Sofia Crokos is the co-owner of Elaia Estiatorio, an authentic Greek restaurant located in Bridgehampton, New York. Sofia is a born-and-raised Brooklynite and fashion expert who founded her own event design and planning company, Sofia Crokos Events & Lifestyle. To soothe her insatiable appetite for adventure, Sofia explores the world, searching for inspiration, from delicious restaurants to revitalizing beach walks. Harnessing her passions for beauty and flavor, Sofia continues to curate and contemplate her yet-to-be-published book.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I am the co-owner of Elaia Estiatorio, an authentic Greek restaurant located in Bridgehampton, NY. I was inspired to open Elaia when I moved to the Hamptons with my husband, Chris Boudouris. I am born-and-raised in Brooklyn and worked in the fashion industry for seven years before founding my event design and planning company, Sofia Crokos Events & Lifestyle. 

What inspired you to start your business?

Upon seeing a lack of authentic Greek food in Bridgehampton and the greater Hamptons, Chris and I determined to provide locals and visitors with Greek recipes in an atmosphere that felt like home. By opening in 2017, Chris and I paid homage to their Greek roots while celebrating the Hamptons’ ingredients, community, and spirit through rustic yet elegant cuisine that brings the freshest dishes to the table. In addition, I honed my visual skills and polished fashion sense for my events company to design exceptional events, working with various NYC and global private clients. 

Where is your business based?

My businesses are based in NYC and Bridgehampton. 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

In 1998, my friend put me in touch with an experienced events contact, Wendy, who worked with Manhattan clients and was an excellent resource for me. Wendy completely took me under her wing because she saw my thirst for this business. She provided invaluable advice, and I am forever grateful for this insight. After about eight months, she gave me my first gig, a tented wedding; I had no idea what a “tented wedding” meant, but I dove right. We are still in touch to this day! I researched the industry thoroughly and networked from there on out. 

We opened Elaia Estiatorio in 2017. I didn’t have any background in running and owning a restaurant, but five years in, my husband and I embarked on this project together because it was something we thought the community needed. It was something that spoke to my Greek heritage, so I jumped in. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business? 

I made sure to stay in tune with people in my community. I consider myself to be a “connecter.” I cherish collaborations and making others feel welcome, whether at the restaurant or an event. I am in love with creating celebrations and celebrating others’ lives, which spoke to others, and then word of mouth gained me a lot of traction.

What have been your biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them? 

Of course, this pandemic has been a massive blow to the service industry. COVID changed our mindsets and put everything to a halt. We had to adapt to find new ways to curate celebrations at my events company. At Elaia, we had a lot of ups and downs. It was challenging at first - we had to stay patient. A silver lining ended up being that people flocked from all cities and congested areas to visit Bridgehampton, but we also struggled like all restaurants.

We were and are in solidarity with our friends in the restaurant business. Our employees had a tough time, so we did our best to get creative to sustain our business, whether through takeout programming or fun incentives to get people through the door. The moment we offered outdoor dining, we strived to get our employees back to work. Nothing changed in our kitchen team - our staff was ride or die. From management down to our staff, they couldn’t wait to return. We were fortunate. We also donated food weekly to Southampton’s Hospital.

How do you stay focused?

I am very mindful of breathwork. I love my meditation and nature walks. These mindful exercises keep me in line and focused; they are mindful breaks that allow me to step back into my work. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition? 

Elaia is the only Greek eatery and is a unique gem in the Hamptons. The passion for Greek cuisine and heritage shines through at our restaurant. I am both an event planner and a restauranteur, giving me a unique perspective, level of expertise, and creativity. My highly curated experiences incorporate my unique aesthetic and appreciation of design, Greek gastronomy, and global travels. 

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs? 

Patience. Everyone seems to be in a rush today. There is so much instant gratification. Take life slowly and smartly. Connect with people that are aligned with you. Just because something didn’t work out today doesn’t mean it won’t work out tomorrow. There are too many ups and downs in entrepreneurship to move too quickly. Crash and burn moments are okay - they are actually needed. You need to go through these motions to figure out what works. Don’t focus so much on what everyone else is doing. 

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

For apps, I adore Insight Timer; it’s for my meditation. For blogs, I love Eye Swoon by Athena Calderone. The love she pours into her living surroundings and her love of food, design, and gatherings speak to my spirit directly. 

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

I used to love reading the food section of the Sunday Styles. I have also always been a fan of Tony Robbins. I’ve followed his work for over twenty years; I found his audio tapes really motivating. 

How do you balance work and life? 

My balance is self-care. I find time to give a little love to myself. I need to find time to laugh at a great table with my loved ones and friends. 

What do you have planned for the next six months? 

Harnessing my passions for aesthetics and flavor, I am gearing up for the summer, collaborations, and wine dinners in partnership with my husband’s company, McNamara Liquors. I hope to find some adventure and get to travel the world some more this year, searching for inspiration, from restaurants to beach walks. I hope to go back to Greece, too! My dream is to create Elaia’s own Olive Oil. Stay tuned!

How can our readers connect with you?

Come and visit us at the restaurant! Or feel free to follow the restaurant on @elaia_hamptons and me on @sofiacrokosevents!