Miami-born Mediterranean cafe Motek, known for bright laffa, house-made hummus and its award-winning Arayes burger, has officially landed in Midtown. The restaurant quietly began seating diners this week in a ground-floor space on Northeast First Avenue, taking over the address that previously housed Maty's and its adjoining omakase counter. The move brings Motek's all-day menu to another corner of the city and fills a high-profile spot that has sat empty since 2025.
Where it sits and who’s behind it
The new Motek is located at 3255 NE 1st Ave in Midtown, occupying roughly 5,700–6,000 square feet of ground-floor space, according to the restaurant's listings and industry coverage. The opening continues the brand's growth across South Florida and into New York under the Happy Corner Hospitality umbrella, led by Charlie Levy. The location is listed on Motek, and industry coverage noted the opening in The Real Deal.
Replacing Maty's and Itamae AO
The Midtown address was most recently home to Maty's and Itamae AO, both of which closed in 2025 and left a noticeable gap in the neighborhood's dining lineup. Itamae AO earned a Michelin star earlier that year, and reporting notes that Motek will share the building's footprint with a sister bakery called Sesame. Commercial Observer covered the lease, and Time Out reported on Itamae AO’s Michelin recognition.
What to order
Motek's menu leans on hot and cold mezzes, house-made hummus and labneh served with hot laffa, along with kebabs and shawarma. There are also crowd-pleasers like the chicken schnitzel sandwich and the Lebanese-style Arayes burger. The Arayes, a grilled, herb-forward meat sandwich served in pita, has become a local favorite and a past People's Choice winner at South Beach Wine & Food Festival's Burger Bash. Menu items and prices can be found via Motek, and the burger's festival wins have been covered in local writeups such as Yahoo.
Practical info
The Midtown outpost's posted hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with later service on weekends, and the restaurant is taking reservations for dinner. The Miami Herald lists the phone number and notes that reservations are available via Resy.
Why it matters
Motek's arrival highlights a broader Midtown trend of established, multi-unit operators stepping into large ground-floor spaces that previously held smaller, high-end independent restaurants. Industry coverage of the lease and the building's ownership points to landlords favoring reliable brands that can bring consistent foot traffic, a dynamic that has helped Motek expand beyond its downtown beginnings. See reporting in The Real Deal for more on the move.
