Mara by Chef Gavin Kaysen Restaurant was extremely nice and had beautiful decor. Beautiful date night restaurant Overall Food & Vibe (8.9/10) read more

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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. read more

We stopped by for Father's Day brunch. Parking was complimentary which is always a plus in downtown. Seating for our reservations took a little longer but it was fine. The brunch was very good. Every item was well cooked, quality ingredients, great flavors. We really liked it for several reasons: -they have fries and tenders for the kids. So appreciated as happy kids = peaceful dining for all -not a ton of options but keep in mind it's a higher end buffet, I rather have fewer items done well -famous potatoes, steak, ham, frittata goood -summer sausage and bacon were good - Turkish eggs, waffles were great. The waffles were light fluffy and crispy. The orange mascarpone cream was out of this world -charcuterie was fresh, the salad toppings were great. I wish there was more than one option for dressing. -desserts ... what can I say, a room just for desserts. The cakes were out of this world l. -drinks were awesome Ambiance: amazing food without the pretentiousness. Service was good. Why not five stars? I think the flow of service can be worked out a little more. Desserts were empty for a little bit, some items were out but. It was all replenished with a little time. Maybe it was due to Father's Day volume. We loved it and will be back read more

Good for drinks but less so for food, at least based on the bar bites. It's got a really lovely vibe. Located on the floor level of the Four Seasons, it's got an upscale touch while still being a nice casual happy hour choice. I tried the MADhaus, which didn't have too strong of a kick and was perfect in terms of a recommendation from the staff. Came with a nice presentation of elderberry in ice within the cocktail. For bar bites, the brussel sprouts were unfortunately really salty so more was to be desired. The foccacia was ok but wasn't anything exciting. Not sure if regular dinner items are better. read more

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I know I'm in the minority here but I would describe my first encounter with Mara as an underwhelming, overcharged experience. Full disclosure is that my party went here for their prix fixe Christmas dinner menu so my review is not based on a normal a la carte menu during regular dinner service. The prix fixe menu consisted of a starter, a main, and a dessert buffet. Plus, I splurged and spent the additional $55 for the wine pairings with the meal. Including the 20% tip, this was a wallet-draining experience of about $300/person. The parts of the evening that I think were great were the setting (think of a hipster, warm, modern environment with touches bordering on luxurious because it is set within the elegant, brand-new Four Seasons hotel). The open kitchen is a nice view from the dining room and the fireplace in the open room gives it almost a desert oasis-like feel. Plus, the food was interesting and creatively presented for a mid-Minnesota dining venue (a lump of caviar topping a cauliflower panna cotta as an example), and the servers were very pleasant and friendly. Where it falls down for me in no particular order: 1. The parking charge is $15. In most hotels I have been to around the world, when I am going there to patronize their restaurants, the parking is generally validated at a discount or gratis since I have no reason to be there as a guest but are coming specifically to spend money short-term in their facility for a meal. In this case, a really expensive prix fixe meal. That I have to also cover a significant parking charge felt a little insulting. 2. The service was pleasant but unpolished. Definitely a step up from casual eateries but it seemed a bit unorchestrated and haphazard at times. To be fair, it was a major holiday so maybe their staffing was low and frankly it did not bother me except for the fact that I am paying well into triple digits per person for a meal, and for that, I think that the service needs to reflect the same. It doesn't have to be perfect, and they don't have to shine my shoes between courses but things should all come out together and I should not be searching the dining room for a staffer when something is needed. 3. For what we got, the food was expensive. While it was tasty and inventive, it was only 2 plated courses and a dessert table. I like that MN has some recognized chefs that call this state home and Gavin Kaysen is one of them. But in the end, these were churched-up ingredients and festive desserts seasoned with some unique spices. That gets a nod for uniqueness but Kaysen's name can't overcome the fact that it was not an over-the-top meal of creative technique or rare ingredients. I'm hard pressed to say that I would make this a pilgrimage destination based on what came to our table. 4. The wine pairing was definitely not worth it. For $55/person, the wines poured were already available on their main menu so it was nothing special brought in for a Christmas dinner pairing. That was a little disappointing since a wine pairing had me thinking that there was a lot of thought put into what was going to be served. Everyone at the table got the same wine regardless of what you selected as your choices for the meal. So whether you ordered prime rib or monkfish, everyone got the same wine for that course. I wished that there would have been more thought put into that. Finally, the wine served was fairly average. One of the selections retails for about $19/bottle. That is about $4/glass. The supplement of $55 for the wine pairing was not worth it and was a huge disappointment for the meal. In summary, I just have to believe that I am missing something here. Clearly there are many people that are celebrating Mara and worshipping at the Kaysen shrine because this new restaurant is now in play. I admit that I need to give it another chance on a non-holiday menu evening to see if it is markedly different. But based on my single experience so far, it just didn't hit the mark for me given its price point. read more

