Hampton Bays Friendly's now Dero's Food & Family
Dero's Food & Family has opened in the former Friendly's in Hampton Bays. Credit: Newsday/Melissa Azofeifa
A new restaurant has opened in the Hampton Bays space that was once a Friendly's. Dero’s Food & Family has a crowd-pleasing menu of pastas, wraps and burgers.
"If you’re going to build a restaurant for the community, you better ask the community’s advice, so that’s what we did," co-owner Andrew DeRobertis said, referencing how he and his brother Evan polled people in the neighborhood about what they'd want to see on the menu.
Spaghetti with shrimp scampi at Dero's Food & Family in Hampton Bays. Credit: Newsday/Melissa Azofeifa
Comfort food shows up big, from appetizers like focaccia bread ($5), hummus and potato skins ($10 each). Diners can build their own pasta and sauce combinations with spaghetti, rigatoni or gluten free penne ($18-$21). Handhelds range from burgers and tacos to a gyro ($14) and steak wrap ($18). Permits for a pizza oven and liquor license are pending, Evan DeRobertis said.
The eatery is in the space that was originally Friendly’s, then became Salvatores and finally Barona Bay before closing nearly two years ago. The blue suede seats near the bar and clay-colored booths remain, but the owners have added "local hero" walls in the dining room that invite first responders and military to write their names on whiteboards (and get a 10% discount). Other walls are devoted to students who can sign the wall to showcase their academic, artistic and athletic achievements.
"It’s just a family [friendly] atmosphere with good food and at great prices," Evan DeRobertis said.
The DeRobertis family owned Paul’s Italian restaurant in Southampton since 1973 until Paul DeRobertis sold in 2023.
Dero’s Food & Family, 149 W Montauk Hwy., Hampton Bays, 631-594-3379. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 8.a.m.- 9 p.m. Sunday.
Melissa Azofeifa is a restaurants reporter with Newsday's FeedMe team. Having grown up on Long Island, she loves talking about food and its impact on culture. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she joined Newsday in the fall of 2024.
