Lebanese flavors have long been part of Miami’s multicultural table, but Amal Coconut Grove raises the bar. Backed by INK Entertainment Group, the new restaurant brings a carefully curated version of Beirut’s coastal warmth to one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods.
Lebanese roots behind a global hospitality brand
Citybiz reports that INK Entertainment Group – a leading North American lifestyle and entertainment company – is opening Amal on Main Highway in Coconut Grove, with doors set to open on May 24, 2022. The concept pays direct homage to the Lebanese roots of INK’s CEO and founder, Charles Khabouth, who has spent decades building nightlife, dining and festival brands in Toronto and Miami.
For Khabouth, Amal is about exporting more than recipes. It is designed as a full expression of Lebanese “joie de vivre”: the love of sharing food, drawing people together around a table and treating guests like extended family.
Design that echoes the Mediterranean
The 180-seat space was created by award-winning firm Studio Munge. According to the announcement, its interiors are inspired by Lebanon’s sandy shores and contemporary Mediterranean architecture. The palette leans on dusty rose, muted terracotta and pastel blues set against white plaster and natural oak, allowing the restaurant to shift seamlessly from bright daytime lunches to intimate evening feasts.
The result is a room that feels both modern and rooted in the Eastern Mediterranean, with textures and colors that evoke seaside Beirut without slipping into kitsch.
A menu built for sharing
The kitchen is led by Chef Wissam Baki, whose 15-plus years of experience include stints at major hospitality venues such as the InterContinental in Beirut. Amal’s menu focuses on generous, easily shared dishes that mirror how a meal unfolds in a Lebanese home.
Guests start with dips like hummus and baba ghanouj before moving to salads, hot mezze, skewers and modern takes on classics such as lamb chops and whole fish. Signature items highlighted in the launch include Monk Salad, Truffle Rakakat, Pistachio Kabab and Black Cod Harra – each designed to layer flavors of spice, smoke and citrus across the table.
An extensive wine programme overseen by Master Sommelier Fernando Zamudio brings together global labels and boutique Lebanese producers, giving diners the option to pair mezze with bottles from the Bekaa Valley as easily as with European or New World selections.
Taking Lebanese hospitality to the rooftop
Above the main dining room, Amal will also operate Level 6, a 5,000-square-foot rooftop bar with panoramic views of Miami and Biscayne Bay. The terrace is set to offer a more casual, seafood-leaning menu alongside an elevated cocktail programme, turning it into a destination in its own right for sunset drinks and late-night gatherings.
For INK Entertainment Group, Amal Coconut Grove is the fourth major Miami opening following Byblos, Meet Dalia and Meet Mia. Together, they signal a clear bet: that the next wave of the city’s dining scene will be shaped by concepts that blend strong culinary identities with immersive design and nightlife DNA.
For Lebanese food culture, Amal is something else as well – a reminder that even as Lebanon itself faces deep crisis, its people and flavors continue to travel, evolve and anchor high-profile projects across the world.
Leave a Reply