The Mark Dine and Tap

If you find yourself at the Mark, avoid the fried tilapia.  While I did not get sick after eating, the first and only bite gave me pause.  The wait staff never came by to ask if we were "enjoying" our dinner.  When they collected my uneaten plate, they didn't even notice.  At that point, I mentioned that the fish was REALLY suspect .  The waiter shrugged and suggested that next time I should let them know and they would bring something else.  REALLY?  Never again.

The Mark has come quite a long way, and is now exactly what it ought to be. Several satisfying visits have confirmed this. The chefs and bar manager know precisely what they're doing. Their menu has been somewhat altered, and the prices are almost not ridiculous anymore. The real winners at this place are lunch and dinner specials.

It's a lot more contemporary here, a lot more foodie-ie than other local fine dining spots. Gourmet burgers, grilled cheese, and even mac & cheese are available, and the salads sure are interesting. The beer selection is always perfect. Their list of wine and booze is incredible and neverending.  Sure, they rake in cash taking advantage of your propensity to seek out trendiness, but you get very delicious food and the absolute finest beverages in exchange.

Eddy St. Commons is and always will be a travesty. It's only the most egregious example of ND's policy of aggressive appropriation. Notre Dame represents the worst in Catholicism, and they won't be satisfied until they've recapitulated the 2nd Irish Plantation and repopulated South Bend with a bunch of smug & elitist carpetbaggers.

In many ways, The Mark is the head of the snake. But at least the food & drink is good. Now, to think of ways to afford it occasionally.

One of the top 3-4 places to eat in the South Bend area. New. hip, eclectic...there is talent here. Fabulous drinks list and wine. Food is amazing and runs the gamut from what the foodies/fatties indulge in, to what people who eat healthy like. I had a special: wild Alaskan salmon over arugula and with butternut squash cakes. Excellent. Friends of mine who know good food and beverages dine here a lot. So should you. South Bend was pretty much a culinary wasteland save for LaSalle Grill and Carriage House. Third time's the charm with this place.