[Insert introductory paragraph about a clichéd description and romanticization of the city of love, accompanied by the idealization of us sitting in a tiny Parisian café that clings to the edge of Rue Desaix, overlooking La Tour Eiffel, with a slight rainfall beginning outside, and a cup of hot tea steaming in front of me, amidst the chatter in French around us…]
Okay, great! Now that you’re with me, and we have that out of the way, we can get to the closest slice of France this little island has to offer. Both a restaurant and a bar, leading the top of my list for the crunchiest and saltiest fries east of the canal, stocked with a wide selection of Long Island and French wines, closely nestled between the busy shops on Main Street in Southampton. Drumroll, please… Le Charlot!
With street-side seating adorned by plants and heat lamps, Le Charlot is undoubtedly a prime location for people-watching in the heart of the Hamptons. Just inside their entryway, and behind the bar, works the head bartender, Irving Reyes, whose calm confidence is an anchor amidst the buzzing crowds known to Le Charlot on weekends. From the moment I first met Irving, his jovial demeanor and ability to memorize my order showed proof of a great bartender.
Irving is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, but grew up in Riverhead and has been with Le Charlot for almost seven years, taking over the bar for the last 4 years. Never short of captivating stories, Irving has the ability to make any night out interesting. In our interview, Irving said, “My favorite drink to make is the espresso martini,” describing to me the delight on a customer’s face when they’ve found it has come out extra foamy.
On the corner of the bar sits an antiqued hat stand that pairs well with accents of what I like to call French rouge found across the restaurant. As you enter the restaurant, you’re met with a large ‘carotte rouge,’ or red carrot, which, since 1906, has been the symbol for the Bureau de Tabac, indicating that a store sold tobacco products. A large gold bell dangles on the wall next to the glass shelves lined with differently shaped bottles of liquor. One night I had to ask, “What’s that bell for?” Birthdays, Irving explained, letting me give it a ring even though it wasn’t my special day. “I want people to feel a positive and welcoming vibe,” Irving said of his hopes for diners and drinkers alike – and I must say, his kindness and cocktails accomplish just that.
With rosy dim lighting enveloping the entire restaurant in a romantic warmth and beautifully large windows overlooking Main Street and the tiny alley between Le Charlot and Sant Ambroeus, this feels like the perfect spot for a first date, after-work drinks with a friend, or an autumnal Sunday afternoon glass of wine.
When not behind the bar at Le Charlot, Irving jokes that you can find his “twin” working the bar at Page at 63 Main in Sag Harbor, alluding to his friend’s (strangely enough, also named Irving Reyes) bartending gig. Outside of Le Charlot, Irving enjoys going to the dog park or the beach with his pups. If you stop by Le Charlot, make sure to order Irving his go-to drink, an Old Fashioned with Woodford Reserve Bourbon.
Cheers and see you there!
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