Maré

Mare had so much promise but failed my party of four miserably. I made an 8:30PM reservation and our group was not seated until 9:30PM. There is something seriously seriously wrong if and when this ever happens. Frequent check in’s with the hostess did nothing to alleviate the problem. We were told «a table is taking longer than expected and we can’t kick them out.» Okay, noted. Further upsetting us was the fact that we watched several other groups of four be seated before us. Cue shock and awe. The two female hostesses clearly do not realize the importance of their jobs. You are the front of the house. You are responsible for keeping patrons in the loop when they are waiting ONE HOUR after their allotted dinner reservation time. It was overwhelmingly evident one of these girls forgot our party and started seating others — that was the reason tables were «taking too long».
When we were nearing the one hour mark a man approached us and thanked us for waiting. I asked to talk to the owner or manager and this turned out to be him. He repeatedly told us «I’ll make this worth your while» and «I promise to take care of you» which we figured would mean something legitimate. He brought over two appetizers (the cheapest on the menu, I might add) and we wrapped up dinner and everyone was pleased up until we got the bill. The owner didn’t offer any discount on food nor drinks. Apparently the two appetizers he brought us (that we did not order) were sufficient enough for him.
Mare is a new restaurant competing in a highly competitive market of LA. The service we received was unacceptable on just about every level. The food is good but not out of this world. People, including myself, will look elsewhere for establishments that value customer service.

One star for having us wait for almost an hour and 30 min. First because our entire party wasn’t there (4 out of 5), then because our table wasn’t ready as the current party is taking its time… and finally because it’s our fault at the end of the day for making a big deal about this?! Unacceptable service, rude and incompetent staff. And on top of all that they wouldn’t let us order drinks in the waiting area since they don’t have permit; next thing you know they start serving Sangrias to apologize for the wait.

Finally was able to check out this place with a girlfriend. I enjoyed the hidden entrance through the Grilled Cheese shop. My girlfriend was running late so I was asked to sit on the super cute patio. I asked if I could purchase a drink while I waited but they said I was unable to. I don’t think they have a bar so I guess I need to be seated in order to order drinks, which I guess was ok. My girlfriend was almost 45 minutes late and the owner brought me out a complimentary glass of sangria which I really appreciated (especially since I couldn’t order a drink).
Food was great though and really enjoyed the service. Very cute, exciting date spot. Cute places to grab drinks before or after on that same block as well.

Five starts for the cute hidden entrance and the amazing drinks !
The staff could defiantly work on their behavior of professionalism and try not to give you attitude when you ask for something extra.
The food was okay for its price but very small portions. The tables are very small and often you’re to close to the table next to you so it’s not comfortable at all.
Overall the best part of this place was the entrance and the drinks.

Had a 9:30 reservation. Walked in at 9:20 and they said they were just waiting for some tables to clear. At around 10:00 Emma Roberts walks in with a few friends. At 10:20 we asked if we were next and the answer was no, apparently Emma Roberts somehow managed to get before us. So we left. Would have given 1 star but the food is really good (I know from past visits). Too bad I won’t be coming back to this star f*ucker restaurant.

Omg, I am amazed at our experience last night! We ended up having the spring feast (only a few days left for this fyi) and EVERYTHING was amazing. My wife was pleasantly surprised since she had no idea where we were going for date night. Walking through Greenspans all the way to the back, and then opening the door to where magic happens! Wow, I am still blown away!

I really really really wanted to like this place, I did. The entrance is unique where you go through a grilled cheese shop into their refrigerator, and the outside is beautiful with cute lights and decorations. The ambience is perfect. I had high expectations. I’d have to say the food on the other hand, was another story. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed a couple of the dishes, but after the first two courses, I felt as if my food was marinated in salt.
My friend and I decided to go with the Spring Feast which consisted of 6 courses. Before you get your food, there is complimentary bread which was amazing with the garlic infused olive oil and also marinated bell peppers, olives and half a slice of a raw lemon. Still wondering what the lemon was for…
We then received our food, the Albacore Krudo which was fresh and tasty and a fried octopus which was delicious! Then after those two dishes, the rest of the meal went downhill, we were over our meal midway and wanted to just pay and leave. Following the first two courses was a clam soup which was too fishy and noodles cooked to the right texture but wayyyyy to salty. You are also provided with a poached egg to drop on either the broth or the noodles. The next couple dishes took forever to come out after the broth, but was a crusted salmon which was OK, and a rabbit dish which I only found the puff pastry on top to be edible. Our meal finished with an crusted apples with whipped cream but I only ate the cream as even the crisp was too salty.
The service was good except for some of our food which took some time to come out, and the fruit infused drinks were not bad either. I may give this spot another chance in the future as the setup is intimate and romantic, but not anytime soon.

If you like seafood, this place is a must. it’s also got a very cool speakeasy, hidden establishment. Although there is a sign outside that says «Mare» all you see is a grilled cheese shop. You have to walk through the grilled cheese shop, take a right and the door to Mare is the first left. It’s kinda weird and cool at the same time I guess. Upon entrance, you are hit with a beautiful, little secret garden with a fire pit atmosphere. Quite beautiful with a hint of romance in the air.
the menu is super tiny but all very delicious. even the seafood options are limited (mussels, shrimp or clams) and you get to choose the sauce of your choice. Comes with buttered noodles and a sous vide egg because that’s always a great combination with whatever broth you may have leftover. the drinks are also really well done here and fabulously tasty.

