"Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance," Greek Philosopher Epicurus once said. Food is definitely something we share universally and enjoy. International flavors enrich our lives and allow us to step into another dimension when it comes to dining out.
The latest addition to the East End, Trata East, an authentic Greek seafood restaurant has managed to bring bit of Greece to the Hamptons. Trata transported my taste buds for an evening of Greek dining at its best. From the moment my friend and I walked through the door, we were impressed by the unique charm of this newly renovated space located on Montauk Highway in Water Mill, where Gin Lane previously occupied.
We decided to start the night off with two glasses of Chardonnay from Trata's extensive wine list boasting more than 100 Greek vintages. Conversations flowed throughout as we sat comfortably at the sprawling elegant Brazilian black walnut bar that adorns the first room. The décor is crisp white and dressed in an art deco style.
Upon entering the main dining room, a display of a variety of freshly caught Mediterranean fish sits atop mounds of ice located in front of Trata's spacious kitchen. The aroma of Greek herbs and fresh seafood filled the air as we were escorted to our cozy table in the second room.
The menu is a lot to absorb at first glance, but then it becomes like a good book you can't put down. With all the traditional authentic offerings, the intrigue of each dish is quite alluring. For starters, we ordered Garides (grilled shrimp skewer served with a celeriac and fennel salad and tossed in a pomegranate vinaigrette dressing was cooked to perfection), Anginares (delicately pan-fried artichoke with a sun-dried tomato honey vinaigrette), and Feta Sto Fourno (barrel-aged creamy feta cheese topped with Kalamata olive capers, red tomato and Greek oregano baked in a clay pot with extra virgin olive oil).
A few additional offerings included Astakosoupa (homemade lobster bisque infused with Ouzo), Midia Trata (green-tip mussels, Littleneck clams, tomato, garlic and crumbled feta in a white wine and Ouzo broth), and Saligaria Stifado (stewed snails, tomato, onion, garlic, Cypriot orange loukaniko sausage in a white wine sauce). And then, our main entrees arrived. It was Trata's Bakaliaro Plaki (a light flaky baked Black Cod prepared with tomato, Vidalia onion, potatoes and fresh herbs cooked in a white wine sauce, baked in a clay pot) and the Paidakia (tenderly cooked lamb chops prepared Mediterranean-style grilled with lemon and fresh herbs) that added to our most enjoyable dining experience.
A few other standouts include Trata's whole fish selections (American Snapper, Arctic Char, Dover Sole, Pompano, Red Fagri, Tiger Shrimp (Excellent!), and Karavides), as well as Brizola (Sirloin Steak), Kotopoulo Krassato (Cornish Game Hen), and Mykonos Macaronada (a shrimp pasta dish).
No meal is complete without dessert and Trata offers many to choose from (I'll have to try a different one each visit). On this occasion it was a velvety Greek yogurt dressed with honey and pistachios that ended our night on a high note.
Executive Chef Athanasios Papoutsis has created a menu that offers something for everyone. If you love the taste of fresh exotic seafood, you won't be disappointed. Considering Trata is the "new spot in town," they appear to have worked out all the details with ease. The warm and friendly atmosphere makes for a place to dine with the entire family, a gathering place for friends, or an intimate escape for two.
Trata is located at 1020 Montauk Highway, Water Mill. For more information, please call 631-726-6200. When in Manhattan, visit Trata Estiatorio at 1331 Second Avenue (between 70th and 71st Streets), 212-535-3800.
