Sag Harbor - Estias Little Kitchen (1615 Sag Harbor/Bridgehampton Turnpike, 631-725-1045) is a very tiny building that is placed gently in the heart of the Hamptons on the line of Sag Harbor and Bridgehampton. The lack of size of the actual building is replaced by the melting pot of flavors and freshness of the Mexican cuisine brought to you by Chef and restaurateur Colin Ambrose. The restaurant stands alone next to a beautiful garden of fresh vegetables and bright flowers making it the perfect place to experience new flavors and textures.
The dining room is very intimate with a splash of yellows and greens and it is all tied in with a beautiful mosaic which speaks history to the location of the establishment. The tables are perfectly placed making it the ideal spot to eat and peek at your neighbor's offerings as you engage in conversation with strangers and friends alike. A very nice selection of wine and beer landscape the menu adding in some local favorites including a few from the Wolffer Estate. French wines also are a hit, including wines by the glass such as Clos du Bois cabernet Sauvignon $15, which was earthy and the perfect complement to the fresh start to the meal with white bean puree with homemade fresh organic olive oil and fresh bread which is standard to every table.
The appetizers all sound pleasing and are, such as the duck tamales which were nothing short of perfect - not to dry and the right amount of pork, or the turtle rolls filled with greens, black bean puree, avocado and napa wrapped in a flour tortilla. The sensational freshness of each ingredient stood out in your mouth making your taste buds begging for more and you soon begin to understand the importance of the restaurant's own garden on site.
After you have placed your order the cozy dining room makes you hear and respect all aspects of how a successful Hamptons restaurant is run: the clashing of the dishes, surrounding chatter from neighboring tables, beer glasses being filled and the entrée orders being fired and ready to go. This setting is nothing is perfect for crisp summer nights for a date or catching up with an old friend.
A wide variety of entrees will make any eater satisfied as the Mexican classics stand out such as steak Azteca and the grilled fish tacos. Other classics such as the roasted pork burrito were sensational and filled with over sized pieces of pork, beans and fresh avocado salad. The salsa for dipping was delicious. Nontraditional favorites like the crab cakes with Vida slaw made the taste buds rise with enough crab meat to counter balance the sweet and spicy slaw, both ingredients played off one another very well.
The dining room is very intimate with a splash of yellows and greens and it is all tied in with a beautiful mosaic which speaks history to the location of the establishment. The tables are perfectly placed making it the ideal spot to eat and peek at your neighbor's offerings as you engage in conversation with strangers and friends alike. A very nice selection of wine and beer landscape the menu adding in some local favorites including a few from the Wolffer Estate. French wines also are a hit, including wines by the glass such as Clos du Bois cabernet Sauvignon $15, which was earthy and the perfect complement to the fresh start to the meal with white bean puree with homemade fresh organic olive oil and fresh bread which is standard to every table.
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Love your love handles with chocolate flan. (Christopher Beninati) |
The appetizers all sound pleasing and are, such as the duck tamales which were nothing short of perfect - not to dry and the right amount of pork, or the turtle rolls filled with greens, black bean puree, avocado and napa wrapped in a flour tortilla. The sensational freshness of each ingredient stood out in your mouth making your taste buds begging for more and you soon begin to understand the importance of the restaurant's own garden on site.
After you have placed your order the cozy dining room makes you hear and respect all aspects of how a successful Hamptons restaurant is run: the clashing of the dishes, surrounding chatter from neighboring tables, beer glasses being filled and the entrée orders being fired and ready to go. This setting is nothing is perfect for crisp summer nights for a date or catching up with an old friend.
A wide variety of entrees will make any eater satisfied as the Mexican classics stand out such as steak Azteca and the grilled fish tacos. Other classics such as the roasted pork burrito were sensational and filled with over sized pieces of pork, beans and fresh avocado salad. The salsa for dipping was delicious. Nontraditional favorites like the crab cakes with Vida slaw made the taste buds rise with enough crab meat to counter balance the sweet and spicy slaw, both ingredients played off one another very well.
The bar crowd increased during the night as the lovely snug restaurant space was turned into a bustling Hamptons scene. Classics for dessert and must haves are the cinnamon sweet churros served with fresh fruit. The golden brown crunchy texture worked very well with the melt in your mouth warm and soft chewy inside. The Chocó Flan cake with Kailua sauce is as good as any flan you can try because of its rich chocolate taste and airy texture.
A true Hamptons staple is Estias Little Kitchen, the place to dine on traditional Mexican cuisine with a unique twist and the freshest ingredients supplying the artist and his craft. This quaint South Shore cottage blends culture and cuisine to the overall tradition of Sag Harbor and the entire East End.