I always say I love places that let me escape Los Angeles for a few hours and Mare did that for me. I loved the scheme of colors and the cozy, warm feeling especially with the lights and candles surrounding you.
Food: You just try the fried octopus dish. It was good but other than that, everything fell a little short. The skirt steak I beg to differ wasn’t good as it’s a highlight dish on here (the butter served with it did not do it and chimichurri sauce was lacking.) The clams along with leek and white wine was okay (I thought the clams would be better quality) and finally I love sorbet and me and my best friend practically order this each time we go out… we officially claimed this to be the worse sorbet ever. How do you go wrong on sorbet?
Service: awesome… our waitress was a doll and they constantly filled water and took our plates.
Overall: Nice place to experience and the entrance through the grilled cheese place is a trip lol but enough to go back? I don’t know about that for me…

yes, enter through the grilled cheese store
and walk into a beautiful patio
with great ambiance
our first twenty minutes impressed me —
(man, their bread is some of the best i’ve ever had
plus that garlic infused olive oil
jezuz)
and had me anticipating the actual meal
i liked our first dish — spicy, crispy octopus
reminded me of spicy korean fried chicken sauce with a creamy chimichurri
but went slightly downhill from there
our fried broccolini, however wasn’t very tasty and difficult to eat
because the stalk ends were super hard
we opted for the black mussels in the sausage remoulade with the side of noodles
the mussels were overcooked, the sausage very dry and flavorless
the soup flavor was extremely tasty
but the noodles were too soft and bloated IMO
our fig-​pom glazed branzino was pretty good
not stellar or mind blowing
i wish there was more glaze and flavor to the actual fish
we ended with a chocolate crêpe with a spicy chili chocolate filling
and caramel mousse (?)
pretty tasty, but nothing outstanding
overall, taking everything into consideration —
a solid three

1. Valet parking is $ 7. Pretty good for Melrose. Thank god we didn’t have to look for parking.
2. It was fun going through Greenspans to find Maré
3. Getting to Maré, you find it hidden, lovely, Spanish-​style, and friendly
4. We were sitting for 20 min until we even got noticed only after mentioning this to a random employee. After having a really hard Saturday, we just wanted to have some great food to make up for a hard day.
5. The bread, garlic oil, kumquats, and olives were excellent and felt warm when on the table. Get the fig cocktail before you start ;)
6. The albacore crudo was excellent. Very well balanced and the meat was soft. The breadcrumbs were an explosion in the mouth!
7. The shrimp with curry was not as good as we thought. It was not balanced right. If they backed off the apple, put less peppercorn, and more curry flavor, it would have been much better.
8. The shrimp with spicy romesco sauce was incredible. Perfectly balanced with the sausage, surprising almonds, and peppers. This was sooooo tasty.
9. Noodles and poached eggs… Oh my gawwddd. Amazing!
10. Food was excellent, service could have been much better to match the lovely atmosphere and food. The seating arrangements also needs improvements. There are too many times the chef, waiters, and staff kept bumping into us, shuffling in back of our seats, and saying sorry every 5 min.
11. Will come back… Hope things change

Solid choice for a different and delicious experience, if you’re around Melrose.
Walk through grilled cheese, through the kitchen, up a few stairs, through an old refrigerator door and BOOM, you’re in the world of Maré.
Very nice, unique, chill setting, well worth visiting. Superb service and absolutely delicious food.
We had the fried octopus, heaven…
Shrimp/noodles…curry flavor… bliss
Blackened broccolini… nice
Nutella filled crêpe… wait, where did it go?!
All shared, enjoyed and devoured by the 3 of us.
They start you off with some great warm bread, accompanied by pistachios, sweet peppers and olives. All with an abundance of flavor, a great way to start the meal.
This is a cool place for cocktails… hanging out, catching up with a friend, perhaps a quiet date? The plates are meant to be shared, so if you’re riding solo, order just a plate or two.
Overall, a great dining experience.

Incredible food and drinks! My friend and I went to Mare for dineLA and everything was fantastic. For $ 29 each we got to choose a small plate, entrée, and dessert off the dineLA menu. In addition to the dineLA menu, we both also ordered the tequila strawberry basil cocktail. Their cocktails are all muddled with fresh fruit and they’re absolutely delicious.
For the small plates we shared the salt roasted potatoes and roasted broccolini. Both were great, but honestly my favorite small plate was the fresh bread that came complimentary with our meal. It is served warm with a fig spread, olive oil, and what I believe was infused pear butter. It was all delicious!
As for entrees, I ordered mussels in a leek and white wine broth and my friend went with the grilled skirt steak. The mussels came with a perfectly cooked egg and fresh noodles, which my friend enjoyed as another side dish. The mussels were tasty, but the broth was a little too salty. I also tried the steak and it was amazing– it comes prepared rare, so if you prefer your steak cooked more thoroughly I would specify that when you order.
I had the sorbet trio for dessert and my friend got the chocolate chili crêpe. I did not have the chance to try the crêpe, but the sorbet was great! Very refreshing and the three flavors paired well together. I love the atmosphere at Mare and I would definitely return again soon!

