Avra Estiatorio has officially hit L.A…and the Beverly Hills grub scene will never be the same.
The popular New-York based Greek seafood restaurant celebrated its grand opening with a 5-hour long star-studded bash Thursday night, with Halle Berry, Cindy Crawford, and more on hand to help kick it off right.
We were in the mix for the unforgettable wining and dining moment too, and as soon as we had one bite of the restaurant’s crispy, crave-worthy eggplant chips, we completely understood its Big Apple cult following.
And we weren’t the only ones. Not long after the fete began, the 11,000 square-foot space was packed with guys suited up in blazers and jeans and ladies rocking sleek cocktail and summer dresses. Many more lined up outside along the velvet ropes hoping to catch a glimpse of the new digs and feast on the decadent bites.
After grabbing glasses of Moet champagne from a white flower-lined, Dolomiti marble bar, we drifted to the massive market-style seafood display stacked with steamed lobster, raw oysters, and raw clams on ice. As we munched, waiters passed around plate after plate of small bites like lamb chops, crab cakes, meatballs, and grilled chilean sea bass. Every single thing we tasted was incredible.
As was the space, which felt like an urban oasis. As we danced our way around the skylight-lit main dining room thanks to a high energy DJ’s set, we couldn’t help but swoon over the fresh lemon trees and antique mirrors inside, and the magenta flowers sprinkled in the outdoor dining area.
The vibe was a mix of old school Beverly Hills and new school L.A., and there was even some quirky entertainment thanks to a self-proclaimed magician armed with a deck of cards. The night flew by (a sign of a good time), with Ellen Pompeo, Selma Blair, Sex and the City’s Chris Noth and more enjoying the evening and the grub too.
(Photo courtesy of Michael Simon/Startraks for AVRA Beverly Hills)
Now that the party is over and Avra has officially opened its doors to the public, don’t miss it. This sure-to-be summer hot spot has some of the best seafood we’ve had in the city, and great cocktails to boot.
When you go, don’t leave without trying signature dishes like the Avra Chips ( the crispy zucchini and eggplant chips served with homemade tzatziki sauce that we raved about), the charcoal grilled octopus, and the grilled Chilean Sea Bass Souvlaki (served over a red pepper sauce).
(Photo courtesy of Michael Simon/Startraks for AVRA Beverly Hills)
Also order up the seafood from the ice bar. You can pick out lobster, red snapper, sea bass, and more and chefs will charcoal grill it. When you’re indulging, the truffle fries with parmesan cheese are also to die for, as are the Grilled Colorado BB Lamb Chops.
(Photo courtesy of Michael Simon/Startraks for AVRA Beverly Hills)
Take a peek at the full menu here, and make reservations, here.
Happy dining Destination Fabbers!
(Interior photos courtesty of Avra Beverly Hills, Facebook)
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