get ready. it's the summer of 2004 and change is the in air. lots of new restaurants have come to town, including some welcomed surprises. alison by the beach ,for starters, has moved. she's taken over the old school street (out of b'ness), and changed her name to just alison. if you spend your weekends racing to watermill for the suki zuki salad, owner toyo kamatani has been working diligently to complete his new east hampton space, toyo (meaning kite), with the only outdoor japanese dining in the area. leave it to david loewenberg of red bar to open yet another space - fresno , and yes, the guys from bamboo are up to it again in a new spot. keep a lookout for some of the following newcomers this season:

alison
95 school street
bridgehampton
hours: dinner only.
tues - sun: 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm,
fri - sat 'til 11:30 pm,
bar menu for later hours.
fare: basque regional
formerly: 95 school street
owner: alison hurt (alison by the beach)
tel: 631.537.7100
opens: memorial day

citta nuova
29 newtown lane
east hampton
hours: seven days,
lunch: 11:30 am - 5:00 pm,
dinner: 5:00 pm - 11:30 pm
fare: italian bistro
formerly: the grill
owner: ben krupinksi (east hampton point, 1770 house)
tel: 631.324.6300
opens: early june
www.cittanuova.com

dragonbar
720 north sea road
southampton
hours: late.
fare: eclectic asian dinner served up with a little nightlife, and bottle service a.k.a. bamboo.
formerly: nothing.
owners: jeffrey goldstein & mike heller
tel: 631.283.5920
opens: memorial day weekend.

fresno
8 fresno place
east hampton
hours: dinner only.
mon - sun: 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm,
fri - sat: 6:00 pm - midnight
fare: inventive american cuisine
formerly: santa fe junction, fresno, fresno place
owners: michael nolan (miracle grill), david loewenberg (red bar, beacon)
631.324.8700
opens: this friday, 5/14

jlx
16 main street
sag harbor
hours:
lunch: mon - fri: 11 am - 4:00 pm,
sat: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm,
dinner: thurs, sun 5:00pm - midnight,
fri - sat, 5:00 pm - 2:00 am
fare: breakfast and lunch bistro
formerly: peter miller's
owner: jean-luc (jean-luc east. his real name is ed kleefield, but his friends call him jean-luc.)
tel: 631.725.9100
opens: mid-june.
www.jlxbistro.com

ocean grill
1 ocean road
bridgehampton
hours: weekdays,
lunch 11:30 am - 5 pm,
dinner 5:30 pm - 10 pm,
fri & sat, 11:30 am - 5:00 pm,
5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
fare: mixed mediterranean
formerly: american bistro
owners: michael & betty dowling (giordano's)
tel: 631.537.5665
opened: april 2004

tombi
66 newton lane
east hampton
hours: seven days.
lunch: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
dinner: 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
fare: japanese & sake bar
formerly: cafe on main
owner: toyo kamatani (suki zuki)
tel: not yet available
opened: memorial day