Foodstuffs: Manna Gets Its Close Up And Fall Specials At La Fondita

Manna at Lobster Inn Ribbon Cutting

After a banner summer season, Southampton’s newest waterfront sustainable seafood dining spot, Manna at Lobster Inn, is celebrating with a community cocktail party and ribbon cutting on Monday, October 18, beginning at 6 p.m. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony (slated to take place at 6:15 p.m.) will feature Manna at Lobster Inn’s leadership team, including offshore aquaculture pioneer Donna Lanzetta, Sag Harbor restaurateur Ryunosuke Jesse Matsuoka (Sen and K Pasa), and executive chef Thomas Bogia, alongside Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman. The event, which goes until 7:30 p.m., will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, door prizes and giveaways. Reserve by October 14 at info@mannarestaurant.com or by calling 631-728-5555.

Manna at Lobster Inn, located at 5 Inlet Road West in Southampton, splashed onto the Hamptons dining scene in June 2021. The restaurant brought new life to the historic lobster house formerly an iconic seafood restaurant for 75 years. The culinary team offers a seafood centric menu with a commitment to local products. From classics such as clam chowder, baked clams, lobster rolls and fish & chips to creative dishes such as lobster poutine, lobster bisque ramen and trout & caviar carbonara, the menu offers options for everyone. Manna at Lobster Inn serves lunch and dinner six days a week, closed Wednesday. A full bar is available, with happy hour offered Monday through Friday. The restaurant hosts private events from smaller intimate dinner parties to larger events up to 200.

Manna Fish Farms is pioneering to be one of the first U.S. permitted open ocean finfish farms, in federal waters off New York and Florida. Utilizing the latest in submersible net pen technology, Manna Fish Farms will build and operate a sustainable commercial fish farm growing finfish and researching IMTA (Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture) with macroalgae (kelp) and shellfish (sea scallops, mussels, oysters). The waterfront restaurant’s iconic location will continue to serve as a visual landmark for travelers as they reach the eastern end of Sunrise Highway (Route 27). The property was initially acquired in 2018 in a collaborative purchase with the Town of Southampton, wherein the town purchased the marina, the restaurant group purchased the restaurant, and the fish farm purchased the land across from the restaurant for fish farming, selling back the development rights on that farmland to the town. Additionally, approximately 2 acres were purchased and preserved outright by the Town of Southampton. This purchase was accomplished as an alternative to a 26-unit townhouse development slated for the property.

New Specials At La Fondita

La Fondita in Amagansett has unveiled new daily specials along with the new fall schedule. Open Friday through Tuesday, La Fondita offers rotating specials each day as follows: Monday, choices include Gorditas, thick corn tortillas stuffed with a choice of meat or avocado topped with lettuce, queso fresco and crema served with rice and refried beans ($14) or huarache, which is a crispy maseca boat topped with choice of meat or avocado topped with lettuce, queso fresco and crema served with rice and refried beans ($9). On Tuesday, the special is fajitas platillo, which comes with a choice of chicken, shrimp or carne asada served with rice, refritos, salad and flour tortillas ($16 to $21). Friday specials inlcude birra de res, chili braised beef, cilantro and onions served with consomme and corn tortillas ($14) or carne enchilada platillo which is chili rubbed pork steak served with rice, refritos, salad and corn tortillas ($19). On Saturday and Sunday, specials include birra de res and a tamal with chocis of pollo en salsa verde, Puerco en salso roja or rajas ($6).

La Fondita, which means “little kitchen” in Spanish, offers tasty Mexican to go or to stay at the indoor counter or at their outdoor picnic tables. Mexican tiled counters dotted with a line of homemade salsas and tabascos and hanging star-shaped lights and colorful Mexican wall décor all add to the fun and casual atmosphere at La Fondita. La Fondita is at 74 Montauk Highway in Amagansett. For information, call 631-267-8800 or visit lafondita.net.