Marseille

What a beautiful restaurant! I truly felt as though I was somewhere in France. My waitress was attentive and patient, and once the food came I was sold.

I didn't want my meal to end, i was with five people and all of us enjoyed everything we got. The waitress was attentive with just the right balance of checking on us without being over-bearing.

Marseille was a true dining experience and I can't wait to get back together with my friends and go back!

Pros: ambiance, food

Posted 07/09/09

As the review states below, it is a lot of great rich food in this place but only go November through March, After that it is simply to hot in the room to eat.
I forget it is a French Restaurant so usually that means they have no air conditioning.
I have to say it was rather gross to have the waiter come up to me as pleasant as he was, dripping in sweat.
But if you can manage to go there in the coldest night of winter it is a lovely place to be.

Pros: Winter, Cold Beverages,

Cons: NO A/C, sweaty waiters, No A/C

Posted 04/27/09

I went to Marseilles during restaurant week with 3 other friends. It was my first time trying French Cuisine, and we thought the food was good if you enjoy food that is cooked with heavy cream, butter and cheese. I had the potato, leek, clam soup for appetizer, Mushroom risotto as the entree (nice and creamy), and their hot chocolate soup for dessert (mediocre). Their beef carpaccio was good according to my friend, and my bf praised their pistachio crusted tuna. Their service could have been better, our waitress was not as attentive as we would've liked. It took over a half-hour for the dessert to come out. despite their service, it was overall a good experience.

Pros: Quick seating

Cons: service

Posted 01/23/09

Absolutely love Marseille, we had a wonderful experience--this may be my favorite New York restaurant. The menu is interesting and varied, the service is excellent and the ambiance and decor reflects the clean delicious flavors on the menu. Our server was really helpful with wine selections but not overbearing where we felt we had to order what server suggested.
It's worth every penny and I will definitely go back here, hopefully sooner than later.

Pros: food,service

Posted 12/01/08

I ate at Marseille last night and the evening -- to say the least -- left a bad taste in my mouth. I've eaten at this restaurant numerous times before without incident, and I would go more often but I find the waiters generally pushy and impolite. Last night was no exception. My order came out wrong -- and cold too boot -- so I attempted to send it back and was treated extremely poorly. I don't want to go into detail other than to say I end up paying for everything that was ordered at the table --- even though I never got the meal I asked for. I know the same people own Nizza and 5 Nakpin, and I find the service at all three is across the board dismissive and rude. I eat out six nights a week and can honestly say that the incident last night was definitely one of my top five (mabye top 2) worst dining experiences in over 20 years.

Posted 10/27/08

Highly reccomended by a friend of ours who lives in the nighborhood and wow!!! what a wonderful experience we had. I was most amazed by the seemless transition of the restaurant, from pre theater to a chic NYC restaurant. The food was amazing specially, the shortribs, It just melts in your mouth. You really don't need a knife at all. Come dessert time I was blown away by the sparkling dessert wine that was served alongside of my dessert. Everyone in the staff was very hospitable and accomodating. Its a must in NYC.

Pros: Food & Service

Cons: None

Posted 09/20/08

The moment we walked in, it is an utter disappointment. In spite of making reservations, we were offered a corner table opposite bar, next to kitchen with a bunch of young men making loud noise and making P----figures with table cloths. We were dressed for a broadway show and the hostess should have known better than to seat a young couple looking for a romantic dinner next to loud young people. The waiter had no idea about wine list when asked for suggestion. He just kept looking at the list and pointing at only one wine which is the costliest on the list. Food was awful and during the entire dinner the waiter showed up only once. Rest of the time other waiters keep showing up to take order or offering dessert menu having no clue that we already ordered. Desserts were disspeakable and a shame. If you plan to have a depressed evening, this is the best palce to be.

