WELCOME TO HUNTER THE RESTAURANT

Nestled in the heart of East Norwich.

Hunter The Restaurant stands as an homage to the timeless elegance of classic French culinary tradition, artfully entwined with the bold, sun-soaked flavors and enduring cultural customs of the Mediterranean. More than a dining destination, Hunter is an immersive experience — one where culinary artistry meets architectural beauty, and where every plate tells a story of craftsmanship, heritage, and contemporary refinement.

At Hunter, the menu is not simply a list of offerings, but a thoughtfully curated narrative composed by Chef and Owner Hunter Wells, whose vision harmonizes classic European technique with fresh, market-driven ingredients and modern gastronomic sensibilities. The result is a cuisine that feels both familiar and surprising: dishes that evoke tradition while embracing innovation, and flavors that are both nuanced and assertive, elegantly presented and deeply satisfying.

The restaurant’s culinary philosophy is rooted in the belief that great food begins with uncompromising quality and a deep respect for ingredients. This ethos is evident in each seasonally inspired dish, where locally sourced produce, sustainably harvested seafood, and premium cuts of meat are elevated through classic techniques and Mediterranean-inflected accents. A menu that evolves alongside the seasons ensures that every visit to Hunter offers guests a new chapter in its unfolding story.

A Space Designed to Enchant

The experience of dining at Hunter begins long before the first plate arrives at the table. Guests are welcomed into an environment carefully designed to engage the senses and evoke a sense of sophisticated comfort. The architectural design, conceived by the acclaimed Bentel & Bentel — recipients of the prestigious James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant Design — is a study in understated luxury and modern craftsmanship.

The restaurant’s interior is distinguished by its soaring, sculpted walnut ceiling, whose warm, organic curves envelop the dining room in a sense of intimacy and grandeur. Beneath this canopy, a serpentine onyx bar snakes through the space, its glowing, luminescent surface offering an alluring focal point for guests to gather, sip, and converse. The palette is rich yet restrained: natural woods, tactile stone, and soft textiles converge to create an atmosphere that feels both refined and inviting.

Subtle, ambient lighting casts a gentle glow, while strategically placed fixtures highlight architectural details and beautifully plated dishes alike. Every element within the space — from the hand-selected tableware to the curated background music — is meticulously considered, contributing to a dining experience that is immersive, memorable, and deeply personal.

Whether enjoying an intimate dinner for two, a celebratory gathering with family, or a lively evening among friends, Hunter The Restaurant offers a setting that is at once sophisticated and unpretentious, luxurious and welcoming.

The Culinary Journey

At the heart of Hunter lies its chef-driven menu — a living, evolving testament to the possibilities that emerge when impeccable technique meets inspired creativity. Chef Hunter Wells’ approach honors the foundational principles of French cuisine: precision, discipline, and respect for both tradition and ingredient integrity. Yet it is equally informed by the bold, expressive flavors of the Mediterranean, drawing from the coastal kitchens of Provence, Tuscany, the Greek Isles, and Southern Spain.

This duality results in a menu where delicate house-made pastas share the stage with robust wood-grilled meats, and where pristine seafood is accented with bright herbs, cold-pressed oils, and citrus zest. Every dish is designed not merely to nourish, but to evoke emotion — to capture a moment, a memory, or a place.

The kitchen’s reliance on market-fresh, locally sourced, and seasonal ingredients ensures a dynamic and ever-changing selection of specials, reflecting both the bounty of the region and the chef’s evolving inspirations. From the early sweetness of spring peas to the sun-ripened tomatoes of late summer, to the earthy warmth of autumn squash and the briny gifts of Long Island’s coast, each ingredient is treated with reverence and transformed through thoughtful technique.

An emphasis on house-made elements — fresh pastas, cultured butters, stocks, and preserves — underscores the restaurant’s commitment to craft. These details are not incidental, but central to the restaurant’s identity: they speak to a philosophy that values patience, mastery, and the kind of culinary care that can only emerge from a kitchen where cooking is a calling, not a chore.

Meet the Chef: Hunter Wells

Chef and Owner Hunter Wells brings both technical expertise and a deeply personal vision to his eponymous restaurant. A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York City, Wells is a chef for whom cooking is both vocation and inheritance — a craft passed down through family traditions and shaped by formal study, tireless practice, and an insatiable curiosity.

