18 Bay - SHELTER ISLAND

Beautiful veranda dining experience with excellent service and creative, healthy veggie-forward vegan tasting menu. When we called and said we were vegan, they were happy to accommodate us, and I can say that the cook had fun getting creative with Veggies. We have a single wine pair that we shared between us, and it was more than enough.

We stumbled at this great place last night. When Adam, chef, heard that we were vegetarian/ vegan, he came to our table very excited about preparing something special. He makes a Veg Sampler app that is incredible. Then with the stock menu it will convert any item to Veg or vegan with your direction. Unlike many restaurants, Adam and waiting staff felt special. The food was really excellent. Fresh, not heavy, several unique ingredients that he took the time to describe us. A little expensive, but worth every penny. Will definitely return!

The food is fun , nicely prepared and tasty. BUT the floor manager (Jim I think I heard him say) knocked 2 stars off my experience with his forced, self aggrandizing BS. While I'd like to go back for the food, I won't because I could not stand listening to him for one more minute

Overall, not a bad first experience on Shelter Island. And this restaurant has a lot going for it, including a nice (and chatty) host, perfect ambiance, a loyal local following, etc. Sadly, there are other things which we didn't find quite as appealing. First, the food, while very tasty, is probably not worth the prices they're charging (don't get me started on the $25 glass of wine). Service- hmm, I felt like we were waiting for food way more than we were actually enjoying food. And it got chilly out there- can't you guys use some of that wine money and invest in a few heat lamps? This was our most expensive- but not anywhere close to our best- meal while we visited the Hamptons. But not a bad experience overall.

I'm not sure if it was just an off night, but the food at this restaurant did not live up to its rave reviews and we were thoroughly disappointed with our experience. The pasta dish was delicious and unusual, but aside from that, the food was bland. The appetizers were flavorless and unappetizing, with one tasting like a fish salad made from canned tuna. The main course, beef with a spice crust, was overwhelming and overshadowed the taste of the meat. The service, while friendly, lacked finesse and felt uncoordinated, with multiple staff members asking us the same question within minutes. The ambiance and decor were lacking, with the restaurant feeling in need of some modern updates. Overall, our experience was average at best and we will not be returning.