Greek in Miami

Taverna Opa

900 S. Miami Ave. Little Havana

305-673-6730

Greek, Restaurants, Sponsor

3 articles

Almazar Greek and Middle Eastern Fine Foods

1665 SW 107th Ave. Central Dade

305-225-1127

Greek, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Best Of, Menu

It doesn't take much to enjoy the best baklava in town; all you need to do is put $3.50 in your pocket and drive to Westchester. Almazar Greek and Middle Eastern Fine Foods, across the street from FIU's University Park campus, offers two varieties: walnut and pistachio. Unlike many baklavas, these aren't too rich or too sweet. What is sweet: Try both for only $5. If you arrive with an appetite for the savory, order the lentil soup or homemade falafel. Choose from a variety of sandwiches made with baba ghannouj (eggplant), hummus, or shawarma. A refreshing yogurt salad with cucumbers, mint, and garlic is perfect for a light lunch. Almazar is also a bakery and delicatessen full of goodies such as fresh Middle Eastern cookies, ladyfingers, fresh feta cheese, and green olives. You'll run into many FIU students opting for Almazar over the campus cafeteria or fast-food joints. Or could it be the hookah pipes -- also for sale -- that draw them?

1 article

Andu Restaurant & Lounge

141 SW 7th St. Brickell

786-871-7005

Greek, Mediterranean, Recommended, Menu

This groovy-glam lounge-ish downtown restaurant features a modern-Med-by-the-numbers menu, a pastiche of popular items served in numerous other restaurants. Warm starters include steamed mussels, Moroccan-spiced calamari, and potato gnocchi. The last, forged from Yukon Gold, are light and luscious in a pink cream sauce salted with pecorino Romano and Serrano ham. A cold appetizer of charred beef carpaccio brought beautiful red tissues of meat with delicately caramelized outer rings, but the flavor was obfuscated by an avalanche of panzanella salad sitting on top. Main course menu descriptions are so unreliable that one might reasonably suspect they were ghost-written by James Frey: Grilled Maine lobster with chili garlic butter came coated with tomato glaze instead, "traditional paella" brought overcooked rice and no seafood besides mussels, and "milk-fed veal parmigiana" is eggplant parmigiana with minced veal in the sauce. Six mini doughnuts with crunchy orange glaze and a side cup of hot white chocolate suffice as a decent dessert.

2 articles

Atlantikos

9703 Collins Ave. Surfside/Bal Harbour

305-993-3300

Greek, Mediterranean, International

6 articles

Avra Miami

17885 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach Surfside/Bal Harbour

786-807-7555

Greek, Seafood

BarMeli Miami

725 NE 79th St. Miami Shores/Biscayne Park

305-754-5558

Mediterranean, Tapas, Greek, Wine Bar, Recommended

This tapas and wine bar shares a small, slightly seedy shopping center with a hair salon and a tiny gym that promises personal training at discount prices. That makes it seem all the more like a hidden gem, a personal find, one of those so-called secret places that people whisper about to their friends, as in "I just found this great little joint." Inside, the restaurant feels like one of those wonderful little bistros or tavernas seen in movies. You really can't pinpoint the exact country or town; you just know it's damn charming. The bar is a welcoming place for commiserating with a comrade over a tough workday. The place is also friendly enough if you're on your own. Wines are predominantly from the Mediterranean, with some interesting selections from Sardinia and Israel. The tapas are all delicious, but the show-stopper is the flaming saganaki. The Greek cheese dish is doused with brandy and set aflame. Proteins include plenty of lamb, octopus, and a chicken breast that's nicely charred on the outside and juicy on the inside. Vegetarians have many options, such as piquillo peppers stuffed with manchego cheese, pine nuts, and almonds. A friendly, casual vibe, along with good food and drinks at reasonable prices, make BarMeli a great neighborhood joint. http://www.miaminewtimes.com/restaurants/barmeli-wonderful-tapas-and-affordable-wines-define-this-neighborhood-joint-7560716

8 articles

BarMeli69

6927 Biscayne Blvd. Miami Shores/Biscayne Park

305-754-5558

Mediterranean, Greek, Recommended

This tapas and wine bar, located in Miami’s MiMo District, sits alongside a no-tell motel. The location makes BarMeli69 seem all the more like a hidden gem, a personal find, the kind of place you whisper about to your friends, as in, “I just found this great little joint.” Inside, the restaurant feels like one of those wonderful little bistros or tavernas you only see in movies. You really can’t pinpoint the exact country or town; you just know it’s charming. Wines are predominantly from the Mediterranean, including off-the-grid selections from Sardinia and Israel. All the tapas are delicious, but the showstopper is the flaming saganaki; the Greek cheese dish is doused with brandy and set aflame. A friendly, casual vibe, an outdoor patio in back, along with good food and drinks at reasonable prices, makes BarMeli69 a great neighborhood joint.

