Birmingham, MI — I have admittedly been missing in foodie action for the past two weeks. This was partly due to the fact I was back in Phoenix for a few days earlier this month, celebrating two of my best friends out there getting married, and partly because sometimes I need a break from the blog. While the foodie within me never stops (see honorable Phoenix food mentions below), it’s good to take breaks sometimes, even from your passions, so when you return, you’re refreshed and renewed. So, before I delve into my latest foodie adventure, I’d like to remind everyone that it’s okay to take a step back and take a breather sometimes. It’s the best way to curb burnout and to re-approach your interests and passions with revitalized enthusiasm!

I woke up this past Sunday rather depleted, as I was out celebrating the wedding reception of two other best friends the night prior in Ferndale. It had been a minute since the last time I had dined in downtown Birmingham, so I drove up Woodward Avenue on a quest for some rejuvenating brunch. The last time I was in Birmingham was sometime last winter on a date. We ate at Social and really enjoyed the food and had a pleasant time, but we left it at that.

This time around, I stopped into an Italian restaurant I had learned about through Dawn Kelley, one of the best PR gurus around Metro Detroit. She recommended Màre Mediterranean, a sleek and prominent restaurant along Willits Street, just east of Bates Street. Dawn mentioned the restaurant recently underwent a complete renovation, along with a revamped menu and concept approach.

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The restaurant is owned and operated by local restauranteur Nino Cuturo and Jay Feldman of Feldman Automotive. As the name suggests, the eatery highlights a plethora of Mediterranean cuisines and seafood dishes from Italy and Greece with Spanish influences. In fact, the word Màre itself translates to “sea” in Italian. I haven’t had many chances to check out Italian restaurants around Metro Detroit, so I was excited to visit Màre Mediterranean.

I parked in a lot across the street from the restaurant and walked over just as the doors were opening around 11 a.m. for weekend brunch, which is actually another recent addition to the restaurant’s operation. As I walked up, I stopped and noted the numerous fancy Lamborghinis and Ferraris parked along Willits Street. According to a passerby, this is something that happens essentially every Sunday during the summer. I don’t care much for exotic cars, so after a few seconds of admiration for something I’ll never be able to afford, I returned to my main quest: brunch!

I walked into a cozy setting, greeted by an impressive collection of wine bottles after walking through the first set of doors. I walked through the next stage of glass doors into a serene environment of gray hardwood floors, white walls, tables, chairs, and sea-green cushions and couches. The host immediately greeted and welcomed me and gave me a brief tour and walkthrough of the restaurant and its different sections. Before sitting at my table, I walked about and gathered some photos and video content, taking note of the stylish and flashy red brick oven centered right next to the main dining floor and in front of Màre’s kitchen. It turns out this special oven was brought over straight from Italy! Nino, who is a native Italian, is ensuring his patrons get the real deal when it comes to pizza.

I sat down and chatted with my very polite server, who informed me of some of the popular menu items and some of her favorite ones. She answered a few questions I had about the menu and two particular brunch items I was trying to decide between. I ultimately selected the Summer Omelet, comprised of three eggs, chopped asparagus, goat cheese, and herbs, served with potatoes and toast on the side. My server also mentioned some popular appetizers, including the calamari featuring a homemade lemon beurre blanc sauce. Since it is a seafood restaurant, and I was feeling hungry, I also tacked on an order of calamari!

I eagerly sipped through my first cup of coffee while looking through the rest of the menu at some of the lunch and dinner options. My server had also highly recommended other appetizers like the Arancini and Queso De Cabra (which I almost ordered!). Some pasta dishes caught my eye, like the Rigatoni Bolognese, Cannelloni, Lobster Athena, and Spaghetti Pomodoro. I was really impressed with the amount of options and depth of ingredients when it came to the pasta and seafood dishes. I was definitely intrigued by the international oven as well, which overlooked the main dining area. The Salumi, Bianca, and Capricciosa brick oven pizzas sound absolutely wonderful, all covered with elegant toppings, meats, and cheeses. During the initial tour, before I sat down, the host suggested coming back for dinner sometime. After reviewing some of the pasta options and pizzas, I think another foodie adventure is in order soon!

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Just as I finished my first round of coffee, my server arrived with the calamari. It was a modest plate filled with deep-fried squid, Hungarian peppers, and the scratch-made lemon sauce in the center. The calamari was good and about what you would expect, with light and flaky breading. The calamari also had dashes of herbs across it, boosting presentation and taste a bit. The real winner is the homemade lemon beurre blanc sauce; I simply couldn’t get enough! The sauce’s viscosity was just right, and due to its consistency, the sauce clung to the calamari well, giving it a lemony buttery finish. Any seafood enthusiast would appreciate this sauce, which compliments this seafood side very well. The Hungarian peppers added an extra dose of sweetness to any bite when included, rounding out this rich and understandably popular appetizer.

As I had finished about how much I wanted to eat from the appetizer, my server returned with my main course: the Summer Omelet. This omelet was fantastic and crafted perfectly. It was light and airy and cooked for the perfect amount of time. The goat cheese kept it creamy and cheesy while maintaining the same texture as the eggs, which kept bite after bite enjoyable. I’m a big fan of asparagus, so it was nice to see copious chopped portions throughout the omelet, giving notes of earthy green leaf flavor amid the tangy nuances of the goat cheese. And, of course, the parsley was a great final touch (I put parsley on everything when I cook at home, so obviously, I’m a fan lol).

The potatoes were tasty and adequate, lightly seasoned, and quickly scarfed down between bites of omelet. I picked off every potato by the time I was done eating, including one of the two pieces of toast. I really enjoyed this brunch; it hit the spot without being too heavy. The starchy potatoes boosted my energy, while the omelet was easygoing on my stomach after a night of celebrations.

Downtown Birmingham has many restaurants (perhaps too many?) to choose from, and while Màre Mediterranean might not be your first thought for brunch, it certainly holds its own in that category due to it being an overall great restaurant. Even if it’s not on your foodie list as a brunch destination, the range of seafood dishes, pasta, and pizzas alone should at least score it a visit or two for dinner. The ambiance is exquisite, and the staff is friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable on recommendations and in explaining the menu. Next time you’re in downtown Birmingham, consider an adventure into Màre Mediterranean!

For more information on Màre Mediterranean, click here.