Ever wonder how the weekend warriors of the Hamptons nightlife scene spend their down time?  We check in with Jon Bakhshi [top right], owner of the official new summer hotspot, Beautique [where you’ll find a bevy of beauties partying by the pool at their weekly Day & Night parties]  to find out just that. He says, “I live in Southampton. It’s the town that resonates the most with me. Fantastic restaurants, beautiful homes, and a sophisticated crowd, and most of all I like avoiding the traffic to points further east!”

KDHamptons:  How long have you been coming to the Hamptons?

Jon Bakhshi:  I’ve been coming to the Hamptons for over 20 years now. I grew up in Long Island, and from when I was younger, it was known as the place to be and the place to party… I have fond memories from then, and now I can help create lasting memories for a whole new generation.

KDHamptons: How do you like to entertain at home? Who cooks?

 Jon Bakhshi:  When I am not working, we love to eat at home and relax. Some of my favorite moments are laughing with family and friends at my house.  My girlfriend is a great cook, so we love to experiment with new recipes all the time. We grill, makes different salads, serve some great cocktails and chilled rosé, and hang out by the pool.

KDHamptons: How was “Opening Weekend” at Beautique?  What were the highlights?

 Jon Bakhshi:  I was so proud of my team and the venue we created.  It was an amazing weekend filled with old friends and new, and it was exactly what I had hoped for.  The food was great, the crowd was beautiful, and everyone had a fun time.  We were busy from the moment we opened until the moment we turned the lights off!

“On our first night open we did 3 full turns ….. I was happily surprised but also worried we might run out of glasses because the dishwashers were so backed up … Instead we ran out of champagne and that’s always a good thing!”

KDHamptons: What do you expect will be the hero dishes of summer?

Jon Bakhshi:  Our signature dish at Beautique in NYC is the Tuna Tartare and is always a crowd favorite and so far has been just as popular in Southampton.  Chefs Alain Allegretti and Greg Grossman have created some really specific new items for the Hamptons location that have been getting great response, so its tough to pick out just a couple.  I am particularly obsessed with the whole fried Black Sea bass.  One of our bestselling cocktails is the Polo Cup, a refreshing combo of Grey Goose vodka, St. Germain, and fresh lemon juice garnished with a cucumber slice.  It’s the perfect summer cocktail.

KDHamptons: Any upcoming parties or events you want to share?

Jon Bakhshi: We have an awesome line-up planned for the entire summer. We have partnered with the team from Day & Night to host a lively brunch every Saturday, and have the best DJ’s in the business lined-up to play outside at The Bathing Club and late nights in the restaurant. We also have some fun events planned as well. So stay tuned, I’m sure that you will be hearing all about them!

Beautique Restaurant & Lounge at Capri
Address: 281 County Rd 39A, Southampton, NY 11968
Phone:(631) 353-3400

* Photos courtesy of Beautique and Day & Night on Facebook