New Restaurant with Latin Flair to Open in Robbinsdale
Downtown Robbinsdale’s restaurant row is about to get a taste of Central America when Marna’s Cafe opens its doors March 1.
The cafe is named after owner Rolando Diaz’s mother, Marna. The cafe will serve up a breakfast and lunch menu inspired by Diaz’s early years growing up in Costa Rica.
“My idea is to just have good ingredients that we’re able to cook in a great way, like how we do it in Costa Rica,” said Diaz.
There’s Costa Rican classics, such as gallo pinto: a rice and beans breakfast dish with an egg, plantains and a dollop of sour cream. And there’s a corn pancake called, chorreadas, but there’s also fresh squeezed juices, croissants and salads and sandwiches.
“My idea is to give somebody an experience in your pallet without over complicating it,” said Diaz.
Good, simple, ingredients is the key. For example, the Costa Rican coffee bean speaks for itself, no need to doctor it up.
“The flavor of this coffee is insane,” said Diaz of the Willows Coffee he will sell in the cafe. “It’s really good, so the reason why we’re keeping it simple is because it’s good coffee already the way it is.”
Marna’s Cafe is a business expansion for Diaz. He’s had his own catering business for seven years and a food truck for the last year. Opening the Robbinsdale cafe in a former floral shop along West Broadway Avenue, feels like the next step for Diaz. Marna’s Cafe will complement the current offerings in Robbinsdale.
“We have the brewery, we have great restaurants, and great chefs around here so I think it’s going to be another destination place where people will love to come here,” said Diaz.
Diaz already has his sights set on another expansion in Robbinsdale. He plans to open a higher end restaurant in the city in 2019.
