Angel Febres Returns with Yaya Coastal Cuisine
A brand new waterfront restaurant plans to debut in Miami this forthcoming summer, and its opening looks like a moment of justice and retribution for long-time restaurant owner Angel Febres.
Yaya Coastal Cuisine, an all-new waterfront restaurant in Miami, will serve coastal Mediterranean-themed cuisine with exclusive drink options; it is scheduled to open on August 14, 2024. Just a few short weeks away, the Yaya Coastal Cuisine restaurant’s opening will unveil the brand-new North Miami mainstay, which Angel Febres leads.
Febres has long been a crucial behind-the-scenes figurehead and creative hand in guiding the culinary content of the Miami coast. He is the founder of the former Korean hotspot Drunken Dragon, which closed just before the New Year, and Yaya Coastal Cuisine will be his first new venture since its closing. In addition to the former Drunken Dragon and now Yaya Coastal Cuisine, Febres is also one of the founders of Racket, Foxhole, and Casa Tiki.
A Culinary and Boating Paradise
It is situated on the bay in North Miami, with water and skyline views from its terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows. At Yaya, Febres aims to combine his legendary and apparent love of hospitality with his other passion: boating. As Febres says, “We wanted to create a dining experience that not only tantalizes the taste buds but also transports our guests to a coastal paradise. Yaya will be a destination for Miami and its boating community.”
Todd Zimmer, formerly the executive chef of Prime 112, will helm the culinary team. The menu features many Mediterranean dishes, including fresh seafood, crudo, grilled head-on prawns, and hot mezze dishes such as saganaki, crisp zucchini, and eggplant. Dinner highlights include uni in seawater, Maine lobster cob salad, bone-in rib eye with salsa verde, and a whole Spanish dorado fish with watercress and fennel.
Yaya will also include numerous signature cocktails such as the “Mediterranean Martini,” featuring olive oil-washed vodka with red bell pepper juice, basil simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice, as well as the “Honeydew Cooler,” featuring vodka, crème de banana, lime juice, and coconut water.
A Boater’s Dream and Design Excellence
Members can dock at the Yaya Marina, which has an unprecedented 14 dockage spots directly in front of the restaurant. In this way, Febres puts his money where his mouth is, actively striving to incorporate as much boating culture and its lifestyle into the restaurant as possible. One of the many additional perks of membership is access to the private dining room.
Miami’s Saladino Design Studios led Yaya’s architectural and design process, creating a light and airy venue that embraces its chic waterfront location. In addition to the main dining room with a full bar and a large private dining room, outdoor seating will be on the terrace and in a lounge area. The dining room has 110 seats, with an additional 80 seats outside on the patio. For those seeking a more intimate experience, the private dining room can accommodate up to 40 guests.
With his latest venture, Yaya Coastal Cuisine, Angel Febres is bringing a new level of culinary innovation to the Miami shore. The fusion of exquisite Mediterranean cuisine with a unique boating experience is set to elevate Miami’s dining scene, offering both locals and visitors a new destination that promises not only fantastic food but also an unparalleled ambiance.
