Aventura: Estiatorio Ornos Greek Food and Wine in Miami

Estiatorio Ornos is a restaurant by famed Chef Michael Mina located at the Aventura Mall. Guests at Ornos are treated to some of the top Greek food and wine in Miami.

Immediately upon arrival, the ambiance is friendly and welcoming, white tablecloths and all. Inside, the restaurant decor and artwork give upscale vibes, but not too fancy that you can’t enjoy an impromptu lunch while shopping the latest fashions. If you’re looking for a brief culinary visit to Greece without worrying about losing your luggage, make the trip to Aventura instead, and dine at Ornos.

Estiatorio Ornos Greek Food and Wine in Miami

This summer, Ornos is offering a “Summer in Mykonos” menu featuring dishes like Zucchini Fritters with feta, mint, and chive yogurt; “The Greek” salad with tomato, cucumber, onion, olives, feta, and capers; and Roasted Lemon Chicken with Cretan-style potatoes. Of course, other Mediterranean favorites are also on the menu, like an assortment of tasty spreads. Crispy calamari lovers should order a plate of Kalamarakia. And bib lettuce fans will absolutely enjoy the “Little Gem” salad made with dill lemon-caper dressing. (Wow!)

If you can make it to the main course after all those starters, consider the oak-grilled Sea Bream, a delicious weighty white fish with rich flavor on its own. The Moussaka is worth ordering if you’re hungry. This is a hearty vegetarian ragout made of wild mushroom, tomatoes, onions, and Greek yogurt béchamel. Yum!

Finally, dessert is part of the experience, too! In addition to the creamy Greek yogurt with dried fruit, honey, and nuts, there are other options like Yia Yia’s Rice Pudding, and Crema Sokolata – dark chocolate, whipped cream, and hazelnuts. Self-proclaimed non-dessert eaters can even enjoy these treats, as they aren’t too sticky sweet. In fact, they are just the right sweetness to top off a delightful meal of Greek food.

Greek Wine at Ornos

Before diving into all the great wine options, diners should start with a chilled glass of bubbly. In this case, it’s Michel Gonet’s Cuvée MINA Blanc de BLancs Grand Cru 2010, a special Champagne made just for the restaurant. This exclusive Champagne is elegant, with aromas and flavors of brioche, hazelnut and lemon meringue. It is made with Chardonnay grapes from the Grand Cru village of Les-Mesnil Sur-Oger, and spends 10 years on lees – giving it layered complexity.

Indeed, adventurous and curious wine-os will appreciate the varied selection here. Ornos’ Sommelier, Aaron Billingsley, has put together a diverse bottle list with a healthy number of Greek wines. Beyond Assyrtiko, there’s the refreshing Savatiano white wine. Additionally, the list includes Greek red wines made from Agiorghitiko, Refosco-Mavrodaphne, and Xinomavro.

All the classics from the U.S., France, Italy, Spain, Argentina and beyond are also represented. Perhaps one of the best deals is a bottle of Cain Cuvée from Napa Valley for $80.

If you need something sweet to pair with Crema Sokolata, or simply sip on its own, check out the dessert wine list. To keep it Greek, have a glass of the Sigalas Vinsanto made with dried Assyrtiko grapes. Also on the list are a late harvest wine by Ktima Gerovassiliou, and a Royal Tokaji 5 Putons for your drinking pleasure.

Of course, specialty cocktails and Greek spirits are also easily available. New specials include the Mykonos with Hendrick’s gin, KLEOS Mastiha, Aperol, cucumber, and lemon; and Corfu with a View with retsina, Campari, vermouth, lime and soda.

Alas, now you know where to enjoy a full meal of delicious Greek food and wine in Miami, all without any flight delays or travel headaches. Are you ready to taste?

For more restaurants offering great wine lists in Miami, check out our “dining” section on Wine Guide Miami.