If you find yourself at the Mark, avoid the fried tilapia. Â While I did not get sick after eating, the first and only bite gave me pause. Â The wait staff never came by to ask if we were "enjoying" our dinner. Â When they collected my uneaten plate, they didn't even notice. Â At that point, I mentioned that the fish was REALLY suspect . Â The waiter shrugged and suggested that next time I should let them know and they would bring something else. