Here’s how much food costs in the Hamptons, from $20 oatmeal to a $42 lobster roll

Some food in the Hamptons is egregiously priced, but there are some more affordable options as well. Rachel Askinasi/Insider I visited the Hamptons this summer to check out the food and the atmosphere.   I documented the cost of my own meals as well as different menus that I didn’t order from myself.

Some prices were manageable, but others, like $20 oatmeal and $42 lobster rolls, seemed outrageous. While visiting the Hamptons this summer, I noticed that many of the food options around me were expensive, even for someone used to New York City prices. I was shocked to see some of the prices on the menu at popular Montauk eatery Duryea’s Lobster Deck.

Rachel Askinasi/InsiderI went to the Hamptons to try out some of the most buzzworthy spots, restaurants I’ve seen flood my Instagram feed, and celebrity-favorite joints, so I had a feeling I wouldn’t be eating cheaply most of the time. However, I still didn’t expect to see some of the outlandish prices I did on various menus and in markets. I was shocked that the lobster cobb salad from Duryea’s Lobster Deck, a Montauk eatery that I’ve seen on social media all summer long for the past few years, costs $97.

This lobster roll, which came with a side of fries and coleslaw, cost $42. A lobster roll and fries from Duryea’s in Montauk. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderOn Ina Garten’s recommendation, I went to lunch at Duryea’s and sat outside on the deck.

 The lobster roll I ordered was the most expensive one I had all week, and I didn’t think it had much flavor to it, which was disappointing.  The fries and coleslaw, however, were delicious.  I had another lobster roll, which came with coleslaw, for $35.

A lobster roll from Botswick’s Chowder House. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderAt Botswick’s Chowder House in East Hampton, I ordered a hot buttered lobster roll (they also had a lobster salad roll on offer). It came with a choice of coleslaw, fries, potato salad, or potato chips — I chose coleslaw.

 It was less expensive than its Montauk counterpart, but from the toasted bun to the rich chunks of meat, I thought this lobster roll was much more flavorful.  A popular beach spot also had both a buttered and a salad option for its lobster rolls, so I tried one of each at $36 and $35, respectively. Hot and buttered (left) and lobster salad (right) rolls from Lobster Roll in Amagansett.

Rachel Askinasi/InsiderLobster Roll (also known as Lunch) is on Montauk Highway in Amagansett.  It’s a celebrity hotspot — the team is not shy about who their famous patrons are as they list them all on a paper place mat — and I wanted to try both lobster roll options.  I personally wasn’t a fan of the fact that, for $36, I had to assemble my own hot lobster roll.

While the hot and buttered option was enjoyable, I preferred the celery-infused flavors of the lobster salad.  This lobster salad roll came with a side of coleslaw and cost me $33. Lobster salad roll at Clam Bar in Amagansett.

Rachel Askinasi/InsiderAcross the street from Lobster Roll, just a minute down the road, is Clam Bar.  Clam Bar only offers a lobster salad option for its rolls, and I was unimpressed by it. The texture reminded me of shredded crab sticks more than it did lobster, and the flavors were somewhat bland, in my opinion.

 This $9 cup of clam chowder came with a packet of oyster crackers. Clam chowder from Botswick’s Chowder House in East Hampton. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderSince the restaurant has the words “chowder house” in its name, I gave the clam chowder a try.

While this definitely wasn’t the most egregiously-priced thing I ordered, I still thought $9 for less than a pint of soup was a little more than some people would expect to pay. I went to an ice-cream parlor and diner where I spent $6. 25 on a single-egg sandwich.

An egg on a roll at Candy Kitchen in Bridgehampton. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderIn an effort to order the least expensive thing on the menu at Candy Kitchen in Bridgehampton, I landed on an egg sandwich — something I eat a lot at home. But the cost was still about double (and sometimes nearly triple) what I’m used to paying for the same thing when I get it from an NYC deli or street cart.

This much fancier egg sandwich cost me $18. A breakfast sandwich from Carissa’s bakery in East Hampton. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderThe sabich sandwich at Carissa’s in East Hampton came with eggplant, a fried egg, chopped salad, zoug, amba sauce, and tahini on a milk bun.

 There’s no questioning that this was expensive, but it was also delicious.  You can read my full review here. This pastry cost $7 and didn’t taste fresh at all, in my opinion.

A sesame and kumquat braided pastry at Carissa’s in East Hampton. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderAfter staring into the gorgeous display of artful pastries at Carissa’s, I landed on the sesame and kumquat braided option. Instead of light and flaky, the dough was chewy and slightly dense — as if I had ordered it and left it out on the counter overnight before trying it – and I barely tasted either of the title ingredients.

 You can read my full review here. A loaf of sourdough bread cost me $8 from the bakery beloved by Ina Garten. A loaf of sourdough bread from Carissa’s in East Hampton.

Rachel Askinasi/InsiderI had heard wonderful things about the bread — specifically the sourdough — at Carissa’s, so I didn’t mind shelling out almost $10 after taxes for this loaf, until I tasted it.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get any of the delicious, tangy, fragrant flavors from this loaf as I usually do from this type of bread.  You can read my full review here.

For a quick breakfast one day, I stopped at a small shop to grab a tea and a bite to eat. But I landed on a scone, as the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich cost $10 and an egg-white wrap cost $12. The breakfast menu at Wishbone Farms in Southampton.