5 articles

Calista Taverna

150 Giralda Ave. Coral Gables/S. Miami

786-310-7660

Greek, Mediterranean

1 article

Calista Taverna

1444 Drexel Ave., Miami Beach South Beach

786-803-8657

Greek, Mediterranean

Doya

347 NW 24th St. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

305-501-2848

Mediterranean, Greek, Recommended, Best Of, Readers' Choice, Essentials

With modern Aegean cuisine hailing from the shores of Greece and Turkey, Doya inspires with its dishes and its setup. Maybe it's the bohemian decor, impressive wooden tables, lush patio for dining al fresco, and giant windows that usher in the perfect amount of light from dawn to dusk, but this is one of the most handsome restaurants in Wynwood. And the food is divine. You're guaranteed to savor both big and small plates, from branzino ceviche to the baked feta. Make sure to order meats and veggies prepared over wood fire and coals, lending a distinct flavor that will ship you off mentally to a sea-sprayed, sparkling evening on the Aegean Sea.

4 articles

Eat Greek Souvlaki

1060 Brickell Ave. Brickell

305-374-4771

Greek, Mediterranean, Best Of

1 article

Eat Greek Souvlaki

2917 Biscayne Blvd. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

Greek, Mediterranean, Best Of

3 articles

Eat Greek Souvlaki

1570 Alton Rd., Miami Beach South Beach

Greek, Mediterranean, Best Of

2 articles

Enso

433 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach South Beach

305-534-3676

American, Eclectic, Greek, Japanese, Mediterranean, Best Of

"Enso is an evolutionary solutions workshop which creates the scientific study of deliciousness." So begins the insanely inventive, thoroughly audacious menu at this new sushi/hibachi/Mediterranean deconstructionist establishment on Lincoln Road. Each of a dozen main courses is categorized as "Study," "Analysis," or "Inspiration"; some come fragmented into four. Yellowtail, for instance, brings hamachi meatballs; a "terrine" of raw hamachi slices with diced apple and pine-nut crisp; hamachi "ravioli" wrapped around diced fruit and foamed with basil; and pliable "chips" of fish with "clarified gazpacho." Each component thrilled, as did all four parts of a chocolate dessert (ranging in form from Kit Kat bar to caviar). Sushi is solid too, and a few ceviches and tiraditos are offered. Yet another option (and best bang for the buck at $19) is to choose from a list of meat, fish, and vegetable skewers - served with rice, flour tortillas, salad, and potato croquette - and cook them at a tableside hibachi. Fancier entrées run $28 to $32. Enso's cuisine surprises with its inventiveness and audacity, but what really shocks is just how tasty most of it is.

4 articles

Estiatorio Milos by Costas Spiliadis

730 First St., Miami Beach South Beach

305-604-6800

Greek, Mediterranean, Seafood, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow, Essentials

Greek cuisine is rooted in simplicity and quality ingredients. At Estiatorio Milos in South Beach, there's something new to discover on every visit. The fish selection changes daily depending on what fishermen haul in. The day's catch is prepared to your liking and priced according to weight. There's nothing newfangled here, but when it comes to top-notch seafood, Milos is in a league of its own. One of the restaurant's specialties is melt-in-your-mouth, charcoal-broiled octopus seasoned with white balsamic vinegar and olive oil produced by the owner's sister in Greece. Another signature dish is the tomato salad with cucumbers, green peppers, onions, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. The restaurant's housemade Greek yogurt dessert is so thick and creamy that you'll never believe you're eating something good for you.

33 articles

Estiatorio Ornos a Michael Mina Restaurant

19565 Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 946 Aventura/North Miami Beach

786-697-1681

Greek, Mediterranean, Best Of

4 articles

Greco Boys Grill

1710 Alton Rd., Miami Beach South Beach

786-276-5151

Greek, Mediterranean, Best Of

If you had a sneaking suspicion that most Americans have bastardized the Greek gyro - you'd be right. But Greco Boys Grill is all about being authentic. Score a chicken or pork gyro slathered in tzatziki sauce ($6.95), a souvlaki platter ($9.95) or spanakopita ($6.75). No lamb or beef in their lineup, but who needs that nonsense? Juicy, flavorful chicken will do just fine. And don't miss the Greco Boys fries - hot, crispy circles of potato goodness ($2.50). Dessert means flaky, sweet baklava ($5.95). So skip the overpriced tourist traps next time you're in Miami Beach - and do like the Athenians instead.

