Mare Nostrum is scheduled to open for lunch and dinner next Monday, December 12, 2011 at 1111 SW First Avenue, right off of Brickell Avenue; directly across the street from the Brickell Avenue Metrorail MetroMover station. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter @SLFoodandWine The menu is Mediterranean focused.
Starters: ($6.95 to $15.95): Croquetas made with Iberico ham and gruyere cheese; fried eggplant with organic honey; and Bluefin tuna “Toro” tataki, all tempt taste buds.Guests can also dive into items from the gorgeous seafood display table ($14.95 to MP) including seared Mediterranean red shrimp, freshly shucked blue point oysters, or a bountiful seafood platter of tiger prawns, langoustines, oysters and stone crabs.
Salads ($9.95 to $14.95) such as heirloom tomatoes with fresh mozzarella, basil foam and extra virgin olive oil or a simple arugula, sundried tomatoes, pine nuts and parmesan dressed with a tangy citrus vinaigrette are light and refreshing, while
Soups ($6.95 to $13.95) include a classic gazpacho, a fresh and tasty bouillabaisse and a hearty minestrone, among others.
Pastas, paellas and risottos: Mare Nostrum’s state of the art kitchen is loaded with upscale European equipment, including Italian pasta makers that give them the capability to make a wide variety of fresh pastas in-house, including spaghetti, fettuccine, capellini, linguini, bucatini, tagliatelle, pappardelle and gnocchi.Guests will be able to match any one of six freshly prepared sauces – pesto, Alfredo, Bolognese, puttanesca, tomato and basil and olive oil, garlic and parmesan ($10.95) for a simple yet satisfying starter or main plate.
There are also specialty pasta dishes including a decadent fettuccine with white truffle oil and shaved parmesan; spaghetti with sautéed clamsand four cheese ravioli with sage butter ($22.95 -$24.95).Paella stations offer traditional paellas, risottos and Spanish seafood stews ($22.95-$24.95 per person, minimum two people) to round out the roster of grains.
Fish: Seafood lovers will exult in Mare Nostrum’s pescetarian quality and variety; the exceptional ingredients and flavors shine in signature specialties ($15.95 - $22.95) from salmon a la plancha finished with saffron salt to seared branzino with sea salt.Red snapper, lubina (Spanish sea bass) and dorada are offered by the pound ($28-$32 per pound) for a shared dining experience, with traditional Spanish preparations.Choose lubina covered in rock salt and baked whole, a succulent dish that transports you to the sea; or soulful red snapper dusted in chick pea flour and lightly fried in olive oil.
Meat: include chicken, pork and grilled lamb chops as well as the classic 24 hour slow baked cochinilo asado. Tender cuts of beef ($15.95 to $36.95) include USDA skirt steak, New York strip USDA Prime Angus tenderloin and USDA Prime Angus rib eye; all served with a vegetable side.
Desserts:($8.95) all prepared in-house offer tantalizing temptations with inspired creations including the classicSpanish flan with caramel sauce and candied Marcona almonds, Manchego cheesecake with crème anglaise and a dense, delicious olive oil cake with dark chocolate cream, citrus sauce and vanilla ice cream.
Valet and street parking are available. For reservations, call Mare Nostrum at 786-691-2770 More information can be found at marenostrumrestaurant.com.
