Marco’s Italian Bistro

7:00 reservations right on time. Our meals were all fantastic. (X4) Yes you do buy bread for a very minimum cost and the dipping sauce was wonderful. Hubby needs butter and a large slab was brought to the table no problem. Waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable. Portions were large enough to make all of us too full for cannoli desserts, darn it. It was fairly quiet as it was only one dining room, small and more intimate than larger restaurants. White tablecloths on tables. We didn’t feel like it needed an update at all. Very clean looking. The large tv on the wall in front of only our booth was distracting and a little annoying (my only complaint). I’m sure they would’ve turned it off if we had asked as nothing important was on. They really don’t need it as it is not a sports bar. We will definitely go back and also recommend to anyone who wants to know. Keep up the good work Marco, we hope you make it. We much prefer your type of restaurant over the big chains that don’t really care if you come back or not.

First time at Marco’s. The place is pleasant looking despite some Unilocaler’s saying it needed a makeover. It is trying for an old world look with paintings, maps of italy, etc. They have these super comfy-​looking booths which seat about 4. Since we were only two, we sat at a table. Tables have linens on them giving the place a nice look; clean looking too.
We arrived in time for happy hour which is half-​off appetizers and drinks. We had «bread» as an appetizer – yes, you have to buy bread. It is homemade and totally worth it. They served it with a ramekin of good olive oil which was infused with garlic. Dunking the bread in that olive oil was delightful. We had a cabernet which was a little small, but I figured the happy hour portion was smaller. We paid $ 4.50 for the wine, but I can’t imagine that this portion would be $ 9.00 if it were not happy hour.
I ordered chicken piccata and I chose spaghetti with tomato sauce as a side. My dining companion ordered chicken marsala with sautéed spinach when the chef indicated he couldn’t make a chicken/​eggplant combo without cheese. Don’t know why this was so difficult as we are able to get this dish at other italian restaurants.
We found the portions to be on the large side (as opposed to some Unilocalers saying that the portions were small). For $ 14.95 each entrée, it was quite a nice portion. Both chicken dishes were perfectly cooked. I, who am not a marsala sauce fan, tasted the marsala and actually liked it better than my piccata sauce. I like piccata super lemony and my sauce even had lemons on it, but I still would have preferred it with more lemon. Both dishes had a gravy boat with extra sauce. Despite this, I enjoyed my dish. My side pasta tasted freshly made with chopped tomatoes and garlic. I really liked it.
The wait service was good. Our waters were topped and they did come by to ask how our food was.
The place was filled by the time we were ready to leave so clearly this place is becoming popular. I am definitely a return customer.

Arnie L
Consistently good authentic and healthy Italian cuisine. Marco is a top notch chef and friendly to his customers.

I like this place. The food is a unique take on Italian food by Marco himself. Is it your typical Italian restaurant… absolutely not as Marco adds his personal flair to each and every dish, or at least to all of the ones we have tried. Everything we have eaten is homemade as far as we can tell, very flavorful, and reasonably priced. Most importantly is that the flavors are great and the food quality is high. We have gone back several times and always enjoy the food. The wait staff is also very friendly and we have always been treated well. My only recommendation would be that that they do an update to the décor as the atmosphere is very blah. I also despise menus that have pictures, as that always comes across as cheap and of lower quality, which is not the case with their food, but they deliver a different impression with their lower grade décor and cheap Chinese fast food style of menu. I love the food, the service, and even the value for what you get… just update the décor and print out a more quality menu that screams of a higher quality of food that you actually do serve. We will be back for sure as the menu and décor does not turn me away from good food!

Very very good Italian food! Fresh ingredients and everything is made to order. Huge portions that make the price worth it. It could be a little brighter inside and could use a little makeover but u don’t eat the décor…

Last Sunday I a had the pleasure of having dinner with some friends at Marco’s bistro. I honestly feel that it was one of the best dinners I have had outside of my own home. The seafood dish had over 1 pound of mussels clams shrimp’s all fresh and delicious served on a bed of fresh homemade pasta. From the fresh hot bread to the city delicious salad and delectable wine it was a wonderful experience. this restaurant merits five stars the friendliness and cleanliness of this place is another reason why I would always return and bring all of my friends to Marcos bistro. Evelyn A.

