Riviera Dining Group photo
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Another restaurant is opening in Coconut Grove this month, and this time it’s a lush and sleek Mediterranean spot. Ava MediterrAegean, founded by Riviera Dining Group (RDG), celebrated its soft opening to invited guests on Thursday, November 13, but will open to the public on Thursday, November 20, blending refined design with an upscale dining experience. Led by chef Michaël Michaelidis and executive chef Frédéric Aumeunier, the culinary team plans to deliver Cycladic flavors shaped by RDG’s distinctive touch.
To those not familiar with the name, the group owns some of Miami’s hottest new restaurants, including Mila, which was named one of the most beautiful restaurants in the U.S., Casa Neos, and Claudie, the latter being one of New Times‘ Top 100 Restaurants.
“Ava Coconut Grove marks the evolution of our vision — a flagship that brings the soul of the Mediterranean to one of Miami’s most storied neighborhoods,” expresses Gregory Galy, founder and CEO of Riviera Dining Group. Ava MediterrAegean marks the second location of Ava. Following the success of its Winter Park location, this flagship brings more than a traditional restaurant launch — there will even be a members-only program and a chef-led experience called Ava MM.
Riviera Dining Group photo
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A Vibrant Mediterranean Menu
With over 20 years at the forefront of global cuisine, executive chef Frédéric Aumeunier’s menu is an homage to his Mediterranean roots. Guests can expect a vibrant array of Cycladic-inspired dishes, crafted from bright herbs, citrus, olive oil, exotic spices, premium proteins, and seasonal vegetables, capturing the essence of the earth and sea. Having developed his craft in some of the world’s most celebrated kitchens, including Michelin-starred restaurants Per Se, La Maison Pic, and Pineapple & Pearls, Aumeunier brings Miami an expression of Mediterranean cooking that is precise, expressive, and true to the flavors of the Greek islands.
The menu features seafood-forward plates, including the “Aegean Tuna Ceviche,” “Mediterranean Seabass Carpaccio,” and “Chilean Seabassote Kakavia,” alongside luxurious options such as lobster pasta and a 32-ounce Tomahawk steak. Shareable dishes, including whole branzino Spetziota-style and prawns wrapped in crisp kadaifi with black garlic emulsion, encourage convivial dining. Mezze and salads – from roasted peppers with rose water, feta, and pistachio to roasted halloumi with jasmine-flavored pears and Castelfranco, and yellowtail crudo with fig leaf vierge, caviar, and watermelon – showcase the artistry and soul of the kitchen.
Riviera Dining Group photo
Coastal-Inspired Interiors Inspired by the Aegean Sea
The creative approach led by Michaelidis and Aumeunier extends to the design and ambiance. Created by Moroccan-Spanish designer Lazaro Rosa-Violán, the three-part restaurant couples the minimalism of the Aegean Sea with Miami’s effervescent elegance. “We’ve created a restaurant that welcomes the public with exceptional cuisine, design, and atmosphere,” explains Galy. An arrangement of rattan, limestone, travertine custom furniture, and natural fibers sourced from artisans across Greece and Latin America comes together in a coastal palette of whites, sand, and earth tones across the restaurant’s three sections: an open-air terrace, a sculpted dining room, and the intimate members-only club Ava MM. Anchoring the dining room, a rainforest marble bar glows beneath alabaster lamps that elicit a majestic Greek sunset.
Quietly tucked away, Ava MM, the fourth site of RDG’s Members Only Club, offers a distinct experience centered around a Japanese-inspired menu and intimate, chef-led tastings. Rare vintages from the private cellar, complex cocktails, cigar and wine lockers, and custom furniture all enhance the dining experience, complemented by curated cultural programming.
Since RDG’s 2020 debut with Mila, the Miami-based hospitality collective has been redefining Mediterranean fine dining across South Florida, masterfully curating spaces that feel intimate yet comprehensive for its guests. Reservations for Ava MediterrAegean are now open.
Ava MediterrAegean. 2889 McFarlane Rd., CU-2, Miami; 786-540-2889; avamediterraegean.com. Opening Thursday, November 20.
