Mare is a restaurant located on the rooftops of Melrose. The entrance is unassuming, we almost thought the valet guys was joking when they directed us through the burger shop. He was not joking however, and when we made it to the top of the stairs a whole new world seemed to unfold in front of us. Suddenly you find yourself on a rooftop garden bustling with people and adorned with beautiful fairy lights. The service was super, the menu is small, but we're confident you will find yourself something.
We started our evening with a couple of cocktails. I sampled a cocktail made with Feria de Jalisco Tequila, Kumquat and Citrus. A drink with a refreshing citrus kick. While my partner sampled a cocktail mixed with El Silencio Mezcal, Roseberry and Smoke. An interesting cocktail, but equally as impressive. We ordered a bottle of wine for our table, settling on a bottle of Pratsch Gruner VeItliner, 2013. A bright and crisp wine with subtle citrus tones.
“The food was absolutely divine.”
The food is served in a tapas style of shared dishes. We started with the Arugula Salad, prepared with Red Onion, Cherry Tomatoes, Dates and Capers. The salad was delicious, all the ingredients were fresh and full of flavour, and the seasoning was superb. Next we ordered the Salt Roasted Potatoes with Bold Aioli. Another splendid dish, packed with flavour and very enjoyable.
Next we sampled the whole Branzino, served with a Fig Pomegranate Sauce. The Branzino was cooked to perfection, it's a tasty white-fleshed fish that when combined with the pomegranate sauce makes for a superb dish. The highlight of the evening was the Shrimp with Vadouvan Curry and Green Apple. This dish was served with Noodles and Poached Eggs on the side, and we actually cracked the egg into the dish ourselves and mixed to our personal preference. The interaction was a nice touch, and the dish was absolutely divine.
Mare gets a strong recommendation from us, and is a must visit if you’re visiting LA.
The Bill: £67 per head