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Amazing first time experience at Mara. It's certainly lived up to its culinary lineage as the younger sister of local favorites Spoon & Stable, Bellecour, and Demi. From the moment you arrive to the second of horn departure, the staff is attentive and a delight. Five stars there. It's an elegant atmosphere and perfect for a date night or small group dinner. In terms of the food, we shared a few small plates, a couple of mains, and few sides. Highlights for me were the branzino (superb), Brussels sprouts, and humus. read more

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Went there for the first time. The ambiance is great and it's well decorated. I appreciated the discounted valet parking if you were dining at the restaurant. As a vegetarian the options were limited but the server was really accommodating. She brought us the vegetarian menu and offered to customize dishes for us. The food tasted awesome. We got the tomato hummus, baba ganoush, bucatini and fattoush salad. Dessert was decent but I feel I expected more of that front. I wish they have more creative dishes for vegetarians but I plan to return for their buffet to check it out. Overall good experience! read more

Mara - Dessert - Mediterranean Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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. read more

This place is absolutely amazing! I went here with some old friends. Ambiance was warm and intimate and immensely facilitated catching up. The person waiting on us was very sweet and gave great wine recommendations. Everything that we had ordered was cooked to perfection. Special call out to the dessert: MaraLisa. Please try it! I thought it was heaven! read more

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Wowwww! I'm very speechless seriously! From food to service everything had me speechless! I had a course meal and everything just tasted amazing! The waiter is the best; got us a free desert for our special occasion! I ordered the chermoula spiced chicken and it's very delicious and filling! If you're also looking for a romantic dinner date, this is definitely to be on the list! It's very aesthetically pleasing to take cute pictures read more

Mara - Olive oil cake --20/10 - Mediterranean Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I brought my wife here for lunch for our anniversary. We had an excellent experience! Our server was very friendly and welcoming. I asked for 2 glasses of prosecco to be brought right away in my reservation - and they brought it right away upon seating as I had asked. We got the labneh to start. It was amazing. I got the burger for lunch, which seems lame, but it was excellent as were the fries. The space is really nice. It is very high-end and modern, like something you see in NYC, but it was welcoming, airy, and warm, and did not feel over the top and stuffy. Lunch was busy but not packed. I have not been for dinner, but I imagine it is quite busy - so get a reservation before you go. If you can't score a table, they have a large lounge and bar area too. read more

Mara - Mediterranean Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I was very excited to try Gavin Kaysen's new restaurant Mara in the Four Seasons hotel and it didn't disappoint. The atmosphere was beautiful, service was great, and the food was yummy. My group went as a double date and decided on a tasting menu type service to really get a feel of all the food. I absolutely loved the labneh spread, steak, and bucatini but wasn't wow'ed by the lamb shank. Also, I would've liked the Branzino to be served in the dough pastry which is how the server 1st showed it to us before taking it back to the kitchen to sit. All in all it was a great experience but at the price point I would reserve it for very special occasions only. read more

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I like what chef Gavin has done for this restaurant. The ambiance is great. The service is excellent and some really standout dishes. The labneh and the squash tartine were both great starts. The lamb tartare and the crudo were also good but not great. The Turkish manti on the other hand was excellent. The lobster bucatini was also very good. The weakest course was the weakest even though all the dishes were good, they were not great. We had the branzino along with the chicken and the braised lamb shank. The fennel slaw with the branzino was excellent. Good dessert as well. The drinks, both alcoholic and non alcoholic were good. Overall a really good dining experience. read more

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It took me a whole summer to make it to Mara. I am giving it four stars but a 3.5 would be more accurate. What did I love...first of all the restaurant is gorgeous. Our waiter Nicholas was delightful and enthusiastic. My favorite dish was the Labneh starter. My second was the tuna crudo. The chicken was very good but I am going to order the lamb next time. The rose flavored dessert was interesting. A word I use when I'm not sure if I liked it. It tasted perfumey ( not a word but you get it) had an interesting texture. My least favorite was the mushrooms. It was so great to see Gavin Kaysen on the floor. I will be back! read more

