Brickell has a new high-end Cuban restaurant, Marabu, courtesy of one of our favorite chefs: Alberto Cabrera. Opening this week, the eatery features high-end Cuban cuisine in a lively and chic setting on the 4th floor of Brickell City Centre — and we got a first taste of the menu.
We started our meal with a Salpicon de Marisco, a light and refreshing seafood salad served with a homemade Cuban cracker, along with a Berro aka watercress salad. And of course it wouldn’t be a proper meal at a Cuban restaurant without some Croquettes, and the ones at Marabu are filled with rotisserie chicken and ham and served with a cilantro aioli and saltine crackers. Also a favorite of the smaller plates was the Tamal en Hoja filled with lamb fricassee, avocado, pickled onion, lardons, cachucha pepper sauce, and oregano.
The entrees are mainly prepared on the restaurant’s Josper grill. Some of our favorites were the Tasajo made with salt cured short rib and coal roasted bell pepper aporiado; Masitas de Puerco made with crispy cured pork, black mojo, shaved onion, toasted garlic and served on a custom mini Caja China that was designed for the restaurant; and the Vaca Frita filled with crispy smoked flank steak, caramelized onion, toasted garlic, cilantro, sour orange.
And don’t skip the vegetables and sides on the Marabu menu. The star of the night was the Boniato al Carbon aka a Cuban sweet potato filled with loaded sour cream, chives, tasajo bits, and cheddar cheese; along with other sides like the Mashed Plantains; Calabaza filled with chicken; and of course the quintessential black beans and rice.
Give the restaurant a try this week. Until then, enjoy the tasty photos below.
