This article first appeared in The Independent Newspaper. Read more about #EverythingEastEnd here
For 23 years, the Rubenstein family has been a name in East Hampton, breaking ground on East Hampton Indoor Tennis back in May 1995. On that rainy day, years ago, the entire family stood under a big umbrella with shovels in hand and smiles on their faces. That same photo, umbrella in hand, was recreated in 2017 with the groundbreaking of The Clubhouse.
“We have great partners who have a love for the community and want to have a hand in making it even better. Jerry Cohen, Richard Tarlow, Barry Emanuel, and John Geelan. While it’s still a business, together we find ways to reach out to the community and acknowledge our volunteer first responders, our brave men and women of the military, veterans and active duty, our important town and village employees, both behind the scenes and the face of our community, who work so hard to keep things going and running smoothly,” said managing partner Scott Rubenstein.
The mission of both family businesses remains “to bring a quality and wholesome source of entertainment accessible to everyone in our community and beyond. We aim to provide the same exemplary service to our local and seasonal guests year-round.” Scott’s wife, Holly Rubenstein, serves as events director and his son, Matthew, is the entertainment director.
The Clubhouse is a place to sip, savor, and hang out. In addition to good food, The Clubhouse has several games to keep guests entertained for hours: A 10-lane bowling alley, three indoor bocce courts, 18-hole mini golf, over 40 arcade games, and two pool tables. The Clubhouse also offers big screen TVs and projectors, plush lounges, fire pits, and a space for special events.
Sourcing from as many local vendors as possible, the menu will rotate seasonally. Envision starting your meal with The Clubhouse Salad, with mesclun greens, haricots vert, plum tomatoes, feta cheese, black olives, red onions, and a champagne vinaigrette, before indulging in a main course of local Peconic Bay scallops served over roasted red pepper risotto with sautéed spinach, while sipping on a blood orange margarita. All of this before satisfying a sweet tooth on the housemade ice cream cake, with Black Market espresso and sea salted caramel gelato flavors serving as the two layers, with housemade whipped cream and fresh berries.
Executive chef Brian Schlitt comes to The Clubhouse after six years as the Catering Chef for East End company, Honest Catering. “Working with the Rubensteins — designing and building the kitchen — has been a fantastic experience from day one. We’ve created a menu that has so much more to offer than your standard bowling alley fare. Your dining experience will surpass your expectations,” Schlitt said.
Upon looking at the beer list, several local flavors will stand out such as Montauk Brewing Company and the new, Westhampton Beach Brewing Company. Noticeably missing will be wines from the famed Long Island Wine region, but there are plans to incorporate wines from local vineyards in the near future.
Peggy Stankevich, front-of-house manager, said, “The Clubhouse is a family. We all work as a team together to create the best possible experiences for our customers. With so many different activities for people to enjoy, it is truly a fun atmosphere and a privilege to be a part of.”