Posted 07/27/08

Our "special occasion" dinner of the weekend. We picked a fine bottle of burgundy. I had the special appetizer (grilled, HUGE calamari with a really interesting raspberry sauce - delicious!). Seafood couscous - like seafood & potato stew in a tagine with flavorful couscous on the side. I love the three condiments they give you (hot paste, apricot chutney, spiced sea salt) to mix with your couscous -- expanded the already flavorful dish. Dad & husband did the prix-fixe. They loved the mediterranean salad, lamb, and cheese plate for dessert. Mom had a delicious, interesting preparation of sea scallops, and we split the creme brulee. Mmmm! French bistro at its yummiest. Can't say I'll be going back on my own dime (thanks mom!), but the ambience was lovely. We ate real early (5:30pm for a 7:30 show), but that was the perfect time to get our waiter's attention before the pre-theatre rush. The waiter was a bit overly attentive & chatty, but the place seemed well run.

Pros: food, ambience

Cons: almost nosy service

Posted 07/07/08

Our party found the food and value for the theater district to be excpetional. Salads were creative and fresh, and appetizers unique and full of flavor, and the waiter and hostesses attentive and friendly. Would recommend steak au poivre, excellent!

Posted 06/15/08

We used to go there quite often for dinner and brunch but lately the service, esp. their reception, has been in a downward spiral. Twice when we got there for brunch, the hostess was inattentive at best, rude at worst. One time the hostess not just failed to greet us, but outright ignored us when chatting with one of the waiters for a few minutes, leaving us standing there, amused.

This is not a top-end place for that kinda attitude, methinks. Rather, we hope the owner will replace her with a friendly face so regulars will come back.

Pros: Ambience

Cons: Poor service - beware of the cold reception.

Posted 04/13/08

My husband and i had dinner at Marseille's last night and we both loved everything we had!! We shared the warm goat cheese Salad which they split for us on two separate plates. My Husband had a white fish ( not sure what it was exactly) but it was served on a bed of Lentils with sweet little carrots... he was amazed and loved every bite!! I had the short ribs and they were fantastically tender and served with caramelized pears and super creamy mash potatoes. The sauce was simply scrumptious !!!! We will go back for sure!!!

Pros: great neighborhood, fast service, nice bar, friendly staff, great prices...ect!!

Cons: non whatsoever!!

Posted 02/25/08

This is one of my favorites in the neighborhood. I usually get the Chicken sandwich for lunch and everything else I had has not disappointed. Sometimes the crowd is a bit older and the service at lunch can be slow even when there's no on in the restaurant. If they could speed up the service I would give this place five stars.

Pros: Pastis-like Ambiance, Great Food, Comfy

Cons: Somewhat Slow Service

Posted 01/15/08

Just came back from New York for my girlfriend's birthday. Missed our dinner resevations at The Place and just happened to end up at Marseille as we were about to grab a taxi. The hostess was great, got us a table almost immediatley(it was 7:00 on a Saturday). We each had the reasonably priced $35 Prix fixe menu, and shared an appetizer. It was sensational! The app was Riccotta Gnocchi with mushrooms (I believe chanterelles?) and it was divine- I need the recipe!! She had salmon and I quote "the best salmon I've ever had", I had the vegetarian coscous which was a tasty morrocan stew with a seperate dish of coscous. The desserts were good, nothing to write home about, but the banna sorbet was so tasty! Martinis and beer were pricey but good. Bus staff was prompt in removing plates and putting out new settings. My only complaint was that our waiter was not quite attentive enough, as I received my relishes for the stew 5 minutes after it came out, and my espresso only after asking a second time and finishing my dessert. But overall this place was the best experience I've had in New York and well worth the price!!!!

Pros: food, drinks, hostess

Cons: waitstaff could be more attentive

Posted 11/11/07

What the other reviews of Marseille are missing is that the menu has some really interesting finds -- sure you can find bouillabaisse and salad nicoise, but if you are willing to explore, there is a host of food that incorporates Moroccan seasonings and even East Asian flavors. Two recent examples -- curried carrot soup, served chilled was not just refreshing, but also had a nice subtlety of flavor. Monkfish, served with water chestnuts, grapes, and olives somehow managed to pull together those disparate ingredients into a spectacularly original dish. The kitchen also excels at perfect preparations of fish and meat -- on my visits, the fish tastes genuinely fresh and never over cooked -- the monkfish had a delicate softness that made me understand why it's called poor man's lobster.

