EGG & DART TO OPEN ITS DOORS MID-SUMMER 2011
This summer, foodies and hipsters will celebrate the opening of Egg & Dart, the Miami Design District’s newest dining destination. Named after the iconic decorative moulding found on much of Greece’s architecture, Egg & Dart will bring to the region’s hottest culinary district a chic Greek restaurant and bar serving up soulful regional cuisine and uniquely-crafted cocktails in a vibrant unpretentious atmosphere.
The dynamic duo behind Egg & Dart are no strangers to the culinary landscape. Co-owners Costa Grillas and Niko Theodorou both come from families with years in the restaurant business. Grillas hails from the acclaimed Coral Gables institution, Maria’s, where diners have enjoyed traditional Greek cooking for over 28 years. Partner Theodorou’s family owns and operates the popular Sea Satin Market, a romantic waterfront restaurant nestled in the heart of Mykonos. The combination of their restaurant backgrounds and their creative, timely concept for the restaurant are certain to make Egg & Dart a premiere hotspot in what is arguably the most trend-setting, culinary zip code in town. “With the culinary diversity of Miami’s Design District, we are excited to bring a hip upscale slice of Greece to the neighborhood,” says Grillas.
Under the guidance of Theodorou’s mother, Vagia Theodorou, who operates a successful catering company in Athens and a restaurant on the island of Tzia, the menu at Egg & Dart will honor the breadth of traditional Greek cuisine by bringing fresh, wholesome cooking from all regions of Greece. Diners can whet their appetites or form an entire meal with the sumptuous array of meze (small plates) including calamari, grilled and stuffed with a trio of cheeses ($12); shrimp saganaki ($14) sautéed in a tomato and feta sauce and steamed mussels, infused with white wine, dill, garlic and parsley ($14).
Greek staples like hummus ($5), a selection of olives ($6) and dako, the Greek version of bruschetta, topped with crumbled feta ($8) are also great starters. Main courses feature a selection of impeccably grilled meats, seafood and the star of the show, whole fresh fish for two, grilled to perfection with beautiful Greek olive oil, lemon, oregano and dramatically presented on an elevated tray of glass (market price). Meals are rounded out with a variety of side dishes including lemon roasted potatoes ($4), horta – a medley of red, white and gold Swiss chard with escarole, dandelions and spinach ($7) and Greek fries, tossed with oregano and grated kefalograviera cheese ($4). Guests can complement the dining experience with a selection of signature specialty cocktails, as well as traditional Greek liquors like ouzo, metaxa and masticha.
Grillas and Theodorou collaborated with their designers to create a rustic environment with an urban appeal. The 202-seat restaurant features organic clay walls, polished concrete floors and white lacquered tabletops, creating an unpretentious yet sexy ambiance. “When you think Greek restaurant, think again. Egg & Dart will combine the best of what Greek dining has to offer – comforting rustic cuisine and warm and inviting service, with a hip, modern surrounding that today’s diner is looking for,” says Theodorou. Revelers and diners can mingle and imbibe at the stunning cherry wood and polished concrete bar, featuring backlit shelving and a dramatic wood & glass chandelier. A banquette lining the length of the restaurant, an Indonesian teak communal table and an eye-catching fresh seafood display produce an inviting, contemporary vibe. Sleek frosted glass doors lead to a private dining room, complete with a state-of-the-art video and sound system.
Slated to open mid-July 2011, Egg & Dart will be located at 4029 N. Miami Avenue in the Miami Design District. Dinner will be served Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday 6 p.m. – midnight, as well as Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. – 2 a.m. Telephone: (786) 431-1022.