This place initially confused me so much! It’s located on Melrose, and there is a sign high up on the building. However, I couldn’t find the entrance. We actually sat down at Umbrella Co. and tried to order something before the server told us were were in the wrong place. We looked really stupid pacing back and forth on the sidewalk trying to find this place. Finally, we went into Greenspan Grilled Cheese and asked how to get to Mare before we were actually able to. I love secrets like this. Amazing.
You will have to find out on your own, and I recommend it so the surprise is not ruined.
In any case, once we entered the restaurant, there was a beautiful little waiting area with overhead string lights, couches, and a ping pong table. People came around serving free delicious sangria!
They don’t take reservations, but we were a party of two and got seated in about 15 minutes. There is a larger room, which is indoor-​outdoor. I had a prix fixe menu that had a choice of one appetizer, one seafood dish, and one meat dish. It also came with a dessert and two mixed drinks, so a really great deal.
For parking, there is free parking if you go deeper into the side neighborhoods. Otherwise, there’s a lot of permit parking areas, which make this strip of Melrose kind of annoying.
1. Bread: Freshly baked, it comes with amazing olive oil as well as a few side dips/​hummus that area really good and whet the appetite.
2. Broccolini: This was quite good although not my favorite dish of the night. The broccolini was a bit overcooked and dry I thought, but still retained great flavor.
3. Pot of clams with chorizo romesco sauce: This was quite delicious! After the clams were finished, I drank the soup!
4. Branzino: This came out with the head and tail, the way fish should be served, always. It was cooked very well and the skin was very flavorful too!
5. Blood Orange Trifolo: Quite a good dessert, the stuff in the jar was full of fruits but was quite sweet. Luckily, it came with side cookies.
6. Chocolate chili crêpe: This was actually very good, although I wish the crêpe were slightly less done.
7. Mixed drinks: Delicious! Feria de Jalisco Tequila was awesome, as was the El Silencio Mezcal. Pricy, but good!
I like surprises like this place. The food is very good and the vibe is hip and trendy. Just find the front door though.

Stopped by to try this place out after reading about it… most important tip… you have to walk INTO the grilled cheese place and out the back to get into this place… almost gave up and went elsewhere! But glad we came… started with a very light and «healthy» feeling rum drink… and strawberry margarita was really good! Then had the skirt steak which was well made, followed by clam with spicy sausage sauce with noodle and egg and then the shrimp with vadouvan curry with green apple! Both were exceptional… the spice in the spicy sausage was really well done! A great date place and an interesting place to go to since you have to walk through a store and out the back kitchen to get to this place!

Five stars for having the perfect combination of delicious food and amazing ambience. This restaurant creates such a warm and relaxing atmosphere with its candle lit walls that are painted in this perfect shade of soothing green. I expected it to be cold because it was out doors but the restaurant does a really good job of keeping the entire place cozy with heat lamps so don’t worry about coming here in the winter or at night!
As with many places that are so cute ascetically, I expected the food to be slightly overhyped but I was proven happily wrong. I came here knowing the skirt steak would taste delicious but THE BRANZINO JUST BLEW MY MIND. I couldn’t even focus on how delicious the skirt steak was until I had completely finished the fish because it was THAT GOOD. The outside of the fish was fried to a perfect crisp but the inside was still so tender. I would come back again just to eat the fish.
Overall Mare’s menu is very fun and experimental. Come to this restaurant if you want to try food that mixes foods and flavors in unique ways.
Side note, my thoughts on the drink menu:
Tito’s Vodka — very light alcoholic drink with a crisp cucumber-​y taste (delicious)
Flor de Cana — slightly stronger, fruity taste, comes with pretty flowers
El Silencio — really strong smokey taste

4.5 stars
Quirky and unique best describes this small, patio restaurant. But don’t let the entrance through Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese restaurant fool you. This place is something special. Service was friendly and efficient.
First, complimentary bread is served directly on butcher paper with accompanying olive oil and extras. It makes for a nice spread, even before starting the meal.
DineLA 3 course price — $ 29
APPETIZERS
CRUDITÉ OF VEGETABLES — market vegetables with almond romesco and house ranch $ 11
A large variety of raw or slightly blanched veggies, all very fresh. The romesco sauce is delicious.
ARUGULA SALAD — with red onion, cherry tomatoes, dates and capers $ 10
A fresh, sizable salad with light dressing. The dates add a nice bit of sweetness.
ENTREE
WHOLE BRANZINO –with fig pomegranate sauce $ 21
A big, meaty, delicate fish cooked perfectly. The sauce was a bit on the salty side. Enough to serve 2.
DESSERTS
BLOOD ORANGE TRIFOLO — with semolina cake, fruit compote and served with rosemary cookies $ 10
This is a take on an English trifle. There was a nice, flavorful mix of fruit and cake.
CHOCOLATE CHILI CREPE — with Nutella and Coffee Whipped Cream $ 9
A rich, chocolaty crêpe with light sweetened whipped cream. The Nutella was difficult to detect and the dessert is not spicy.
This place is worth checking out, if you are looking for good food and a unique dining experience.
parking — metered, valet, or limited street parking

Visited Mare during Dine LA week. I highly recommend trying this place during DineLA week. The Menu is very small, so during DineLA week, pretty much everything is on the special DineLA menu. We got a really good deal eating here.
To my surprise, the portions of the starters are really large. We ordered the Arugula Salad and Fried Smelt. The size of the salad was almost big enough to count as a meal. The Fried Smelt was delicious.
I ordered the shellfish bowl with mussel in leek and white wine broth. It was great. After eating the mussels, I mixed the noodles with the poached egg, and then added into my broth, and the new flavor of the broth was great! It was like a small ramen. I finished all the noodles and soup!
I wasn’t a big fan of the deserts at this place. We got Blood Orange Trifolo, my friend loved it, but I thought it was too tangy. We also got the Crêpe, which was just Ok…
Overall, it was a fine dining experience.

