Lynn O.
Yelp
Passing through DTLB, I noticed a new business open where Beer Belly used to be, Rosemallows?! I was immediately drawn to the contemporary bar with neon lights, boomboxes, live plants and the Miami Vice theme song playing in the background. This is what they describe as "80s Tropical Minimalism." They just opened two weeks ago and are only open for takeout orders, Thursday to Sunday.
I was curious to try a few items on their menu after talking to one of the employees:
Shrimp & Rock Cod Ceviche ($14) w/ Persian cucumbers, radish, onion, jalapeño, garlic, red onion, cilantro, lime and wonton chips. I prefer tortilla chips, but the wonton chips were nicely salted, crispy, and not greasy. The ceviche was a bit small, but their take on the marinade included herbs (thyme & I think, oregano) as well as chili powder, which added some complexity.
Yardlong Beans ($7) w/ cherry tomatoes, toasted garlic, roasted hazelnuts, sautéed in a Vietnamese glaze. The beans still had a fresh crunch to them and I loved the roasted hazelnuts and garlic! I was afraid the glaze would be thick or starchy, but it wasn't and it had a nice kick to it, too!
Spam Musubi ($7 for 2) w/ Hawaiian glaze, green onion, house furikaké, tempura battered(?) I asked for no Kewpie Mayo, and not sure what was tempura battered, but glad I got it the way I did. The Hawaiian glaze was light and the furikaké was the perfect additional seasoning. This was probably one of the best spam musubis I've actually had!
Fried Chicken Sandwich ($13) - coconut and pineapple brined chicken thigh topped with sesame-scallion-red miso cabbage slaw, hibiscus & horseradish aioli nestled in a soft brioche bun, served with plenty of delicious fries! This fried chicken sandwich tasted as incredible as the ingredients sound all together! Using the thigh is a good call because it was so juicy!
The cocktails sounded a bit sweet for my liking, but I asked for the Guava Margarita ($13) light on the piloncillo (sugar) and it was well balanced with Altos tequila Playa, guava juice, lime, orange curaçao, and pink Himalayan salt on the side for the rim!
He got the Lemongrass Mojito ($12) made with Bacardi Blanca rum, lemongrass syrup, mint and soda. We opted to get them in the bottles, so we can add the garnishes and ice later. We enjoyed both of them!
What made supporting this new establishment extra special is that I realized they are the same owners as Beer Belly! I felt so bad they closed, but happy to learn that they had been planning to change the business pre-covid. I look forward to coming back when we can actually dine-in to shoot some pool and check out the speakeasy/tiki-lounge they still have!