The Dish: Jumbo Scallop and Papaya Salad at Rumba

The Dish: Jumbo Scallop and Papaya Salad

The Place: Rumba
43 Canoe Place Road, Hampton Bays,
(631) 594-3544

There are two types of new restaurants "out east:" those that get eaten alive, and those you just can’t stop eating at.  Hampton Bays' Rumba Rum Bar falls firmly into the latter category—and for lunching seafoodies seeking a change from fried calamari baskets and lobster rolls, few marine-based morsels come close to the restaurant's jumbo scallop and papaya salad.

What’s Inside:
A generous portion of plump, pan-seared local diver scallops, chunks of freshly cut papaya, avocado, halved cherry tomatoes and a dusting of corn kernels, served over a bed of baby greens with croutons.

Eat This Because:
1) “Delicious” is an understatement, and it's not unhealthy.
2) Lighter seafood-based lunch fare of filling portion size can be a rare find.
3) Some scallops are buried well beneath the foliage of the salad, and the resulting scavenger hunt makes for a fun eating experience.  (Who said you shouldn't play with your food, anyway?)

The Bonus:
A chill, island-inspired waterfront atmosphere—complete with paddle fans, surfboards, witty signage and a pop art portrait of Bob Marley—that’s a welcome departure from your typical touristy spot.  New restaurants may come and go in the Hamptons, but these sweet surroundings, combined with Chef David Hersch’s innovative cuisine, make for an excitingly original eatery that’s sure to stick around for summers to come.