2 articles

Greek Islands Taverna

3300 N. Ocean Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-565-5505

Greek

Fort Lauderdale Beach isn't Corfu by any stretch of the imagination, but this beach-adjacent Greek restaurant does a good job of making hungry patrons feel as if they've crossed a temporary bridge to all things Mediterranean. The ownership team of brothers Sam and George Kantzavelos offers the kinds of dishes any tourist, local, or Greek native can appreciate in a casual setting that channels New Jersey diner fare at its finest. As a result, Greek Islands Taverna remains a longtime favorite among the beachgoing crowd thanks to its wide-ranging menu of reasonably priced, classic Greek dishes. Go for favorites such as roast leg of lamb, flaming saganaki, chicken shish kebab, and a killer avgolemono (lemon chicken soup).

Kaia Greek Restaurant

232 Miracle Mile Coral Gables/S. Miami

786-362-6997

Greek, Mediterranean

Khoury's Mediterranean Restaurant

5887 SW 73rd St., South Miami Coral Gables/S. Miami

305-662-7707

Greek, Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Best Of, Menu

Khoury's is a quiet Lebanese restaurant with a wood paneled interior that, thanks to some unbefitting vinyl booths, looks like it may have been converted from a fast food joint. And despite shy servers, flavorless hummus ($4.50), and super-citrusy tabbouleh ($5.25), it's got a few things going for it. It's one of few restaurants in the Sunset Place area that has a parking lot and a nice, breezy patio. Another huge plus is very-sesame-seedy tahini sauce ($1.50 for a small serving) served on the side of crisp, neat little balls of falafel ($4.25) and mixed in heavily with baba ghannouj ($4.75). It's also served on many of its sandwiches such as a savory shawarma sandwich ($6.75) that does lamb proud. Speaking of tasty meat, a kaftah kebab (despite a side of hummus) is tender, smoky, and splendid, as is a fried kibeh ($4.25) filled with minced beef, onion, and pine nuts. For a light dessert, try mini roses (2 for $2.50), a smaller version of baklava (which is also available for $4.50) sans pistachios.

2 articles

Kiki on the River

450 NW North River Dr. Downtown/Overtown

786-502-3243

Greek, Mediterranean, Recommended, Best Of

A former fish market, the glamorous Greek restaurant Kiki on the River transports diners to the Mediterranean. The food, executed by veteran chef Steve Rhee, includes tender seasoned octopus, lightly fried saganaki cheese, grilled then baked sea bass, and fried potatoes with lemon and oregano. Find a table around sunset on the restaurant's charming patio overlooking the Miami River. The view, along with the rustic furnishings, whitewashed walls, and lush greenery, is enchanting. You might even forget you're in Miami.

15 articles

Kouzina

3535 NE 2nd Ave. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

305-392-0506

Greek, Restaurants, Best Of

6 articles

Kouzina Greek Bistro

3535 NE 2nd Ave Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

305-392-1825

Greek

Casual eatery features a welcoming patio & a village market ambiance plus traditional Greek fare.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro

4312 NE Second Ave. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

305-749-9140

Greek, Mediterranean, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Readers' Choice, Essentials

Teeny-tiny Mandolin Aegean Bistro is located in a former 1940s bungalow in the Design District, adorned in blue and white. The quaint charm that fills the air is as tangible as the extra-virgin Greek olive oil that fills the vials placed on each table. Mandolin's straightforward cooking is embodied in a sweet, tender curlicue of grilled octopus misted with the aforementioned Mediterranean lubricant. Even chicken kebab — usually relegated to fodder for timid eaters — is unexpectedly rousing: huge, juicy hunks of grilled white meat kicked up with a quick dip in the dish of tzatziki. Don't miss the Greek salad: large wedges of ripe tomato, cucumber, and green peppers mingled with smaller shots of red onion, capers, and Kalamata olives. Fun fact: This also happens to be international DJ Diplo's favorite Miami restaurant.

