Marea’s atmosphere is incredibly elegant and contemporary with mismatched leather chairs, interesting wall treatments, and a bit of an exotic flair. The chargers on the table had a whimsical nature about them, and were delicately inscribed with the restaurant’s name in a playful cursive writing. These small touches are major factors in making a restaurant and an experience memorable, and Marea did not miss any opportunity to stand out.
I wish all restaurants took a cue from the server we had that evening. He was attentive, helpful, and anticipated our every move. When my mother decided to order a glass of Pinot Grigio without looking at the wine list first, the waiter did not turn his nose up at this commonplace request, instead he simply recommended a similar wine that he thought she would enjoy. When my 87 year old grandmother got up to use the ladies room which happened to be downstairs, he ran after her and escorted her to the more accessible bathroom on the main level. When my sister had questions regarding the content of some of the dishes (being pregnant makes eating more complicated), the waiter was delighted to answer anything that was asked with a smile on his face. For such an upscale and expensive restaurant, this is the type of service that one can only hope for. It also makes the expensive pricetag a little easier to swallow.
The meal started with a great selection of breads and a shot of squash soup with pumpkin seeds from the chef. The starter was ideal because it was not cream based but instead quite light and easy to digest. I ordered a glass of Prosecco and was ready to take on an evening of memorable food. I started with the astice appetizer and I must say that this is one of the best dishes I have had in a very long time (and I think I’ll be talking about it for awhile). The delicate dish was comprised of nova scotia lobster, burrata, eggplant al funghetto and basil. The combination was like pure magic– the creaminess of the burrata went perfectly with the cold rich lobster, and the slight drops of pesto on the plate tied the whole thing together making it complete and satisfying.
Astice Appetizer at Marea: Nova Scotia Lobster, Burrata, Eggplant al Funghetto, and basil. Photo by Daniel Krieg from www.marea-nyc.com
I also got to try the scallops appetizer as well as a piece of the tuna crudo which my brother-in-law Adam claimed to be the best piece of tuna he has ever had (and he has traveled around the world). For main courses Marea offers a wide selection of pastas that are made by hand in house as well as a number of seasonal fish dishes. Our table all decided to have pastas as our main courses because so many of the choices were different and intriguing. I went for the orecchiette with ruby red shrimp, chilies, and rosemary. This pasta dish was amazing. Apparently the sauce is made with white beans and a shellfish stock and it was full of rich flavors that paired well with the tender shrimps. Three of us had this dish and it was a hit at our table. My Dad and Grandma both had the pansotti which was ricotta ravioli with basil pesto. For something so simple, they raved about the sauce and said it was fantastic. My brother-in-law Adam likes to brag that he ordered Marea’s “signature dish” which was the fussili with red wine braised octopus and bone marrow. I had a taste and can see why this is a standout entree– I loved the crunch of the bone marrow.
For dessert most of our party indulged in various flavors of gelato, but my Mom and I split the affogato with zabaglione gelato which was topped with espresso. What a perfect way to end such a delicious meal. Marea was such a great way to celebrate a special occasion, and it will go down as one of the best all-around meals I have had to-date. As with all weekend trips they come to an end, but I am glad I had the chance to dine at Marea and I encourage fellow Washingtonians to give it a try on your next visit to NYC.
Marea
240 Central Park South
New York, NY 10019
www.marea-nyc.com
