And so the Flatiron District restaurant goes on holiday to spend the season in East Hampton as EMP Summer House. The pop-up will be laden with laid-back vibes and a seafood-heavy menu – yes, even the beloved local lobster roll – served amid tents, picnic tables and games such as ping pong and petanque. Indulgent large-format feasts are something else to look forward to, served to groups of six to 12 people minimum, and will present spreads of fried chicken or lobster boils with a smorgasbord of Americana-summertime sides such as potato salad, corn, clams and pies. Leaving the tasting menu and exorbitant prices for the more uptight winter months, summer is all about à la carte and (relative) affordability (think: tomato salad with strawberries for US$19 and bucatini with clams for $34).
Don’t worry: the Manhattan HQ will not be sitting totally idle throughout the summer, as the dining room, kitchen and bar undergo a facelift to be revealed in autumn.