1. Hostess Service Part I — we put our name down for dinela for four. We asked how long the wait would be, she comments on saying I am not sure, it’ll depend. everyone eats at a different pace. Ok. will it be 20 minutes or 1hr… that’s all I needed to know. isn’t that your job to time turnover…
2. Hostess Service Part II — we get a msg from the hostess indicating our table is ready. as we r walking towards the restaurant from ½ block away. mind u exactly 2 minutes after the txt, she gives us a call and says if you dont get here right now we will give up your table in a snooty tone of voice… oh wait. I remember you saying earlier, we will give you a txt beforehand so you have time to get over to the restaurant… more than anything… didn’t appreciate her tone of voice
3. Broccolini — good /​fingerling potatoes — ok /​smelt — good /​skirt steak — meat was chewy /​branzino — undercooked the bone wouldn’t slide off /​shellfish pasta — pasta over cooked /​sorbet — interesting spices mixed in the sorbet blend.meh.
4. Server — good. he was pretty attentive and did a great job
I would go back for the food but damn work on your hostess service.

I went there over the holidays for The Feast of the 7 Fishes and was not, at all impressed. Another friend, however, talked me into going back again almost a month later and all I can say is WOW. They have really gotten their act together. This is a place if you make a reasonable suggestion to them, THEY LISTEN. What an idea.
The service as well as the food and custom cocktails were superb. They do not take reservations but they own the popular bar next door and were on top of things in getting us a great table, surprisingly fast, when we got there. Joseph, who I think may be one of the Managers even remembered me when I came in the second time and couldn’t have been nicer and more attentive. With service from him and now that they have their kitchen on point I will probably become one of their regulars. I live in the neighborhood and have been sending all of my friends. Their specialty drinks are made with fresh herbs and are really good as well (with the exception of one that had a heavy smoke flavor.) The notation of the added smoke was noted on the menu and if that is something you like you probably would have enjoyed this.
All in all it was a terrific experience. Eric Greenspan has another winner here.

DineLA January 2016 — what a deal! $ 29 for dinner at a place that was named as one of the best DineLA deals AND best first date place? I’m there. :D I’ve heard lots of good things about Mare and was curious to see what Taste on Melrose had transformed into. They don’t take reservations for parties less than 6, so our party of 4 waited about 45 minutes on a Friday night.
FOOD:
— roasted broccolini — this was a bit overcooked, on the browner side and stringy, but flavor was good and I liked the garlic purée on the bottom
— fried smelt — I like smelt, so this was yummy to me!
— salt roasted potatoes — salty, duh but cooked perfectly
— whole branzino — on the regular menu, this dish is $ 21, so totally getting a great deal! I didn’t think I would enjoy the pomegranate fig glaze on it, but it really added great flavor to the skin. Fish was super moist and perfectly buttery and cooked really well, yum!
— blood orange trifolo — served in a mason jar type thing, I enjoyed the graininess of the semolina cake at the bottom and all the fresh fruit and compote. On the tart side, very refreshing after a rich meal.
SERVICE:
Mare is busyyyy! Once we were seated, it took a little while for our server to come take our orders, but the food came out quickly.
VENUE/​PARKING:
The space is not as big as Taste on Melrose was. They partition part of it off as a really cute waiting area and the tables inside the restaurant itself are packed pretty close together. Outdoor seating with a retractable tarp roof, the heat lamps do a pretty good job of keeping you warm. There’s one restroom, but if you can, you can duck through the curtain to use Melrose Umbrella Company’s toilets: P But you might get yelled at by some employees: P Parking is a bit tough in the area, meters can be found, but the residential streets are all permit only. Valet is $ 6.
To find Mare, go through the Grilled Cheese restaurant, hang a right past the restroom and go up the step to the wooden door.

I wish I could give a good review but we didn’t even get to try out anything. Service was horrible, so bad not once were we acknowledged and there was no line either. My family and I were just standing there, the staff literally just walked past us numerous times without looking. We were waiting for close to 10 minutes until we had enough and just walked out.
My guess is racism, I’ve experienced it many times before as white staff completely ignore you until you walk out. I wish this wasn’t the case but I can’t think of why else.

Mare is special. After going through the back of the Grill Cheese shop you will be pleased to find a stunning patio. The atmosphere is magical and the staff is nice.
We loved the food! The branzino with fig glaze is delicate and flavorful. The potatoes were crazy good. Vegetables were well cooked and seasoned perfectly. We ordered a risotto special that came out a bit cold. After bringing it to their attention they remade it and brought it piping hot and with a lot of apologies. They even bought us dessert.
We met Eric Greenspan as well and I did a selfie with him… lol. There is a lot to say about quality and commitment to excellence when the chef is in the house.