Food quality amazing. Thanksgiving pick up wonderful. Just received bill. Unexplained credit charge of additional 94.00 dollars. What is that for? Until I hear otherwise can not recommend. read more

I have enjoyed every meal at Gavin Kaysen's spots and Mara kept the streak alive. We arrived about 15 min early to grab a drink in the bar. Seating was easy to find and the service was attentive but not intrusive. We opted for the Aquarian delight and Madhaus. Both were delicious and presentation of the madhaus was perfection with an in house made sugar saucer (think Rock candy but smooth and thick). The hostess found us when our table was ready and we entered the space and were seated at a banquette seating. It was slightly elevated and gave a great view across the dining room and into the open kitchen. The space is filled but not crowded and with the high ceilings it doesn't get loud and you can easily enjoy conversation. Onto the food! We split an appetizer of watermelon and tomato salad with a feta cream that was one of the best things I've eaten in quite a while. It was so good I didn't get a picture! Entrees were lamb shank and bucatini pasta with lobster. Both were amazing with the lamb falling off bone and the pasta cooked to perfection. We added a side of mushrooms which were the only item that wasn't a home run for me but my dining companion loved. Dessert was a rose sponge cake with strawberry consommé which was almost too pretty to eat! The rose flavoring was delicious and worth ordering again. Service was excellent offering recommendations on both food and wine. The whole experience ran smoothly with the team checking in and keeping glasses full and settings cleared as we moved through courses. This is another win for the MSP dining scene! read more

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Mara is the newest restaurant in Chef Gavin Kaysens belt. Minneapolis was abuzz when this opened in the new Four Seasons. Every one told me I had to go here so I finally bit the bullet and was finally able to get a reservation. I finally was able to secure a reservation for Monday night dinner. You don't need a reservation for the bar! We started with two cocktails. My husband got the old fashioned and I got the Aperge! I don't like old fashioned but my hubby said it was super great. I loved my cocktail too! Starters- Hummus: 10/10. Don't think about it. Get it. The crispy chickpeas are perfect on the top. I wish there was more. It comes with pita which is the best I've ever had! It's definitely enough for two people. But you should probably get two for a big group. Baba Ghanoush with the Seasonal Crudités: Another recommendation. I liked it. But I didn't love it. I'd rate it a 7/10 compared to the hummus. I liked the little baby carrots in the crudités and would have probably enjoyed this more if I just ate it with pita. Dinner: Braised Lamb Shank: I got this and I was not able to finish it. It was soooooooo tender. The meat fell off the bone. It is served on top of some lentils that were absolutely delicious. It was the perfect accompaniment to the lamb shank! I was nervous about getting this at first cause some restaurants give you a very small shank but this thing is hugeeee. Plan for leftovers if you get starters Strip loin steak: my husband got this so can't speak to the flavor personally. But he loved it and it was super tender. In his words best steak he's ever gotten Crispy Fried Potatoes: we got one to share and it's really all you need. It was super crispy and sits on top of a green aioli. I liked it but couldn't eat much of it because I was getting full. I don't think I'd like it very much without the aioli. Will have to go back and try again Service/Ambience: we went on a Monday night for dinner and I've heard spotty stories about the service. I docked it one star because we had to wait over an hour for our dinner to come out. It also took them at least 30 minutes for our starters to come out too. We definitely waited a while before we were able to eat and I definitely got super hangry. Note that they will make you put in your order for everything you want to eat so you should make up your mind pretty quickly. I didn't try anything from the Raw & Cured bar or the pasta section cause I had my mind pretty set on the lamb shank. The restaurant is gorgeous -it's in the four season so I'd hope so- it had a cozy fire going and the place settings were lovely. The waiters were also really nice and gave really good recommendations. All in all. Yes the hype is worth it. I'd go on a different day to hopefully experience better service but all in all. Pretty good! read more

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If you are looking for a more upscale place to have drinks Mara is The spot! I had the best experience! I went there with my girlfriend to grab drinks before dinner and they did not disappoint! The creativity with their drinks was outstanding. I ordered the Cape Tonic from the Cocktail Apertivo part of the drink menu so it included a small dish of olives and a small glass of house made Vermouth. The drink was so beautiful and refreshing. 10/10 While enjoying our cocktails I could smell the food that was coming out and it made my mouth water! I will definitely be going back to try their food next time I'm there. read more

