Cast Seaside Bites & Bar
These days, dining out is not just about the food. It’s about the mood.
“Food shouldn't just be about eating. It should be about an experience that you get to enjoy with friends. And this is what we're doing here.”
And you’ll be in for one tasty experience at Cast.
Set in the oceanside village of Marion, Massachusetts, Cast Seaside Bites & Bar is a cozy spot specializing in all of your favorite dishes done with a Peruvian twist Marc and Bree Swierkowski are the enthusiastic couple behind Cast and have created a bright sunny spot great for any occasion.
“When people first walk up to Cast they're joined by our wonderful outdoor patio. A lot of people's eyes are drawn directly to our octopus, affectionately named Ocho, which is eight in Spanish. We're trying to create a vibe that is young and fresh, someplace that you want to come with your family to just come and relax and enjoy a meal together, sharing, grazing. That's what we're looking to do over here.”
And with a menu like this, you’re going to want to graze on all there is to offer from start to finish.
“The menu is coastal cuisine with a Latin American influence. It's something new. It's something different. It's bright, it's fresh, it's clean. It always tastes delicious. There's so much on the menu that you can choose from, as far as sharing or something that you would like personally.”
There are many ways to kick off your meal at Cast. Like the flavor packed empanadas- stuffed with black beans, sauteed onions, poblano peppers, roasted corn and lots and lots of cheese; all over a bright avocado puree.
“Our empanadas are nice. A little bit of black beans, some Chihuahua cheese in there. Again, you're going to cut in, and that stringy cheese is going to come out, just melts in your mouth.”
There’s the extraordinary, unique fried smashed purple potatoes, slowly cooked in a smoked beef consommé and topped with a Peruvian cheese sauce. And crispy brussel sprouts served hot and sour style with a chili crisp vinaigrette and topped with hot honey, crispy garlic and smoky blue cheese. But Cast’s Ceviche Misto is a must order- topped with crispy octopus, corn nuts and sweet potato chips for added crunch.
“It's a classic dish from Peru. We're showcasing some codfish in this dish, but we also sliced octopus. We slice some shrimp into it. The leche de tigre is the basic sauce which allows the fish to marinate and actually cook a little bit. Super light and refreshing. It's great to share because it is quite a bit of seafood on a plate. It's one of those great dishes that everybody loves.”
All of that fresh seafood can also be found on the Tostada.
“We top the tostada off …with a little bit of guacamole, and then we take tuna and we toss it in our leche de Tigre, which is flavored with some passion fruit. Classic combination of sliced onions and cilantro. And then we top it off with a little bit of an aji Amarillo mayo and some furikake, which adds a little more umami flavor to the dish. Once you’re biting into it, it’s absolutely delicious.”
If tacos are your thing, you’re going to want to order the Baja Fish Tacos.
“Our Baja fish tacos are one of my favorite items on the menu. It's got a real nice crispiness to the fish that you're not going to get in a typical Baja taco. We've got a nice pickled cabbage and Chipotle crema that's being served right on top of our housemade hand rolled masa tortilla shells. They work together beautifully. I think it's that crunchiness that you're getting on the exterior with the pickled cabbage, the little bit of vinegar that's in there. It is delicious.”
For a do it yourself option, try the Beef Cheek Barbacoa Tacos.
“The beef cheek barbacoa is slowly cooked so the meat is super tender and delicious. We're serving it family style, with homemade tortillas and some sides of salsa, avocado puree, some cotija cheese and a mixture of cilantro and onions. It's one of those dishes that is more created for the table to share. It's a great opportunity to taste and try different things.”
A dish you’re going to want all for yourself is the super juicy Wagyu Smashburger topped with Louie dressing, a spin on 1000 Island with chihuahua cheese on buttery brioche.
“We use a four ounce Wagyu beef patty with House made pickles. He's got his Louis dressing, which is a take off 1000 island dressing on there. When you bite into it, you're getting all the different flavors combined together that just creates that perfect bite.”
But the signature dish at Cast has to be their Peruvian Half Chicken. This beautiful bird is brined for 24 hours, seasoned with Peruvian chile peppers and slowly cooked on a rotisserie so it comes out juicy every time.
“That's one of our signature items. We have a rotisserie in the back. He's using an anato paste on those chickens. They're roasting all day long, so it really retains the moisture. Then it's cooked to order with a nice ahi Amarillo sauce that's being done. Serve with the nice chopped salad and our house cut french fries.”
And there’s no sweeter way to end your meal at Cast than with a dish of their Sticky Toffee Pudding- topped with horchata ice cream..
“So when you bite into it, you have this really rich chocolate cake, and then you have the sweet, salty toffee sauce. We add the horchata ice cream on top, and it just adds this beautiful, creamy, cinnamon like flavor on top. It's a total must have. At the end of your dinner.”
And from apps to atmosphere….
Seafood, sips and sweets…
Your mouth will thank you when you have some bites at Cast Season Bites and Bar.
“When we see guests, whether it's taking a sip from one of our craft cocktails, or taking a bite of our delicious food, seeing that expression of, Wow, that is delicious. That makes me say this is what we're doing. We're doing it right.”
