Mara Restaurant and Bar

Last Friday on the early side we ate at Mara. We two had appetizers. First a tomato watermelon salad that had one tomato slice. Then octopus that was overcooked and too tough. The entrees were a lobster mushroom risotto with corn that had inedible lobster and way too much corn and not enough mushrooms for umami. The piece de resistance was the lamb chops seared in some sort of sweet covering that made the exquisite taste of lamb completely disappear. None of the food was worth having. We were completely dissatisfied. Lucky they had good cocktails. We’ve had much better food there but this wasn’t good.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 5

I recently dined at Mara and was completely blown away. Every dish I tried was phenomenal, from the perfectly cooked wagyu steak, to the grilled octopus, to the rich and decadent lobster risotto, which was absolutely luxurious. Each bite was a reminder of how refined and thoughtful their menu is. The ambiance is stunning, the service was impeccable, and the overall experience was top-tier. Highly recommend for a special night out or any time you want to treat yourself to something extraordinary

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great place. Love the food

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Must try their homemade pita bread. Its really awesome with seasonal hummus. Excellent cocktails and brilliant chefs which keeps the menu rotating. Valet parking is just 10$ on weekdays. So do use the service if you are not staying in four seasons.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Edit: the email address they provided in response to my review is bouncing all my emails back. lol.

Absolutely disappointed with my experience here. First, the elderly hostess with short hair working on Sunday 7/6 @ 11am was rude and aggressive from the jump. My friend actually asked me if I did anything to upset the hostess for her attitude to be so harsh - so I know I’m not the only one who noticed it. It ruined my entire mood as the host is the first interaction at a restaurant.

I picked this restaurant for my 26th birthday brunch and loved the aesthetic. I planned to take photos, however, the security came up to us to tell us photos are not allowed. We saw others taking photos without getting scolded, though…

To see other reviews of people saying they felt discriminated against/Islamophobia affirms what I felt upon my first interactions with staff at Mara. Sad when it’s my culture this restaurant is profiting off of.

Perhaps you should let people know photos aren’t allowed when a reservation confirmation is sent. It’s a beautiful space and I’m sure that drives people to enjoy Mara.

The hostess asked if the party was still 7, I told her someone backed out. The only smile that came from her was her telling me that actually works better for them. Weird. She took 15 minutes to seat us despite my reservation being at 11 and 5 out of 6 people already present.

The waiter, Nico, was kind and attentive. The made to order omelets took so long to come out (literally ~1 hour) that we were full by the time they came to us.

The food was mediocre. I have Mediterranean roots and would consider this food Americanized. I was told there were plenty of halal meat options for brunch but I ended up only able to have the steak.
Pro tip - don’t put chicken sausage in the same lidded serving dish as the bacon. I’m Muslim and cannot eat chicken sausage that’s enclosed with pork bacon. 😒 I even mentioned this when the restaurant called me the day before and the person on the phone assured me this place was halal friendly.

The pastries were okay. The pistachio pot de creme could use some work. The hazelnut beignets tasted like state fair food. But - I loved the mini chocolate mousse tarts!

The shakshouka and Turkish eggs were cold and the eggs literally squirted water. The spices in the shakshouka were nothing like what shakshouka should actually taste like. Again, was not getting Mediterranean from this place at all, from the hospitality (or lack thereof) nor the food.

If you want to spend good money, have it be worth it, and enjoy a combination of nourishing food and lovely pastries, I highly recommend Diane’s Place in NE MPLS. I won’t be returning to Mara.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 1

We had a fantastic time at the Mara Sunday buffet inside the Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis! I went with a group of 18 ladies and we all enjoyed it. The food was delicious with a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options—everything freshly prepared and beautifully presented. Coffee and standard beverages were included in the price, which was a thoughtful touch, though special drinks were extra. The elegant hotel setting added to the upscale yet welcoming atmosphere. Perfect for a Sunday girls’ brunch or celebratory get‑together. Highly recommend for expansive food choices, great service and a lovely ambiance!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food, ambience, and customer service were an A+. Special propers to Nick, who gave us excellent recommendations and was true gentlemen. This place is a 10!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We came here regularly coz they offered something different. The Mediterranean menu. The food was great and worth the money.
Too bad the management decided to remove the menu that many liked, and offer regular American menu that can be found in other restaurants at a lower price. If I want pasta, I can go to an Italian restaurant.

Your new chef is overrated. We stopped going to his restaurants coz the food offered wasn't of high quality.
Bring back the Mediterranean menu and chefs.
A beautifully designed restaurant, deserves high quality food menu. Not what's current being offered.
Food Quality is worth more than architectural displays.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I’ve been here twice for dinner and the hummus steals the show every time. Great wine selection. Amazing ambiance with the dim lights and pop of red with the open kitchen in the back. It gives date night. Some of the dishes weren’t my favorite like the mushroom soup. But the chicken was cooked perfectly and the lamb is tasty! My only con is the sesame seed bread must be removed from the menu, but overall a good vibe and a cute spot!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

It was delicious and not busy at all. The service was great.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My friend and I were lucky enough to enjoy the Chef's tasting last night at Mara; what a fabulous time we had. The food was spectacular, the wine pairings were ON POINT, and the best part was the service. From the hostess who seated us all the way thru, we were treated to DELIGHTFUL personalities and kindness. Our server, Corinn (sorry about the spelling), was so knowledgeable and fun and her assistant Elizabeth was as well. the chefs all were so good at explaing the ingredients and techniques and just made great conversations. We commented to each other many times how wonderful everyone was, which elevated the entire experience. Bravo and High Fives all around! I certainly hope to return.

When you walk in you know you have raised the bar high. My expectations were all met and even surpassed. The beautiful atmosphere and smiling staff set the stage for a wonderful experience. The staffed seemed to know me, and treated me as family. The meal, was elegant, what a treat to be able to see it prepared and plated. So many great places to visit when I come to the Twin Cities...but Mara...well...that will always be at the top of the list. I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is our favorite place to celebrate special occasions. Every dish is a masterpiece. The taste is exquisite. The use of freshly sourced ingredients and world-class techniques is unparalleled. Burrata paired with strawberries sounds odd but tastes delicious. The lamb chops, served with the jus reduction, are the best. Special mention goes to the baklava for its outstanding flavor and richness. Our anniversary could not have been better.

Special compliments to the chef for making every dish worthwhile.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

FRAUDULENT CHARGES-

Mara Restaurant overcharged me by hundreds of dollars and has not been responsive to many attempts to phone call them across multiple days.

I have no other recourse than to file a chargeback on my credit card. Their inability to respond has turned what should be a simple mistake into a ridiculous ordeal.

I assume some corporate employee is sitting somewhere thinking “why didn’t they contact us first?”- totally ignorant of the morons they employ and how we have been blocked from multiple attempts to obtain a refund the normal way.

Delicious food, great ambience, sure, but not worth the hassle of trying to reach a HOTEL restaurant in another city than I live and which doesnt respond to any communications.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 1

Chadwick was very engaging and thoughtful.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5