Mark’s Prime Steakhouse

I have always been a huge fan of Mark’s Prime — we’ve been eating there for 4 years. When we brought my son and his girlfriend from Washington DC to Mark’s in November the server mixed up the order. No problem — mistakes happen. But tonight’s meal was horrendous. My husband made a reservation a week in advance of our 32^nd wedding anniversary. When we arrived at 7:30 our table was not ready. Again, not a big issue but where we were finally seated had a view of the hostess stand. Not what we expected — especially after they asked my husband if it was a special occasion when he made the reservation. Service was good, but the meal… I ordered the mixed seafood grill. The first bite of scallop was like eating a rubber plug the size of a quarter. The grilled shrimp were also terribly over cooked. The lobster tail tasted rubbery and as if it came out of the freezer. Definitely not fresh — we make lobster at home that is far superior to what Mark’s served me. My husband ordered the Delmonico steak rare. While it came out nice and warm, the plate was half filled with inedible pieces of meat by the end of the meal. We skipped coffee and dessert. So disappointing to see a great restaurant like Mark’s going downhill in quality! I was such a loyal fan! The server told us the chef changed last March. Definitely not a change for the better.

This is the best steak you can get in Ocala. The wine list is a bit overpriced. I do recommend the Marks salad. The steak tartar app is great. Don’t skip desert. Service is always professional. A must try if you’re in Ocala.

Celebrated my husbands birthday here and like always this steakhouse delivers an exquisite experience. We started the meal with ginger-Rita’s, absolutely delightful and quite tasty! Next some French onion soup that warms one to the core with its rich broth and creamy cheese. Next a salad of tomatoes & mozzarella on a bed of artisan greens, yum! The entrée of a strip steak with creamy squash risotto was what dreams are made up of. A perfectly seared steak and a creamy squash with Parmesan flakes was so delectable and such a large portion that it made a great brunch the next day! Like any good steakhouse the bill was on the pricey end however this establishment is worth it. They are now running a gift certificate special that if you purchase a $ 100 they will give you an additional & $ 25, great way to try a great place with a little savings.

There are a few times in my life I felt so UNWELCOME. We called ahead to make sure it was ok to sit at the bar and watch the Baseball playoff game and eat dinner. We got there at 5:30. A lot of the wait staff was watching football on the large screen. Ok, I’m not heartless, I’m a sports fan
We sat at the other end of the bar and I asked that she change the channel. Mind you, we were The Only Paying Customers at the time. I ordered a Vodka Martini and the glass was only filled ²⁄₃ Rd full. Come on, I’m in a steak house, not my 1^st…
She then disappeared… We Asked someone else for menus and if they had a gluten free menu. Nope, then he disappeared…
I was trying to flag someone for a glass of water and bread for my husband.
What a frickin fiasco. I hate having to ask for water, let alone multiple times.
We ordered dinner.
My rare steak was medium rare. She did come over and ask if everything was all right. I said not so great & she just walked away… The food was not great at all. Lobster escargot had no garlic in it. Steaks were not good for a place boasting .I have to give this not so great steak house a thumbs down for food and service.

Stopped in for drinks at the bar — great atmosphere, cocktails and bartenders! We will be back!

My wife and I consider ourselves foodies as we love trying new places, especially on the upper class side of food faire. This did not qualify. We started our dinner with the Lobster Escargot appetizer and when it came out it was very very over cooked and tough. We both ordered a Filet Mignon and Lobster Tail as an entrée for each of us. These were cooked just fine but had little to no flavor. The Twice Cooked Baked Potato was very good but nothing out of this world. And the Risotto was bland. After mentioning the problem with the appetizer nothing was done about it and it remained on our bill. Overall service from staff was very good, our server was very nice and made frequent visits to make sure we were ok and drinks were topped off. The atmosphere is dated and basic, not nearly what it should be for the price point of the experience. Overall we would have enjoyed the same meal at Longhorns Steakhouse much more and for MUCH less. The only reason I can imagine others have rated it with 4 or 5 stars is maybe overall ignorance of what actual great food tastes like and great services feels like.

This restaurant has a great atmosphere. I came here on a date and had a great time. The wait staff seemed extremely distracted, but the food was amazing. I had the escargot and the ny strip, both were fantastic. My date also said the escargot was delicious (before I told her it was snails) and loved her ribeye. If you have some extra money in your wallet, then you’ll be glad you spent it here.

The service was excellent. Everyone from the parking attendants to the hostess and our server was friendly and courteous. The food was excellent. The steaks were delicious and the deserts were even better. My favorite part of the meal was the twice baked potato. I’ve never had better. The only complaint was that the lights were just a little too dim. I prefer more light when I eat. Overall excellent!

our favorite place to go. It is great for just the 2 of us, or for our entire company party. Always first class service and food is always perfect.

