This season, the unmistakable scent of ocean air mingling with sizzling butter, clinking champagne flutes, and the lively hum of high society signals the grand return of La Goulue Sur Mer to Southampton. Conceived by a visionary team alongside his business partner, Joseph DeCristofaro, this elegant outpost transforms a beloved pop-up into a permanent sanctuary for the summer, serving as a heartfelt homage to a golden era of classic French dining. Heavily inspired by his own childhood and his French-born parents’ love for Manhattan’s Upper East Side French bistros, he set out to recreate that precise magic, infusing it with mid-century glamour. Guests are greeted by a glowing neon sign at the entrance, stepping first into a seductive, club-like waiting room where a dedicated server and a vintage trolley laden with premium Champagne stand ready to ease them into the evening. The walls are adorned with sophisticated René Bouché illustrations, while a custom-curated soundtrack of American classics from 1958 to just before the psychedelic era floats seamlessly through the space. The dining room itself is a theater of culinary tradition, complete with an authentic 1910 Christofle trolley used to carve and serve succulent beef Wellington tableside, sitting alongside crowd favorites like their signature cheese soufflé, escargot, and the iconic hamburger. To top off this transportive experience, a Beverly Hills-style valet service coordinates a glamorous parade of sports cars out front, establishing an immediate, high-octane aesthetic that bridges coastal tranquility with Hollywood allure.
Having called Southampton home for several decades, he possesses a rare, intimate perspective on the cultural shifts that have shaped the East End over the years. This deep-rooted familiarity allows him to inject a distinct Hamptons spin into La Goulue Sur Mer, balancing timeless sophistication with the vibrant, nocturnal energy of the area’s legendary past. Reminiscing on the glittering heyday of local nightlife, he is determined to bridge the generational divide by introducing carefully curated live acts, acoustic bands, and dynamic DJs designed to attract a lively, younger crowd later in the evening. This strategy is far from his first rodeo; he successfully utilized a similar formula during the twilight years of the legendary Madison Avenue watering hole, Mortimer’s, proving that storied institutions can effortlessly evolve without losing their core identity. By cultivating a late-night atmosphere that transitions gracefully from fine dining to upscale socializing, he is not merely running a restaurant, but rather curating a living social hub where historic Hamptons charm meets the modern pulse of the next generation.
The path that led him to the peak of the luxury hospitality industry was paved with serendipity, starting in the sun-drenched streets of Los Angeles where he first arrived as a hopeful young actor, even securing a memorable appearance on the wholesome TV drama 7th Heaven. To make ends meet between auditions, he worked as a nightclub doorman and occasional bartender, roles that inadvertently prepared him for his true calling by teaching him the subtle art of crowd curation and hospitality. His destiny shifted dramatically in 1998 when he met Jean Denoyer, the legendary restaurateur who founded the original Manhattan La Goulue in 1973 and had just launched the trendy Beverly Hills hotspot Le Colonial. Deciding he wanted to focus on other ventures, Denoyer began searching for an equity partner to oversee the Los Angeles location—a proposition that initially slipped his mind until a wild, movie-ready sequence of events unfolded. While speeding down Beverly Boulevard in a car filled with an entourage that included his close friend René Elizondo Jr. and his then-wife, global superstar Janet Jackson, he caught sight of Le Colonial’s glowing sign and suddenly remembered his scheduled meeting. Bursting into the restaurant upstairs with a glamorous entourage in tow, he stood before a stunned but amused Denoyer, who took one look at the charismatic young man and his superstar crew and declared on the spot, “This is the guy,” cementing a partnership that would redefine his life.
For him, restaurants have never been merely about food and beverage; they are essential social ecosystems, functioning as upscale clubhouses where cosmopolitan travelers can find a familiar sense of home wherever they land. Just as Le Colonial served as an exclusive sanctuary for visiting New Yorkers seeking comfort in the heart of Los Angeles, and the Palm Beach iteration of La Goulue became a winter playground for high-society East Coasters in South Florida, La Goulue Sur Mer has naturally evolved into a premier gathering spot for a sophisticated, multi-city diaspora. This unique establishment effortlessly unites distinct social circles, drawing in loyal patrons from Los Angeles who remember him from his early West Coast hospitality days, alongside old-school Southampton icons and seasonal residents from Palm Beach. It is a masterclass in social alchemy, creating a refined yet welcoming milieu where captains of industry, legendary socialites, and creative trendsetters can interact seamlessly under one roof. By providing this consistent, high-touch luxury experience across multiple geographical touchpoints, he has fostered a deep sense of loyalty, assuring his jet-setting clientele that no matter where they travel, a warm welcome and a perfectly chilled glass of champagne await them.
At its heart, the magic of La Goulue Sur Mer lies in these remarkable human intersections, where diverse social factions from different eras and locations effortlessly coagulate into a warm, unified community of friends. On any given summer evening, the dining room might play host to legendary old-school Southampton figures like Wilbur Ross and Hilary Geary, enjoying conversations alongside Palm Beach luminaries such as Cornelia Guest and Talbott Maxey. But beyond the glitter of high society, the restaurant has served as a conduit for deeply personal and emotional reunions that transcend the boundaries of time. He fondly recalls a moment from last summer when Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody—a close confidant from his early acting days with whom he had lost touch for over a quarter of a century—unexpectedly arrived at the restaurant, culminating in a powerful, spontaneous embrace that melted away twenty-five years of distance. It is these profound, unexpected moments of human connection that he cherishes above all else, viewing them as the true, priceless gifts of a life spent in service of hospitality.
Looking to the future, his creative fires remain as bright as ever, fueled by a relentless desire to craft immersive, unforgettable sensory experiences that prioritize pure fun over simple commercial viability. His ultimate dream project is to meticulously recreate the legendary, high-octane energy of the 1980s Hamptons dance club scene, paying authentic homage to iconic long-lost venues like Le Mans and Club Marakesh with absolute technical and aesthetic perfection. While he acknowledges with a chuckle that such a passionate, niche undertaking might not be a guaranteed moneymaker, he remains steadfast in his philosophy that the best ventures are born out of genuine passion rather than calculated profit margins. For him, the true joy lies in the art of the experience—designing spaces where people can escape reality, dance without inhibition, and forge memories that linger long after the music stops. If these labor-of-love projects happen to turn a profit, it is merely a welcome bonus to a life beautifully lived in the pursuit of bringing people together to celebrate the very best of human connection.
