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Mara Restaurant and Bar Minneapolis Reviews
The hummus was delicious but the seasoning on the pita was
The hummus was delicious but the seasoning on the pita was very burnt giving it a bitter taste. The bucatini was delicious and I would order it again. The kabob and rice was the best thing we ordered with authentic middle eastern flavors. We chose this restaurant for our anniversary "day date." We shared this information with the restaurant hoping we'd possibly be placed in a nice, quiet corner in the restaurant. Although the restaurant was nearly empty, we were placed next to a loud businessman on a zoom call at his table and a photo shoot at the bar. It was a great place, bad timing I guess. The restaurant manager did come up to us before we left and congratulated us, and even apologized for the traffic in the bar. She made up for the madness by sending us away with a celebratory dessert. Kudos to the manager for owning up and for her professionalism.
I really enjoy going to eat at Mara, both for breakfast and
I really enjoy going to eat at Mara, both for breakfast and dinner. They infuse Mediterranean flavors into classic dishes in some really inventive ways. Some highlights for breakfast include the Sorghum Pancakes which are super light and not too sweet. Honestly some of the best pancakes I've ever had. My husband also really enjoyed his breakfast sandwich with shawarma instead of the classic bacon/sausage. The Mara omelette is another great option and they have great crispy potatoes. For dinner their calamari is very good and don't sleep on the roasted veggies, they make some great accompanying sauces that you will want to mop up. Service is typically very good with servers checking in on you but are otherwise unobtrusive. I enjoy the design of the restaurant with a smaller bar in front and a larger dining room with private rooms available as well. There is lots of plush seating and gold jewel toned hues.
Our family loves Mara and all the staff that works so hard
Our family loves Mara and all the staff that works so hard there. Nic and David as great servers in the morning - which is one of our favorite breakfast spots. Happy hour at the bar is very nice with the drinks and complementary toasted chickpeas. And be never had diner there, but they always seem busy and everyone looks happy! Fun vibe and great buzz of people coming in and out.
It was really surprising how slow the service was when we
It was really surprising how slow the service was when we were only 1 of 4 tables in the bar area. That is a shame as the calamari was very tasty and the drinks were very well made. It is a beautiful restaurant but one that I would only visit during my stay at the 4 seasons
I've dined here so many times now and i highly recommend it.
Everything i've had has always been incredible whether it be for brunch or dinner. I loved how they gave us complimentary sesame bread to start, which must be new because this was my first time receiving it. This time, i got the sardine toast for an appetizer which was really good. But the star of the show was 1000% the grilled swordfish, it was insanely good. The fregola sarda pasta was incredible with it and the romesco sauce was just chef's kiss. The whole dish was so cohesive and cooked perfectly, i would definitely get it again. For dessert i got the pavlova. I appreciated how it wasn't a massive serving and was overall refreshing, a great way to end the meal. The service here is also wonderful, everyone is so kind and professional. Since we were celebrating my friend's birthday they even gave us some complimentary sparkling tea! I will be back again soon!
We have had some great apps and drinks in the bar, but
We have had some great apps and drinks in the bar, but dined in the dining room this time. So subpar. Tartare was over sauced and tough. The burrata was average. Most disappointing was the lobster risotto. Definitely the worst risotto dish I've ever had. Not sure we will go back. Maybe for a cocktail and hummus only.
The restaurant is great with perfect lighting and
The restaurant is great with perfect lighting and comfortable seating. Their old fashion was unique and great. A lot of flavors that wasn't expected but very pleasant Oysters were delicious! Sardine toast was an unexpected surprise another full of surprise of flavors, fennel marmalade was on point. Branzino was an exquisite dish as well! Olivia, our waitress was on point. Very friendly and responsive
Mara was phenomenal.
