AVA MediterrAegean Restaurant Sets Sail for Coconut Grove: A Luxe Mediterranean Dining Debut This November

Get ready, Miami food lovers: this November, AVA MediterrAegean will open its doors at 2889 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove — the location formerly occupied by Peacock Garden Café. Nestled in the heart of the Grove, this expansion marks Riviera Dining Group’s bold move to bring its signature Mediterranean-Aegean hospitality into one of Miami’s most storied neighborhoods.

Riviera Dining Group: The Ambitious Hospitality Brand Behind the Concept

Before diving into AVA’s arrival, it’s worth spotlighting the team behind it. Riviera Dining Group (RDG) is a luxury hospitality collective that operates a portfolio of elevated restaurant, lounge, and members-club concepts across South Florida. Their current brands include:

• MILA – a multi-venue rooftop restaurant, lounge, mixology bar, and omakase concept in Miami Beach
• Casa Neos – a waterfront/Miami River Mediterranean venue with beach-club and dock-&-dine offerings
• Claudie – a recent French/Mediterranean sister concept launched in Brickell in February 2025
• AVA MediterrAegean – their Aegean-driven brand, currently with one location in Winter Park, Florida, and soon in Coconut Grove.
• MM – the members-club platform that often integrates with their restaurant venues

RDG’s business model is as much about lifestyle and experiential hospitality as fine dining — blending design, service, culinary craft, and exclusivity. Their expansion is backed by outside capital: in December 2021, Mohari Hospitality (founded by Mark Scheinberg) took a significant minority stake in RDG to support concept development and growth. This partnership helps explain the financial muscle behind AVA’s ambitious rollout and the property acquisition in Coconut Grove.

RDG is often lauded for “record-breaking success” with MILA. Their success with that flagship has given them a strong platform from which to expand into other neighborhoods and concepts.

MILA’s Performance: Is It Truly One of the U.S. Top-Grossing Restaurants?

Is MILA among the highest-grossing restaurants in the United States? The short answer is yes — within its niche.

In Restaurant Business’s “Top 100 Independents” rankings for 2024, MILA placed #2, with reported sales of about $49,088,032. That positions MILA as one of the top-grossing independent (i.e. non-chain) restaurants in the U.S.

To give additional context:

• In 2023, MILA reported roughly $31.2 million in annual sales, per Restaurant Business.
• Its rising trajectory and positioning in a competitive, high-stakes Miami market have drawn industry attention.
• News and hospitality trade coverage frequently refer to MILA as “high-earning” or “record-breaking” when discussing RDG’s expansion.

So while MILA might not be the single absolute highest-grossing restaurant in the U.S. (many comparisons are tricky depending on chains vs independents), it indisputably ranks among the top in its class — a feat that adds credibility and buzz to AVA’s impending launch.

The 2889 McFarlane Road Site: From Peacock Garden to AVA’s Next Chapter

The address chosen for AVA — 2889 McFarlane Road — has a rich local history and strategic appeal:

• The property is a 6,369-square-foot ground-floor commercial condo within the Mutiny on the Park / Hotel Arya condominium development.
• In 2022, the site (then housing Peacock Garden Café) was sold by developer Ricardo Dunin and restaurateur Lalo Durazo for $9.5 million (about $1,500 per square foot) to Mohari Coconut Grove, connected to Mohari Hospitality.
• Following that acquisition, Riviera Dining Group (via its partnership with Mohari) was slated to operate a future restaurant concept in the space.
• Riviera Dining Group announces that AVA MediterrAegean will open this November at 2889 McFarlane Road — the spot formerly occupied by Peacock Garden.
• The Peacock Garden Café itself was a well-known Grove institution (alfresco garden dining, drinks, event space) and longtime community favorite before its closure.

This means that AVA isn’t just opening a restaurant — it’s reviving a high-profile, beloved location with a deep residential and culinary pedigree. The transition from garden-style café to immersive Mediterranean destination will be watched closely by locals and foodies alike.

What AVA MediterrAegean Will Bring to Coconut Grove

When AVA opens, it will likely offer:

• A Mediterranean / Aegean culinary program — building on the brand’s design and ethos of blending Greek traditions with contemporary flair (as hinted in their “coming soon” announcement)
• An immersive ambiance — Riviera’s prior venues emphasize design, ambiance, and multi-sensory experience
• A membership or private space component (MM Club) — reports suggest AVA will include its own members’ club space akin to those in other RDG venues
• A new dimension for the Grove’s dining scene, attracting both locals and destination diners

Coconut Grove’s Dining Scene Levels Up

With AVA MediterrAegean’s arrival, Coconut Grove is set to welcome another high-profile restaurant to its flourishing culinary roster. The neighborhood has already attracted major names like Carbone Vino, Major Food Group’s Italian concept, along with local standouts such as Ossobuco Coconut Grove, Level 6, and Amal Miami. Together, these destinations highlight Coconut Grove’s evolution into a serious culinary hotspot. AVA’s debut will not only introduce an Aegean-inspired dining experience but also reinforce the Grove’s reputation as one of Miami’s most dynamic dining neighborhoods, drawing both locals and visitors in search of world-class cuisine.