Mare’s Feast of Seven Fishes — A meal I nearly missed, but thankfully didn’t. A memorable dinner I’m reviewing here as my 300^th review for Unilocal.
Unilocalers often choose a glamorous bucket meal for their milestone reviews, but I decided to highlight Mare because of my sheer delight in the quirky concept of the place and because the chef-​owner prices his menu so reasonably — I’m hooked as a regular!
From Wikipedia: «The Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italian: Festa dei sette pesci), also known as The Vigil (Italian: La Vigilia), is an Italian celebration of Christmas Eve with meals of fish and other seafood.»
I grew up in San Francisco, a town proud of its North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf districts founded by Italian Americans, but I never heard about this tradition until I moved to LA a few years ago.
Many well-​established restaurants in LA offer a special «The Feast of the Seven Fishes,» but the 7 course plus extravaganza (e.g. Melisse, Valentino and Union) is often priced over $ 100 per person. At such pricing, it’s not easy to organize a group dinner.
Enter, Mare on Melrose Avenue to the rescue — Chef Eric Greenspan’s «speakeasy» casual restaurant located in a retractable roof-​covered patio setting in back of his «Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese.» I found out Mare restaurant was offering a Feast of Seven Fishes multi-​course meal for $ 50!!! This sounded too good to be true, but I’m happy to report the deal was for real with no bait and switch.
I hosted a small group on December 27, 2015.
Mare’s Feast of Seven Fishes $ 50 menu consisted of:
*Starter — Multiseeded Baguette, olive oil for dipping, spreads, sliced lemon and pickled fruits.
*Course 1 — Scallop Crudo with Grapefruit and Chili
*Course 2 — Cod Fritters with spicy pepper sauce and Meyer lemon
*Course 3 — Salad of Crispy Octopus and Kale, Walnuts and Persimmon
*Course 4 — Steamed Clams with saffron, grapes, radicchio, pasta and poached egg (crack the egg at the table)
*Course 5 — Risotto of Crab and Uni with Fried Kabocha Squash and Orange
*Course 6 — Filet of Sole with olive tapenade and braised lettuce
*Course 7 — Whole Red Snapper with blood orange caper puttanesca
* Dessert — Assorted Zeppole (fried Italian donuts) with dipping sauces (berry, dark chocolate ganache and coffee mousse)
Everything was served family style. One person in my group wasn’t really a seafood person so she ordered the SKIRT STEAK with oregano chimichurri and sea urchin butter instead and liked it.
There was so much food, we almost couldn’t finish everything by the time we got to the 7^th course and then dessert.
On the whole, seasoning was balanced; the saltiest item was the Crispy Octopus, but it was paired with a barely seasoned kale salad (thanks chef for not saying your kale was «massaged» — this description used by other restos freaks me out).
Many of Chef Greenspan’s dishes display the Italian agrodolce flavor profile of «salty sweet,» but it’s done with a light hand (in contrast to nearby «Son of a Gun» which does it to a successful extreme). For the sodium conscious (such as myself), the subtlety will be appreciated, but others might find they want more salt and possibly pepper — if that’s the case, ask your server and hopefully the restaurant can accommodate.
I’d definitely consider having this family style tasting menu again for Christmas season in 2016. Standout dishes for me were the Scallop Crudo with Grapefruit and Chili (sweet, sour and spicy with red peppercorns and fresh red Fresno chili pepper slices); Risotto of Crab and Uni with Fried Kabocha Squash and Orange (very subtle, light taste, comforting); and the showstopping, Whole Red Snapper with blood orange caper puttanesca (perfectly roasted whole red snapper with a spicy citrusy topping and croutons).
Some restaurants will charge $ 55 and up for a whole snapper so the 7^th dish was a real bargain by LA standards (also available A La Carte for $ 23).
Notes about Mare’s Feast of Seven Fishes menu:
*2 person minimum for the Tasting Menu ($ 50 per person), but ok to order items separately as A La Carte. Regular menu also available.
*Mare’s Feast of Seven Fishes menu extended to January 3, 2016. Christmas Eve is past, but the celebration continues at Mare into the new year.
Other Notes:
PARKING: Valet or metered street parking (My guests found metered parking on Melrose a block away and I found a meter on a nearby side street. Meters end at 8pm).
DRINKS: Wine by the glass ($ 9); Beers ($ 6 – 11); Isastegi Natural Cider ($ 9 – 16); Fruit Muddled Cocktails ($ 12 — the Rum Melon; and Strawberry Basil cocktails were popular with my guests and not too sweet)
SERVICE: Friendly and efficient, water glasses refilled on request. Dishes presented «family style» and you’re given a single plate (kinda small) for all savory courses and a clean plate at the end to enjoy dessert. If I were to make suggestions in this area, the kitchen should consider providing large serving spoons for each savory course.

Absolutely love small, intimate restaurants like this with charming décor. HATE the secret entrance through the Grilled Cheese restaurant. Doesn’t detract though.
So where to begin, I was in a group of 4 total and the meal starts with bread. The bread is fantastic as well as the sides that come with it. I love the presentation but the side dishes are great but too small for a group of 4, 2 – 3 is perfect. We ordered and shared the majority of the dishes: Brocollini — quite standard. There was no garlic purée with ours that I’m noticing in other’s pictures :(
Yellowtail Crudo (a special they should consider making permanent) -, very interesting blend of flavors that works well, I’d order 2 of those. Yellowtail, apple, pork/​bacon type ingredient. it was different but delicious.
As for the entrée’s, I ordered the skirt steak… It was good. Not amazing. But good. It felt like it needed an extra oomph or a side to it to really make it enjoyable. … And since we are talking about steak, I don’t think that’s a good thing.
I tried my friend’s shellfish dish and the noodles (as well as the consistency) tasted like pancake batter. Definitely would not try again.
For cocktails, I had the tequila cocktail. It was okay. I hate that it was about 75% ice though. That ratio needs to be adjusted. It was a pain to drink and I wish I would have requested a straw.
Other than that, super charming restaurant, that I think will continue to improve and I would consider returning.

