New Aventura restaurant summons the Greek islands — and has its own fish sommelier

Connie Ogle
·2 min read

He’s known in South Florida for steak — Bourbon Steak and Stripsteak, to be precise — but now Chef Michael Mina is turning his attention to Greek food.

And his new Greek restaurant comes with its own fish sommelier, which has got to be a first in South Florida.

Led by Mina and Girair “Jerry” Goumroian and Chef Nikolaos Georgousis from Las Vegas, Ornos Estiatorio opens Sept. 29 at the Aventura Mall’s outdoor oasis area. The 160-seat restaurant will highlight fresh seafood and classic Greek dishes.

“The concept started to take form a few years ago when Chef Nikolaos and I took a trip to Greece and visited Ornos Beach in Mykonos,” explained Goumroian in a press release.

“We sat in this quaint little restaurant located in front of a small fishing village, and quickly saw how it brought the community together — this is what Greece is about, its comfort through food and classic Greek kindness. . . . Growing up and having the Greek culture as part of my everyday life, food is and has always been the center of our family gatherings. Ornos Estiatorio brings us back to traditional cooking techniques where you’ll feel as if you’re eating from yiayia’s (grandma’s) kitchen.”

Meat lovers will also find plenty of variety on the menu at Ornos Estiatorio.
Meat lovers will also find plenty of variety on the menu at Ornos Estiatorio.

Expect good bread to dip in olive oil, classics like lemon chicken and lamb shoulder and of course tzatziki, hummus and roasted eggplant. There’s a raw bar and family-style dishes of seafood, including Mediterranean snapper and lobster entrees as well as meat and vegetable options, plus a wood fire grill. Lunch, brunch and happy hour menus are expected to launch later this fall.

As for that fish sommelier, he’ll help you choose the freshest seafood for your plate.

If dining out still makes you nervous, Ornos Estiatorio will have a curated take-out menu that includes traditional egg-lemon soup, grilled octopus and grilled filet mignon.

Ornos Estiatorio

Where: 19565 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 946, Aventura

Opens: Sept. 29

Hours: 5–10 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday

Reservations: www.michaelmina.net