The Plaza Café 61 Hill St. Southampton, NY (631) 283-9323 www.plazawinedinners.com

Chef/owner Doug Gulija’s Plaza Café offers one of the East End’s finest dining experiences with outstanding seafood and an award-winning wine list. The New York Times and Newsday both awarded this fine New American eatery three stars while New York magazine named it one of the East End’s top ten restaurants. Wine Spectator gave it an "Award of Excellence," and the Zagat Survey weighed in with top ratings for both food and service, citing it as the top seafood spot on Long Island.

The Plaza Café is a family-owned and run restaurant and the Gulija family’s commitment is evident throughout. The décor features muted tones, a crackling fireplace and fresh flowers creating a homey yet sophisticated atmosphere. Sample fare includes appetizers such as Smoked Salmon Napoleon with gaufrettes, vodka crème fraiche and American paddlefish caviar; and Proscuitto Wrapped Shrimp with porcini risotto in a whit truffle oil. Seafood main courses dominate the menu with choices like the Soy-Acia Honey Marinated Black Cod with spring risotto, lemon oil and micro greens; Sautéed Domestic Red Snapper with spring risotto, lemon oil and micro greens; and the signature dish of Plaza Café’s Lobster "Shepherd’s Pie" with local lobster, shrimp, wild mushrooms, peas and chive potato crust. Lemon- Herb Marinated Free Range Chicken with garlic mashed potatoes, baby vegetables in a pan ‘gravy’ and Grilled Cooper Ridge Prim Sirloin Steak with Portobello, fingerling potatoes, and sautéed spinach in a port wine sauce round out the menu. All desserts are homemade, sample sweets include: Apple Pecan Cake with vanilla ice cream and apple chip; White Chocolate Cheesecake with caramelized apples and white chocolate ice cream; and Grandma’s Vahlorona Chocolate Mousse Cake with cappuccino ice cream and crème anglaise.

The lengthy and masterful wine list (nearly all domestic) celebrates the diversity and quality of American wines and there’s a wide selection of wines by the glass. Gulija pairs each main course on the menu with his selection of a wine by the glass, a fabulous way to sample different wines. Peter Gianotti of Newsday calls The Plaza Café, "the catch of the day, the week, the month and the season."