Shafkat Islam, once a professional hip-hop DJ, founded a successful start-up and entered the restaurant business, becoming a partner at a burger joint in West Hampton Beach. After some field research, he realized the place needed a fresh concept.
It happened quickly — a three-month turnaround — but he assembled a new team and, like Islam, set up Daphne’s, a cocktail bar and bistro that doesn’t hesitate to display a bit of international swagger. It reopened this spring.
OK, definition of Swagger: A “lively” bar scene that stays open late. Ridiculous art and moody tones, dark blue glossy bars. There is also a playful and higher-grade menu that can be enjoyed by those with dietary restrictions. And, of course, there’s his hand-curated and thoughtfully curated ’90s hip-hop playlist, which invites you to dinner on what 42-year-old Islam calls a musical “journey.”
It’s an atmosphere that matches the hustle and bustle of the city and the high-end seamless current zeitgeist, the happy marriages that have taken pop culture by storm. The concept has spread rapidly in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, but the Hamptons are notoriously picky about the restaurants frequented by residents and suspected by those around them of trying to escape the memories of city life. So, will it become popular here in the Hamptons?
“When people say we took a lot of risks and we did, it was intentional to let people know who we are. This is who we are.” says Islam. He still has his “real job” as CFO of the software company he sold and now lives in West Hampton full-time.
Everything you see, feel, taste and hear at Daphne’s is personally curated. The restaurant’s website touts an eclectic brain of “chefs, restaurateurs, tech entrepreneurs, DJs and foodies.” It’s like the Hamptons showcasing their passion. That’s where Islam comes in. He eventually sold it and still works for a marketing company.
Daphnez takes a nostalgic look at the ’90s, providing a nostalgic soundtrack for an audience that would have come of age at a time when delicious locally sourced food, late-night bar scenes, and rap and hip-hop royalty like Biggie were on the rise. It’s becoming synonymous with the beat. Jay-Z, Tupac, Nas, Dr. Dre.
“I was told it was risky here[in the Hamptons]and it’s not common[to hear a lot of these artists playing in restaurants]but I think it was a huge success,” Islam says. “Everyone loves it. A lot of people here[West Hampton Beach]grew up with hip-hop, so the reception to this music is huge.”
Food too. “It’s really high quality and local,” says Islam. Daphne’s will use seafood from Haskell’s Day Boat, meat from Justin’s Chop Shop, and cheese and vegetables from the local Saturday farmers’ market whenever possible, he said. Daphne’s Patio He also grows herbs in his garden, so you can eat and socialize outdoors.
Daphne’s menu, which includes brunch, raw bar and dinner, was developed by former Star Boggs chef Jack Clark, who will be in charge of the kitchen. He serves casual Mediterranean fare such as lamb burgers with feta cheese, coffee and mint rabs with herbed fries and harissa aioli. More traditional dishes such as steak frites and pan-fried branzino contrast with the wagyu burger with cheddar cheese and Russian dressing.
please do not worry. Lobster rolls (with hot or cold truffle butter) and Lobster Eggs Benedict for brunch are also available. “The chef is from this area and knows what people in this area want,” says Islam.
Next, head to a chic bar. It gets livelier as the night goes on. The cocktail menu includes cocktails such as the Dune Road Daiquiri, Good Morning Marg (Tequila, Cucumber Juice, Coconut Juice and Water, Electrolyte Drops, Lime, Agave), and Yuzu Palmer. The bar menu will be able to cater to everyone from reserve wine connoisseurs to drinkers who simply want a healthy or just “very creative” alternative to their favorite cocktail.
There’s no dancing at Daphne’s, but they seem to encourage you to have a good time. To help with that part, Islam pondered the sonic enjoyment that accompanies social times.
Evening music is offered in three waves: Daphne by Day, Daphne by Dusk, and Daphne by Night. “These days, when you go to a fancy restaurant in New York, you hear old-school hip-hop, and nobody knows who Mobb Deep is,” Islam says.
What sets his playlist apart, Islam says, is that he’s a true fan of the genre and an old-school hip-hop DJ.
“I’m a DJ, I curate, and I have a whole journey that takes people during the night,” he says. “It’s not just random. Over time, it starts to build.”
He usually sets the mood in the evenings with instrumental or melodic hip-hop (think A Tribe Called Quest or Mos Def), but by 10:30 p.m. ’90s hip-hop to deeper, more gritty tunes. Hop Legends (and Mobb Deep)
“We want to have the bar pumped by 10:30 or 11:00, so the journey is very intentional. No one is allowed to shuffle,” he said. increase.
Islam said he believes he’s found the right balance between local and leisure and plans to keep it open all year round. Part of the reason is recognizing that it “wasn’t that popular” on his Facebook group locally, and choosing the right concept to inherit the former space of his LT Burger, the restaurant he replaced. Prior to that, he consulted with the local West Hampton Beach community.
“The town said, ‘I want a nice place to eat good local food, drink, and stay open late,'” he says. “And it was clear that this was missing.”
Daphne’s is located at 115 Main Street in Westhampton Beach. For more information, visit daphnesny.com.
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