Manoli Brings Greek Island Dining to Coconut Grove
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Whole branzino, Athenian lobster pasta, Greek-style lamb chops and a tableside dessert trolley are among the offerings at Manoli, a new Coconut Grove restaurant centered on the Greek tradition of sharing food. The restaurant opened July 22 under chef Emmanouil “Manoli” Aslanoglou, whose menu draws from family recipes and his experience at restaurants in New York and Europe.
Born and trained in Greece, Aslanoglou has worked at Nammos, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in the United Kingdom and Arzak in Spain. He also led restaurants in Greece, including Vassilenas in Athens, and appeared on MasterChef Greece. “Manoli is deeply personal to me,” Aslanoglou said. “It reflects the way I grew up eating in Greece, food made with care and meant to be shared.”
The approximately 140-seat restaurant includes indoor, outdoor and bar areas. White walls, light woods, blue patterned seating and sculpted wall niches give the dining room a coastal look influenced by the Greek islands.
The menu begins with small plates including dolmades, saganaki and crispy feta wrapped in phyllo with thyme honey. Other selections include keftedes, Mediterranean mussels and gyro tacos made with Black Angus ribeye.
The raw bar features bigeye tuna tartare, beef tartare and seasonal oysters, while avgolemono soup is prepared with roasted chicken, egg and lemon. Housemade pasta selections include pastitsio, makarounes and Athenian lobster. The grill menu offers Greek-style lamb chops, prime beef, whole branzino and a rotating selection of fresh fish. Sides include lemon potatoes, horta chicory and hand-cut fries.
Dessert is served from a tableside trolley, allowing diners to choose among housemade profiteroles, baklava, chocolate cake, crispy cream custard and yogurt with preserves. Greek donuts are prepared to order and served warm from the kitchen.
Greek beverage manager Fotis Mexi developed the cocktail program, titled Sober Souls Diaries. Its concept draws from the Greek tragedians Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides.
Drinks include the Hybris, made with vodka, citrus, cardamom, nutmeg, kumquat and saffron-lavender foam, and the Eris, which combines London dry gin, Baldoria Dry Umami, Greek herbs and basil oil. The Mira pairs mastiha with St-Germain, basil, peach and Aegean bubbles, while the nonalcoholic Meow Tai combines pineapple cordial, lime, orgeat and hibiscus. The wine list highlights Greek producers.
Manoli is located at 3540 Main Highway in Coconut Grove. The restaurant is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. It is closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations and additional information are available through the restaurant’s website.