Mojitobar & Plates by Douglas Rodriguez Brings Latin Flavor to Sawgrass Mills Mall
Prior to Sawgrass Mills Mall’s parking lot becoming a basic moat due to extreme inclimate weather, I had the opportunity to dine at Mojitobar & Plates by Douglas Rodriguez.
Photos by Mojitobar
The concept of Mojitobar & Plates by Douglas Rodriguez is small yet shareable tapas. With an emphasis on quality and not quantity, diners can enjoy high end Latin cuisine and split menu items.
Admittedly, I was wary upon trying a tapas restaurant. I usually am disappointed in this concept: nights dining at these establishments result in me still being hungry and a dent in my wallet due to the unusually highly priced menu. Plus, I hate sharing food. Yet, the dishes seemed promising, so I invited one of my best friends and headed over.
Naturally, I decided to kick off the dinner with a mojito because, duh. Debating between the champagne or the ginger variation, I chose the latter of the two. The Ginger Mojito – Ginger Barrows Rum, fresh lime & mint, sugar, muddled and shaken with a splash of ginger beer proved to be refreshing and not overly sweet: it was a solid choice on my end.
We decided to start off with ceviche, specifically the Tuna Watermelon Ceviche – yuzu, orange zest, tarragon, thai basil and red onion. It was just the right amount of spice, with the watermelon providing a fresh, summery taste.
Next on the lineup was the Classic Sampler-cuban sandwich on a stick – pineapple guacamole – shrimp chicharrones – Brazilian dish. Ideal for the indecisive (i.e. Yours truly), the Classic Sampler was comprised of a fun variety of foods that complimented each other rather than conflicted.
The Cuban Sandwich on a Stick – smoked ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, dill pickle, malted mustard was the definition of perfection. The delectable small dish was a soft, cushiony pillow of deliciousness enclosing a pickle, meat and cheese. The Pineapple Guacamole – crispy tostones, jalapeños proved to be an ideal combination of creamy and crispy. It was a unique take on a traditional appetizer.
The usual chicken wing portion was replaced instead by a Brazilian dish. It consisted of fried balls filled with chicken, cream cheese, and possibly crack, because they were that addicting. As for the Shrimp Chicharrones – fiery buttermilk glaze crispy/fried, wow. I’m usually not a fan but on that night, I was converted. Instead of being overly fried and flaky, the Chicharrones provided the right amount of crunch and was covered with some sort of magical sauce.
The closer of the night was dessert dish Lime in the Coconut – lime panna cotta, young coconut, lychee fruit salad, coconut ice cream. This was easily one of my favorite dishes. Creamy, fruity and with a slight coconut finish, it blew away coconut competitor desserts that usually are reminiscent of Hawaiian Tropic lotion (yuck).
At the end of the night, I was a changed woman: I thoroughly enjoyed the Mojitobar & Plates by Douglas Rodriguez’s tapas experience and liked the Chicharrones. Just don’t ask me to share my Lime in the Coconut.
Mojitobar & Plates by Douglas Rodriguez is located in the Oasis at Sawgrass Mills Mall at 2602 Sawgrass Mills Circle #1219 Sunrise, FL 33323. Call (954) 851-9837.
An additional location is at Bayside Marketplace in 401 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL. 33132. Call (786) 408-5483).