Mara - Cape Tonic - Mediterranean Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Overall I would give Mara a 3.8. We dined in for dinner & lunch, aka "bar snacks", I'll start with our dinner experience. Love the ambiance of Mara it's like a classy 70s lounge vibe, I love the vibrancy and warmth. Our waitress was super friendly but it took awhile for her to come back and notice we had been done eating for quite some time. When I saw salt baked branzino I knew I had to order it, we decided to share despite the waiter telling us it wasn't very much food but it most definitely was. This salt baked fish presentation was not what I expected it looked like a calzone, from my experience salt bake is a fish covered and cooked in a course salt then cracked open to serve. Although the presentation did not look like a salt baked fish it was still delicious. For our sides were mushroom tartine and crispy potatoes. The mushroom tartine was fabulous. We came for lunch the next day and asked to be seated, the host was lacking energy and just seemed very nonchalant about seating us, it just felt odd. We ordered soup, the hummus platter and the focaccia with cheese. I really enjoyed the hummus platter the olives had a slight kick to them and the hummus had crispy chickpeas, the pita was extremely fluffy and had a sweet after taste. The focaccia was not what I expected it was more like a crispy thin flat bread that was underwhelming. The chicken wild rice had a strong rosemary flavor which I liked and was more of a broth based soup. Once again our waitress took a long time to come back to collect our plates when we were done eating. When she brought the bill and was collecting our plates she waited for us to get payment which was also odd. Overall the experience was fine but I wasn't blown away. read more

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We went for the Mara Thanksgiving dinner. It a buffet style menu that includes all of the traditional thanksgiving food. The turkey was excellently cooked and was very tender. The sage stuffing tasted great. And finally, the desert room is filled with almost too many options. The pumpkin pie, gelato, and macarons were all amazing! The setting is below the Four Seasons and it offers a classy dining experience. Staff is all excellent and very helpful. read more

Mara - Salmon, turkey with gravy, and stuffing - Mediterranean Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Had Swiss Chard Pansotti and it was delicious! Portion was perfect and was able to taste all the ingredients! Also really loved the ambiance! read more

Mara - Swiss Chard Pansotti - Mediterranean Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Had a late night bite with a friend and this was a very nice chill spot. We stayed in the bar area which had very nice seating and light fixtures. We got the lamb skewers and hummus plate (which is not pictured because we ate it too fast lol) the drink my friend got which had oatmilk in it which she said was very delicious! I would recommend this if you are in the area and want to have a relaxing drink with snacks! read more

Mara - CONFIT LAMB SKEWER - Mediterranean Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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This review is for the lounge/bar. It's such a great way to stop in for an elevated bar experience. We had the oysters - with champagne- and honestly we were a bit disappointed. Fishier than we wanted. The service - impeccable, with Joey! Informed, lovely, prompt, even though we were in the bar. She was generous and excellent. Lamb skewer - packed with lots of bites, marinated with crazy good tabouleh on the side. A win. The focaccia was surprisingly crisp/thin and a bit too salty. But a nice side with the skewer. The cronut/begniet dessert is actually a waffle churro mash up with amazing salted caramel dipping sauce. The baklava - pass. Great wine pairings/suggestions and such a great relaxed pace. Recommend. read more

