Bringing the Mediterranean to Miami

BY ANAÏS JAMALI, STAFF WRITER

INSIDE THE DEPTHS OF THE upper Buena Vista mall lies a hidden gem: Branja, an Israeli-Mediterranean fusion restaurant, whose chief mission is to serve delicious food, while also creating a culturally diverse and welcoming area.

In 2016, the Israeli owner and main chef, Tom Aviv, won the sixth season of the reality TV show “Master Chef,” in which amateur chefs compete against each other in multiple cooking challenges. He later opened and designed his first restaurant, an Italianoriented restaurant called Coco Bambino, in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, in 2018. He continued working and developing his restaurant until the COVID-19 pandemic, after which he decided to further expand his ventures.

Choosing Miami as its host city because of the fusion of global cultures, Aviv opened Branja, his first U.S. restaurant, in 2022. The word branja is Hebrew slang, translating to “circle of friends,” which aligns with the restaurant’s concept of offering a shareable menu.

“Instead of just focusing on the IsraeliMediterranean cuisine, we want our customers to experience a memorable cultural experience through the shareable dishes, diverse atmosphere and familial ambiance,” Aviv said.

Branja offers a fixed dinner menu throughout the week and a brunch menu on weekends that is constantly being modified depending on the fresh produce, ingredients and spices available. This lets Aviv’s imagination run wild while upholding the concept of sharing dishes and exploring favors.

“I could tell that creativity and hard work was put into each dish for the contrasting favors to work together; I genuinely enjoyed myself and would definitely go again,” junior Julia Nason said.

Since Aviv did not have culinary training prior to opening his restaurant, he is not scared of thinking outside of the box or trying new, risky methods. He integrates techniques and favors from all across the world into his native Israeli drinks and dishes. Aviv made sure to include vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options throughout the menu, as well.

The restaurant also caters to a variety of hunger levels, offering a diverse mix of light and heavy dishes, maintaining the idea of sharing with those around you. The exotic ingredients, like octopus and truffle, add to the guests’ satisfaction and make the

menu much more memorable. Branja’s signature dishes are the Falafsh and Fishwarma, though some guest favorites are the Mama Ligua and Orthodox steak, which incorporate high-quality ingredients and their irregular flavor combinations.

Branja offers a fantastic in-store experience with an immediate welcome upon entering, transporting guests to the Meditteranean with sights, smells and tastes.

The covered outdoor terrace with natural light has a peaceful ambiance, welcoming customers to sit and eat. The restaurant is located near the back of the shopping plaza Upper Buena Vista, where food meets shopping. This thriving center and delicious food make guests keep coming back for more.

“The atmosphere of Branja is very familial and inviting. It’s definitely a space where close friends and families come together to share good times and delicious food,” service captain Darwin Cortez said.

Branja is located at 5010 NE 2nd Ave. and is open Tuesday through Sunday with varying opening and closing times. As a relatively new business, Branja’s originality and variety of dishes make the restaurant definitely worth visiting.