What a fun, unique dining experience! After walking through the back kitchen of the grilled cheese shop, we entered a picturesque patio complete with old fashioned lights, and it felt like someone’s back yard.
We started with a round of drinks, and I do believe I ordered the best drink on the table, the tequila muddled with strawberries and basil. The house bread comes out covered in seeds and perfectly warm, so it is too tempting not to eat.
We shared several things including the salt roasted potatoes, uni risotto, the whole banzino, and tried two of the shellfish with noodles and broth combo. The shellfish is really fun and different and it’s a very different way to serve a dish.
Service was very friendly and the atmosphere is energetic and fun. Prices seem like a steal. Recommended for seafood lovers!

Cool concept, great ambiance, it just needs better execution. We went on a random weeknight and didn’t have to wait (there were 4 of us), though there was a decent crowd. Make your way through the kitchen of the grilled cheese joint and a door opens up to a nice patio. Off to one side of the hostess was a waiting area with a foosball table, very nice touch! The other side was the dining area.
First off, they start you off with this seasoned bread with delicious butter and other miscellaneous pickled items. That’s a huge plus and a great tone-​setter.
We ordered a fish (sorry I forgot what type of fish it was) crudo that was one of their specials for the night. It had a unique flavor profile that I wasn’t expecting but it was pretty damn good. For drinks, they have a limited selection. It’s pretty much one cocktail per spirit (i.e. one vodka cocktail, one rum cocktail, etc.). I went with the rum one and while it was plenty strong, it remained tasty. I didn’t get a chance to try the cocktails others ordered but they were well received.
For main course, two ordered the skirt steak and two (myself included) ordered the shellfish options. I went with the mussels in tomato fennel sauce and my gf ordered the clams in the leek sauce. I was pretty disappointed with mine. The sauce was good but either the mussels weren’t fresh or they were not cooked properly. Many of them were chewy and sticking to the shells. Two thumbs down! The clams, however, were pretty darn good. I like how they give you the pasta and soft egg to eat with the sauce or on the side. Beware though, it is extremely rich, especially after adding the egg. I was also unimpressed with the skirt steaks. They looked very sad. Maybe it was an off night in the kitchen because the pictures I see posted by others make it look like it’s usually cooked better. It was just floppy pieces that had zero char and were too «gray» looking. I had a piece and it just tasted okay.
Service was great and I believe they do have valet parking but we scored a spot on the street. Price wasn’t too bad either and I’ll probably come back to try the mussels/​steak again or maybe the shrimp to try something new but in my first experience, a solid 2 ½ — 3 stars based on my expectations.

Mare (mah reh) means sea in Italian, but beside the fact it serves seafood, there is not much to do w/​the sea in landlocked South of Weho. Going through all the way back of a grilled cheese eatery, you push through an ancient wooden door that was once part of a walk in refrigerated room which leads to the astroturfed outdoor waiting area & patio dining which has tons of candles creating a warm soft glow. Initially it definitely has the feel of a speakeasy like at Coles in DTLA. What will happen to this open-​to-​the-​sky restaurant once the vaunted El Nino arrives w/​epic rains will be anyone’s guess.
The staff here tends to be casual & friendly. I was especially impressed by the kindness shown me on Oct. 21^st by the female bartender while I was waiting for the inimitable Unilocaler Isobel L. This is a small space so any elbows that stick out of the tables will brushed by waiters & guests.
0) Rustic, hard, dry mini baguette is studded w/​black poppy, white sesame, fennel, ridged globe shaped seeds. Various salty cured olives, sweet beets, gigantic tart green acidic capers served as the amuse gueule.
1) Risotto of Crab & Sea Urchin is very creamy, heavy, lush, starchy rice flavoured w/​Uni for a funky ocean mineral laden flavor that seems to be augmented by a funky fermented blue cheese undertone. I sensed even a soupçon of fennel root for a hint of licorice, & orange segments would squirt sweet acidic juice to freshen the rich risotto. Thinly sliced fried Kuri squash originally from the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido– named Kuri or chestnut due to its supposed flavor served as garnish.
2) Roasted Baby Beets were of two kinds: dark red purple colored & a light magenta which had a sweet soft yet fibrous texture. Brown butter which reminded me of the French Beurre Noisette & is butter cooked over low flame where the butter fat & solids separate. The solids starts to brown to impart a slight fatty nutty flavor. Bottarga/​dried Tuna roe was used sparingly to add a meaty, slightly fishy Umami that was also mellowed by the Beurre Noisette.
3) Saddle of Lamb was obviously not the whole saddle or the loin but a generous thick meaty slice. The meat does have a light sheepy gaminess as well as a hearty fibrous meaty texture. Anchoiade (ahn show ee ahd) from Provencal, France is typically olive oil, white wine vinegar, & garlic, but sweet pureed dates are added at Mare. Aioli (ah ee oh lee) infused w/​Northern African Harissa made of chiles, roasted red bell peppers, garlic, coriander, etc. & olive oil was another contrasting condiment.
0 – 3) House red wine was a Tempranillo which had fruity taste of black fruits such as cherry, blackberry, bit of tannin to add bitterness & acidity to balance the sweetness & touch of leather. BTW, the dishes here are not designed for one person so to get variety, these dishes in all practicality serve at least two.
4) Honey Panna Cotta was topped w/​thin slices of raw green apple & the entire dessert seemed to be glazed over w/​shiny apricot en gelee. The gelatin added to cream & honey made it a light pudding. Simple dessert to end a rather filling dinner.
I had visited Eric Greenspan’s previous restaurant, Foundry, before & am so happy he has finally met his perfect match in Mare. All the stars have now aligned where the ambiance of place, friendly perky staff, good menu that befits the culinary competence of a chef who presided over the haute cuisine kitchen of Patina at Disney Hall all come together to create a worthy gestalt. 4 Unilocal stars.
PS Blessedly quiet when compared to the rabble rousing crowd at such places as Animal, Son of a Gun, Bestia where the roar obscures the flavor of the food.

