Marco Polo Ristorante
“Homeade pastas, nice carpaccios, fresh fish, great Italian wines, old school dessert cart etc…”
“I love the piano music …it was really romantic!”
“The entrees were divine (cheese wheel and homemade pasta = hell yeah!), the staff was extraordinary and everyone in my group felt completely at home and happy.”
Marco Polo Ristorante
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
6 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Marco Polo has gotten a facelift and a new chef, but the new changes weren't necessarily better. I had been several times before and enjoyed it, but was less impressed this time around.
The décor has definitely been updated and revamped, although an awful floral rug still exists on the way down to the restrooms.
The service was good, although a bit pushy since we weren't having appetizers, you only have to ask once if we would like anything to start. They also were pushing booze, but when my friend ordered a glass of wine they forgot to bring it. After asking for the wine once the meal was served, luckily it was comped.
The pasta dishes run under and around $20 with decent portions, not huge everyone finished every last bit except me because I didn't love the meal. I had the black pasta, which came with a pink sauce. The sauce was so creamy I kind of felt like I was eating macaroni and cheese. The seafood was cooked well though. I tasted a veal meatball which was good and there was a yelp deal for a free cookie although I wasn't really in the mood.
I liked that there was a mini survey on the receipt, which at least says to me that they care and want feedback which is important. I don't find myself compelled to go back here, it just happens to be convenient.
This restaurant has decent New York Italian decor and ambiance, and a menu that hits all the high points of New York Italian cuisine. People come dressed up here: it's the kind of place to have a birthday or anniversary [1]. The kind of place your grandparents would love.
So why the two star rating?
Firstly, the food is OK, but considering the slightly steep price, very disappointing. My risotto was underdone (risotto al dente is a mistake, not done with forethought). It was also bland and not very creamy. My osso buco was a fine cut of meat, but inexpertly cooked: it was bland and missing spice… even if it were only garlic. If I'm going to pay near $30 for a plate of food, I want that plate to be better than just "OK".
The service was annoying. A good waitstaff is like the bass guitar in a song: you shouldn't know its presence, but you should definitely feel its absence. I think a good waitstaff should make tremendous effort to not be noticed. Unfortunately, the waitstaff at Marco Polo seems to do everything in its power to be noticed as much as possible. They really need to be sent to waiter school because they flunk miserably by my metric:
1. They reach over diners. I had some guys butt in my face. My mom got an elbow in her face.
2. They don't know where to stand when serving. There was a big space at the table where nobody was sitting; the waiters could have stood there to serve the food. Instead they stood in between us, passing body parts and food right in front of our faces.
3. Waiters kept bumping into the back of my chair, despite the fact that there was plenty of room for them to pass without bumping in my chair. Fine, I understand they're busy, but after the 4th or 5th time, I'd hope they'd be a bit more careful. I finally had to ask the waiter to stop bumping into me (which he did, but other waiters started doing it too).
There is no reason to come to this restaurant. There are so many great eateries in the neighborhood, why in the world would you pay so much for such mediocrity?
[1] See my review of Casa La Femme. That's an AWESOME place for a birthday or anniversary!
I don't think anyone will call it authentic Italian food, but it is authentic… something. Authentic New York Italian maybe?
Classic old school Brooklyn Italian?
The restaurant is a destination place for many people and invariably you will run into a family celebrating a birthday or anniversary. People dress up. They bring grandma. They dress nice.
My theory is that the main dining room seems to be reserved for the celebratory folks whereas the young and casual Brooklyn kids are seated in the narrow room on the side.
Menu? It has the greatest hits of Italian-American and most items are quite good. The few low points I have had were when I ordered dishes that I just shouldn't have ("dude, why would you order ___ in an italian restaurant").
Wine list? Good lord. It's the greatest hits of Italy. It's also long. And can be old and pricey.
3.5 is just about right. We walked into this place on a breezy Sunday night and what a nice surprise! First off it was a price fixe – great cream of asparagus soup and fresh mozz/tomatoes apps, then a delicious Tilapia for the lady and I had the homemade pasta with sausages and pecornio cheese – wow, they were both wonderful. Finish with a blueberry parfait served in a cool glass and authentic Italian cheescake! All this, plus a few glasses of the Montipulciano all for under $100! We really enjoyed our meal here. Top that with an all-male wait/bus staff and you're thrown right back into the 70's (decor matches too).
Italian food in Brooklyn? Look no further.
As you enter there is a coat check on your right and a tasteful wood grain bar to the left. The decor featured a very understated elegance with white table cloths, hard wood floors, and very large border-less/bevel-less glass framed photographs of Italy.
We had a three course meal featuring appetizers, pasta, and a salmon, veal, or lamb entree. The hot anti-pasta appetizer featured clams, cheese stuffed eggplant, and a strange fried triangle which I honestly couldn't identify (tasted great though.) The second course was a bowl of a long thick flat noodle in tomato sauce, very heavy but again very good. For the 3rd course (entree) I had a rack of lamb. The lamb was exquisitely prepared, very tender and came off the bone easily. It came dressed in a dark wine sauce which really went well with the meat. I am usually not one to get stricken with the itis but this meal was just so heavy and decadent I was falling asleep at the table. I ordered a cappuccino to cap off the night and to keep me awake for the long drive home. Everything came out quick, hot, and delicious.
5 stars well earned.
After a night out at the museum, I wanted to linger in Brooklyn for a bit longer. Driving in his old stomping grounds for a few minutes, Mr. man suggested dining at Marco Polo. The restaurant has a pleasant dining room and woodsy facade and red, large tulip and rose ceiling lamps, that added a nice, almost feminine allure, to the masculine hues. At night, the ambience was nice, quiet isles filled with table clothed tables, waited over by our polite 'Bada bing-Bada boom' middle age server- who told it like it is and was certainly, attentive.
We began with Clams Oreganata that were succulent and seasoned perfectly. Cocktails were inventive and rich, and had my eyes on the Basil Martini that had the perfect accompaniment of vodka, sweet and savory. Our server, checked on me after I received my cocktail, just to make sure it was prepared to perfection—and it most definitely was!
Though it was slightly undercooked, my Risotto had the right blend of Parmesan creaminess. The Risotto was in no shape or form flashy with veggies or seafood, but it was naturally phenomenal. Dessert was a no-brainier for me, and went for the Vanilla and Dark Chocolate Mousse- a little different for my likes. So here's my take on Mousse– wait… let me recheck myself while I'm at it…actually my Mousse was tasty. But because I was so extremely limited in dessert options, I highly believe, it's almost sacrilegious to have vanilla WITH chocolate together. Some things go. And other things, just don't harmonize.
But on the whole, Marco Polo is a nice Italian restaurant that'll work for a number of occasions: a large group, sitting at the bar, a quick nosh, family dinner or a romantic night out. Service was relaxed and very personal, which I took a high liking to.