Authentic Caribbean food made its way to St. Louis on July 16 when Mi Caribe quietly opened its doors at 3701 Lindell Blvd., at the Coronado Ballroom in Midtown.
As The Scoop reported in May, Mi Caribe is the first restaurant for owners Johnny Martinez, a former pitcher and scout for the Cleveland Indians, and Warren Duval, a mortgage banker. Martinez, a native of the Dominican Republic, runs the kitchen with a team of family members.
The menu is a mix of Dominican, Puerto Rican and Cuban cuisines. “Everything we’re cooking is what we grew up with,” Martinez said. Sofrito, a ubiquitous Dominican mirepoix of garlic and vegetables, makes an appearance in everything from empanadas to arroz con pollo. The Cuban classic ropa vieja and the Dominican tazon, a pork, rice and beans dish, are some of the biggest sellers, while Martinez said the pescado frito, a whole (yes, the eyes are staring back at you) fried snapper, is popular with Hispanic customers.
The large, brightly decorated restaurant seats 100 inside and another 100 on the expansive patio with an additional 25 in the bar area (a full bar program in still in the works). Mi Caribe will celebrate a grand opening in September, and Caribbean food-lovers can get a taste now from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Here’s a first look at what’s in store at Mi Caribe.
-photos by Michelle Volansky
This article appears in August 2015.