Global tapas & hip hop stars at Mix at the Marlin on South Beach

Sara Liss7/2/2012

The goods: Part of the Marlin Hotel’s posh renovation, Mix South Beach pairs consulting chef John DeLucie (The Royal at the Raleigh) with head chef Israel Mora (Zuma).

Ambience: Mix’s sunken dining room is adjacent to the Marlin’s lobby, through which musicians and hip-hop stars regularly pass on their way to the in-house recording studio. Brown leather banquettes, linen-covered chairs and soft lighting give the space a warm, date-friendly glow.

The grub:  Globetrotting tapas and shared plates on a compact menu. Prices are in line with South Beach: Starters average $14, and mains are in the $20s. Eclectic apps include burrata salad with Spanish kumato tomatoes, tuna tataki with ponzu-wasabi sauce and tempura rock shrimp with a yuzu ailoli. Pastas include ravioli with sage and lemon and rossejat, a Catalan-style paella made with angel hair pasta instead of rice. Pan-roasted branzino comes with garlic confit and roasted mini-vegetables, while grilled skirt steak is paired with fiery tomatillo sauce and avocado salad.

Save room for the passion fruit flan topped with Guinness gelee and cocoa paper.

Verdict: The Deco stunner is reborn with a sophisticated take on global tapas.