Best part -- the price. Nearly all entrees are 24 or less and decently sized. The appetizers are lot of fun as well, there are a number of small plates around 6 dollars and larger apps around 12. So if you have a group, you can order a couple of apps for the table like tapas or mezes.

The menu itself is a bit cluttered and confusing. There are alot of different directions one can go in for dinner -- burger and salad; tapas and entree; more typical french cuisine; or a number of really tasty pastas.

Pros: Intriguing food at a great price

Cons: Why is it not more popular?

Posted 08/24/07

I randomly went here for dinner the other night and was pleasantly surprised. The cocktails are inventive and delicious, the service was fantastic, and the food was scrumptious. We had the Moroccan chicken, the Tuna with fennel, and the berries for dessert. Every dish was yummy.

Outdoor seating is available but the inside is simplistic elegance with a great bar. Enjoy!

Pros: great food, yummy cocktails, lovely interior

Cons: a little on the pricey side, but worth it

Posted 06/12/07

I had dinner in Marseille two nights ago. I was entertaining business associates from out of town and a French restaurant seemed to be a nice break from the steak house routine. We were promptly seated, and immediately were charmed by the excellent cocktails. The wine list has a very nice selection and is fairly priced. The food was amazing, very nice little plates to share with drinks, fresh and creative salads and an outstanding Daube Provencal and seafood cous cous. The service was engaging and precise. Over all a great experience, I will definitely go back.

Pros: Food, beverages and service

Posted 03/13/07

I went to Marseille on Valentines Day when the big snow storm occured. The decor of the restaurant was warm and inviting. The service was good, the waiter was readily available and answered any questions we had about the menu. We ordered the panisses as an appetizer, which was delicious. I ordered the duck breast for the entree and was slightly disappointed because the watercrest was raw and the duck breast was a bit tough and red in the middle. If I were to order it again, I'd ask them to cook it well done. My boyfriend had the shortribs and that was delicious. It was tender and the sauce was just right, not overwhelming. Be careful what you choose to drink. We ordered two glasses of merlot without checking the price and were charged $15 per glass! The dessert was great though ...we ordered the chocolate coulant. The experience was great overall and I would go back but be a bit more careful about what drinks I ordered and ask more in depth questions about the preparation of the dishes.

Pros: great service, shortribs were delicious!

Cons: small servings, expensive wine

Posted 02/17/07

I don't know what happened here. I still ove the room. Though the food is still good, it almost seems as though everything is an afterthought, like eveyone else has stopped caring (except the Chef). Great lobster soup and Kobe burger !

Pros: Food, Decor

Cons: Service, Management

Posted 02/08/07

I went to Marseille with a group of about eight friends and had a great time. The staff was friendly, the room was awsome, and the meal was delicious. We came just after the theatre rush and the restaurant still had a nice amount of people, so you still felt it was a good thing to be there. The shades of red provided a warm, welcomed feel in the cold weather. The drinks were delightful and the food was perfect for all of us. There was an autumn salad with dried cranberries and a lamb paella with merguez that everyone should try. Marseille is a must.

Pros: ambience

Cons: you don't really see the host stand when you walk in

Posted 01/29/07

Dinner at Marseille was a marvelous experience. My boyfriend and I were celebrating our anniversary and he made the reservations. I was born in Cassis, and he wanted the food of my homeland. I was thrilled: to start Champagne, sardines with grapefruit and cresson and panisses . For main course I had fish cous cous and my boyfriend, a big meat eater, had daube Provencal, all that with a bottle of Bandol. The service was very good, and since the moment we approach the maitre D?, we felt welcome. I will go back as soon as possible.

