If you are after a table with a view, Manna at Lobster Inn is hard to beat. It sits right on the water at 5 Inlet Road in Southampton, and it is widely known for some of the best views and sunsets in the Hamptons. The place has a history too: it was formerly The Lobster Grille Inn, and it has since been reborn as Manna at Lobster Inn, and it now takes private events as well.
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The first thing to get sorted is the timing, because the opening hours are not what you would expect from a place like this. It is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays, and on Thursdays it stays shut too. That leaves Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Tuesday it runs 12:00 to 9:00 pm, on Friday and Saturday it goes until 10:00 pm, and on Sunday it closes at 9:00 pm. Brunch is the weekend treat, served on Saturday and Sunday, so if you are after a late breakfast by the water, that is your window. It is worth keeping in mind that these hours can shift with the seasons, so a quick check ahead is sensible.
As for the food, it is seafood through and through. Brunch, lunch and dinner are all on the menu, with daily specials that keep things from getting predictable. The crowd-pleasers here are the lobster grilled cheese and the clam chowder, and there is a raw bar for anyone who wants their seafood fresh and chilled. Beyond the seafood, there are all-day options, vegetarian and vegan dishes, and gluten-free selections, so it is not a place that leaves anyone out. A full bar rounds it off, with craft beers among the drinks.
The setting does a lot of the work. Between the waterfront location, the scenic views and the outdoor seating, it is the kind of place that rewards a slower pace. The dress code is smart casual, so you can dress up a little without overdoing it, and there is parking on site, which is a bonus in this part of the Hamptons. Counter seating is available if you are on your own or in a small group, and the place is set up for groups and private parties, so it works as well for a quiet dinner as it does for a bigger get-together.
If you are planning something beyond a meal, the venue also handles catering and special events, so it is worth a call if you are looking at a private function. For a standard table, the phone number is 631-728-5555, and the website is mannarestaurant.com. With the raw bar, the waterfront views and the weekend brunch, it is a straightforward choice for a seafood dinner by the water, provided you pick one of the days it is actually open.
