ELAIA ESTIATORIO It’s not surprising that no detail has been neglected at Elaia Estiatorio: Owner Sofia Crokos is an event planner, and she and her husband, Chris, envisioned the Bridgehampton restaurant as a love letter to their native Greece. They’ve tapped Yanni Tobas to lead the kitchen, and the food has the same welcoming quality as their home.
Elaia Estiatorio owner Sofia Crokos and her husband, Chris. top right: Soutzoukakia Smyrneika: meatballs made with ground beef, onions, garlic, tomato sauce, red wine, and cumin.
What makes the restaurant feel like you’re in Greece? Tobas: You feel like you are dining with family because it’s a warm and relaxed environment. Sofia and her interior-designer friend Karen Gorman created an airy and earthytoned space that you walk into and feel as if you have been transported. How did you put your own touches on this menu? Tobas: My inspiration stems from my Greek roots and what is truly authentic to me. I first learned how to cook from my grandmother Polytimi, and it was her that I treasured the most and who inspired me to follow my dreams. My kitchen is my sanctuary, where I can tap into my recipes from childhood. Greek food is considered one of the healthiest to eat, and so here at Elaia Estiatorio, we are bringing Greece to the Hamptons with lots of flavor and agape—“love” in Greek. 95 School St., Bridgehampton
.