Mare

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elvistaco1

Joined 11 years ago

underwhelming. We answered the eternal Boston question: "Italian or Seafood?" with Mare, and regretted our indecision. We found the atmosphere plain, bare, and cold, rather than cool and hip. The vaunted BBQ Octopus was only a tiny piece with some grill seasoning, and the potato foam was pointless. Not the freshest, either. The Tuna Crudo was listless, really just a hunk of raw tuna, and the "Proscuitto Canneloni" was goofy; it neither complemented nor enhanced the tuna. The Seafood risotto was tasty, however.

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aruber

Joined 6 years ago

Great seafood!!. This restaurant was excellent! We were very pleased with the food, drinks, and service . The lemon drop martini and caribbean breeze martinis were very good. We had the halibut and the Frutti del Mar. Both were outstanding. We highly recommend this place!!

Doesn't Recommend

yabbadabba

Joined 6 years ago

OK except for the food. I've heard such good reviews about Mare, I was psyched to finally check it out. Service was attentive -- but then again, it was very early so we were the first customers at that hour and the place was practically empty. My date ordered a pasta dish with scallops and in spite of the teeny tiny portion, he didn't bother finishing it. We both ordered the ceasar salad with shrimp. It was flavourless and bland. The "popcorn" shrimps were curious additions (I don't know what the chef's intentions were with these) as they were dessicated, like something that had been freeze-dried. The worst were the oysters. Truly the worst oysters I've ever had. They were not at all fresh and the greenish slime around the shells and edges made them unappealing. The lemon ice they were served with might have worked if the oysters themselves were palatable. Plus, they weren't shucked very well I had to navigate around the fragmented bits of shells in the meat. I have no idea how this place remains popular. To be fair though, the ambience, in spite of being a bit crowded, is refreshing. After the sad meal, we were afraid to order dessert.

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jeffdo

Joined 8 years ago

Cool atmosphere, Pretty Average, Pricey. This place looks very cool and is quite nice inside. The service was very good as well. However the food left a lot to be desired. The fried clams was fairly pathetic for New England standards; they were not crispy at all and lacked flavor (no salt). The creamy wasabi tartara sauce with it was tasty though. My girlfriend got some kind of lemon spaghetti and scallop dish which she said was pretty bland and flavorless (I did not taste). I had the skate wing which was OK, not really memorable except that it was a massive portion. Why do all nice Boston restaurants have to serve so much food? I'd rather have a small entree and room for dessert. Unforunately, I did not have room to taste the desserts. Lastly, I think all the wines were Italian so don't look for any diversity there. BL: I wouldn't go back here unless someone else was treating.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

High-end Italian fare, with an emphasis on seafood and organic ingredients.. In Short
Fans of Bricco and Umbria head to the edge of the North End to try those restaurants' sister establishment, Mare. The dining room's modernly nautical atmosphere leaves patrons feeling as if they're on display in a fish tank (albeit one with colorful light installations, $30 entrees and views of the Custom House). The kitchen maintains a focus on organic ingredients; popular menu items include swordfish carpaccio and a potato creme brulee topped with crayfish.

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bubbleandsqueak

Joined 8 years ago

Decadent stuffed lobster. Organic costal cuisine, quite a concept, and quite a taste. The stuffed lobster is one of the most deliciously decadent dishes I have had. They do not have a liquor license for hard alcohol but they make up for it by serving martinis made from flavored liquors. Regional seafood is very fresh and tasty.

Ambiance is nice if a bit drab. A seat at the small bar gives you a view direct into the kitchen.

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jeudiblonde

Joined 7 years ago

Great place for a girls night out. Went with three of my girlfriends...we were treated like gold. Service was informative and unobtrusive. Wine list is excellent. Mixed drinks are great too. Food melted in our mouths. The only bad thing was that it got a little cold with all of the windows open and there really is not room to wait at the a 4-seat bar.

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gwi

Joined 7 years ago

Wine, Food Pairing. Ordered the Pizzetta, Spaghettoni, Black Squid Ink Ravioli, and the Tuna Mezzo Crudo. Had sommelier pair each course with wine and she did an excellent job. Food was excellent, wine was excellent, ambience OK.

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theduke37

Joined 10 years ago

Good food and outstanding service. 3 out of 7 courses were world class, while the other four ranged from average to good. The 3 outstanding ones were the asparagus and proscuitto with truffle sauce, the wild mushroom spagettoni and the Nantucket Bay scallop carrot soup. The tuna was average at best. The surf and turf was about the same. Seafood antipasto was inventive and interesting, although nothing jumped out as outstanding. The lobster pasta was good, but not great. I'd stick with appetizer and pasta here. The entrees seem to lag behind a little bit. Nevertheless, well worth a trip.

Service was excellent, even on Valentine's Day. Very cool atmosphere with a Miami vibe.

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valletta

Joined 7 years ago

Mare is not to be missed!. Four of us visited Mare on the first weekend after New Years, perhaps a relatively calm time. On that particular Friday night, we received flawless food and service (we are all frequent restaurant goers in all price ranges -- two of us in San Francisco, two in New York). Pricey, but well worth it. We did the 5-course tasting menu, every course was scrumptious and innovative, and the whole was perfectly balanced. Especially memorable were the potato flan topped with crawfish and the ricotta-stuffed zucchini flower beignet. Also wonderful carrot soup, pastas, and a classy surf and turf. We went with a wine flight, the sommelier was spot-on with the choices. The service was terrific in general, prompt and professional but very warm, and the kitchen crew gave us a nice send-off as we left (I think they enjoy preparing the tasting menu!)