MesaMar Seafood Table Coral Gables – A Miami Style Holiday Feast
Fortunate to celebrate Easter Sunday at MesaMar Seafood Table Coral Gables, we enjoyed an array of seafood delicacies such as Hog Fish, Langoustines, and Octopus in a relaxed yet elegant dining setting. The seafood is fresh and prepared with simple, but excellent quality ingredients found in both Asian and Latin cuisines. Let’s get into our holiday Easter dinner at MesaMar!
We were able to view at our fresh-caught Hog Fish and Langoustines before it was prepared. This is an elegant touch that MesaMar Seafood implements and I personally enjoy seeing the freshness of the food that I am eating, so thumbs up!
For appetizers, the Tuna Tacos from the sea were sensational. They’re definitely small bit sized tacos but they pack a deep punch and surprising sweetness. The tuna is served inside a homemade Cilantro Sauce after being marinated in a Yuzu Dressing and Sweet Chili Sauce.
MesaMar Seafood’s Grilled Octopus had a nice meaty texture, and pairs well with the Chimichuri Sauce that comes on the side. A small assortment of Roasted Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes and Red Peppers accompany the dish seaoned with capers and chives.
The Rock Shrimp Tempura is an outstanding appetizer selection for even the pickiest eaters. The lightly battered Shrimp are served in MesaMar Seafood’s own homemade creamy and spicy sauce which is absolutely exquisite.
The Coco-Nuts Roll was a surprising menu item. Note, these rolls are small bite sized, but deliver some eclectic flavors. Thinly sliced Tuna wraps around the Caramelized Cashews and dressed with Shredded Coconut. This is all laid over a drizzle of caper sauce. I loved the crunchy texture of the caramelized cashews and the rich, buttery flavor that they provided to the bite sized rolls. You get great sweetness from the shredded coconut and additional texture from the small shreds. A very interesting appetizer option at MesaMar.
The Grilled Langoustines was a personal favorite of mine. The colossal shrimpy-looking crustaceans, also called Norway Lobster, were grilled with Olive Oil and Garlic Butter which complements the slightly sweet flavor of the Langoustines. With a squeeze of fresh Lemon and then dipped in Butter, the Langoustines packs a delicious flavor combo.
MesaMar Seafood’s Signature Dish is the Catch of the Day, usually Hog Fish, and prepared two ways. One Hog Fish filet was grilled with olive oil and garlic butter, and the second filet was cut into chunks and deep fried. Hog Fish tends to have a very soft, mushy texture so getting a nice soft crisp from the fried batter was a nice contrast in texture. Likewise with the grilled filet, the searing from the grill added a nice texture to the outside of the filet to offset the mushy textured interior.
My side dish recommendation is the rice. The rice is not starchy and clumpy and is dressed with golden raisins, scallions, and finely chopped yellow and orange sweet peppers. I lovely the savory component from the peppers, the sweetness from the golden raisins, the brightness from the scallions, and the myriad of textures that each component of the rice delivered. It’s nice to get so much variety of texture and flavors from a simple side dish like rice.
For dessert, the Almond Praline with Lady Fingers concoction was an excellent ending to our dinner. If you have a sweet tooth, the almond praline will satisfy, if you’re someone who does not prefer sweet desserts, this one is not for you. I enjoyed the crunchy textures from the caramel and nuts on the top, contrasted by the still sweet but softer, crispier texture of the lady fingers underneath.
MesaMar Seafood Table is located in the Coral Gables area of Miami at 264 Giralda Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134. For reservations or more information, visit: mesamar.com