A long time east end favorite for the Tex-Mex loving crowd is the Blue Parrot which received its name back in 1989 when founder Lee Bieler a Montauk/Hawaii duel citizen was at his winter home in Hawaii. While in the Aloha state Lee frequented a Mexican restaurant called The Blue Parrot (but in Spanish). A light went off in his head. The rest is East Hampton folklore.
Woody Harrelson, Mercedes Ruehl, Cynthia Nixon, Alec Baldwin, model Christie Brinkley, deceased author James Brady, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Joel and Former Dolphins football great Nick Buoniconti along with Regis Philbin all use to stop in at least once a year to sample the margarita mix. In fact Lee Bieler sold Bill Murray the “infamous poster” from the bathroom. In a Montauk interview at “Sausages” years back Bieler confessed he had a truly great night partying with Cheryl Tiegs, using his words, “when Cheryl Tiegs was Cheryl Tiegs!”
Since changing ownership to the Jon Bon Jovi/Ron Perlman group the Parrot has had visits from Paul McCartney and a surprise pre July 4 mini Jon Bon Jovi concert in which he quipped to the crowd, “You don’t get this at Nick and Toni’s.”
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Tucked away off the East Hampton Village parking lot, The Blue Parrot is not easily found by the general public. But once discovered, this quirky, laid-back Tex-Mex bar and restaurant that came on the scene 30 years ago has now become a favorite watering hole for locals, summer renters, and celebrities alike.
Former long time bartender and surfing legend Bruce Adams use to love to say, “It is a place to let your hair down.” James Brady while sipping a Pacifico, the beer of his choice at the Parrot, was critiquing an article I was writing said to me , “The Parrot is just a place near the Main Street where you feel like you are right off the beach, that’s why I put in my books, it has a pulse.” It still does. I visited the Parrot pre-Memorial Day 2014 and yes it still has that buzz.
