The Hamptons, a cluster of posh villages that form the sleepy south fork of Long Island, spring to life in summer with jet-setting New Yorkers arriving in droves. Last summer, Sherman Oaks residents Rafik Louka and his brother Ramy vacationed there and happened to meet Massimo Noja De Marco, partner in PH+E restaurant consultancy. That chance meeting helped plant the seed for what was ultimately a complete transformation of their Sherman Oaks lounge, Vibe Café.
"I just loved the feel of the Hamptons—the food, the architecture, the colors, the excitement," explains Rafik. "With a lot of thought, including hiring an interior designer [Dana Hathaitham] and an architect, we began creating Hamptons 818.”
"Hamptons 818. And yes, there’s a story behind the name. Massimo De Marco, who is the former VP of operations for SBE Entertainment (which oversees the Bazaar restaurants), was vacationing in Southampton last spring, along with designer Dana Hathaitham. While there, the pair met Rafik and Ramy Louka, owners of Vibe Cafe on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, now occupied by Hamptons 818. While eating lobster rolls and sipping on Prosecco, the four came up with the idea to bring a Hamptons-inspired restaurant to the San Fernando Valley."
