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Midtown's newest restaurant is led by (from left) executive chef Roberto Caceres, general manager Robert Caceres and owner Vicente Vazquez. (All photos from Bolero)
On any day of the week, we now can get duck empanadas, ceviche and plantains for lunch or dinner a half-block off Cass Avenue.
Bolero Latin Cuisine launched last weekend at 51 W. Forest Ave. in a dramatically redesigned building that had been Mid City Grill, a coney spot.
The decor is spiffed up considerably and the dishes are from Peru, Brazil and Argentina. Executive chef Roberto Caceres studied his craft in Spain and worked in Miami, Melody Baetens writes at The Detroit News.
Executive chef Roberto Caceres studied cooking in Spain and worked at Miami restaurants.
Vince Vazquez, who opened Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine on Library Street downtown in 2005, is the owner.
The menu has four paella varieties at dinner, Cuban press sandwiches at lunch, entraña de novillo (grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce) and picanha (herb-marinated top sirloin cap steak). Baetens describes other choices:
Tapas offerings include deep-fried green plantains, wine-steamed mussels, corn tamales and tequeños, which are Venezuelan dough-wrapped cheese sticks that are fried.
The new spot serves three styles of Peruvian ceviche, which Caceres says varies from the ceviche Metro Detroiters may be used to eating because of ingredients like Peruvian peppers and ginger.
Bolero has a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails, including regional favorites like Cuban mojitos, Peruvian pisco sour and Brazilian caipirinhas.
Eater Detroit editor Brenna Houck posts about the decor:
Dark woodwork is found throughout the dining room and bar areas, juxtaposed with white textured stone walls and light gray upholstered booth seating. Bronze rectangular fixtures cast soft light around the restaurant.
Among all of these details is a dramatic, high-definition wallpaper backdrop of tango dancers in the dining room.
Bolero seats roughly 150 diners inside, and expects to add another 30 seats on the patio in the spring.
The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and at noon Sunday. It shuts at 10 p.m. Monday thjrough Thursday, at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. Sunday. Call (313) 800-5059 to reserve a table, or do so online.
The Midtown newcomer posts these shots of its food and setting:
A tango mural dominates the dining room.
Camarones Provenzal ($24) has jumbo shrimp marinated in citrus, garlic butter, white wine and paprika, served on wilted spinach.
Cuban mojitos, caipirinha (a Brazilian cocktail) and Peruvian pisco sours are among selections at the long bar.
Cuban press sandwiches are available for lunch.
A sleek, stylish light fixture in the entry alcove is sculpture-like.
Ensalada de palmitos ($13) has Brazilian heart of palm, baby tomatoes, baby arugula, cucumber, red onion, pomegranate seeds and balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
