Downtown's popular Mediterranean restaurant Aviva by Kameel has been added to the eatery lineup at the new CODA Tech Square development in Midtown. The new outpost will be far smaller than its downtown sibling and will feature only the restaurant's food, not its juice and smoothie offerings. In Midtown, Aviva will occupy an approximately 700 square foot stall, whereas their location at Peachtree Center is nearly 4,000 square feet with a walk-in area and exclusive seating.
 |
| Nas with his father Kameel at CODA Tech Square |
Kameel Srouji opened the original Aviva by Kameel, named for his sister Aviva, in the Mall at Peachtree Center October 8, 2012. In the years since, the eatery has become a popular destination for downtown office workers and foodies alike. The restaurant operates almost exclusively Monday through Friday from 11 AM until 4 PM, with select extended hours for certain weekend and evening events.
The Midtown location, to be helmed by Kameel's son Nas, will operate seven days a week for both lunch and dinner. Nas, currently the General Manager at the Peachtree Center location, is sure to bring the same charisma and hospitality to Midtown that has made the downtown restaurant so popular.
"Building the #1 Rated Atlanta Lunch Restaurant in under 5 years is no small feat. We accomplished this by focusing on providing foods that are fresh and wholesome, cooking from the heart, and always treating our customers like family. Great food is bound to come when we keep these three things at the center."
Aviva's expansion in some way mirrors the expansion of fellow Mediterranean eatery Cafe Agora. Owner Al Ozelci opened the original (Al's) Cafe Agora on East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead in 2005. In 2011, he expanded to Midtown with a satellite location on Peachtree Place. The Midtown outpost was up until last year primarily run by his son Memo. The relocated and expanded Cafe Agora a few doors down on East Paces Ferry opened in 2014 and Memo now holds court once again in Buckhead with his father enjoying partial retirement in Atlanta and his native Turkey.
Al and Memo, like Kameel and Nas, are the public faces of their respective restaurants but behind the scenes, women play a large role in both, as well. Sibel, Memo's mother, prepares much of the food at the Buckhead restaurant, and like her son, is in the restaurant at least five days a week. Aviva, the namesake of the restaurant, is also often preparing food for her family's restaurant and is an integral part of the overall experience.
Given their exceptional food and pleasant hospitality, both Aviva by Kameel and Cafe Agora are favorites of ToNeTo Atlanta and we are so pleased to see both thriving and now Aviva expanding.
Aviva by Kameel will in Coda join three previously announced eateries: El Burro Pollo Burrito Kitchen, Poke Burri and Wildleaf.
Sources indicate that the leasing team at SRS Real Estate Partners is also close to signing new coffee and ice cream purveyors for CODA. The first eateries in CODA are expected to open later this summer.
Have you ever been to Aviva by Kameel in Peachtree Center? Are you excited for the addition of a second Aviva by Kameel in Atlanta? What other concepts would you like to see open in CODA?
Please share your thoughts below