Young Hamptons revellers cough up big bucks for tables but skip alcohol for July Fourth
The forecast calls for a dry Fourth of July in the Hamptons, at least for young partygoers.As in New York City and beyond, young people are shunning bottle service, with local proprietors scrambling to come up with suitable food and drink alternatives.Bagatelle Restaurant Group CEO Aymeric Clemente has seen that first hand.“Back in the day when we used to go out, it was about how many places we could go to in a night and how drunk we could get, but that time is gone,” he told Side Dish.“We still like to go out, but it’s different and we take our time.”At LDV At The Maidstone in East Hampton and Barlume Beach in Montauk, both run by LDV Hospitality, tables run from $3,000 to $20,000 this weekend.“I don’t know the last time I saw someone doing shots in the Hamptons.It isn’t the same dynamic as when I was a kid running around 25 years ago,” said John Meadow, founder and president of LDV Hospitality.To tempt guests into imbibing, Calissa in Water Mill has actually dropped its alcohol prices.
The average price of a bottle now runs $650 to $850, down from $700 to $1,000, according to restaurateur James Mallios.Depending on the night, bottle service can run from $1,500 to $2,500 for six to 10 people.While mocktails are available, too, Mallios has held off on giving them their own section on the menu.“I’m not against mocktails, but I make a living selling food and beverage.
That’s how I pay my mortgage,” he said.“I don’t know if I want to play into the idea that alcohol in moderation is a bad thing.”Mallios is also hoping to get a boost from cannabis-infused drinks and has applied for a license to do so.
He already runs a dispensary in Southampton called Charlie Fox.Jayma Cardoso, the owner of Surf Lodge in Montauk, has also taken note of Gen Z’s abstemious ways, saying, “Maybe they’ll have one bottle of champagne, but the 27-year-olds just order fresh juices and zero-proof beer.”Surf Lodge charges up to $1,000 per person for table...