Sag Harbor’s new diner bet: a year-round table on Division Street
On Division Street in sag harbor, the address at 51 Division is preparing for a new rhythm: coffee poured early, grills warming for breakfast sandwiches, and lights staying on into the evening. A new year-round eatery, Babe’s Diner, is set to open mid-May in the former Nikki’s Not Dog Stand space, with the team behind it promising a “finer diner” that runs seven days a week.
What is opening in Sag Harbor, and where?
Babe’s Diner will operate at 51 Division Street, taking over the spot previously occupied by Nikki’s Not Dog Stand. The diner is being launched by husband-and-wife team Julian Cavin and Martine Langatta, who have partnered with record executive and entrepreneur Jonny Shipes. The plan is simple on paper but demanding in practice: breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, daily, from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m.
In a village where the year can feel like two different calendars—quiet stretches and peak weekends—the owners are positioning Babe’s as a year-round anchor. The public details emphasize familiarity: “all of the diner classics you know and love made with locally sourced ingredients, ” representatives said, while also highlighting “elevated dishes. ”
What will Babe’s Diner serve, and when will it be open?
The menu described ahead of opening centers on diner staples with a curated edge: five types of breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, cheeseburgers, tuna melts, and triple decker club sandwiches. It also includes Greek and Caesar salads, plus three flavors of homemade milkshakes—chocolate, vanilla, and banana. Service is slated to run seven days a week from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m., with an opening planned for mid-May.
Langatta framed the concept around families and portability, pointing to the location’s walkability: “At Babe’s Diner we pride ourselves on our kid-friendly menu. Perfectly situated on Division Street, families can eat-in or take our sandwiches and milkshakes to-go and enjoy a short walk to Marine Park or Long Wharf, ” she said.
How will the “Sag Harbor Supper Club” change summer weekends?
Beyond daytime service, the team is building a second identity for the space during peak summer weekends: a rotating series of tasting menu-style dinners under the banner “Sag Harbor Supper Club. ” Cavin described it as a shift in mood and purpose as the day turns into evening.
“In addition to our normal service, Babe’s will be hosting restaurants and creators from New York City and around the country for tasting menu style dinners during peak summer weekends, ” Cavin said. “We are looking to curate a family friendly spot during the day, with a supper club in the evening worthy of hiring a babysitter. ”
The first announced guest for the supper club is Eddie Huang, described as of Pecking House and Eleven Madison Park fame, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend. Reservations will be available on Resy for the supper club only.
Who is behind the kitchen, and what does the team bring to the project?
Anthony Petty will oversee the kitchen. Petty’s background is described as including Almond, Topping Rose House, and most recently the Amagansett Golf Club. The ownership group blends food and hospitality experience with a broader cultural footprint: Cavin is the proprietor of Greenberg’s Bagels in BedStuy and the West Village, and he is also the cofounder of Brooklyn Best iced tea and lemonade. Shipes is described as East Hampton-born and New York City-based, working as a record executive and entrepreneur specializing in music and comedy.
For Sag Harbor, the combination signals a diner that aims to function as both a dependable neighborhood stop and a flexible stage for curated events. The team has also said Babe’s will be available on all delivery apps, widening the diner’s reach beyond the seats inside and the foot traffic on Division Street.
What does a year-round “finer diner” mean for sag harbor?
The promise of a year-round operation is a commitment that shapes everything from staffing to supply decisions. Babe’s public plans lean heavily into consistency—daily hours, familiar dishes, and family-friendly positioning—while adding a summer layer that turns certain weekends into ticketed, reservation-driven nights.
That dual approach—classic service by day, curated tasting menus at night—reads like an effort to hold two truths at once: a diner can be routine, and it can also be an occasion. For residents and visitors walking past 51 Division Street, the opening will test whether sag harbor has room for a place that wants to be both the easy stop for pancakes and milkshakes and, on select weekends, a supper club that asks diners to plan ahead.