Located «off the beaten path» at the end of a small shopping strip mall, this place isn’t something that just jumps out and grabs you. But it is definitely worth finding your way here! If you want an authentic, Italian dinner made with the freshest of ingredients you should definitely come here. And to make it even better you can eat healthy if you want. Organic, gluten free, and Marco will make modifications to meet your wishes. Yum
My only hesitancy in writing this review is I don’t want my favorite Italian restaurant to get so darn busy that I won’t be able to get in.

This food is so amazing Marco put so much effort into his preparation I have never had a bad meal have been going there for over 2 Years Amazing Pl.

Marco’s, very nice back story, family owned, Marco is the chef. I really wanted to be blown away. I was not.
Portions are very small. From the fried calamari to the veal parma, very small portions as compared to other Italian places. The veal is so thin that it’s hard to taste the meat under the sauce but the flavor is good. Service was good for early Friday evening.
I maybe an Italian food snob. I’m from NYC and was raised by my grandmother who came from Naples and was an amazing cook. That being said the prices are pretty expensive and I was expecting a lot more after seeing the reviews. I will try it again soon and see if other dishes are better.
I did get a side of homemade fettucinni with bolognese sauce. It was very good.

My husband and I had dinner here last night and it was absolutely delicious. The service was great and the ambiance was truly italian. The piano man added a delightful touch of the type and genre of music we enjoy. We will definitely return to this «taste of Italy.»

Had dinner there last night about 5:00 after a recommendation from a friend. We will definitely return! The hot oil and garlic with the bread was a nice surprise and a pleasant change from the usual oil and balsamic. the flat bread (garlic and mozzarella} came with an excellent sauce. The spring mix salad had a variety of greens and just the right amount of vinegarette. My wife loved the choice of the quinoa pasta and my shrimp diavola was wonderfully spicy. Wayne was attentive and friendly. The portions are generous and the food excellent. A very pleasant experience. Dale and Mare

Just went to happy hour at Marco’s Bistro. Food was very good to excellent but the service was average to poor. Very little attention in checking back to see if more appetizers were to be ordered, had to flag down staff to order. Last appetizer ordered never came and had to flag down a staff person again to request the order and was told our order had been put behind a large family order so never was filled. When we canceled the tardy appetizer the original waitress came up to say we couldn’t expect our small order to be put in front of a large family order and we had to stop her excuses to get our bill so we could leave. We will come back because food was very good but hope that we don’t encounter the same level of incompetence in the wait and kitchen staff.

Food is very good… if you are a vegan, ask your wait staff for their special menu.

Perhaps my expectations were too great, I’m sad to say that Marco’s didn’t make the cut! My wife and I went last night to celebrate our 36^th wedding anniversary. They had our reservation under my first name for some reason. Our waiter Wayne, was at the door, welcomed us and acknowledged our anniversary. The restaurant is small but warm and nicely decorated, and service was good and efficient. It was Thursday night and they had live entertainment that began at 6pm, a pianist. It was difficult to have a conversation with the volume of the music. As an entertainer, he was gifted! We ordered the fried calamari appetizer with their bread basket with hot garlic olive oil. Four small warm rolls, had a very doughy consistency and not what you might expect in an Italian restaurant, strike one. The portion size of the calamari was smaller than we had ever received in other places but was breaded and cooked properly and tasted good. Next we had one of the specials, Parmesan encrusted Salmon with eggplant and tomato. The fish was very tasty, cooked perfectly and larger than expected with abundant veggies, a 4 star dish. As a side we both ordered their house made fettuccini, al dente and better than the boxed pasta. Hers with the Alfredo sauce, mine with the meat sauce. Both sauces were delicious, 4 star quality. Also ordered the veal saltimbocca. The veal was more than excellent, tender, tasty and abundant but the sauce, veggies, prosciutto and cheese were so salty it was difficult to enjoy and I am a salt lover, strike two. We did not order desert. We did not receive or were we offered anything for our anniversary other than Wayne saying «Happy Anniversary» once again! Never did see Marco or his wife. I lived and worked for ten years in northern Italy, so I think I know the Italian kitchen. Sorry Marco, I give you no more than 3 stars :(

