Nestled in the heart of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Elia has been a beloved neighborhood institution since it first opened its doors in December 1998. Founded by Pete and Christina Lekkas, the restaurant was born from a passion for sharing the vibrant, soulful flavors of Greece with the Brooklyn community.
The name “Elia” means olive in Greek — a fitting tribute to the ingredient that lies at the very heart of Greek cuisine and culture. The olive tree, celebrated since ancient times as “the tree that feeds the children,” has been intertwined with Greek history, tradition, and identity for millennia. In keeping with that legacy, Elia uses only the finest Greek extra virgin olive oil in every dish, along with the freshest, highest-quality ingredients available.
Olive oil production held a prominent position in the Cretan Minoan and the Mycenaean society and economy as is shown by excavations and findings (earthenware jars, recordings on tablets, remains of oil mills). During the Minoan Period, olives were treated and oil was produced which in turn was stored in earthenware jars and amphorae. Quite often it was exported to the Aegean islands and mainland Greece. Apart from the financial gains, though, the olive tree was worshipped as sacred and its oil, besides being offered to the Gods and the dead, was also used in the production of perfumes, medicine and in daily life as a basic product in diet, lighting, and heating.
We use the finest Greek extra virgin olive oil in all our food preparations as well as the finest ingredients to bring you the dishes of Greece with our chefs modern day interpretations.
Come walk into our little restaurant and transport yourself to a Greek village tavern!
