AVA MediterrĂgean is one of the most talked-about additions to the Winter Park dining scene â a glamorous, theatrical take on modern Greek cooking right on Park Avenue.
A Miami hospitality group comes to Park Avenue
AVA opened in early 2022 in the former Luma on Park space, from Riviera Dining Group â the team behind Miami's acclaimed MILA. Their philosophy is built around parea, the Greek idea of gathering, and the goal is unapologetically experiential. As one of the partners put it, "it's about creating an experience, it's not just about dining."
Dinner as a performance
What sets AVA apart is the tableside theater. Highlights have included halloumi saganaki flambĂŠed in ouzo, salt-crusted branzino filleted at your table, truffle risotto finished in a stone vessel, and a rack of lamb revealed from beneath a smoke-filled glass dome. The plates are Cycladic and share-friendly, meant for a table of friends passing everything around.
The design and the scene
The room is a showpiece â sweeping arches, white stucco and limestone plaster, natural rattan and greenery, with a hidden members' club downstairs. Recognized in the Michelin Guide and a regular on Orlando's Magical Dining roster, AVA has become one of Central Florida's premier see-and-be-seen destinations. It's my go-to for a special occasion, date night, or impressing out-of-town guests.
Restaurants like this are part of what makes a neighborhood special â and Winter Park has them in abundance. If you're thinking about living where Park Avenue is your backyard, take a look at Winter Park or let's connect.