His early culinary education took place not in restaurant kitchens but at home, standing beside his father in the family kitchen, learning to coax flavor from simple ingredients and to appreciate the unspoken language of food: its power to gather, to console, to celebrate. These formative experiences planted the seeds of a lifelong passion, one that would eventually lead Wells to pursue formal training in the classical French tradition.

Following his graduation, Wells honed his craft in a succession of esteemed Long Island restaurants, where he developed a reputation for discipline, precision, and an inventive palate. Yet it was his grandfather’s unrelenting optimism and unshakable belief in pursuing one’s dreams that ultimately inspired Wells to strike out on his own and bring Hunter The Restaurant to life.

Today, Wells’ culinary identity is characterized by his reverence for tradition paired with a restless desire to explore new combinations, textures, and techniques. He is a purist, but not a nostalgist — seeking always to honor the integrity of classic dishes while reimagining them for a contemporary palate. His cuisine is defined by contrasts: rustic yet refined, bold yet balanced, familiar yet unexpected.

In every dish he composes, one can trace the influences of his mentors, his travels, and his enduring love for the flavors of the Mediterranean. Yet it is the warmth of those early memories — cooking with his father, dreaming with his grandfather — that most palpably informs the soul of Hunter The Restaurant.

Philosophy & Values

At its core, Hunter The Restaurant exists to serve more than food. It aspires to create moments of connection, memory, and sensory delight. The restaurant’s mission is built on a foundation of integrity, craftsmanship, and hospitality — values that shape every aspect of the dining experience, from the sourcing of ingredients to the plating of dishes, to the warmth of the welcome at the door.

Culinary Integrity
Ingredients are the lifeblood of Hunter’s kitchen. The restaurant maintains close relationships with regional farmers, fishers, and artisans, prioritizing local, sustainable, and ethically produced goods whenever possible. This commitment ensures not only the freshness and quality of every dish, but also a deeper connection to the land and waters that sustain the community.

Craftsmanship & Technique
Technique is revered, not for its own sake, but for the way it can unlock the latent beauty of an ingredient. Every member of the culinary team is trained in classical methods, yet encouraged to bring their own creativity and perspective to the table. The result is a cuisine that honors tradition while remaining distinctly modern.

Hospitality with Heart
Service at Hunter is guided by a philosophy of genuine hospitality: a belief that every guest should feel not only welcomed, but truly cared for. The staff is trained to anticipate needs, offer knowledgeable guidance, and create an atmosphere of ease and conviviality. Whether a guest arrives for a simple weeknight supper or a milestone celebration, they are met with the same warmth, respect, and attentiveness.

The Hunter Experience

Dining at Hunter The Restaurant is designed to be a holistic, multi-sensory experience. It begins with the visual allure of the space — the interplay of light and texture, wood and stone — and continues with the aromas emanating from the open kitchen, where ingredients caramelize, sauces reduce, and fresh herbs are torn by hand.

A curated wine list, composed of both Old World classics and New World discoveries, complements the menu, with selections chosen for their character, food-pairing versatility, and sense of place. Cocktails are crafted with the same care as the dishes, featuring house-infused spirits, seasonal fruits, and botanicals.

As each plate arrives, guests are invited not only to taste, but to experience: the crackle of seared skin, the perfume of citrus oil released at the last moment, the silky texture of a perfectly emulsified sauce. It is this attention to sensory detail — visual, aromatic, textural — that transforms a meal into a memory.

Mission Statement

At Hunter The Restaurant, our mission is to serve and delight our guests by honoring the integrity of our ingredients and the traditions of our craft, while transforming both through thoughtful, inventive expression. We strive to create dishes of enduring beauty and genuine soul — plates that celebrate the familiar while embracing the new.

Guided by classical technique and inspired by the bold flavors of the Mediterranean, we seek to offer an experience that is at once refined and welcoming, sophisticated and unpretentious. Our commitment is to excellence in all things: in the sourcing of our ingredients, the rigor of our techniques, the warmth of our service, and the quality of the moments we create.

We believe that food has the power to gather, to comfort, and to celebrate. It is our privilege to be a part of our guests’ most cherished occasions — and to offer a place where every meal feels like a moment worth remembering.