The ongoing revitalization of Coconut Grove is getting a new restaurant by Bravo TV “Top Chef” winner Jeremy Ford. Ford in 2020 will open Afishonado, at Regatta Harbour, a 9.5-acre mixed-use development in Coconut Grove’s Dinner Key waterfront area.
Afishonado, 3385 Pan American Drive, in Coconut Grove’s Dinner Key area, will have more than 7,000 square feet of interior and outdoor space overlooking Biscayne Bay. The restaurant will present a casual ocean-centric dining experience with coastal cuisine. Afishonado will serve seasonal selections by responsibly sourcing the freshest seafood, premium-quality meats and local produce from fishmongers, farmers and foragers, a press release said.
Ford is already active in the Miami area with Stubborn Seed in Miami Beach and a food hall stall in Time Out Market in Miami Beach.
“We are proud to have Chef Jeremy Ford join Regatta Harbour with a concept that both captures the nautical spirit of old Coconut Grove and furthers our mission to shape the area’s future, while maintaining its rich history,” said Eduardo J. Garcia, Principal of The TREO Group, which announced the new restaurant. “As shown through Chef Ford’s loyal following and passion for cuisine, Afishonado will be a significant addition to our dynamic mix of offerings.”
The restaurant’s interiors, by Celano Design Studio, will incorporate eclectic elements with contrasting textures throughout its dining room, open kitchen and raw bar, with an indoor/outdoor cocktail bar overlooking the bay.
“Regatta Harbour is bringing to Coconut Grove an experiential setting the area has never-before-seen, and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” Ford said. “As a chef, I am always seeking innovative ways to showcase the best seasonal ingredients paired with a unique style of dining. Being situated directly on the water, this location provides the perfect ‘palette’ for Afishonado, enabling us to unite culinary prowess with Coconut Grove’s deep-rooted culture and community.”
The TREO Group, a real estate investment firm headquartered in Miami, partnered with Grove Bay Hospitality Group to bring Ford to the project. Designed by world-renowned Arquitectonica, Regatta Harbour will be delivered in multiple phases, beginning with the new dry-storage marina, followed by the retail area in summer 2019 and the remaining waterfront restaurants in 2020. Lyle Stern and Sara Wolfe of Koniver Stern Group oversee leasing of the commercial space. (For more information visit, www.regattaharbour.com.)
Afishonado is among a curated fusion of chef-driven restaurants and specialty retail that will encompass Regatta Harbour’s 100,000 square feet of development. An ode to old Coconut Grove, historic airplane hangars, utilized in the early 1900’s as the first continental Naval air station and later by Pan Am Airways, will be preserved and renovated to create approximately 40,000 square feet of space ideal for a gourmet food hall, specialty market, fitness or entertainment concept.
The project, which closed a $33 million construction loan in September and is under construction, will also boast a plethora of water amenities, including marina services with dry storage slips for 400 vessels, 700 feet of transient floating docks, and an upgraded and relocated boat fueling station. More than 13,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space and on-site parking, including 253 spaces in a garage and 300-car surface parking, bring added convenience. All components will be complemented by lush foliage and strolling sidewalks that interweave with Regatta Park.
Next to the project is the new, OMA-designed condominium development, Park Grove, which is nearing completion. And, a few blocks away, the CocoWalk mall is in the process of a complete overhaul that, once complete, will boast another central location for office, dining and retail. The project also neighbors Peacock Park, Ritz Carlton Hotel & Residences and Grove at Grand Bay Luxury Residences.
