Michael Beltran Opens Mediterranean-Inspired Eva in Coconut Grove

The new restaurant from chef Michael Beltran that's been nearly three years in the making will open its doors in Coconut Grove next week.

Beltran and his Ariete Hospitality Group (AHG) business partner, Andrew Falsetto, own and operate several of South Florida's most popular restaurants, beginning with Michelin-starred Ariete, which opened in 2016 in Coconut Grove. Together, the pair have since opened a slew of concepts covering a range of cuisines, from bar-focused establishments like the Taurus, the ScapeGoat, and El Vecino to restaurants such as Chug's Cuban Diner, Brasserie Laurel, and the Gibson Room.

Beltran has announced he will open his newest restaurant, Eva — part of a two-in-one concept alongside the Oyster Bar housed on the bottom floor of the CocoWalk open-air plaza — on Friday, October 27. Reservations are open now via OpenTable. At the time of opening, Eva will serve dinner only, with plans to launch lunch service in the near future.

Eva offers a unique space where bar- and cocktail-style seating pairs perfectly with a menu offering a daily assortment of East and West Coast oysters, aguachile, ceviche, and seafood-focused small plates.

Beginning next week, Beltran aims to welcome diners to Eva, his first take at a Mediterranean-inspired menu created alongside AHG corporate chef Ashley Moncada. The restaurant's sprawling space features a dedicated main bar and indoor and outdoor seating.
Expect to find dishes that combine Beltran's creativity with classic Greek recipes, from starters like fries doused in a vinegar-based sauce and topped with crumbled feta cheese and banana peppers to orzo served with a dense tomato sauce punctuated by olives, feta, and braised short rib, or perfectly grilled fish finished with a light sauce.

With the launch of his 12th concept on the horizon, Beltran admits AHG's recently swift-growing portfolio was never part of his original vision.

"The only plan I ever had was to open Ariete and make it the best it could be," Beltran explains. "But I have a lot of ideas, and I'm motivated to take these restaurant concepts I've had in my brain for a long time and finally execute them. What got the ball rolling was Chug's. We took it from pop-up to restaurant, and I think it proved to people that we had the range to go beyond fine dining."

Today, Beltran estimates that his establishments offer more than 150 unique menu items across a wide range of cuisines — a testament to his motivation to create food that speaks to his creative inspiration.

"With Eva, we have this wonderful opportunity to show people we can cook a certain type of food we don't get to do a lot with our other restaurants — dishes that are light, clean, and fresh," he adds.

Through the unique vision Beltran shares with executive chef Ashley Moncada, the Eva menu offers an all-new lineup of Mediterranean dishes and raw bar offerings.
To start, guests will enjoy delectable fresh breads such as bazlama, a Greek yogurt Turkish flatbread served with house labneh, urfa (pepper), and candied walnuts, as well as small plates and starters including the "Foie & Dates" — date pancakes and grilled foie gras with rose and pomegranate.

Main plate highlights include giouvetsi, a Greek tomato stew Beltran and Moncada render with monkfish, prawns, squid, and orzo; lamb chops with Zaatar chimichurri and shaved cabbage salad; pork schnitzel served with orange tahini, fennel, and orange salad; and a harissa-marinated chicken breast kebab coupled with an onion marinade chicken thigh and charred green peppers. Several indulgent desserts include a pistachio baklava.

Most of all, Beltran is excited for Eva and the Oyster Bar to embody his childhood memories of Coconut Grove. The chef envisions a convivial atmosphere where people can stop as they walk past from midday to late night to enjoy an extensive cocktail program and raw bar at the Oyster Bar before moving on to a casual meal at Eva for lunch, happy hour, or dinner.

"I want a space where people feel comfortable to come and go in a casual manner, and that's a huge part of my focus and inspiration," Beltran says. "It's been a long time coming, and I'm excited to be nearing the finish line and finally see my vision come to life."

Eva and the Oyster Bar. 3015 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove; 305-573-0658; evacoconutgrove.com. Eva is open Sunday through Wednesday 5 to 10 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday 5 to 11 p.m. The Oyster Bar is open Monday through Wednesday 3 to 10 p.m., Thursday and Friday 3 to 11 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.