Pros: food wine charming service

Posted 11/30/06

My wife and I recently dined at the bar. Nice zinc top, as I found out from our friendly and knowledgeable barman, Jimmy. We weren't that hungry, so he suggested some dishes that proved quite tasty. Loved the shrimp, octopus and the romaine salad. Had a few glasses of wine, also on suggestion, and quite enjoyed those as well. We'll be back for sure!

Posted 08/21/06

Honestly, I don't know why people consider French food, gourmet food. I hardly found anything to eat in Paris except crepes on the street corner. Yes, they make amazing bread, but man does not live on bread alone.
I was skeptical about trying Marseille, but they had a Restaurant Week lunch menu and it was close to my sister's office. This is what I wish I had in Paris. The food was fresh, flavorful. I loved their presentation and creativeness with different mix of ingredients.
Their dessert was traditional but amazing!!! I loved the sorbets, and they're just fruit!
Definitely living up to the hype.

Pros: Great taste

Cons: hmm...can't think of any right now

Posted 07/26/06

I have been coming to Marseille on and off since they opened a few years ago. It has always been a great place, but now it truly feels excepetional. The menu, the food and the service all seem to have a confidence about them. The wine list is exceptional, with many resonably priced selections. Servers are always warm and eager to please. I have enjoyed many of the entrees, but especially the bouillabaisse. Keep up the great work!

Pros: service, menu, decor

Posted 02/07/06

After reading a lot of positive reviews, I expected some good french food. The atmosphere was good, the service good, but the food, only average. Our appetizers were bland, the shrimp beignet misleadingly named. The duck magret was good, but the veal tasted like an italian dish rather than a french dish, and that was disappointing. The wine selection is good. Overall, this restaurant was OK, but nothing exceptional.

Pros: atmosphere, service

Cons: unispiring food

Posted 09/25/05

The Prix-Fixed $35.00 three course dinner is a New York bargain. The variety of offerings was excellent, the food well prepared, I particularly recommend the lamb and scallop entries, but my group of four enjoyed everything. The service was a little slow, but some might call it relaxed. I knew this place was a homerun when my friends (often highly critical) thanked me for introducing them to this modern French outpost that will continue to attract local and foreign legions of fans.

Pros: interesting menu, attractive decor, attentive staff

Cons: small portions

Posted 08/20/05

The waiter was very rude and arrogant. We thought maybe it was an isolated event, but he also was rude to each of the couples to either side of us. The food was bad. I had mixed berries that were not ripe and not sweet. My companion had a tarte that was like an under-cooked eggy mess. It had the taste of raw yolks. The French couple sitting next to us each left over half of their meals, and one of them summed it up "l'addition vite!" ("the check now!") Although the physical location has a romatic atmosphere, and street-side tables are available, there is nothing that can make up for the terrible service and bad food.

Posted 08/09/05

I visited Marseille on a Wednesday night, and was so impressed I tried to make reservations for the weekend. Sadly, they were already booked. My food was delicious, everything from the shrimp beignets to the chopped salad. My entree, a grilled hangar steak, was incredibly tender, and the cafe & beignets dessert was a perfect ending to it. Our server, Matt, was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and alot of the wines. When we asked about a wine he didn't know, the sommelier Sterling (?) came over. The two of them were both very friendly and attentive, without being intrusive. Overall, a fabulous night. I can't wait to go back!

Pros: Service, Food, Wine List

Cons: Noise, Strange decor

Posted 05/16/05

The theater district is ALWAYS a 50/50 proposition for dinner w/tons of competition, high prices, and patrons unskilled in culinary judgement.

Marseille is the gem in the hood, w/a menu that delivers and an amazing selection of wines handpicked by their sommelier (guy named Sterling) who is readily available to help you pair your food/wine. He was incredibly knowledgeable and all too happy to help us out.