Wonderful family dinner and outstanding service. Only negative was that parking was a challenge but we discovered that they DO have valet parking. The sign wasn’t easily visible. Dinner for 6 was wonderful and our servers were outstanding. The side items that accompany dinner are very large portions and meant for sharing.

Had a wonderful dinner. Steaks and Sea Bass was outstanding. Wine was priced very reasonable with great selection. Cremo Brûlée was some of the best ever. Our waiter Adam made everything better. Very personable and knowledgable. Fantastic place. Highly recommend it!

Excellent dining experience! We did not realize Ocala had fine dining! The food, presentation, and service exceeded our expectations. Our server Zack was courteous, knowledgable and timely! The only downside is the open dining. Very loud. Not ideal for an intimate evening out.

Marks prime. This was the first time we were there. Their were four of us. I could go into a long drawn out review of how we all enjoy the meals we ordered but I’ll make it short and sweet. The atmosphere was top shelf all meals were delicious and my fillet mignon was to die for. I would say if your looking for a special time and dinner Marks Prime is one of those places. Two thumbs up.

During a business trip in December, I had the pleasure of dining at Mark’s in Ocala. I had not been to Ocala in some time, and the sleepy square where Mark’s is located began to lower my expectations. Once we got to the restaurant the curb appeal and smell coming from the kitchen signaled I was in the right place. The restaurant has a great atmosphere with several distinct areas of the dining room. Despite the restaurant being full, it didn’t feel crowded at all. Our server was very attentive, and the food was amazing. The steaks easily rivaled those found in the upscale steakhouse chains like Ruth’s Chris. I would definitely return to Mark’s if I’m ever in Ocala again.

Had dinner here last night to celebrate an Anniversary. My first time, but certainly not my last. Atmosphere was wonderful, that dark wood interior that you expect from a high line steak house. Our server was Dana and he was incredibly knowledgeable and attentive. He helped us with dish sizing recommending sharing on some. First bacon wrapped scallops, absolutely delicious. Then their chopped salad, ordering a large and splitting was perfect. House dressing was perfect. Hot fresh baked bread was excellent, had to get seconds. Orders at the table were Salmon, Crab covered Grouper, NY Strip, and Bone in Rib-​eye. Each perfectly prepared as requested. Sides, twice baked potato, lobster macaroni and cheese, sauteed spinich. You HAVE to try the lobster mac and cheese, it was incredible. They brought out a free desert to celebrate our anniversary which was very nice, plus we ordered the bread pudding which was lighter than expected and included some blueberries… again delicious. So i lived here in Ocala a year and have finally found a great restaurant. Look, it is not inexpensive to dine here, but you will not complain of ambiance, service, or food quality. Special place for special evenings.

Definitely the nicest restaurant in Ocala. The beef is really great (this is horse country, although I try not to think about that when having a steak here), and they have an amazing wine list. Pretty expensive but worth it.

Went there for dinner. Wanted to order the ahi tuna. Was informed they were out of ahi tuna. They gave me a free espresso. I left. Not much to say about this place

Outstanding, 1^st time here, ate at the bar as always. Yes this is the Ruth’s Chris of Ocala. Except I think it might be a little better. Bone in ribeye was perfect med rare, wedge salad was enough to share. I don’t have anything bad to say about this place, going back tonight. Wine list, prices are very fare a couple of great values, $ 20 over total wine price. Sorry cant tell you which ones, I have another week here.

I’m confused by the bad reviews, and maybe its because I went with a few regulars. The waiter knew everyone by name and even their favorite items on the menu. I also find it amusing that they paid with gift cards, like many of them, so to A. J., they definitely sell them.
I got a great cab sav and started with a chopped salad, sans bacon, dressing on the side. They got it perfect and it was quite tasty. My only complaint would be they were a bit heavy on the red onion, but thats just my opinion. For my entrée I had the seared tuna — it was cooked perfect and had a complimenting wasabi sauce on the side.
I didn’t hear any complaints around the table, and if I’m in Ocala again, I’ll certainly return.

While on a business trip in Tampa, I got a call from an old friend who I haven’t seen in 23 yrs. He lives near Ocala and invited me to dinner at Mark’s Prime. It is about 1.5 hrs outside of Tampa.
Parking — Complimentary valet parking is available next to the restaurant or you can park in metered parking spots across the street around the park.
Appetizers — We had bacon wrapped scallops and beef tartare. The beef tartare was outstanding. My friend and his wife had the scallops and said they were awesome.
Entrée — I had the Filet… the steak was awesome! Sides are a la carte and the serving size is huge. We shared a side of sauteed mushrooms.
Dessert — We didn’t have enough room for it.
Service — The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Our water glasses were always full.
Wine selection — This is what prevented me from rating this place 5 stars. I thought they should have had a better selection of wine. The wine we had was good, but would have enjoyed more choices.
Would I come back? To Mark’s Prime, yes… to Ocala, FL… not sure. I would come here often if I lived here.