three Mile Harbor Road, East Hampton 631 324 4438

            Fore Street                       Burger and Lobster            North River Lobster Co.