It's time to take a better look at what's in store for Marbella, the new Spanish restaurant moving into the former Rex Cafe space on Polk Street. See above, the fancy new sign which went up outside this week. As you may know, owners Bob DiFranco and Daniel Mougeot have brought on new chef Nelson German who's shared the early dinner menu and brunch menu for your pre-opening perusal—although he notes the prices may change to reflect more dishes in the $8 to $9 range.
There will be tapas, small plates and paella with key ingredients coming directly from Spain, others from local farms. German—who's worked at Supperclub in San Francisco and Jerry's in New York before that— realizes brunch was extremely popular at Rex, so he's keeping many of the favorite items while adding his own slight Spanish twist. ARC design has been brought in to revamp the decor, creating a more modern, industrial feel you can begin to glimpse in the sneak peek photo above. Principal Alicia Cort brought in Michael Brennan to create the mural on the wall, surrounding a steel bar. Dark wood tables and plush banquettes will arrive any day now, and Marbella will officially open on April 18th.
· All Marbella Coverage [~ ESF ~]
