Maraskino Happy Hour

Mariskino is quite the trophy restaurant for Agua
Caliente. It's part of a prestigious collection of
restaurants which also includes Roppongi, Tamarindo,
Prime 10 Steakhouse, Noodles and Sammy's Woodfired
Pizza chain. Being huge Roppongi fans ourselves and
hearing that their tapas menu is half-price at Happy
Hour, were excited to give them a try. After a bit of
success at the Blackjack tables, we stopped in for a
snack. The place was nice with subdued lighting and a
tropical feel throughout. We sat in a comfortable
upholstered booth next to a large window, framing
healthy foliage. They advertise over 30 tapas on the
menu, but we only found ten. At first I was a
disappointed, trustingly ordering the Chopped Chicken
Liver, hoping they could make me understand the
redeeming quality of this unpopular meat. It came two
ice cream scoops full of the brown mash, topped with
chopped egg and red onion, and accompanied by crisp
flatbread. We wasted most of it, yuk! That was our
only complaint, and things got steadily better from
then on with Pan Seared Scallops set upon delicate
potato pancakes and drizzled with a Sundried Tomato
Basil Hollandaise. The Crisp Maryland Crab Cakes were
generous with large chunks of crab served in a light
butter sauce with Horseradish Remoulade. The Chicken
Empanadas served were just as exciting with a smoked
ranch dipping sauce. Garbanzo beans, garlic, lemon,
sesame tahini and olive oil are blended smooth for their
Hummus which is scooped up with seasoned flatbread.
The Smoked Salmon was a favorite, served cold and
raw on warm grilled flatbread, pizza style with
horseradish cream and topped with fresh dill, capers
and chopped red onion. Perhaps best of all was the Ahi
Poki with firm, yet tender cubes of very chilled raw tuna
that had been rubbed with sesame oil and garnished
with black and white sesame seeds. Normal prices
range from $7.50 to $13, cut that in half and you're
eating well for a bargain. It's the drinks that could kill
you with a Blue Kettle Martini $9. Happy Hour at
Maraskino is weekdays between 3:00 & 6:00 p.m.

Located inside the Agua Caliente Casino

in Rancho Mirage.

Telephone (760) 202-6068