Rachel Askinasi/InsiderMany items on the shelves didn’t have prices, but the breakfast menu listed simple sandwiches for $10 and up.  My matcha scone and small iced tea each cost $4 for a total of $8 before tax. If you decide to duck into the multi-location Golden Pear Café, you’ll pay $22 for an omelet or $20 for oatmeal.

The food menu at Golden Pear Café in Southampton. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderThis order-at-the-counter eatery has several locations across different main town areas in the Hamptons. I was in disbelief when I finally stopped to read the menu and digest the prices of their food, which comes on single-use plates and in to-go containers.

While I didn’t order from this café, I did find a recent photo of the $20 oatmeal on Instagram. A post shared by The Oakley-Leicht Team (@pattyandbriansellthehamptons) I stopped into a market and saw 3/4-pound bags of dried apricots selling for $22 each. Bags of apricots at Loaves and Fishes in Sagaponack.

Rachel Askinasi/InsiderI found these in a bin at Loaves and Fishes, one of Garten’s favorite specialty-food stores.  The price on this item in particular really blew me away.  I also indulged in some dessert at Loaves and Fishes, and this brownie pudding cost me $20.

A small serving of brownie pudding at Loaves and Fishes in Sagaponack. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderA salesperson told me this was one of the most popular items at the store, so I ordered a small portion. It was decadent, but it wasn’t small at all.

This “sandwich” — which, in my opinion, wasn’t actually a sandwich with just one slice of bread served open-faced — cost $12. A sandwich from Loaves and Fishes in Sagaponack. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderWhile the meat, sauce, and bread were all tasty, I didn’t really think this counted as a sandwich.

If anything, I’d consider it a half-sandwich portion since there was just one slice of bread.  This lobster salad at Loaves and Fishes cost $100 per pound. Lobster salad at Loaves and Fishes in Sagaponack.

Rachel Askinasi/InsiderWhile I didn’t taste any, I saw others ordering this high-price item. I thought it looked appetizing while in the display case.  You can read my full review of Loaves and Fishes here.

At Roundswamp Farm, a popular farmstand and market, less than one pound of roasted cauliflower costs almost $18. Roasted cauliflower from Roundswamp Farm. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderThis shop was packed with customers when I went and had a line wrapped around the entire inside of the store.

Some offerings included fresh produce, raw meat, beverages, dips, and prepared foods. While wandering the small space, I heard patrons joking with each other about how they were about to spend over $100 on just a few items, but that is what they signed up for when they came.   This single-scoop ice-cream cone cost $7.

75. A single-scoop serving of ice cream at Big Olaf in Sag Harbor. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderIf you’re ordering for more than one person, or want to add any toppings, this trip to the ice-cream shop can get very expensive very quickly.

 Prices at farm stands were all over the place, from what I saw. But these berries were particularly pricey at $6. 50, $7.

50, and $8 each. Berries at a farm stand in Sagaponack. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderSome farm stands were selling produce for less than what I saw in retail stores, and others had their goods marked much higher.

I spent $35 on a cheese board and $10 on a glass of non-alcoholic sparkling wine at Wölffer Estate Vineyard. A cheese board and wine at Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderWhile the glass of wine was priced in line with what I see on most menus, the cheese board — which featured grapes, apricots, crackers, jam, and a sampling of four types of cheese — seemed a bit too expensive for what it was, in my opinion.

 Not everything I saw was overpriced. I saw this four-pack of Pat La Frieda burger patties at Roundswamp Farm for $19. 99.

Pat La Frieda burgers at Roundswamp Farm. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderFor comparison, if you were to order the same patties from the company’s website, they would cost $22. There were some more affordable options that I found and loved when it came to restaurants as well.

This dish of chicken bites was $14. Asian Chicken Bites from Main Street Tavern in Amagansett. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderI ordered a bowl of intricately-flavored and beautifully-textured fried chicken pieces when I walked into Main Street Tavern in Amagansett.

I was just looking for a quick dinner before Stephen Talkhouse (a bar and legendary music venue nearby) opened, and I was more impressed with the food compared to some of the pricier eateries I had been to out east.  If you’re headed for a night out at Stephen Talkhouse, you can skip the big dinner and get a $5 hot dog (or two) at the bar. Hot dogs at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett.

Rachel Askinasi/InsiderAs the night progressed, I saw more and more people line up for these hot dogs being sold near the back of the venue. They looked very standard, but standard usually does the job, in my opinion.  This trio of tacos cost $15 and filled me up completely.

Tacos from Taqueria Mi Pueblito in Hampton Bays. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderI had asked a local in Amagansett where to go for great food that won’t empty your wallet, and he raved about Taqueria Mi Pueblito in Hampton Bays.  The menu is extensive, but I stuck with tacos and walked away full, delighted by the flavors, and happy to have only spent $15 on a full meal out east.

 This fresh, local, fried flounder platter cost $23. A fried flounder platter at The Dock House in Sag Harbor. Rachel Askinasi/InsiderThe best piece of fish I ate in the Hamptons was from The Dock House in Sag Harbor.

The manager confirmed that the flounder I ordered was a fresh and locally caught fish, and it tasted that way, too.  The platter came with a choice of sides — I chose salad — both tartar sauce and cocktail sauce, and a large, soft piece of warm bread as well.  I thought the fish was fried to perfection, as both sides were crispy and golden — there were no soggy breadcrumbs in sight.

 Read the original article on Insider.