Eva: New in Miami
Bustling Mediterranean restaurant in Coconut Grove
Eva is a new Mediterranean restaurant from the Ariete group. Located at the back of the CocoWalk in Coconut Grove, it is hard to find. I had to put out a distress call to a local who came and guided me to the table. And I’m really glad she did!
Eva is one of the newest restaurants in CocoWalk, a mall-like pedestrian street that is at the center of the uber-lively Coconut Grove restaurant scene. Coconut Grove, for the uninitiated, is the oldest community in Miami. It’s known as a place where Bahamians (the original settlers) meet up with Bohemians (Cocaine Cowboys anyone!) Tycoons, professors, drug dealers, artists, they’ve all been here. In the last 15 years or so, the neighborhood has transformed itself into a hip, walkable, lively venue, overflowing with restaurants and boutiques.
Eva is a Mediterranean Bistro. The contemporary designed indoor space has a sandy palette. Windows behind the marble bar are arched in a vaguely Greek temple way. The whole place radiates a golden glow.
The tables literally spill onto the sidewalk.
The atmosphere is all hustle and bustle; it feels a little chaotic and makes you wonder if the wait-staff will be able to find and remember you. Thankfully they do!
I went with 3 friends, and we ordered a good menu sampling.
Appetizers:
Tzatziki dip: The dip tasted more lively than creamy; the accompanying bread was warm and melted in my mouth. A definite good twist on a traditional appetizer.
Simit: Simit is the Turkish version of an everything bagel. It comes with pickles, labneh, mint, lemon and olive oil. If you like a good bagel with interesting accompaniments, this is a good option. A little too heavy for me.
Sides
Cabbage salad: OMG-good. So light! So refreshing! Perfectly salted! Do it!
Roasted Carrots: with Moroccan spices, herbs, tahini and orange vinaigrette.
Mushrooms: How do they make mushrooms this good? The menu says they are roasted with hummus, chimichurri and cracked wheat. All I know is they were the most mushroomy, umami-loaded mushrooms I’ve ever had.
Mains:
Lamb Chop: I’m a lamb-chop lover and these chops fit the bill. Like the mushrooms, I’d describe them as tasting like the essence of lambchop, whatever that means. Loved them.
Whole Snapper: The star of the meal. The menu offers what the server described as “very large plates that need to be shared”. There are two of these large dishes: a whole chicken and a whole snapper. Rumor has it the chicken is great, but we opted for the snapper. It was a good decision. The boned whole snapper is stuffed with rice, ladolemono (a lemon/olive oil dressing), wrapped in grape leaves, and then cooked and served with charred lemon. It’s perfectly cooked. The wait person told us it was about 95% bone free, and I’d say she was correct. Be a little careful and you’ll find it’s totally worth it.
Dessert:
Almond mousse. This is a small, light dessert, sort of like a Mediterranean tiramisu. It’s an incredibly moist almond sponge cake, glazed with dulcey, with a marcona almond praline and salted espresso sauce.
Let’s talk dulcey for a moment: dulcey is caramelized white chocolate. It’s got a smooth, toasty, not-too-sweet flavor. It’s a little like dulce de leche, but more toasty than sweet. It comes as a rectangle, maybe 1” wide and 2” long. We each had two perfect bites that left our mouths refreshed and satisfied after the meal.
Wines
The wine list at Eva is highly curated by Adrian Lopez and leans toward Greek wines, with a small supporting cast of wines from other Mediterranean countries: Israel, Lebanon, Spain and Italy.
We ordered the Papagiannakos 2022 Savatiano Old Vines, priced reasonably at $55. It was perfect for the meal: a light, crisp white wine. It was lively and citrus-y, highly drinkable, with low alcohol. It stands up well to the food.
For you wine freaks out there, the vines are over 50 years old and farmed without irrigation in a low yield vineyard. The grapes are rich and taste like lemon, honey dew and lime. I’m searching for where to order some right now!
Total bill for four people: $270 before tip.
Eva opens at 5. They will be open for lunch in the future.
CocoWalk3015 Grand Ave
Coconut Grove, FL 33133 3015 Grand Avenue
Miami, FL 33133
info@evacoconutgrove.com
305.603.9009