Dining Out: The Driver's Seat

Summer is in full swing and that means that many East End restaurants with outdoor dining will be in high demand. This week, Arts & Living visited The Driver’s Seat in Southampton, which has seating on its back patio and also two street-side tables in the front, to find out the restaurant’s most popular, chef’s favorite and signature dishes.

Restaurant 


283-6606
thedriversseat.com

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ost Popular: Baked Clams Casserole; appetizer; $12.

Chef’s Favorite: Walnut & Goat Cheese Salad; entrée; $13.

Signature: Irma’s Mexican Fajitas; entree; $27.

When it comes to a tasty seafood appetizer, The Driver’s Seat owner, Irma Herzog, declared the Baked Clams Casserole appetizer a favorite draw at her restaurant.

“People actually come from all over Long Island for them,” she said. “They won’t even have a menu yet and they say they are here for the clams.”

The chopped clams are made with bread crumbs, onions, garlic and Parmesan cheese, baked until crispy and served with crackers and a lemon wedge.

Ms. Herzog’s sister, Hortensia, is the head chef at The Driver’s Seat. She said her favorite dish has to be the Walnut & Goat Cheese Salad, which is made with mixed greens, goat cheese, raisins, walnuts and orange wedges and topped with a mandarin ginger dressing.

“All the ingredients blend very well together,” the chef said. “It’s refreshing and perfect for summer.”

The restaurant’s signature dish is Irma’s Mexican Fajitas. The dish is served on a sizzling platter with diner’s choice of tequila marinated chicken, steak or shrimp, plus sauteed onions, peppers, Mexican-style rice, refried black beans and an in-house salsa.

“They are real authentic Mexican fajitas,” Ms. Herzog said. “And you can’t have Mexican-style fajitas without a margarita or corona, which you can add to the dish for $1.”

And don’t forget, frosty beverages taste even better when sipped outside while sitting in the sun.