by Sue Giustino
Tom and Helene at Surfside welcome local chef, Shawn Hewitt to their staff
Surfside, a longtime favorite Montauk eatery is tucked away on Old Montauk Highway scenically overlooking the Atlantic. Surfside Inn, a Country Inn and Restaurant occupies a lovely Victorian style house complete with a wraparound porch. This beautiful location offers delightful outdoor dining with a warm ocean breeze and a priceless view. The crisp blue and white theme, along with spacious windows throughout the dining area, creates the perfect seaside ‘at home’ yet elegant atmosphere for enjoying a meal while viewing the ocean vista.
While including many highly sought after favorite dishes, Chef Hewitt has tweaked the menu to incorporate his personal flare. We were fortunate to enjoy dinner there with friends, sampling a variety of delicious creations. 
As always, Tom, awaiting our arrival, greeted us with a few of his quick-witted comments – setting the stage for a fun evening. Our charming waiter, ‘Devon from Heaven,’ provided a warm welcome and offered a rundown of the specials and changes to the menu. Ordering a few of Devon’s homemade specialty cocktails, our night was off to a good start.
The Planters Punch, topped with Myers Dark Rum, and the Red Wine Sangria spiced nicely with Brandy are two of Devon’s creations which are refreshingly delicious. Also, especially quite enjoyable, were the Cucumber Jalapeno Tequila Margarita and the unique Toasted Coconut Martini.
Perfectly completing the experience of unwinding and relaxation before our meal, was the delivery of the Surfside’s Seafood Tower – one of Chef Hewitt’s signature dishes: oysters, clams, shrimp and a full lobster adorn an ice-filled multi-level tower dotted with small bowls of vinegar dipping sauce, herb mayo, cocktail sauce and lemon slices; all available to enhance the natural flavors of the shellfish. There’s plenty to share, and enjoying this tower with a cocktail is a great idea for an afternoon happy hour or the start to any chosen meal.
From the evening specials, we had the tender crisp Fried Calamari with a light cornmeal coating, served with the tasty dilly herb mayo. We also enjoyed a plate that included an exceptionally delicate, pillow-like Fresh Mozzarella layered with sweet and juicy Heirloom Tomatoes all laced with a balsamic glaze and fresh basil. Another outstanding special was the whole tempura fried Local Sea Bass. This beautiful tender fish was served sitting atop a bed of Asian rice with pineapple, mushrooms, and sauteed Bok Choy.
In addition, we ordered three house favorites that didn’t disappoint. The perfectly roasted LI Duck a l’ Orange is served with asparagus and creamy whipped potatoes. Rich in flavor with an elegant presentation, the duck was roasted until the skin was perfectly crisp while the meat was succulent and tender. The Lobster Ravioli, cooked al dente and stuffed with a dense lobster/cheese blend, was paired with a savory crushed tomato and butter sage sauce, then topped with additional fresh tender chunks of lobster. It’s no wonder this flavorful dish is called ‘Surfside Famous Lobster Ravioli’. Finally, the Burbon BBQ St. Louis Ribs, a bit different than the Mango Chipotle Glazed BBQ Baby Back Ribs from the former menu – are a bit meatier while the Burbon BBQ cooking style provides a rich, oaky taste with a subtle sweetness. This classic southern style down-home meal is served with fresh buttery jalapeno cheddar cornbread, crispy French fries, and Mexican street corn slathered with a creamy sauce and topped with seasonings – including a secret ingredient Chef Shawn wasn’t willing to share!
At this point we were quite satiated, and yet when Chef Hewitt sent out a few delightful desserts, we certainly enjoyed them! Most remarkable is a 12 Layer Crepe Cake with tissue thin crepes alternated with equally thin layers of a delicious vanilla crème! It is a one-of-a-kind, perfectly light summer indulgence. The chef’s creative spiced cinnamon Crème Brule had gentle flavor throughout the creamy custard base and was topped with a brittle, caramelized ginger sugar crust. The custardy Key-Lime Pie was another hit, a nice balance of sweet and tart served on a delicate raspberry drizzle with strawberries, whipped cream and fresh mint leaves. Finally, the Chocolate Pots de crème with an incredibly smooth, thick, and creamy consistency, is a perfectly decadent indulgence for a chocolate lover – my favorite!
As always at Surfside, we had an enjoyable evening with warm and inviting décor, friendly service, and outstanding food. 
Owners Tom and Helene honor the history and tradition of the Surfside Inn and Restaurant by operating with the motto, “MONTAUK THE WAY IT USED TO BE”.
Surfside is located at 685 Old Montauk Hwy- be sure to check their ad or website at https://surfsideinnmontauk.com/ for additional information. For reservations call: 631.668.5958