This Mediterranean restaurant from a popular Chicago market is opening in Bal Harbour

At Miami’s most luxurious mall, an import from Chicago’s historic Fulton Market District is poised to make an impression.

Aba — which means “father” in Hebrew — is opening at Bal Harbour Shops, serving Mediterranean fare made with a light touch.

The creation of partner and divisional president Marc Jacobs of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants and former “Top Chef” winner C.J. Jacobson, Aba will highlight a variety of influences: Israeli, Lebanese, Turkish and Greek.

With olive trees, ivy, hanging plants and potted trees, the 250-seat restaurant, which is located near Saks Fifth Avenue and also has a location in Austin, Texas, evokes a Mediterranean garden. French-style windows and doors lead to a patio where diners can eat outdoors if they prefer.

Upstairs, the second floor mezzanine features more outdoor seating plus an intimate bar.

The restaurant, which opens Nov. 2, is only serving dinner now, but weekday lunch and weekend brunch will be added eventually.

“We look forward to joining Miami’s growing culinary community,” said Jacobs in a statement, adding that Miami is continuing to grow in showcasing different flavors.

Aba hopes to do that, too. Menu highlights include the carrot and sunflower dip with sunflower tahini, the Everything Jerusalem Bagel with smoked salmon spread, hamachi and charred avocado and the shwarma spiced skirt steak with black mushroom au jus.

This is Bal Harbour, so you can expect upscale craft cocktails, too, like Aloe? It’s Me ($19; two types of mezcal, aloe, green juice, jalapeño and pineapple), a watermelon gin and tonic ($18) and Girl on Fire ($18; tequila, mango, gojuchang and lime).

There are also nonalcoholic cocktails, group drinks and a select assortment of reserve cocktails with, as the menu says, “exceptional spirits.” Case in point: the black truffle espresso martini, made with black truffle-infused Grey Goose vodka, St. George nola, Beatrix Coffee Roasters’ espresso and demerara. This cocktail costs $50 but doesn’t sound like anything you’ll forget soon.

Aba

Where: Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., Suite 101, Bal Harbour

Open: Nov. 2

Hours: 4-11 p.m. daily with weekday lunch and weekend brunch hours to follow soon

Reservations and more information: www.abarestaurants.com

This story was originally published November 1, 2022 at 1:18 PM.