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Estia’s Little Kitchen Closes After 27 Years on the Turnpike, Final Morning Cut Short by Staff Walkout
A beloved Hamptons breakfast and lunch spot ends its run abruptly, leaving behind a loyal community, handwritten notes of gratitude and nearly three decades of memories.
It was reliable, comforting, a place you went with friends or maybe for a business meeting that didn’t feel like business. Warm. Unpretentious. And the food was delicious — and fresh.
A Final Day That Didn’t Go as Planned
Estia’s Little Kitchen, a 27-year East End staple known for its casual breakfasts, clean, Mexican-inspired menu and deeply loyal following, closed Sunday morning after its final day of service was cut short when a staff walkout forced an early shutdown.
The restaurant had originally announced it would serve its final customers on April 19 until 2 p.m. Instead, service ended shortly before 9 a.m. when owner Colin Ambrose informed guests waiting outside that the majority of the floor staff had walked out, making it impossible to continue.
Diners who had lined up early for one last meal were turned away unexpectedly, many lingering as the reality of the abrupt ending set in. In the hours that followed, handwritten notes began appearing on the doors and windows—messages of gratitude, memories and farewells from longtime patrons marking the loss of a place that had become part of their weekly rhythm on the East End.
A Grateful Goodbye from the Owner
In a message posted ahead of the planned closure, Ambrose wrote:
“After 27 years on the Turnpike, we will be closing our doors … We’re honored to have shared and served this town for all these years. The memories made at the counter and in the garden will last a lifetime. Our hearts are full of gratitude as we say goodbye and look ahead to time with grandkids and open waters.”
Ambrose said the decision ultimately came down to stepping away. “I’m tired and want to retire,” he said to The Patch, adding there had been no buyers for the business.
More Than a Restaurant
Ambrose, who purchased the property in November 1998 and opened Estia’s Little Kitchen in February 1999, built more than a restaurant over nearly three decades. Estia’s became a gathering place—equal parts breakfast counter, garden hangout and community hub—where regulars returned year after year and milestones quietly unfolded.
“People got married in our garden, had bridal showers and graduation parties,” Ambrose told The Patch. “The garden was my sanctuary.”
“I love the people, all of them,” he added. “I’m proud of every day we served the community—especially those slow winter days when most of our competitors were closed.” — Colin Ambrose, owner of Estia’s Little Kitchen
A Fixture in the Community
That sense of community extended well beyond the dining room. Over the years, Estia’s supported local organizations including Sag Harbor Cinema, the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreation Center, the American Saltwater Guides Association and Hamptons Community Outreach, among others.
The closure follows the sale of the property, which Ambrose listed in November 2025 with Hal Zwick of Compass for $3.75 million. The nearly 1-acre site on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike includes a 1,500-square-foot restaurant with 38 seats and outdoor garden space long used for gatherings and events.
GoFundMe Claims Staff Learned Minute of Closure
In the days following the shutdown, that same community has rallied around the restaurant’s staff. A GoFundMe launched by Alexander and Erica-Lynn Huberty, which had raised more than $25,000 as of Tuesday morning, April 21, says the closure came as a shock to employees who had served the East End for years.
“If you ever ate at Estia’s Little Kitchen in Sag Harbor, you know what a special place it was,” the campaign states. “It wasn’t just the fresh, delicious food, but also the always friendly, top-notch staff who served with care and kindness for over a decade.”
According to the organizers, the 11 employees learned it was their last day at the same time as the public, with less than 24 hours’ notice via social media. The campaign is seeking support for the team as they navigate the sudden loss of their jobs.
A Restaurant with a Legacy
After 27 years, the loss lands quietly but deeply—not just as the closing of a restaurant, but as the end of a place where mornings began, traditions formed and, for many, the East End felt a little more like home