3.5 stars and solely based on the food.
Had the daily special panzanella salad — the bread was crispy and the texture just made the fresh salad all the better. The fried smelt was okay, I’m not a big fan in general. The whole branzino was good, but not anything spectacular. We also had the mussels in the white wine sauce, this was probably my favorite; however, it came with a side of noodles and a «poached» egg. When I went to crack said poached egg, it was just raw. The waiter replaced it, but by that time we were all just really turned off by it.
The ambiance and outdoor overhead of this place is really cool and can’t say no to the free sangria while you wait! But with the food being just ok, would probably not come back.

Was treated to a birthday dinner here, and it was one of the loveliest places I’ve been in a while. The strange entrance – walking through Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese shop, through the kitchen, and up the stairs – made it even more special when we opened the door to find a magical little secret space, aglow with strands of tiny lights and candles, and scented with incense. There aren’t many tables here, so it really felt like being out in someone’s super cool backyard – especially since the very friend chef /​owner made sure to come by and say hello.
Right after we sat down, they brought over two hearty pieces of seeded french bread, with an assortment of dips, spreads and fruits, including pistachio butter, figs, and giant capers, as well as lemon garlic infused olive oil. An amazing start. We debated over the fantastic cocktail list, and ultimately tried the strawberry basil /​tequila muddle, and the whiskey fig. Both awesome. Later, we tried the one with the smoke, and loved that, too. Possibly some of the best cocktails I’ve ever had.
From there, it was small plates – which frankly, aren’t small at all. I don’t eat seafood, but was very happy with the arugula salad, salted potatoes, and steak (sans the urchin butter). I took home about ½ of everything because the portions were so large.
I can’t wait to go back!

There are not many restaurants that are disguised as a Grilled Cheese shop that you need to walk into the kitchen, then through a freezer door to get to an outdoor patio that is smartly decorated and inviting. It makes you feel special that you are in this small «speak easy» style foodie heaven
The place has more people waiting around the foosball table than they have seating for but somehow they get people out and seat the hungry excited foodies
To start we were served there delicious baguettes covered with seeds like an everything bagel that has a chewy crust and very tasty dough. The unusual spread and olive oil were good as well. It also was served with peppers and olives. A nice start
They have delicious muddled drinks. My favorite was a whiskey muddled with soda, figs and I think chili and chocolate? Not sure but it was refreshing
The printed menu is simple and not extensive but with their specials, there are enough choices for everyone
The butter poached lobster is quite small for $ 25 dollars but was very good although the fig over powered the lobster.
The ahi tuna pieces with herbs was also good but I do prefer more poke style
Someone ordered their raw vegetables which I enjoyed dipping into the sauces. It was like a farmers market on a plate
The best things we had were:
Shrimp in a bowl with basil pesto broth and a poached egg that was flavorful, not to creamy and pure enjoyment
Grilled Argentinian skit steak served medium rare with a side of spicy chimichurri sauce and a sea urchin butter. This was yum! I dipped the steak in the sauce and I mixed the sea urchin butter into the butter seasoned pasta– loved it!
For dessert we had the chili chocolate crêpe that was small but I liked the heat from the chili
There were six of us. We brought two bottles of our own wine and lots of food and the bill with tax and tip per person was only 45 dollars! Now that is special!
On the way out, one of the cooks at the Grilled Cheese shop handed us strips of crunchy bacon that were sweet, smoky and fantastic to lure us to come back and try a grilled cheese next time.
I look forward to walk through that freezer door once again to see what new things Chef Eric Greenspan has to surprise us with

****Something New and Different!****
Love the secret entrance and open outdoor seating!
Tired of all the food truck hype and new pop up restaurants with cool names and sucky food?
Me, too! Quality ingredients and European style eating is what you will find here. This reminds me of the places I would eat as a kid. This is family style eating that let’s you enjoy several different dishes. Reasonable prices makes this ideal for a great experience.
~Skirt Steak with Oregano Chimichurri and Sea Urchin
Butter-​4 Stars!
Very flavorful combination that goes well with a nice red wine.
Mussels-4.5 Stars!
Choose your shell fish and choose your broth. I ordered mussles with the spicy sausage, pasta, red potatoes and scallop appetizer.
The entrance is through the back kitchen area of the grilled cheese shop. Walk straight to the back and up a few steps and you will be greeted by the hostess. Or, call in and ask for specific instructions. It might be good to make a reservation anyway.
Pretty cool spot and I am a fan!