We enjoyed ourselves so much, we headed to the bar to spend the rest of the night hanging out... Like the dining area, their bar staff is equally accomodating... Our bartender Mike was very attentive and a skilled mixer to boot.

Pros: Good Sommelier, Deserts, Bar

Posted 08/25/04

I live near here and have been to the restaurant a couple times. The service has always been very good to excellent (knowledgeable, friendly). The prices are fairly high, so one would expect flawless food, but thats not always the case. Recently a seafood dish was so salty that that one flaw overshadowed otherwise excellent 'side' dishes, apps & desert. Again, overall excellent, but in this price range, one big flub can call into question the overall worth of the excursion. This should not be meant to dissuade anyone from going, as overall, the food, service and atmosphere has been great...but again, strict quality control at this level of dining should be strictly implemented.

Pros: Atmosphere

Posted 07/28/04

The appetizers and entrees were pretty decent for Southern French cooking, especially the seafood. However, my whole party was blown away by the desserts! They were really adventurous, almost reminded me of the odd ingredient-pairing at WD-50 (...almost), but not everyone digs the adventurous desserts, especially if you're craving the more common French types of desserts.

Pros: Service, Wines, Seafood

Posted 06/30/04

I ate here last night and had the Summer Restaurant Week special Prixe Fix dinner. My friend and I both started with goat cheese salad and it was delicious, I'm not a big walnut person but enjoyed everything else. For the main I had the Pork dish while my friend ordered fish, the trout was perfect, soft meat with citrusy sauce on the side - definitely worth it! We also had the accompanying suggested Wine parings which gave us a taste of 6 different French Wines - I thought this a great idea and loved trying all the wines.

Pros: Outdoor seating area, Comfy Bar area

Posted 06/23/04

I've been to Marseille twice. The food was excellent both times. The service was excellent the first time. The second time we had a surly waiter who "condescended" to wait on us. He seemed annoyed that we ordered from the prix fixe menu and did not order drinks. The meal was pleasant in spite of the the service. The atmosphere is rather noisy.

Pros: Food, Location, Pricey

Posted 02/21/04

This is a terrific place - the staff is amazing, from the moment you walk in the door you are pampered and treated like a regular. Everything was taken care of for us, from our coats and bags being brought to our table when we were ready to leave, and our server (who was busy with other tables) gave us his fullest attention. The wine list is maybe a little over-priced, but do-able. The food is incredible - from a great lamb to a seemingly simple pasta that knocks your socks off. After the evening, our server even walked us to the door to thank us again. Definitely will go back!

Pros: Service!, Gorgeous space, Food

Cons: slightly pricey

Posted 01/23/04

First, let me say that I am not accustomed to replying to postings of any sort; in fact this is my first such venture. But to hear so many derride this lovely little spot situated amid gentified tenements, urbane new york grime and the playful nature of the neighborhoods residents saddens me- truly.

Marsellie is one of my standby favs, and I recommend it often to those of all income levels. The service is excellent, the staff always willing to make suggestions and go above and beyond for you. The prices are considerably within the middle-of-the-road category for a nice meal in Manhattan. And the bouillebaise is excellent, and delicate, unlike so many one finds.

To those who gripe about the price, perhaps Ray's Original is indeed the way to go. Bon appetit!

Posted 10/12/03

We had a wonderful dining experience here The mezze ( like tapas in a Spanish restaurant) were like little works of art. The salad was very good as were the entrees. My grilled duck breast was wonderful. The desserts were adventurous. Tarragon sorbet? Yes!

Pros: great food, good service

Posted 08/25/03

Great location and decor, but portions were way too small and way overpriced. My boyfriend and I split an appetizer and a salad, then had to order an entree just to feel like we'd had a meal. The $90 tab for 1 app, 1 salad, 1 entree and 1 cocktail was shocking to us, but impressive I'm sure to people who think they're cool b/c they eat at places like this.