Mara - Cronut begniet scenario with state fair vibes in an amazing way. The salted caramel dipping sauce - unbelievable. - Mediterranean Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I normally don't wait to write a review for 4 months. My wife said something to me that made me rethink how I review a restaurant. She felt they treated me more importantly than her at our dining experience. I don't know if they looked at my profile before dinner, but they gave me 100% of their attention. When we were asked for feedback, they only looked at me. She explained how she felt, and I said I am so sorry. She was trying to do something so nice for me on my birthday. Thanks to my wife for giving me a special night. I'll start by saying dinner at Mara was beautiful, elegant, and opulent. You will first arrive at the Four Seasons hotel with the valet service. The great thing is you can valet or be dropped off at the front door. This restaurant is downtown, so I suggest taking an Uber or using their valet service. When you walk in, you will see the restaurant front desk and bar about 200 feet past hotel check-in. The bar is beautiful and busy. If you come early, don't plan on finding an opening to have a cocktail dinner. It is busy with people staying at the hotel, so don't be frustrated if you can't have a pre-dinner drink. There is a welcome desk to the right of the bar. They found our reservation and sat us immediately. We are lovers of sparkling wine, so we ordered the Brundlmayer Brut Rose. It was amazing and delicious! I would definitely recommend it. We ordered the scallop crudo for an appetizer. It was delicious and zesty. At this point, I became fixated on the kitchen. There is so much going on. Putting wood on the grill and chefs working together like an orchestra. You will be mesmorized by the calculated intent to make you the best dinner of your life. Sit as close to the kitchen as you can. It is so much fun to watch. Then we ordered the braised lamb shank and Branzino baked in salt. Exquisite. You'll see by the pictures that it looks as good as it tasted. The lamb shank was decadent and blissful. When my fork touched the meat, it fell off the bone. I had the biggest smile after taking my first bite. I felt so happy. My wife ate all of her food. She normally does not finish the entire meal, but she savored every bite until the plate was completely cleaned. If you were kind of to read my review to this point, it now goes to another level. The dessert was the unexpected live event. For my birthday, they brought out an olive cake with rosemary ice cream. I normally don't focus on the dessert, and I am normally too full to order it. This dessert was light, breathtaking, delicious, exquisite, complex, perplexing, etc. I am not qualified to explain what happened. I am imagining the chef experimenting at 2am and feeling such satisfaction to reach a level of perfection. Trying to pair complex flavors and realizing they had made something so special must have been a special moment. I felt I was eating art. I know this sounds crazy, but it was my favorite dessert ever. To the chef, I am so thankful I was able to experience something so wonderfully done and thoughtful. Cheers to you. To the staff and chefs, we had an amazing experience. Thank you. read more

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Went with a friend to Mara for a birthday brunch. The lobby of the Four Seasons hotel, restaurant bar, and main dining area are all beautifully appointed with tasteful decor, great lighting, interesting wall art, and splashes of color throughout. You can watch bakers and chefs at work. During brunch, there's a pastry cart that guests can look at to select what they'd like to try that day. Our server was very attentive, and patiently answered all of our questions about the menu and gave suggestions when requested. We ended up ordering the beet (not beef) tartare, crab Benedict, and also received the chicken spam as a side. The main dishes were plated elegantly. The Benedict was a sizable dish and the tartare more like a small appetizer. The Benedict had a generous portion of fresh crab and well-cooked spinach, but the rest of the components were disappointing. The eggplant was overly sweet from being marinated in a very sweet balsamic vinegar. The hollandaise sauce was quite sweet and also had a smoky chipotle that was unexpected and didn't complement the other flavors. The house made English muffin lacked the sourness to offset the sweet components, and also the body to hold up against the wet ingredients, resulting in a somewhat soggy base. The beet tartare was very tangy and also quite sweet. The nuts and citrus provided nice textures, but the dish had such strongly flavored contrasting components that my friend couldn't eat it. Although I didn't love these dishes, I still plan to return for dinner sometime given the great reviews and photos others have left, and to enjoy the decor and service. read more

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This is my new favorite brunch and wine restaurant- service, freshness, ambiance, quality,decor, and price I also appreciate how it is very accessible if you have any physical accommodations needed. My experience: I went for the holiday brunch and appreciated how often they rotated and refilled the plates. For transportation: public transportation or ride share is the easiest because it is located inside the Four Seasons hotel in the city. read more

Mara - Mediterranean Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The food was great. The service was awesome. We would return. We were celebrating a birthday and they made it special.

Fantastic food, ambiance, and service. Came for lunch without a reservation and they sat our party of 5 right away. The service was great as was the food. I had crawfish pasta which was delicious and filling. I also tasted the swordfish skewers which were delicious, especially the garlic confit and flatbread on the side. My picky 9 year old declared that her noodles with butter was the best she's ever had. read more

Mara - Dining area - Mediterranean Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Came here for breakfast, For the price you pay services isn't the greatest, food came out super super slow, food isn't bad. Would not come here again read more