Dining at Marco’s is the ultimate for a neighborhood Italian restaurant. It is a small venue tucked out of the way from the noise of the city. It is somewhere locals go because it is excellent food, prepared with excellent ingredients, cooked by the chef/​owner, and presented with homespun pride.
Marco, the owner and chef, oversees each plate, and then follows up his creations with a personal visit sometime during your visit. He is always genuinely interested in whether you enjoyed your meal and your suggestions for future visits. If there is something special you would like, he would like to provide it. And yes, if you have an interest in Italy or are from the Home Country, he LOVES to talk with you about your experiences there.
You can tell this man is totally vested in his craft and his business. Yes, sometimes they get busy and sometimes mistakes happen, but this restaurant is not a production line corporate model. It is a very good neighborhood Italian restaurant owned and operated by an Italian guy who loves what he does.
Oh, and call ahead a day or two before you go and ask Marco to have some clam chowder made for you. You won’t believe it.

The owner replied below. Here is my reply. I HAVE had eggplant parmesan at your restaurant before and it was fine, as can be expected, it fitted the common expectation and standard description of the dish. Whatever i had w that alfredo sauce was not that, it was haphazardly thrown together, barely eatable and by no standard of any italian cooking can it be called an eggplant parm (a dish i usually LOVE), for one there was no parmesan cheese in it. The dish was just eggplant, not well cooked, not good, covered in sauce with random chunks of mozz & ricotta cheese. I’ll change my stars from 1 to 3 because i feel bad letting my bad experience affect your business, my issue is more w the waiter who Claimed he saw breadcrumbs. But to keep telling me that what i was served was not a mistake, that is some version of the dish, is ridiculous.
I really want to like this place, it’s cute, but when the attitude is so hoity you better come correct. and it just dont. Tonight’s dinner was a travesty. I ordered an eggplant parmesan w Alfredo sauce instead of marinara. It came looking odd. I questioned it but was assured by waiter that it was normal. It wasn’t, all this was, was a stack of dry thick eggplant with chunks of ricotta, mozz & alfredo thrown on too. It was not at all an eggplant paRm, i decided to make the best of it, cus they act at this restaurant like complaining or questioning is strictly forbidden. Before leaving I reported to the waiter, just as an Fyi, that mine was really not an eggplant parm, and he started arguing w me. I said «i’ve had it many times, it’s supposed to be thin sliced eggplant fried in breadcrumbs and parmesan etc». he said: «i saw breadcrumbs» what?! Where?! I think i know what was in it, i ate it and am telling you what was on my plate in front of me for 20 min. I didnt send it back out of courtesy, hated that ineatable slop, paid for it, tipped well, and they can’t even give me the courtesy of taking my notes at face value? I understand mistakes can be made, but when they look you in the face and deny the glaring obvious issues like you’re lying or irrational, then i get lit. Additionally their homemade fettuccini breaks into small peaces right in the bowl, thats a no no for italian anywhere. Get it together.