Posted 08/06/03

I agree with a lot of the other reviewers re: price. Although the meal that a friend and I ordered was interesting and delicious, the portions were rather small for the somewhat high price. My bouilliabaisse was fresh, but with only a few creatures floating in a sea of otherwise yummy stock, i was still hungry. The presentation of the meze was straight out of an 80's satire. What you get is three gum drops of fabulous food for nine bucks. The veal ravioli? same thing.It was so damn good, but in the end, we left and took a stroll to the local pizza joint.

Pros: decor, service, food

Cons: price, portions

Posted 07/17/03

There're dozens of places just like this in New York, so we weren't blown away. Everything we tasted was fine: a generous and satisfying chopped salad, a perfect lamb chop with roasted lamb loin and goat cheese, ideally grilled tuna and a simple and filling seafood burger. Service was friendly and professional, although one of our dring orders was messed up. The space is well lit and comfortable. We did agree that Marseille is a bit overpriced for what it is. If you're in Hell's Kitchen, go fo it! Otherwise, not worth a special trip.

Pros: space, service, food

Cons: prices

Posted 05/24/03

Service was good, food was good. My only complaint was the "mezze". For the price of $9.00, it was a total rip-off. Literally three small bites of food. I guess they are staying true to French cuisine...very, very small portions.

Posted 04/22/03

The food here was aweful. I don't know who is writing some of these reviews. This place wants to be so much more than it is.

Posted 02/15/03

Had a really good meal early last Sunday/ The meat "mese" was incredible tartare, fois gras, and an interesting "meat cigar" with hummus... would go back and order two as an entree.. wonderful wine selection by the glass and bottle. Though a bit pricey overall ... I would return again. If it was more affordable, this would become a regular for us.

Posted 02/10/03

Four of us ate at Marseille. The noise level was incredible until everyone left for the theater. Service was poor until then also.

The food was mediocre-- not worth the cost. The menu was extremely limited.

Better restaurants are to be found in many small towns along the eastern seaboard.

Pros: Nice lighting

Cons: Crowded, Noisy, Mediocre

Posted 01/28/03

The food was very good and unique. But I found the prices to be a bit too high for what you get. Though

I'd recommend it for corporate dinners or if you're willing to shell out a bit more for a nice pre-theater dinner.

Nice decor, abmiance and excellent service!

Posted 01/05/03

This restaurant is certainly one of the best I have been to. Everything we ordered - from appetizers to desert - deserved a 10+. Although it was a bit pricey, it was well worth it.

Posted 12/11/02

I enjoyed my meal overall at Marseille. It was a dark, relaxing environment to dine in. The duck was delicious, and I especially enjoyed the desserts we ordered for the table: The special of the night, a pear with chocolate soup, and the chocolate steam cake.

Pros: Good ambiance, Soothing music

Cons: Expensive

Posted 11/15/02

Went for pre-theater on a Saturday night, everything was delicious, haricot vert salad, duck, chicken with couscous, short ribs and veal cheeks. Only thing we didn't like was the steamed chocolate cake with mint ice creama group of the 4 of us did not want to finish this dessert! The place was a bit noisy, but sitting on the edge of the restaurant helped, and although the portions were small, w/ an appetizer it was the perfect amount of food. I'd go back, and my out of town guests were definitely impressed. Service was a bit spotty, but we got out the door with plenty of time before the show.

Pros: food

Cons: noise, spotty service

Posted 11/03/02

It reminded me of a restaurant in Marseille or even Paris. The wait staff was knowledgable in wine, and the level of service is compatible to French. It's very romantic with redish dim lights all over the restaurant.

Pros: Wine list, Service, Romantic

Posted 10/13/02

Superb. This is the word to qualify my experience at Marseille. The service, the food and the wine made our experience memorable. I had the tasting menu with wine paring and honnestly I could have compare it to any of the top nyc restaurants that I have eaten at. The bread and olive butter alone is worth a trip to Marseille.

Pros: food, service, wine list

Cons: none

Posted 10/06/02