The decor was clearly Art Deco inspired. Our waiter was incredibly helpful and diligent. All the food was incredible. I started with the Burata and had the lobster risotto as my main course. It was filled with giant chunks of lobster meat. I also ordered the asparagus which was a really nice and balanced with the risotto. minneapolis was very inexpensive. The word on the street is that Mara is as close to a Michelin starred restaurant you get here.
Found this spot thanks to a reel on instagram and boy am I
Found this spot thanks to a reel on instagram and boy am I glad I did. A friend and I went here on a Friday night. We were greeted by name by our server who was top tier the entire night. Attentive, kind, so knowledgeable. He helped us with wine and offered a sommelier if we needed one. I ordered the lamb and it was phenomenal. Perfectly cooked and the sauce with it was bright and unique in the best way possible. Inside the vibe was a little dark and moody- not too dark though! It was gorgeous inside the restaurant and we loved every moment of the experience.
I visited Mara while attending an event at the Four Seasons.
My friend and I sat at the bar, enjoyed a drink, and shared the Turkish flatbread--highly recommend that. They also offered a popular cocktail that resembled a Ramos Fizz, which was exceptionally delicious. My friend ordered the L'ORANGE cocktail, and it was also excellent. I look forward to returning and would highly recommend this restaurant.
Skip It
The winter evening that finds me at Mara Bar in Minneapolis's Four Seasons feels heavy with promise unfulfilled. The Christmas lights twinkle halfheartedly, and a distant roar of game night crowds filters through the lobby's expensive silence. I've always found a certain comfort in hotel bars, those elegant way stations where service flows as smoothly as the spirits. But tonight, something is amiss. Our host greets us with an unusual request – not just to escort us to the self-evident bar area, but to shuffle my companion closer to a stranger, citing some imagined rush to come. It's the sort of forced intimacy that makes one long for the practiced grace of Four Seasons bars in Bangkok or Beijing. The cocktails, when they finally arrive through the glacial pace of service, are competent enough. But around us, the air grows thick with quiet frustration. "The check, please?" becomes a chorus of gentle desperation. At $36 for two drinks before gratuity, one expects a certain polish that remains conspicuously absent. Later, we find salvation in the hotel's Nordic Village at Riva Bar, where the evening rights itself. But that earlier experience at Mara lingers like a bitter finish on an otherwise promising spirit. For a brand built on flawless hospitality, this feels like a rare discord in an usually perfect symphony.
Somewhat Disappointing
I had dinner at Mara twice during the past four months, in August with a group of 10, and in December with a group of 7. The first visit began badly and stayed that way. The restaurant had lost our reservation. After finally seating us and providing water, no server returned to the table for more than 20 minutes. That pattern continued with each course, from cocktails and appetizers through dessert, taking far more time than it should have. Most of the entrees were adequately prepared, but one entree was seriously undercooked and needed to be sent back. When the time arrived to leave, there were mistakes on the bill that needed to be fixed. At the second visit, the server was excellent. The food seemed well prepared and well presented. The sunchoke soup was superb; but the endive salad not so good. Two people shared the branzino and found it delicious. The redfish got good reviews. The lamb chops were somewhat bland. The restaurant has a lengthy wine list, with varied selections, but only a small portion of bottles cost less than $100. Wines by the glass are very expensive. I probably will not return.
Wonderful and Fantastic Service
I enjoyed a wonderful Birthday dinner tonight with family at Mara Restaurant & Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. We dined on Wagyu Beef Tartare, Humus with Crispy Chickpeas and Crudite, American Wagyu Flat Iron Steak, Chermoula Spiced Chicken, Charred Broccolini, and Roasted Kabocha Squash. Every dish was delightful and yummy, and the service was top-notch. The Flat Iron Steak was tender, and the sauce was flavorful. The chicken was tender and moist. Vegetables were all spot on with flavor and preparation.
Attended a party at Mara and everything was excellent from
Attended a party at Mara and everything was excellent from the moment I stepped on property. Each staff member really went above and beyond for every interaction. Plus the food was exceptional. I think I fell in love when the NY strip was placed in front of me. I'm sure the host paid a pretty penny for the meal, but it was worth every one of those pennies. It was absolutely amazing.
