Market Cafe

06/27/09

I should have eaten across the street

by MartiniShowBabe

I didn't like the food. It was too greasy. I told the server and he didn't even offer to have it remade. Lousy food and service that's not worth the price. I came here about three months ago and didn't have this problem. That's what I hate about restaurants that lack consistency.

07/05/07

Grilled Pizza??

by bcraig

Chosen because of a friend?s recommendation when looking for a restaurant close to the 37 Arts Theater. There were 5 of us on June 21st. A pizza was ordered as an appetizer. When it arrived it looked fine so everyone had at least a bite. No one wanted more than a bite or two. It tasted burnt. Not just a crispy taste, but burnt. When we told the waitress, she took it away, but said we should know that they grilled their pizzas and that if we didn?t like this one we shouldn?t order one in the future. She didn?t seem to consider that perhaps this one was burnt. Maybe some people like it to taste that way, but I?d be surprised. Anyone who liked the one we had would have to like burnt toast too. The rest of the meal was fine, but service though polite was decidedly cool after that.

03/09/07

Is this a New York theme Restaurant? Comedy Rudeness

by drewabell

This sounded great in the guide book. A local Italian virtually accross the road looked warm, lively and inviting, but as this had such a good review we stuck with Market Cafe. Everything started out well. We liked the converted butcher shop interior. However, it all started to go wrong very soon after this. The manager who seated us casually threw the menus at us. In retrospect at that point, we should have known and left to cross over the road. A sweet waiter came and took our order. Menu has a good choice of dishes and we started our meal with a good glass of wine. Our starters arrived and were good, but half way through the waiter came over and told us our main courses were ready and could he bring them ... or did we want to wait! Yes, indeed we did much to the obvious chagrin of the staff. As we finished our starters our main course arrived straight away. Its worth mentioning that this was last Saturday evening and it was only around 9pm at night, not 11pm approaching closing. Almost immediately on finishing, the plates were whipped away and Happy Larry the manager came to ask if we would like desserts. We said we werent sure and could we wait 5 mins, he huffed and then once again threw the dessert menu at us and walked away. They were equally as welcoming with the other tables of people in that night, and started cleaning ready for closing around us, again this was 10pm at the latest. At one point as another table sadly left Happy Larry loudly said "We can close at last!". Overall a very rude, cold and unfriendly experience. The food wasnt bad but was completely ruined by the bad and ungracious service. Out on the street at just after 10pm the Italian over the road still twinkled and like Little Matchgirls we watched the people laughing and having a glass of wine through the window. Give the Market cafe a miss. Im from London, im used to rudeness, but I dont know how this place survives. Walk over the road to the Italian, we wish we had!

• Pros: Nice food
• Cons: Terrrible, rude, rude and disrespectful staff and service.

11/16/06

Good steak frites

by maureenuw

When I lived in the area I dined here frequently though I haven't been in a while. I recall the steak-frites being quite good as was a mussel appetizer.

• Pros: Good steak-frites
• Cons: Small tables

06/21/06

Don't judge a place by it's wall

by fsu32173

When you first walk in, it's crowded, dark and pretty run down. But the food is pretty fresh and creative. The price is also average for a diner.

I enjoyed what I got, and that's what counts. My friends liked what they got also.

It was crowded when I went around 6PM and but once you ordered your food, it was prompt and the service paid attention.

• Pros: Good food
• Cons: Run down dingy restaurant

04/05/06

So, so food and a shabby interior

by kellysan24

The decor is a little rundown and while we were in the restaurant a loud clanging noise persisted for several minutes (pipes?). I didn't think dinner was all that cheap. We ordered 2 cheeseburgers with fries and 2 cokes. The bill came to $35.00 including tax. The cheeseburger was good but not sure it's worth that much.

• Pros: Prompt seating
• Cons: Not so cheap, Shabby interior, loud

03/30/05

Good food at good prices

by tjack240

My family and I just happened upon this restaurant when we were looking for a place to eat after the auto show. It's walking distance from Javits Center and we had a delicious lunch. The food was fresh, nicely presented and good portions. What really got me was the prices-v. inexpensive for the quality and considering how expensive it is to eat in Manhattan these days it was a treat!

• Pros: Inexpensive, Food
• Cons: Loud, Decor

03/24/05

Great Pre-Theater Restaurant

by pbyrne30

My boyfriend and I were going to an off-broadway show in the area and a friend recommended Market cafe for pre-theater meal. Now I can't wait to back! Though not top decor, it has a hip vibe, cool music and the food is outstanding. We started with cocktails-a superb margarita (served in a brandy snifter!) and a yummy Apple Martini. We split a scallop appetizer that was de-lish. Next we had a steak frites and a salmon that were both first-rate. We finished w/chocolate cake and I almost fell off my chair when the waiter brought it over, it was the biggest piece of cake I've ever seen. I almost fell off my chair again, when the waiter brought the bill and it was under $60 for all of that! What a find, we'll definitely be back.

• Pros: Inexpensive, Cool Vibe

12/11/04

THEY DON'T DESERVE YOUR BUSINESS

by penelopewood

The scallops and cod were delicious. They burnt the bruschetta. Most of our meal was really great, until the very, very end. It was a few minutes before Midnight, and there were three tables leftperhaps 10 to 15 people all together. All had paid their bills. We were all leaving in a matter of moments, when a waiter came up to each table and said "We are waiting for you." All the customers were kind of stunned. We even joked to each other, wondering where the waiter wanted us to go with him. My table instantly wished we'd given less of a tip. Everyone walked out promptly into the cold, rainy night. They definitely lost 10-15 customers last night.

• Cons: , waitstaff, waitstaff

03/31/04

Perfect pre-theatre...

by evietaylor

This spot is perfect for pre-theatre, if you're looking to save some $$$ but want a great meal, and your theatre's in the lower 40's. (it would be a bit of a hike to the Neil Simon, for example.) Delicious skirt steak, but be sure to listen for the specials; they're often marvelous surprises at unbeatable prices. I had a DELICIOUS saddle of rabbit over mashed potatoes; I still remember how good it tasted. Cupcake Cafe down the street for a quick dessert!

• Pros: affordable, great food