Disclaimer: The owner, Marco, is sort of a friend of some friends whom I had never met in person before this visit. But I intend to give a very fair and honest review of my dining experience at this restaurant.
We arrived on the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving a little after 6 PM. My wife called ahead to confirm they were open and the hostess warned us that they were busier than usual and that we may have to wait a bit to get a table. The restaurant is quite small and they appeared to be short-​handed with staff that night as a couple of the staff members were sharing hosting, waiting, busing, and even bar duties. Having some first-​hand experience in the food service business, I can appreciate the challenges that a small operation is faced with regarding staff. Even being one person short on a busy day can significantly impact your ability to provide good service. It took 20 – 25 minutes to get seated and the waits to have our orders taken, for the appetizers to arrive, and for our main courses to arrive were all longer than what we would normally expect when dining out. But, we were a party of six which included my wife’s sister and husband who were visiting us from the Bay Area, so we weren’t in any hurry and didn’t much mind hanging out during the extended waits.
Now on to the food. We ordered several appetizers: bread rolls and garlic mozzarella flatbread, both of which were quite good; calamari (I didn’t try, but sis-​in-​law enjoyed it); rapini (a bit on the bitter and spicy side for my taste, but the other adults at the table liked it). All of the entrees ordered were big hits. My wife absolutely loved her shrimp scampi; her sister ordered the clams and mussels and loved it; her husband was very satisfied with the chicken marsala; I ordered one of the evening specials, grilled swordfish in lemon butter sauce with homemade fettucini in olive oil and garlic on the side. I don’t often encounter swordfish on the menu when I dine out, but it’s my favorite fish and this one was simply delicious. Our 12-​year old daughter chose her standard favorite dish, fettuccini alfredo with grilled chicken. She’s not big eater, but she stuffed herself the best she could while I gladly cleaned up the remainder. She swore it was the best she’d ever eaten and was still talking about it on the drive back to our hotel and even the next day! Finally our 5-​year old daughter ate what she could of the margherita pizza that was shared by several of the adults and had no complaints.
Marco stopped at our table a couple of times during our visit to make sure we were satisfied with our food and thank us for coming in that evening. It was readily apparent that he’s passionate about his use of top quality ingredients and providing good value for the customer’s dollar. Obviously, the overall dining experience wasn’t perfect, but I felt like the service shortcomings were acceptable given the circumstances and the fact the staff remained courteous while busting their butts to do what had to be done. If Unilocal would allow it, I’d give them 4.5 stars. So give Marco’s a try next time you’re in the mood for some tasty Italian food at a fair price.

Great place and super friendly staff! Had spaghetti carbonara, cedar plank salmon and Rib Eye all cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. Would highly recommend this place!

I was introduced to Marco’s a few years back and ever since then I have been hooked. The food is amazing and the staff is extremely attentive and nice. My recommendation, order either of the two pink sauce pasta dishes, yum! If you’re looking for more than good food please keep reading…
If you ever get the opportunity to have a discussion with the owner Marco, please do. On the first of three occasions (I’ve been there way more than that), a friend and I stopped in for dinner as we were extremely hungry after a long day. My friend ended up scarfing down his meal and when the owner, Marco, noticed how hungry he was, offered to make him more pasta at no charge. I mean, seriously, you don’t find service like that in many places. On the second occasion, I was there with my boyfriend and we were having a nice lunch, Marco again stopped by to talk with us and saw that we were drinking the wine that his employees had suggested would go great with our meal, at no cost he had them refill our glasses. Lastly, I was there with my grandmother who was wheelchair bound. After our meal, Marco stopped by to ask us our opinion of the food. My grandmother and he had a great conversation about Italy and how the pink sauce originated (Marco also remembered me and a conversation we had from a visit the month prior). On our way out the door to my car, Marco decided to help me wheel my grandmother to the car, assist her inside the car, and then proceeded to pack up the wheelchair and put it in the trunk of my car. Wow, just wow!!! I mean, you can’t find first class people like this just anywhere. That last act spoke volumes! I am and will be a fan of this establishment for life.
So if you are a looking for great food, good service, a nice environment, and admirable individuals, look no further. Marco’s Italian Bistro is one of the best, if not the best Italian restaurant in town!

My girlfriend and I really love your restaurant that we just found. Your attention to detail, the flavors and textures you bring out are fantastic, not to mention that you have gluten free dishes as well as you cook Organically. Your a personal tour of your kitchen as we we’re leaving at closing time was great! I was very impressed with the cleanliness after a long day.
In regards to your response to Michael B, that further shows me how on top of everything you are in satisfing your customers. You’re on it! Keep up the great work…