Mara

Had such an incredible and unique dinner experience at Mara! We were celebrating the December birthdays in my friend group - mine included ! Definitely a great place for a girl's night out. Let's start with parking, because that always stresses me out. We had an 8:15pm reservation for a Friday and downtown was absolutely packed. I didn't feel comfortable parking too far so I ended up circling for about 10 mins before finding a spot a couple blocks away. Phew ! Keep this in mind when dining here - it's in a busy area ! They do offer valet, but I didn't ask the price. It did take us a while to be seated. 10 mins. The waiting area is beautiful - the whole restaurant has an elevated vibe with deep maroon curtains and beautiful upholstered seating.Dinner was amazing - I absolutely loved the mocktails. I got the Metropolitan which had a cranberry flavor. They have a menu that shows Halal options of menu items that don't have pork or alcohol. The waiter was also very careful to explain that the menu items that do have alcohol cook out, but wanted to ensure I wouldn't order something I can't have. I appreciated this!We got potatoes and hummus as an appetizer. I really loved the crispy potatoes ! The potatoes and aioli at the bottom was so delicious. Perfectly salted too. I didn't think the hummus was more unique than other hummus I have tried. The crunchy fried beans on top were a nice touch. I loved the fluffy naan it came with. I ordered the Redfish. It was absolutely divine. Lots of flavors going on and I loved the beurre Blanc sauce used. The onions on top were caramelized nicely.I tried my friend's Chermoula Spiced Chicken which was very delicious too! Also tried the bucatini with lobster. I wasn't a big fan of the bucatini but It's personal preference because I don't really like red sauce much unless it's in pizza or a lasagna.We got the olive oil cake for dessert. It was good, but not what I was expecting. It had a custard on top, very thin layer of cake, and chocolate surrounding it. It was good but probably wouldn't get it again.I was a little surprised they didn't offer a birthday treat or even just a candle on the dessert. Especially since we were celebrating two birthdays. On that note, I did love how the staff gave us a spot right near the fireplace and made room on the counter next to us to put all our gifts! It does cost $8 a slice to cut a cake at the restaurant, so we didn't go that route. But keep that in mind if you're planning on bringing cake.They did bring out complimentary macaroons at the end of the night, which were a nice touch.I would definitely come here again and want to bring my husband for a date night.

The highlight of the evening was not just the delectable food, but the exceptional service that made me feel like a valued guest. It's clear that Mara Restaurant prioritizes training its staff to provide outstanding service, and it shows in every interaction.There's a lounge, a bar section, and a dining area near the fireplace. You can't miss out on a good spot no matter where you choose to sit.If you're looking for a dining experience where you are treated with care and attention, Mara should be at the top of your list. The combination of delicious food and amazing service creates a memorable experience that I can't wait to repeat. Highly recommend!

Marabygk located in the 4 Seasons Hotel in DT MPLS. Okay! First and foremost, I'm sure this establishment has some pretty good food. It's very possible I just didn't order the right items for this style of restaurant. I would argue that if put an item on the menu, then you should want to execute and deliver an excellent product.The ambiance and vibes are nice for the bar area (which is where I dined in at) The bartenders are very professional and have a very good attention to detail when it comes to serving their customers. Burger: it would've been a good burger if they served it on a quality bun. I had to literally eat the burger with a fork and knife due to it falling apart after one bite. The bun seemed stale or something, idk but it was crumbly and broke apart with little to no effort. The actual meat was flavorful and I enjoyed it (big pause). I just think the burger could've been above average instead of below average if they just switch out the bun or serve a fresh bun that isn't stale. The fries: the French fries were crispy and weirdly addicting. The seasoning they used tased like a Mediterranean seasoning with notes of turmeric maybe or paprika. The wings: VERY DISAPPOINTING!!! The wings were a slimy, poor breading, poor overall taste. I'm not saying the wings were undercooked. I'm just saying they weee executed poorly. Especially considering the price point. If you're charging that price for wings, make sure you get it right. The slaw it came with was not bad, i didn't mind it. The calamari: NOT PICTURED BUT ALSO NOT GOOD AT ALL. The calamari had a rubbery texture and damn near was flavorless. The texture was also very tough and the breading came apart but the actual calamari stayed in tact. Not a fan. Would not order nor would I recommend. Again I reiterate. If you're going to charge these prices for food. You better damn near make sure to execute and deliver a quality product. I'm sure they have other items on the menu that are good tho. So go out and try this restaurant for yourself. Just don't order what I ordered lol

Order the croquettes and honestly any of the marvelous cocktails and you will NOT be disappointed!! This is a cute and dimly lit, funky little restaurant located in the Four Seasons Hotel. The bartenders are professional and personable, and I have yet to experience a bad meal or drink here. HIGHLY RECOMMEND !