I absolutely love this place.
The ambiance, the vibe the food and aesthetics are all top class. Staff are very friendly and professional.They have food that is Turkish/Arabic infused as well as other cuisine from around the world.
Can we call this place a hidden gem? We were visiting the
Can we call this place a hidden gem? We were visiting the city and before that, I looked up some restaurants. Unfortunately, I didn't see anything about this one. While we were walking downtown, I randomly found Mara. We even walked past it without noticing any sign. Mara is inside the Four Seasons Hotel. What a beautiful decoration. Open kitchen is right there if you want to watch the chefs working. Everyone was lovely, and very friendly. Our server was super nice. She was giving all the necessary information. Foods were inspired by 22 Mediterranean countries (as if I remember correctly). She kept our water glasses full of water during our dinner experience. I tried one of the Vermont drinks (Paradiso) as her favorite. Paradiso was nice, giving you a bitter taste as the aftertaste. It won't be my choice again once I go back there. But, still, it's enjoyable to drink it. Once the ice melted, I liked it more. Our choices of food were octopus carpaccio to share, bucatini for me, and the lamb shank for my partner. Bucatini was made with lobster. A few bites were a little bit more salty. Maybe cause of the lobster or a pinch of salt didn't mix well. In any way, it was still so yummy. I loved every bite of it. Very crispy basil flakes gave an extra touch. My husband normally refuses to eat pasta because of too much carbs, but he loves this bucatini. He wanted to have his own, too. Lamb Shank was also great. I got 2 bites from his plate. Cooked to perfect. The lamb was rested on freekeh rice and topped with crispy freekeh pieces. The interesting touch gave an interesting taste. I will try to make it, too. Octopus carpaccio was also perfect. It's hard to cut the octopus that thin and cook it to perfect. I wanna have that sharp knife and also their skills lol dish also had grapefruit slices as the topping. Mara became definitely one of my favorite restaurants. Price vs experience was so on point. We tried many places in many different cities and countries and paid way more money and received good-looking/bad taste dishes. You get what you pay at Mara. I loved it.
I just moved to downtown and what a start to my adventure
I just moved to downtown and what a start to my adventure in downtown Minneapolis! Mara is across from where I live now, after the reviews I read about Mara, I had to check it out. Took my daughters for lunch, the ambiance, the service and the food were epic Will definitely go again to experience the place at night.
Mara was beautiful.
The space was very inviting and calm. The food was beautiful and delicious - especially the octopus carpaccio. Chadwick, our server, offered just the right amount of input and help with the menu, and was fun to chat with. Overall, the experience was awesome.
Food was excellent.
The crudité that came with the baba ghanoush was especially good. The pita and the dessert soufflé were also amazing.
Salty and pricey food.
Small portion for food and cocktail. I had this cocktail with three huge ice rocks in it. Our server was okay but seems she is hurry and can't wait to have the next table in. She checks very frequently and was trying to take dishes right away when we were still eating. I think it just takes one hour for our dining time. It supposed to be a chill night for us but it just feels like they want us to leave soon. Anyway not a satisfying night.
Top-notch fine dining restaurant with exquisite menu and
Top-notch fine dining restaurant with exquisite menu and great ambience. Service, as usual in Four seasons - excellent!
There's a variety of food, and it is all cooked very well!
There's a variety of food, and it is all cooked very well! It was served up in individual plates or cups to be easy to grab. I wish there was a way to request just a plate of shrimp and not take 6 cups of the shrimp, for example. I would highly recommend ordering the small menu items on the made-to-order card on the table when you sit down. The meat and the eggs were absolutely delicious! The desserts were incredible and probably the highlight of the brunch for me, especially the carrot and chocolate cakes.