Located inside the Four Seasons Hotel in North Loop, this establishment has one of the best decor settings I have seen anywhere in Minneapolis, and I think the fact that it is inside the hotel most likely has a lot to do with it. My partner and I went there for our wedding anniversary and we had a great experience there for sure. Our server was very nice and very attentive to our needs. The food was tasty in general. And it was just a great time after getting out of the pool upstairs while staying in the hotel. My favorites are the two items under the "To Share" section on the menu: hummus and baba ghanoush. I know they are both common dishes one can find in a Mediterranean restaurant, but Mara did it even better by making the hummus and eggplant dip more flavorful than typically, as they contained tahini and tapenade. It tasted so amazing! I also really appreciated the fact that the hummus came with pita bread (the pita tasted amazing) and the baba ghanoush came with crudités. It made me realize some new about food combinations. My other two favorites are the desserts. The chocolate decadence and the maraklava are both amazing and very finely decorated, painted with edible gold brush. Both desserts came with either ice cream or sorbet which were huge pluses. I highly recommend both to anyone visiting Mara in the future. The bucatini was good as well, although the lobster flavor did not quite seep into the pasta or the pasta sauce, which would have been perfection. The lamp chops were pretty tasty with the sauce carrying majority of the flavor. The scallop crudo was gone too fast that we could not really have a moment to procee what it tasted like. The amount was very small. I am not sure if the spring onion, rhubarb, or the preserved orange made a huge difference in defining its flavor. With all that said, I must admit that other than the four dishes I happened to like the most (to share's and desserts), I think the prices for the other dishes were a bit outrageous. Every entrée was over $30 which was uncommon even in fancy establishments. My two lamb chops that were not abundant in portion were $42 in total. And the scallop crudo that we barely had any due to its small amount was $23. Our bill easily went over $200 as a result and even in upscale establishments it wouldn't be like such. The amount (and at times, taste) and the price was not balanced. My favorite dishes happened to be the cheapest. But on second thought, I wouldn't be surprised if the high prices have something to do with it being inside Four Seasons. Would I recommend this establishment? Definitely a yes. I just do not know how frequently people want to visit here but it surely is a great place for date nights and fancy occasions in general. As long as one does not mind the prices, then it is in fact perfect in pretty much every way! read more

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This year I wanted to go big for our anniversary dinner and Mara had been on my wish list for a while. Knowing I hadn't been to a Gavin Kaysen restaurant yet, I wanted to experience one before we move out of the twin cities later this year. We were able to secure a fairly last minute reservation and mark down that we were celebrating our anniversary. I had forgotten mentioning that but were welcomed with complimentary sparkling wine. We started with the lamb tartare which was soft, flavor and we fought over the last bite. We both went with the lamb shank, which was fall off the bone tender and to die for. I'm so glad we decided to split the side of crispy potatoes as the portions of lamb were huge but I'm happy I didn't miss out on these. Perfectly crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, they pair perfectly with the green schoug aioli which was the perfect tangy and creamy pairing. We finished with the Maraklava, which was one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. The bee pollen and honey really shown through and the happy anniversary chocolate on top of the saffron ice cream was such a sweet touch. read more

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Hands down the best restaurant in the twin cities. The service, food, and ambiance is always fantastic and consistent! Everything about this establishment is what I envision as top notch and could easily be more expensive than it really is. My bf and I have been coming here since it's opening and try to come at least once a season to try all the new things in rotation since they have a seasonal menu. We love this place so much we always take our friends here for a fun night out and it is without fail a great place to spend our time! Our friends have even started to take THEIR friends here - that completely speaks to itself! Never ever ever skip dessert here! Mara is our GO-TO spot for dessert and it's absolutely fantastic! We often end up back at Mara even if we do dinner somewhere else because their dessert simply cannot be beat. read more

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Went here the other night and had a lovely time. The food is great, the service is amazing, the decor is ok nothing to write home about. We started with the tuna crudo which had a lovely citrus zest flavor and followed with the humus which I highly recommend as the bread is ridiculously good. For entrees we got the lamb and the rabbit fricisee. The lamb as many have stated before is a main stay dish for a reason. It's amazing as it looks and a very tasty dish. The rabbit had a great flavor profile, but you could not taste it and was even hard to find it in the dish. So slightly disappointing on that one. The side was a chickpea salad and it was ok (doing the fried potatoes next time) and not what I was expecting. Overall was a lovely evening and was very happy Mara does not have a service charge added like some Minneapolis restaurants. Will definitely go back. read more

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Had an amazing experience at Mara. We came to celebrate for a friends birthday and the impeccable service and food made the evening. This is a perfect spot to split many menu items in a family style format. Between the group of us we all had a different favorite item because it really was that good. The consensus was that the spinach pasta was so unique and incredible when comparing the two pasta options. The steak was a 10/10 delicious. While not pictured, the mussels were so so, we have had better. It is a slow for all the items to arrive so it makes it a long experience, but it offered us great time to catch up with each other. Ambiance is elegant making it a great place for any special occasion. Come check it out! read more