Came here for dinner with two GFs, since one of them had suggested it, and I’m sure glad she did! Haven’t been around Melrose for awhile, so it was nice to change it up!
We walked through the grilled cheese shop which looked amazing and were delighted to find a little patio waiting area with a foosball table. Unfortunately, we had to wait about 45 mins and didn’t get seated until 9pm, which was kinda late. This was a Weds night, and I can’t imagine how crazy this place gets on the weekend. They only take reservations for groups of 6 or more.
Luckily, our experience here was worth the wait. As we entered the dining area, we were transported to a gorgeous open air patio that was hustling and bustling with a hip crowd. I loved the patio lights, really created a cool ambience.
Since it was so late, we were starving and ready to eat, and thank goodness they provide delicious bread, olives, and peppers for free, yes free-​please see photo. The dishes are served family style, which is just how I like it. We got the fried smelt, delicious and highly recommend. The grilled broccolini was good and crispy, and not burnt. The crab and peach cannoli (I think that is how you spell it) was delicious but super tiny, I don’t think it’s worth the money. The steak was flavorful and pretty bloody if you like that, they didn’t ask us how we wanted it cooked. My faves were the shellfish. We got the clams with white wine and mussels with a sausage romesco, they also gave us warm pasta and a soft boiled egg to throw in the sauce-​genius! You can also get refills of pasta to your heart’s content. Will definitely be back for this!
The cocktails were great and creative! I had the vodka greens and thyme, and loved it-​it was very refreshing! My friend ordered the kumquat cocktail and that was my fave of the table, I’ll get that one next time.
If you park in the neighborhood, make sure to triple check the signs since there were a lot of streets that you can’t park on during dinner time.

«Telling a chick you’ve been someplace is like bragging that you know how to find it» John Favreau from «Swingers»
That’s the first thing that came to mind when I first went to Mare’ was that quote. I am standing outside of Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese, and I see the sign above suggesting my ultimate destination is near. I finally realize that you must travel through the kitchen of the celebrity chef’s namesake cheese sandwich eatery to reach his newest creation. Walking through the the grilled cheese area makes you want to give up, and indulge in the best in grilled sandwiches this town has to offer. Restrain yourself and the rewards are vast.
The PLACE:
Outdoor trendy upscale seating, and you are greeted by a plethora of staff eager to provide a top notch dining experience. The menu is tiny but powerful. The offerings are straight forward, no bullshit, flavor packed, and filling. Everything is meant to be shared family style, so leave your selfish friends at home!
THE MEAL:
Started things off with the crab cannelloni. This thing I would eat for breakfast. Every flavor element was represented vibrantly.
Next came out the Duck Confit. I can’t quite explain what happened here, but it was absolutely amazing. Salty, sweet, fatty, tart. Unbelievable.
Moved next to the shellfish course. The crustacean of choice: Shrimp The broth was the special. All I can remember is corn, and oxtail marrow. Joining in the fun was a soft poached egg cooked at a low temperature for a very long time adding creaminess, and a new delicate texture. Excellent.
Mixed in a little greens with roasted Broccolini with garlic chips, and a garlic paste lining the bottom of the plate.
Wrapped things up with the skirt steak. No temperature preference as it will be brought out as it is meant to be. Sauces on hand were a chimichurri sauce, and a sea urchin butter. The steak melted in your mouth. use the sauce or don’t it was marvelous.
Upon exiting we spoke with Chef Eric. He is a vibrant man with a laugh and voice that fills the room. People were coming in and he had fun asking them what they were looking for before pointing them the correct way. He is indeed a genius when it comes to food, and he will have no problem telling you that. Only difference between him, and many others out there? He can back it up.

**** 4.5 Stars ***
Like others, I am hesitant to spread the word about Mare at risk of making the wait even longer than it already is. They currently only take reservations for parties of 6 or more; any fewer than that and you will have to go on their wait list which can be upwards of an hour on a popular night. They have a small waiting area where you can order drinks and they serve grilled cheese while you wait, or you can head next door to Melrose Umbrella for a drink while you wait (you will get a text when your table is ready). They do need a little help with their reservations system (they told us 20 minutes for a wait that was more like an hour, the online list didn’t appear to be updated as people were getting tables etc), which I’m sure they will work out over time. The food was definitely worth the wait, so just be patient as they work out the kinks.
Although its location is a bit «secret» — you have to walk through the Grilled Cheese shop to get to the back patio where Mare is located — the secret is definitely out. Not surprising, as WeHo is lacking in places like this that are «neighborhoody» (read: unpretentious) and serve great food at reasonable prices, especially in the seafood category.
The whole restaurant is on the outdoor patio, which makes me wonder what they will do when it rains. Luckily for them this is not a common problem in Los Angeles — but if it’s raining, you may want to reconsider. It is a small, cozy and charming spot.
Everyone receives complimentary bread, peppers and olives to start. The bread is amazing — served warm and perfectly crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside — it is loaded with spices and flavors.
The branzino is served whole (they ask if you are okay with the head and tail being served to you) and it’s a very generous serving for $ 19. The fig pomegranate sauce brings out the perfect amount of flavor to this fish, making it my favorite branzino in town (better than those that cost two to three times as much at more «fancy» establishments). This is the best deal in town if you ask me.
My bf had the mussels with the leek and white wine sauce, which initially seems like a small portion until they bring out the noodles and egg which you eat with the sauce after you’ve finished the mussels (genius!). Another dish that had just the right amount of flavor and was a steal at $ 15.
To drink, I had the Vodka + Greens + Thyme which was light, delicious, and reasonably priced at $ 11. It took a while for my drink to come out (I ordered it when I sat down and didn’t get it until I was halfway through my meal) but this is just another kink they need to work out.
I can’t wait to come back and try more things. At this price point and quality, this could quickly become my favorite restaurant in the city. Docking half a star just for the reservations system /​wait time and kinks that I’m sure they will work out over time.