My spouse and I visited George's Lighthouse
Cafe at Montauk Point State Park
on a Saturday morning in early Mary 2018 (before the start of the official
Hamptons season). In the summer months, the restaurant is open from 10:00 am
until 7:00 pm weekdays, with extended closing hours until sunset on weekends.
(Be sure to check their website for off-season hours.)
As its full name
implies, George’s Lighthouse Cafe offers views of the Montauk Lighthouse, as
well as sweeping panoramas of the Block Island Sound and the nearby bluffs. Although
not fully explained by its name, the restaurant pays tribute to George Washington,
who commissioned the lighthouse in 1792. The restaurant’s current operator
began the “Picnic in a Park” business in Central Park (a basket
delivery/catering concept) before he opened a collection of restaurants on Long
Island, which now include George’s Café, “Picnic in the Park” Montauk, and the
General Store and Beach Shack at Hither Hills State Park.
George’s occupies a
3,200-square foot building a few minutes’ walk from the lighthouse. The
building, constructed in the 1960s, features vaulted ceilings, lots of windows,
a 15-foot bar (the café has a full liquor license), communal captains tables, and
an enormous indoor brick fireplace above which hangs a huge canvas painting of
George Washington. Wooden rocking chairs near the fireplace offer a cozy spot
for off-season or inclement weather relaxation. An additional 2,500 square feet
of outdoor space offers seating at communal picnic tables shaded by vintage
umbrellas, with rocking chairs, games, and a small outdoor stage nearby (live
music is offered on weekends).
The café serves
upscale American cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh seafood. Although we did
not try any of their food, the menu options sounded tasty. We enjoyed our brief
visit to George’s Lighthouse Café; we imagine that it is a hugely popular place
on summer days.
