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As envisioned by the Founders & Operators of Miami’s iconic Mandolin Aegean Bistro, The Drexel is the duo’s latest culinary oasis: Created for locals, by locals
The Drexel is a Coastal Mediterranean restaurant nestled in the heart of Miami Beach. Situated on the corner of Miami’s historic Española Way and Drexel Avenue, The Drexel is quickly becoming Miami Beach’s new destination restaurant offering both a chic European atmosphere with elevated yet uncomplicated classic Mediterranean flavors from their open grill and wood oven.
Ideated by beloved industry veterans, The Drexel is the brainchild of husband-wife teams Ahmet Erkaya and Anastasia Koutsioukis of Mandolin Aegean Bistro, Mrs.Mandolin, and Mr.Mandolin; alongside Chef Nano Crespo, formerly of Quinto La Huella, and his wife Tamara Magalhaes, formerly of Mandolin Aegean Bistro, Soho House, and Thompson Hospitality.
Characterized by its understated elegance and refined Mediterranean dishes, The Drexel is a hidden gem designed to elevate Miami Beach’s dining scene. The restaurant transports guests to the Coastal European towns along the Riviera through its favorable food and inimitable atmosphere. Drawing inspiration from old world cooking techniques to ideate fresh, innovative recipes, The Drexel’s culinary offerings and vision are influenced by the couples’ travels throughout Southern Europe and Chef Crespo’s expertise on the grill and Mediterranean cooking. The Drexel exudes a casual, yet chic environment, highlighted by its warm and welcoming approach to hospitality that can best be described as a passion project created by locals, for locals.
THE MENU:
Chef Nano Crespo has mastered a rustic, straight forward cooking style punctuated with distinctive flavor and flair, which he continues to carry out at The Drexel. Offering clean, light and bright flavors from the charcoal grill and wood oven, the menu also includes housemade pasta and pizza with a heavy emphasis on locally sourced seafood and an entire section dedicated to vegetable-forward dishes. The Drexel encourages a family style of dining and features shareable dishes which foster a sense of togetherness. Some menu highlights include, but are not limited to Appetizers such as the Gigande Bean Dip, Local Tuna Carpaccio, and Charred Squid; Wood Oven Pizza & Home-Made Pasta including the Mushroom Pizza and Smoked Guanciale Pizza, along with Pappardelle, Spaghetti, and Gnocchi; Mains such as the Whole Sea Bream, Flat-Iron Organic Chicken, Whole Organic Chicken, and Lamb Chops; and Salad & Vegetable offerings including the Hen of the Woods, Fried Cauliflower, and Wood Roasted Eggplant.
Helmed by Founding Partner, Ahmet Erkaya, The Drexel’s beverage program features an extensive cocktail list and is characterized by rare boutique wines sourced from Greece, France, Spain, and Italy. Carefully curated wine selections are based on the availability found in boutique vineyards. Cocktail offerings, on the other hand, showcase light and fresh flavors and are inspired by Mediterranean ingredients.
DESIGN:
The Drexel is found on the corner of the first floor of Casa Matanza at the Esmé Hotel. Originally built in the 1920s, the historically designated building features a Mediterranean Revival architectural style. The building itself along with Española Way’s storied past is what attracted The Drexel’s Co-Founder and designer, Anastasia Koutsioukis to the project. Koutsioukis has an instinct and passion for preserving the history and cultural significance of an area, as well as identifying architecturally significant properties and transforming them into fixtures in Miami’s culinary landscape, as she did when designing Mandolin Aegean Bistro. Koutsioukis creates warm and understated environments that feel like they have been there for years in an effortless design style that’s distinctive to her projects. Koutsioukis was inspired by the natural and neutral palette that’s found throughout European coastal towns. The Drexel’s minimalist decor is characterized by earthy hand plastered walls, a bleached oak bar and stunning wall unit displaying antique ceramic vessels that have been collected during Koutsioukis’ travels. The calming space is punctuated with pops of light green marble on the bar and sage banquettes. The original arched windows set the tone for the arches throughout the space. The lighting and furniture is a mixture of French mid century pendants and linen upholstered chairs, along with plenty of rattan seating and raffia sconces lending to its Coastal Mediterranean feel. Additional personal touches include an art wall installation from the Owner’s collection, and plenty of natural palms, flowers and fruit bowls fill the place with life.
THE DREXEL
1436 Drexel Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday: 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm; Saturday: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm; Sunday: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm For more information, visit https://www.drexelmiami.com/
