This chic Greek restaurant from New York is opening in Sunny Isles Beach
Another New York import is joining the Miami dining scene, this time in a luxurious waterfront setting.
Avra Estiatorio, a brand with three locations in New York City and one in Beverly Hills, is opening its newest Greek restaurant Saturday, Nov. 19, at The Estates of Acqualina in Sunny Isles Beach. The Estates are a sister property to the luxurious Acqualina Resort, which earlier this year was named one of the best hotels in the country by U.S. News & World Report and best destination resort in the country in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards by USA Today. USA Today also named it one of the top three waterfront hotels in the country.
The 12,000-square-foot Avra Miami, a collaboration between restaurateurs Nick Tsoulos, Nick Pashalis and Marc Packer, is next door to the resort; a skybridge connects them. But it’s open to locals, too, seating 330 diners. There’s also a 360-degree bar that seats 22 and an outdoor terrace that overlooks an infinity pool and the ocean.
Avra aims to remind you of the sun-drenched Greek islands and their bounty. Seafood, then, is at the forefront of the menu. One of the signature moves of the brand is to allow diners to choose their fish or shellfish from an ice display, a throwback to traditional Greek markets (like those in the village of Nafpaktos, where co-founder Tsoulos was born and grew up).
Once you’ve made your selection — do you want sea bass? do you want grouper? or are the mussels calling your name? — you can have it grilled over charcoal or baked in salt. You can even order it raw as carpaccio or in a ceviche.
Other dishes from executive chef Jose David Diaz include mussels in tomato garlic broth with feta, grouper baked in parchment and Dover sole meuniere with Ossetra caviar.
The menu also emphasizes vegetables and cheeses, with cooked dishes like spinach rice, baked saganaki cheese and grilled Halloumi cheese drizzled with Avra’s own honey. One of the most popular items is Avra Chips, made from thin-sliced zucchini and eggplant, and the brand’s own olive oil is a key ingredient in just about every dish.
The design, by STA Architectural Group, takes advantage of the ocean’s proximity. The entryway, with a Bougainvillea pergola and three salt stone structures from artist Fernando Mastrangelo, leads to floor-to-ceiling windows. Diners can enjoy ocean views as they get to know the menu or get closer to the water on the terrace.
Co-founder Tsoulos said that opening in the Miami area is a “natural progression” for the brand.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring a taste of the Mediterranean to South Florida,” he said.
AVRA MIAMI
Where: The Estates of Acqualina, 17945 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach
Opening: Nov. 19
Hours: 5-11 p.m. WednesdaySunday
Reservations: