Elaia Estiatorio — Restaurant in Town of Southampton

Where do I begin with this restaurant? First off, I don’t even like Greek food per se, but here it is different. From the moment you walk in you are greeted by the always warm and welcoming host and manager. The warmly lit candles ensconced around the restaurant warm you with their dancing light whilst you pull up a comfy stool to the bar. Never one to sit at the bar this restaurant is different, because their happy hour is where it’s at. From the ridiculously kind bartenders, Langdon, Landon (not on purpose I believe) and Cash, these lads know how to make a drink. Their margarita is a thing of beauty, rimmed with black sea salt and just the right amount of jalapeno tequila to make it hum. The happy hour menu is a joy. A tossed light-green salad I have been caught eating two of. Perfectly dressed with just the right amount of red wine vinegar, with sprigs of dill found throughout beds of the freshest greens and creamy feta. It’s my favorite salad in all of the Hamptons. The saganaki is too good for waistlines, perfectly fried and oozing melted cheese with a splash of lemon on top I could eat my body weight worth. Not to mention the always warm and fresh pita bread served with an assortment of dips should you choose. The meatballs are also a favorite swimming in a savory tomato broth and a perfectly crisp piece of bread for dipping. I always finish my meal with the Greek yogurt and black cherry dessert which everyone is consistently jealous of. Other fan favorites for food are the roasted chicken and the branzino. But, to me the happy hour is the true star of the show. There are so few places where you can get not only a great drink but reasonable delicious food as well. If ever you find yourself in Bridgehampton you must stop by. It’s like walking into your favorite trattoria and hopefully you will catch my favorite bartender, Langdon who will whip you up some libations that leave you happier then when you came. Always a good time and always leave satisfied and...

Everything about stepping into Elaia is a joy. From the welcoming manager, Mike who is as gracious and kind as an old friend. To Langdon and his delicious, infamous cocktail creations. But, the true star of the show and why I am writing today is to highlight their chef, the gastronomist genius who is, Tommy. As a former food blogger in the city who resides now mainly out East I have to say one thing I find lacking out here in our beautiful hamlet are our restaurants. You can fight me on it, go ahead. Many restaurants I frequent will be ok the first time and disastrous the second. But Elaia is consistently fresh, delectable and inventive new dishes coming weekly courtesy of the brilliance of chef Tommy. I always go for happy hour where the salad is so light and refreshing it feels like you are biting into spring. Oysters that are consistently fresh, shucked with no shell ever and a refreshing new take on mignonette with just a hint of jalapeno that somehow never deter from the delicacy of the shellfish. Saganaki that doesn’t even feel like it was fried, so light and fluffy yet melts into my mouth often bringing me to fromage heaven even though I’ve had it a million times before. Tommy is also always so attentive with us, going the extra mile each time we are there, “making us feel special as one of his regulars.” No matter how bad the day we always leave Elaia happy. Between Mike’s warmth, Langdon’s cocktails to wash it all down and Tommy’s triumphs as resident gastronome, this is the only restaurant in the Hamptons I can tell you whole-heartedly should not be missed. (Will add more photos of food later, think I'm too busy inhaling to...

DECEPTIVE PRACTICES: The restaurant had a Prix Fixe menu for $29.00. My son and I chose from that menu which was a cheap print out slip of paper. We ordered the choices from the Prix Fixe menu. Unnoticeable, were little badly printed parentheticals (+10) (+15). Turns out that on the Prix Fixe menu some dishes you must add dollars. 1. They didn't even put dollar signs ($10) which might get attention 2. The waiter made no mention....did not point out that I had to add $15.00 to my main meal. 3. The owner felt like a mob boss and couldn't care less.

It is misleading advertising. If they wanted to allow Prix Fixe customers to choose options that cost more....they should list them as options on the bottom of the menu so it is clear, not dispersed randomly under the title PRIX FIXE $29.00. And besides that for an additional $15.00 which I didn't know I was going to be charged for was a sliver of duck 4" long, 1" wide and 1" thick and over cooked. You can stop by and pick up their Prix Fixed menu and see for yourself. No matter how nice the atmosphere, Deceptive practices, such as this, defended by a nasty owner should be avoided just on principle alone. If they were a chain restaurant the better business bureau would shut the practice down. But as a small restaurant it is up to the customers to...