Great hotel bar. I had the nonna's Negroni. Admittedly, I was very skeptical of the use of espresso in a Negroni as I'm a bit of a purist, but it was quite good. My wife's cosmopolitan was also well balanced.

Wow!!! This place blew me away. We walked in on Sunday for dinner and got in without trouble. Big restaurant in the hotel so could see needing reservations if coming on the weekend evenings. We had great service, lucky enough the Sommelier was our server as well so she helped us on both food options and wine. We started with the seasonal tomato hummus which was incredible. Flavor was great but texture was amazing, smooth and creamy. The warm fresh pita topped it off! For dinner I had the agnolotti pasta which was in a butter sauce with sweet corn, piquillo peppers and garlic breadcrumbs. I can't even explain how amazing all the flavors went together between the sweet, salty and savory. The chicken was also phenomenal with the glaze on top. We split the potatoes as a side and this was the only thing we didn't love. The sauce is on the bottom so you have to kind of dig for it so potatoes seemed dry. Would skip this next time unless the dish changes. Overall was super impressed with the service, food and restaurant vibe in general. Highly recommend!

I met Chef Gavin Kaysen at a James Beard fundraising event in Kansas City several years ago. Soon after that, I made a trip to Minneapolis and dined at Spoon and Stable. An amazing evening.Now I'm back in Minneapolis and it's time to try his new Mediterranean dining destination, Mara at the Four Seasons. You know it has to be good if it's located at this hotel.Maybe it was the influence of my dining guest, but we were seated at the table next to the kitchen. Watching the kitchen staff in action reminded me of scenes from The Bear. Non-stop movement, lots of communication and strong attention to detail.Mary was our server and was superb. She guided us thru the menu and was always attentive to our needs during the evening.We tasted most of the signature items on the menu. We started with the amazing Tomato Hummus, which I could have eaten all night. Next up the Sea Bass Crudo and it's amazing presentation. For the pastas, you have a choice between a full and half order. We selected the Bucatini half-portion and its thick noodles and rich lobster and roasted tomato sauce. For entrees, I ordered the Salt Baked Branzino, while my partner had the Chermoula Spiced Chicken. I've never seen fish cooked inside a pastry shell, until this evening. A server comes out with a cart and cuts open the shell to reveal the de-boned fish. She then placed the fish on a plate, along with baby vegetables and lobster sauce on the fish. Magnificent.I can't believe we tried dessert after eating all of this, but we made room for one serving of Strawberry Field, with Valrhona Strawberry Chocolate. Delish!Congratulations to Chef Kaysen and his Mara team. A meal I'll never forget!

A nice fine dining option in Minneapolis. Great menu, awesome cocktails, upscale and artsy decor. Don't forget to leave some stomach space for the soufflé! Definitely date worthy. Service was excellent from the host who greeted us, our fabulous and attentive waitress, and all of the service staff. My only complaint was that our table was wobbly and caused me to spill some of my martini drink into my meal. Parking on street was easy today, but they also offer valet parking at the Four Seasons if you're unable to find street parking. Here's what we ate and drank:Octopus Carpaccio (5/5) Highly Recommend!Soufflé (5/5) don't miss out on this amazing dessert! Grilled Lamb Chop (4/5) great flavor, but I didn't like the falafel. Lobster Bucatini (4/5) nice chunks of lobster and I loved the lovage breadcrumbs. Wished it was a tiny bit spicier. Magic City cocktail (5/5) tasted like a yummy chocolate martini. Chicory, Cascara, Cherry, Vanilla, Brandy. Old Fashioned (5/5) perfect oldie but a goodie.

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.

The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful and they do an amazing job decorating for the holidays. The wait staff is top tier and beyond professional while at the same time making you feel like your dining st a friend's house. I love that. The food was delicious. When you combine all these factors it makes the price well worth it. My favorite part was dessert and their Sunday brunch. You also should check out there Nordic Village during the winter months.