Marea & New York Italian Fod

Marea is an Italian restaurant across the street from Central Park and near Columbus Circle. It’s a fairly large restaurant and the head chef is Michael White. Chef Michael White owns a several restaurants in New York City and a few of them have Michelin stars. Here is Marea’s accolades:

• 2 Michelin stars in 2014
• 2 Michelin stars in 2015
• #93 on the San Pellegrino 2014 World’s Best Restaurants

Now, I came here on a Sunday afternoon and the service had it’s hiccups. However, it provided an entertaining experience. I like that Marea is a pretty relaxed restaurant in that they don’t allow shorts in the dining room, which is fine.  I came in my 2pac T-shirt and jeans and decided to sit at the bar.  I know.  I’m such a rebel.

First, the host nonchalantly decides to walk to door then let one rip.  I thought it was something else until I heard him give out a relieved sigh.  I just hope he didn’t shart.  Secondly, I decided to go with the lunch tasting menu and I was told I could pick my dishes. I was thinking “That doesn’t sound right but okay”.  The only thing you could usually choose is whether you want the supplement or wine pairing.  You know… The stuff you pay extra for excluding the host letting one rip.

Anyway, I chose my courses then was told 15 minutes later it wasn’t the case. Okay. No big deal.  Thirdly, they brought the dessert out before the last savory course. It was an interesting experience. I wish the host wouldn’t have farted in the first place cause it started the chain of events.  Anyway, they comp me an additional dish for all the hiccups even though I wasn’t upset. Sh*t happens as the host.

Now, the food. There was a two course prix fixe menu and a five course tasting menu. I decided to go with the five course because I like to evaluate a restaurant based on more than a dish or two. Now, here are my favorite courses:

1. Assagio di Crudo – This was the chef’s selection of raw seafood. The seafood tasted clean and fresh. The reason I say fresh is because the texture was a bit more dense than aged fish at high-end sushi restaurants. My favorite out of the three was the tuna cause they garnish it with a few pieces of corn. The corn definitely help break down the fish as you chew.  The smell was pleasant compared to the host crop dusting the restaurant entrance.

   

2. Capesante – This was seared scallops, kale involtini, zucchini, prosecco and charred oranges. I really enjoyed the kale involtini. It resembled kale chips and lightly salted. It was a garnish and complemented the scallops very well. The scallops was perfectly cooked and seared on each end.  It definitely melted in my mouth and didn’t require much chewing unlike overcooked chicken that taste like wood.

   

Overall, I wouldn’t consider Marea one of the restaurants I’m dying to come back to again.  The tasting menu was decent but there wasn’t any dish that defined the dining experience. There is always one dish that stood out from the rest.  However, it wasn’t the case this time.  However, the crop dusting made it a worth while experience.

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