The Hell’s Kitchen finalist’s first full-service restaurant brings Brooklyn neo-soul energy, a 10-seat chef’s table and a string-lit courtyard to NW Second Ave.
Buena Vista is getting a new spot to gather. This winter, aAO (Against All Odds) will open at 4204 NW Second Ave. from nationally recognized chef, entrepreneur and television personality Robyn Almodovar.
It’s Almodovar’s first full-service venture, and she’s building the menu around the dishes that have defined her career and the culinary influences of South Florida.
For Almodovar, the location was the starting point.
“Buena Vista has a strong neighborhood identity while still being connected to the energy of Miami. That felt right for aAO,” said Almodovar. “I envision a Brooklyn neo-soul-inspired restaurant where people can gather, feel at home and connect over food. The menu is personal, and so is the name. aAO reflects my journey and celebrates the hustlers, go-getters and people who keep pushing forward.”
Inside the Space: A Room Made of “Atmospheres”
The 4,400-square-foot indoor dining room will seat 122 guests. A bar and lounge accommodates more than 30 guests, with 15 bar stools and couch seating for cocktails, bites and conversation.
Designer Michael Tronn developed the interiors into “atmospheres.” Each has its own personality, material expression and emotional character, while staying connected to the restaurant’s overarching design language. The idea is a room that invites exploration and discovery, so the experience shifts depending on where you settle in.
Tronn worked closely with Almodovar and aAO Co-Founder Austin Gaines on a collection of distinct yet interconnected spaces. Wood, concrete and leather anchor the design, with geometric woodwork, caramel and black leather upholstery, reflective accents and layered lighting. Industrial elements meet rich textures, custom furnishings and intimate gathering spaces.
Two details stand out. Three elegant arched portals showcase curated artwork. And an intimate 10-seat chef’s table sits against a gallery wall of family portraits — a tribute to the people whose love, support and dedication helped bring aAO to life, and to the shared journey that shaped the restaurant from the very beginning.
Outside, a 1,200-square-foot, 40-seat courtyard offers alfresco dining beneath the trees, lit by string lights after sunset. Designed as a lush urban retreat, the garden pairs graffiti-covered concrete and natural wood with tropical greenery and atmospheric lighting.
On the Menu
The menu traces the influences and experiences that have shaped Almodovar’s cooking. Signature dishes include a Beef Wellington — a nod to her time on Hell’s Kitchen — alongside new creations like grilled octopus with smoked bravas sauce.
Weekly programming gives guests more reasons to gather, including happy hour and Industry Night, an evening dedicated to Miami’s hospitality professionals.
The Team Behind aAO
As Co-Owner, Founder and Executive Chef, Almodovar brings more than two decades of culinary experience. Her food truck and catering company, Palate Party, made history as South Florida’s first female-owned, non-dessert food truck and earned Miami New Times’ Best Food Truck honors in 2013.
She has served as executive chef at the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. On TV, she’s won Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen, finished as a finalist on Hell’s Kitchen and, most recently, appeared on 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing. Beyond leading the culinary vision, she’ll oversee day-to-day operations to make sure every part of the guest experience reflects her commitment to exceptional food, genuine hospitality and creativity.
Joining her as Co-Founder is longtime friend Austin Gaines, a Miami-based entrepreneur and hospitality operator best known as a founding partner of New York City’s award-winning Arcane Estate Coffee.
“Robyn brings a clear culinary vision, and my role is to help translate that into every part of the guest experience,” said Gaines. “We want the restaurant to feel welcoming, flow naturally between indoors and out and become a place the neighborhood makes its own.”