The restaurant is located in the main level of the Four
The restaurant is located in the main level of the Four Seasons hotel -- so expectations were high. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. The restaurant has an open floor concept with the kitchen fully exposed as well. I love the openness but struggled with the noise. Started simply, the ambience wasn't romantic or intimate, it was more of a ruckus. Sarah was our server and she was polite and professional-- greeting us by name and introducing herself as we were seated. She provided good recommendations and helped me avoid items with dairy very confidently. OUr drink orders arrived in a timely manner and our food order was captured at that time as well... And then the great waiting period began. Our drinks were gone...as were most of the people who had been sitting next to us...by the time our order finally arrived (lamb shank and Brussels) with almost no check-ins, drink refills or even acknowledgement that we were there. When the food finally arrived the lamb shank was satisfactory but the Brussels were terribly over charred. For the single entree, two sides (the Brussels and some hummus/overdone pita bread) and the two drinks - our bill was over $150, before tip. The price didn't surprise me, given the location, but you can't over cook the pita and Brussels while also taking too long to serve the food in a loud environment and still expect a glowing review. I won't be back.
Very good but far from excellent!
Mara is just about worthy of a very good rating, but far from excellent. Since opening we have been to Mara 3 times now and, each time the food has gone down hill just a little bit; the dishes have good spicing but the presentation can be a little clumsy. On our first dining experience here, they offered salt crusted Bronzino and, when it came to the table it was already filleted, this has not changed. For us at least, part of the experience of ordering a dish like this, certainly in Italy, is the theatre of having it served off of the bone, at your table. Their octopus carpaccio was more inline with true Italian flavours, and not Middle Eastern, with a delicate presentation and was excellent. What has improved greatly overtime is the wine list. It is now head and shoulders above the first time we came here and, clearly someone knows what they are going. I would rate it as excellent if it were not for the prices. A non vintage glass of Dom Perignon at $100 a glass is well...outrageous. There are however some much better choices if you take your time to choose carefully, but the majority are far too expensive. We were a party of 4 and I brought along 2 bottles of an excellent vintage Bordeaux and paid the corkage, which is $50/bottle. Ironically, they did offer the same wine but in a lesser vintage at $470 a bottle. So the moral being, if you have your own very good wine, bring it with you and pay the corkage. One last thing. if you are celebrating a special event and your party like to dress for the special occasion of being in the beautiful decor of Mara, go on Friday or Saturday evening and you may not be exposed to the baseball cap wearing fraternity. Cheers
A wonderful night!
Service is outstanding. Nothing more to say there. The menu is intriguing, and tempting overall. It was hard to choose, but the Lebanese dumpling was great. Good selection of wines and spirits, and a pleasant atmosphere. My only suggestion: revisit the plating. It’s a little awkward. It’s pricey, but you get what you pay for.
The Best!
My goodness, what an amazing restaurant and bar! The details in the drinks and the food were the absolute best. The staff is very professional yet personable and extremely knowledgeable about what they were serving me. The atmosphere is very nice as well. I highly recommend Mara, great restaurant for any “foodie”.
Excellent dining
Excellent restaurant, delicious food. European sea bass with tabouléh and chick peas salad, delicious. Red snapper with broccolini also delicious. My daughter rated the chicken highly. Wait staff very knowledgeable about the food but also about Minneapolis and are very happy to share information. The bar is also great as are the bar staff, fabulous wine selection, and the pool side bar also great. Bar tender very knowledgeable about birds! That was a pleasant surprise. Really great experience. Highly recommended.
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Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Mara Restaurant and Bar Minneapolis at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Mara Restaurant and Bar Minneapolis page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
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1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* BraveCloth47, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* BraveCloth47 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
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3.) Finding the Reservation
* BraveCloth47 now uses their connections at Mara Restaurant and Bar Minneapolis to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
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* Once the reservation is secured, BraveCloth47 receives the $200 reward which is credited to BraveCloth47's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Mara Restaurant and Bar Minneapolis!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