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Friend chose this place for her birthday dinner. Located inside the Four Season hotel downtown. They do have valet parking as part of the hotel or you can find street parking. We were about 15-20 minutes late due to the snow and trying to find parking (made a couple loop and downtown one-way street makes it harder to loop around). We were line for about 5 minutes since the receptionist took sometimes to chat with the person in front. Because we were about 20 mins late (since we waited for 5 mins in line) we were told our table was given to the later people and we would have to wait another 15-20'mins for another table. Ok. Sure because we were late. 30'mins roll around and still nothing. They didn't check in on us but we had to check again. Said still no table. By 45'mins they finally got us a table. There were also other people waiting as well so I think they overbooked. Saw a couple parties just left because they were waiting for too long. Was given the option to sit at the bar or lounge but it was loud and not feeling that vibe. The tables were pretty close to each other, probably a chair away. It's a darker ambient feel inside. Mocktail- mora- this is a sweet and sour berry flavor. Very interesting and unique. 3.5/5 Hummus- the look of it could be discouraging due to it being just hummus. The hummus itself is nothing special to be honest but it's the crispy chickpeas that made it yummy. Pita was hot but quite salty not sure if extra salt was added. 3/5 (for the chickpeas) Crispy fried potatoes- since it was one of the popular items, we must try. Basically tasted like potato chips lol. Nothing special. Definitely not worth the $12. Please get a regular veggie dish not potato chips. A little salty as well. 2/5. Seafood stew - the soup is basically tomato soup. So nothing special again. The seafood platter contain a lot of mussels but only 2 prawns and like 3 octopus? Definitely not an even amount of seafood. Should it be better mixed? Good thing there were only 2 of us to share. 3/5 Lamb shank - as the name says it lamb! So of course a strong lamb favor lol. Friend got the dish and I'm not a lamb fan so can't really review it. But it is soft and her little kiddos liked it. 3/5 Birthday dessert- they do have complimentary dessert that you can pick from the dessert list! Very generous of them. We got the chocolate which was taste! 4/5 Service was mediocre. Our waiter didn't check in on us as often and was hard spot at time. I guess it was busy. Expected a little more for an upscale expensive restaurant though. May come back to try other seasonal things or brunch next time. Chef, please try to decrease the salt, most of the food were quite salty. read more

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Class act and lovely addition to Minneapolis. Gorgeous handcrafted cocktails - - both full leaded and N/A. Exceptional, friendly, down-to-earth service in the lounge. Nate was warm, present, gracious and attentive. A girlfriend and I previously stopped in NYE for cocktails and a light bite - - service, food & drinks were on point that night as well. Valet & concierge staff are helpful, friendly and salt-of-the-earth. Always appreciate when a posh place like Four Seasons is non pretentious. Order the Turkish Manti Pasta. Tiny pillows of love in a savory meets slightly sweet way. The Chocolate Decadence dessert? Divine. Excellent DJ & vibe post work day. The lobby invites social interaction, yet also respects privacy - - met a friendly fellow professional women whose company I enjoyed. We both shared an appreciation for Mara's Mixologist Dustin's N/A company 3Leche. The Mora (Proxy Rosa Vermouth, Elderberry, Aronia Berry, Seville Orange) was light and refreshing. So was he. Service to me always makes the venue. Mara has this down. The adjacent fireside nook in Four Seasons lobby is an inviting place to make a few work calls. Socca (coffee shop) also does not disappoint. Solid latte and scrumptious mozzarella, pesto & tomato croissant enjoyed earlier in the day. So far? Mara is winning my heart. Well done Gavin Kaysen & team. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

We chose Mara at The Four Seasons for a baby shower brunch celebration. We valet parked and everyone said "welcome to the four seasons" The decor is very light and airy. I love the orange velvet chairs!!! I ordered the cape tonic cocktail and it was so pretty and delicious. The server informed us that they have an in house florist who creates all the arrangements in the hotel as well as the cocktail garnishes. We started with the hummus which was out of this world. Definitely worth ordering. Very fresh and authentic. I ordered the shakshuka which was poached eggs (done perfectly) in a red sauce with peppers, onions and okra, served with pita bread. Hind sight, shouldn't have gotten two dishes with pita bread lol. But it was very delicious. The others got the French Toast. And the pancakes. Everyone was very happy with their meals and we will definitely be back. I want to try out their happy hour or dinner! read more

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