37 articles

Maria's Greek Restaurant

2359 Coral Way Coral Gables/S. Miami

305-856-0938

Greek, Mediterranean, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

This snug, 52-seat eatery dishes home-cooked Greek taverna fare free of contemporary tweaking. And that's it. Although Maria's recipes are not likely to inspire Homeric verse, they aren't meant to. Our favorite starters here are the smooth, lemon-garlic-ticked hummus, scooped up via soft, warm, wheaty pita circles; and spinach-feta spanakopita, whose baked phyllo cap is uniquely crust-like rather than papery. Maria's uses top-quality American lamb, which makes the char-broiled lamb chops and the lamb kebab the most recommendable of items. Fried calamari is cut thicker and is thus plusher than usual, but most menu items bring standard renditions of familiar favorites such as pastitsio, moussaka, souvlaki, and the like. Low beverage/appetizer/dessert prices help keep the bottom line in line. There's something to be said for the personal touch that only an intimate, family-run eatery can provide. That something is this: Maria's Greek Restaurant has outlasted just about every other dining establishment in town.

5 articles

Meraki Greek Bistro

3462 Main Highway Coconut Grove

786-254-7079

Greek, Mediterranean, Menu

1 article

Meraki Greek Bistro

190 SE First Ave. Downtown/Overtown

786-773-1535

Greek, Mediterranean, Best Of

14 articles

Michael's Cafe

9851 N. Kendall Dr., Palmetto Bay East Kendall/Pinecrest

786-497-0841

Greek, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Best Of

This Middle Eastern restaurant in Kendall is not a mirage. It was once a gas station next to the railroad tracks but has been transformed into an outdoor café that serves as an oasis for locals. There is live music almost every night and a vast assortment of ice-cold Middle Eastern beers. The large-screen TV sets are all tuned to Lebanese stations (in Arabic). You can get a hookah with flavored tobacco, and smoke while watching the live belly dancing Friday and Saturday nights. But best of all is the food, especially the kibbe, which costs $4.95 for two pieces. They make it fresh by combining crushed wheat with minced beef or lamb, sautéed onions, and pine nuts. The combination is then rolled into a ball and deep-fried, kind of like falafel. The kibbe platter comes with grape leaves, hummus, tabbouleh, lentil rice, and pita bread, and sells for $11.99. Wash it down with Michael's special Turkish coffee ($1.50), and forget about taking that trip to Israel.

2 articles

Mr. Mandolin

7301 Biscayne Blvd. Miami Shores/Biscayne Park

305-846-9130

Greek

Mykonos Greek Restaurant

1201 Coral Way Coral Gables/S. Miami

305-856-3140

Greek, Mediterranean, Recommended, Best Of

If you're a local, you know this place. Awash in shades of blue and white, Mykonos sits on that awkward break on Coral Way right before you get to the Roads. And it's about as traditional and down-home as it gets, with a wooden patio, informal but attentive service, and an interior that features not only pastoral murals of coastal Greek vistas but also a fun, bright '80s decor. The fare is served in generous portions, especially the noteworthy hummus, served with a choice of warm whole what or flour pita. A heap of Greek fries topped with feta cheese and oregano comes hot and fast. The extremely tender gyro souvlaki combination is piled high with meat, veggies, and pita wedges. Other authentic items, such as moussaka and pastitsio, are equally abundant. Even the baklava — dense, flaky, and dripping with honey — is built for two and also comes in cupcake form. Bring your appetite and wear your stretchy pants.

6 articles

Mykonos Kitchen and Bar

400 Sunny Isles Blvd., Sunny Isles Beach Surfside/Bal Harbour

305-497-9775

Greek

Mylos Greek Bistro Bar

1111 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Coral Gables/S. Miami

305-461-0403

Greek, Mediterranean, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

As you enter the restaurant, you'll pass a wooden cart containing whole snappers displayed atop a bed of shimmering crushed ice. Go for it — grilled, filleted tableside, and served with a splash of vibrant olive oil and smattering of capers, the pristine snapper is one of Mylos' gems. Back up to the beginning of the bountiful Greek meal, which would be when the pre-dinner plate of warm, grilled pita bread with pungent cucumber-yogurt tzatziki arrives. This goes great with a horiatiki of ripe red tomato wedges, cucumber, green pepper, red onion, black olives, and a full rectangular slab of soft, creamy feta cheese — all tossed in an oregano-flecked vinaigrette. Flash ahead to dessert, which includes baklava and a number of phyllo and honey-drenched treats. Consider a fiery finish of flaming ouzo, too, as part of the charm of dining here lies in the festive atmosphere achieved when the restaurant fills to its capacity and live Greek music fills the air.

4 articles

Nostimo Greek Kitchen

170 NW 24th St. Midtown/Wynwood/Design District

305-418-0808

Greek

Greek in Miami

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