Surf Lodge

From the August edition of The Real Deal:

The phenomenon that is the Surf Lodge — a new hotel, restaurant and bar that is bringing young professionals to the South Fork's easternmost enclave — could prove to be a boon for the Montauk real estate market.

Some East End brokers say the venue ... is bringing a new generation of prospective entrepreneurs and summer residents to Montauk, a community that prides itself on being more rustic, laid back and affordable than its neighbors to the west.

My colleague Chris Shott flew out to Montauk (on a seaplane!) in May to sit down with Surf Lodge developer Steven Kamali.

Page Six reported today that Montauk locals are not so pleased that Surf Lodge, the eatery where hunky former Top Chef contestant Sam Talbot oversees the menu, is such a celebrity magnet; according to the paper, residents of Montauk—cherished for being a relatively low-key fishing hamlet—are annoyed that the restaurant has been attracting "German cars and celebrities such as Julian Schnabel, Ralph Lauren and Aida Turturro" to an area that residents like to refer to as "very raw."

Page Six claimed that the main issue is traffic around the eatery on weekends, when high-profile guests park wherever they please and have photographers and reporters following them and blocking the roadways, and that in retaliation, neighboring restaurants and bars are refusing to serve Surf Lodge partners Rob McKinley, Jaimee Mulholland and Jayma Cardoso.  read more »