Vine Street Café

Worth the ferry ride and winding country roads. Vine Street Cafe feels like you've discovered something once you wander off the beaten path of traditional Hamptons lore -- yet it shares so many of the summer qualities that the rest of the area rests on. It is cozy inside and out, with its modest hedges and sign just a few feet from the country road and woods. The food was very good, including the Lobster Pot Pie and Moules Frites (in basil saffron broth), but the place was suffering from early summer staffing issues. The waitstaff was overworked and a little distracted from dinner service that you'd expect for $50 per entree place. We waited about an hour between appetizer and entree with only a few stray looks from our fearful waitress (who gave us the same look that we saw from the deer running through Shelter Island) and a 2nd basket of bread after some inquiries.

We attributed that minor hiccup to the first summer weekend of integrating new staff with old and having the restaurant filled to capacity for the first evening of the summer. But that was the only bad we found. We found the staff accommodating and kind. We found the food fresh and well treated. The drinks were competitively priced for a higher end places, and its reputation ended up being well preserved. Would love to try this place in midsummer or off-season form.

Go if you can get in.

Close to home and better in the off season. Menu needs some tweaking but overall a good place to chow

Fantastic food in a gorgeous and chic setting. The market is also fantastic-- get the frozen ribs and mushroom sauce. The perfect restaurant on Shelter if you are coming from the Hamptons.

Great food and very friendly service. The Bolognese is pretty good, but the Chateaubriand is phenomenal. Worth every penny.

They used to have a bartended that did magic tricks..uh I mean illusions. He was cool, but the new bartenders, Josh and Clint, are quite dapper and very personable. Their magic is in their service.

We came here for date night and sat at the bar. The waitstaff was professional and attentive. The food selection was finite but delicious. We ordered the duck confit and the curry chicken. The drinks were crafted perfectly. We had a nice time and would come back.