The Green Marlin – Restaurant Review

by “The Food Guy” – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine and Vero Beach Foodie

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My next Tasting Experience review takes me to The Green Marlin!  One of the most highly anticipated restaurant openings in 2017, at least for me, was The Green Marlin.  Owner, Louis Kolbauer also owns Chive, whose slogan is “Quick Creative Cuisine”, so I could not wait to see what he has in store for an actual sit-down restaurant. 

Located in the old Outback Steakhouse building just off US Hwy 1, only the outside seems to be reminiscent of the old restaurant with the white siding and the trademark green roof.  While I never visited the old Outback, the inside seems to have undergone a transformation to make it a totally new space.  The large bar is a beautiful centerpiece upon entry with green accent lighting. The bar itself offers plenty of seating along with several high top tables.  The dining room is composed of lightly stained wood booths and tables that are comfortable and spacious. The abundance of fish décor throughout the restaurant lets you know the direction he is going with the menu.  While the parking lot seems quite small, their location at the front of the shopping mall does allow for ample overflow. 

So, does this new restaurant live up to the hype? 

Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat and find out!

Ahi Tuna Bomb – ($8.95) – This appetizer was suggested to us since its one of their best sellers.  The Ahi Tuna is marinated in soy sauce and tahini, then wrapped with basil, then rolled in an egg roll wrapper and deep fried.  It’s garnished with a Sriracha & Wasabi Aioli and topped with sesame seeds.  The tuna was served rare in the middle which helps keep it moist and tender.  The egg roll wrapper had a nice crunch to it which added a nice texture.  The two sauces were a nice touch, adding additional flavor without bringing much heat to the dish. 

Raw Oysters Sampler Platter – ($21.95) –  If you know me personally, then you know that I’m not a fan of raw oysters.  In the interest of the article, and since they are known for many raw items on the menu, I decided to give them a try.  Our sampler platter had four varieties on it.  They were Dirty, Sushi Style, Ceviche, and Asian.  The oysters were very fresh and the toppings added bold flavors and different textures, making them palatable for someone like me that is normally not a fan.  If you are a fan, then I think you would be impressed with their selections.

Guinness Beef Tenderloin Stew – ($14.95) – With all of the cooler weather we have had lately, this sounded like a good option to try and it definitely hit the spot.  Grass-fed beef tenderloin is slow cooked with carrots, celery, and Guinness stout.  A generous dollop of mashed potatoes was served on top.  First of all, the bowl it’s served in is huge!  I think a basketball would fit comfortably in it.  The stew was thick, rich and beefy.  If you’re not a fan of beer, don’t worry, the flavor is subtle enough you can’t really taste it, but it does add a certain richness to the broth.  The potatoes had a few lumps in them so you know they were real.

Chicago Burger – ($10.95) – Now that’s one colorful burger!  An 8 oz. patty of fresh never frozen steak burger is accentuated with banana peppers, diced red peppers, sliced tomatoes, red onions, and leaf lettuce on a grilled bun.  The burger patty was cooked to a perfect medium and was very juicy.  I like the addition of the banana peppers, it gave it some crunch and a pop of flavor.  It was delicious!

Mahi & Scallop Cake Dinner – ($18.95) – Two of my favorite kinds of seafood in one dish, YES, please!  Butter poached Mahi and Scallops are combined with light panko, bell peppers, scallions, and onions, then pan fried until golden brown.  Each cake was about 4 inches in diameter and had the texture of what you would expect from a crab cake.  The outside had a slight crunch and the inside was soft and tender.   Rice and beans were served alongside.

Chocolate Cake – I was a little disappointed to find out they were out of their Grapefruit Pie, which is very much just like a key lime pie, only they use grapefruit juice instead of key lime.  We decided to go for the chocolate cake to finish out our meal and it was an excellent choice.  It was light, fluffy, and not too rich, a wonderful way to round out the evening. 

In Conclusion:

So, did The Green Marlin live up to the hype?  It absolutely did!  There is something here to please just about any palate.  Unique and creative dishes that I’ve not seen on other menus will keep diners coming back.  It’s also nice to see another place with a salad bar too.  I can’t wait to head back with my family and have another meal, so I recommend you check them out, I know you won’t be disappointed!

Have you tried The Green Marlin?  What has your experience been with them?  Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Curious as to what it takes to bring you one of my reviews?  Check out the video below of a time-lapse video I took while doing this review!  2 hours compressed down to just under 3 minutes!  Enjoy!

The Green Marlin  |  Website  |  Menu  |  Facebook

Address: 1475 US Hwy 1, Vero Beach, FL 32960

Phone: (772) 999-5248

 

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