Sant Ambroeus Southampton — Restaurant in Town of Southampton

My family has been coming to Sant Ambroeus for over 10 years, but the service has gotten exponentially worse with each visit. I want to share details of our most recent experience on Friday, 9/12. We had a 5:30 PM reservation. We spoke to a person at the desk in front of the alley who told us he would be right back to seat us. The restaurant and alley were nearly EMPTY—over 50 empty tables—yet we waited outside for 30 minutes. He never came back. There was a customer seated outside who was visibly uncomfortable for us as she was witnessing our wait. She suggested I go inside, I did, and the only person I saw was a bartender who was understandably busy with three customers. I waited for a waiter to come out and explained we were looking for a host and had been waiting for 25 minutes. Instead of helping, he got defensive and said, “It’s not my fault—I’m not a host!” That response was incredibly rude. I wasn't blaming him—I just wanted someone to help us. He eventually went to the back and said, “The wait staff is having a meeting. I think they should come out soon.” LIKE WHAT?! We just want to sit down. He then pointed to a blonde woman inside and said we should talk to her. I motioned for her to come outside and told her that my 70-year-old mother and I had now been waiting for 30 minutes in front of an almost EMPTY OUTDOOR restaurant. We were finally seated—with NO APOLOGY, just a brush off, “I’m not sure what happened.” Mistakes happen, I get it. But not even acknowledging the issue with a simple “I’m sorry” is unacceptable. A sincere apology—not excuses—would have gone a long way. To the owners: You should know that the service at Sant Ambroeus has been steadily declining. This was a final disappointment after a few other incidents over the summer. We also frequent Casa Lever in the city and have never experienced anything close to this. Chef Giuseppe is PHENOMENAL, and the front-of-house staff there are always warm and professional. The stark contrast in service within a restaurant group is baffling.

Did you forget the restaurant/food service industry is, at its core, a HOSPITALITY business?! If you can’t be hospitable, you’ve...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sant Ambroeus – Southampton, NY 📍 30 Main St, Southampton, NY 11968 🍽️ Cuisine: Italian Café · Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch & Gelato 💵 Price Range: $$–$$$ (Pastries and coffee $5–9, entrées $16–25) 🕒 Hours: Daily; coffee and pastries from morning, full menu through lunch & dinner   

I love Sant Ambroeus—it’s hands-down my favorite spot in the Hamptons for breakfast. The cozy café vibe, friendly staff, and quality Italian offerings make every visit feel special.

On this visit, I had their house-made gelato, which did not disappoint—rich, creamy, and perfect for a summer morning or afternoon treat ().

Their breakfast menu is amazing: classic cornetti, flavorful panini, fresh fruit parfaits, and elevated café drinks like cappuccino and hazelnut lattes .

Whether I’m stopping in for light pastries and coffee or lingering over eggs Benedict or a tuna panini, it’s always a relaxed, enjoyable experience. The outdoor seating is lovely on nice days, busy with both locals and visitors, but never chaotic .

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✅ Highlights • Authentic Italian pastries (try the chocolate cornetto or almond cornetto)  • Quality espresso drinks & gelato—hazelnut and mint chip are my favorites  • Fresh, made‑to‑order breakfast & panini selections  • Friendly, attentive service—always a warm welcome  • Charming outdoor seating—great for people‑watching or a quiet...

All dishes I ordered didn’t have a special touch of a good chef - they were below standards. Hamachi was soaked in oil which overpowered and took away from the taste of the yellowtail, plus served with pieces of pistachios which made a strange combination - again taking away from tasting the unique flavor of the yellowtail. Then beef carpaccio was made out of roasted meat and tasted like a ham - not like a classic raw beef carpaccio and in addition was missing a touch of flavor- the cheese didn’t make up for it and if they would follow the classic tradition serving it with capers and lemon - you can’t go wrong with it, they tried to be different , but failed. The dessert - flourless chocolate cake was nothing special and the tea was not served in a proper way - in order for tea leaves to open up and release the flavor and strength, they have to be poured by a very hot water - and I particularly asked for my tea to be very hot, but the tea was served warm , colorless and flavorless. I was hungry and ate everything , but I will not come back to eat here again. My waitress didn’t like my comment about the tea - she made a face , which was not professional, but I still gave her 25% tip. High prices do not guarantee special food and service, I left the place with unpleasant aftertaste. There are other very good restaurants...