This Greek spot from Coral Gables, the Grove has opened a new outpost on Miami Beach
Española Way, which was designed to look like it should exist in a delightful Mediterranean village, just got a little more Mediterranean: a new Greek restaurant has just opened.
Calista Greek Seafood Taverna, which has locations in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove, is now serving its Greek specialties nightly, with a daily lunch menu starting soon.
The restaurant, from owner Costa Grillas, executive chef and co-owner Thomas Fotouras and partner Charissa Davidovici, features a 3,500-square-foot indoor space plus a bar that seats 14. You can also eat on the outdoor patio in front of the restaurant if you’d like your seafood with a side of people watching. If not, there’s also an outdoor courtyard.
The design is right out of Mykonos, with hanging basket lights, bougainvillea, a mural that reproduces a scene from the film “The Greek Tycoon” and another of a fisherman from photographer Robert McCabe. There’s even an ice display with the day’s selection of fish and other seafood if you want to browse.
“The food and bar scene in Athens is my main source of inspiration,” Fotouras said. “I want customers to feel like they are in Greece. . . . but most importantly I want them to feel like family.”
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Fotouras hopes to evoke that family feeling with Greek favorites like spanakopita, the famous spinach pie with feta and leeks; Garides Santorini with shrimp, tomato sauce and ouzo; and souvlaki Kotopoulo (you know them as chicken kebabs). There’s also seafood pasta with bisque, tomato sauce and brandy, plus filet of sole, stuffed shrimp or clams, lobster and scallops.
The lunch menu, which starts soon, features a $29 three-course prix fixe meal offering menu items like a trio of dips, Greek meatballs; branzino, grilled salmon and chicken.
The bar will serve its signature cocktails, but it has also created a few that will only be offered at the Miami Beach restaurant, including the Santorini Sunset (añejo tequila, Tsipouro, fresh ginger and agave) as well as the Athens cosmo and the Mykonos mule.
And because this Calista Taverna is located in the hub for tourist fun, it will offer a weekly “Mamma Mia”-style party every Friday with a DJ, Greek music and dancing. Lots and lots of dancing.
Calista Greek Seafood Taverna
Where: 1444 Drexel Ave., Miami Beach
Hours: 5-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 5-10 p.m. Sunday; opening soon for lunch daily from noon-3 p.m.
Reservations: 786-803-8657 or Open Table
More information: www.calistataverna.com
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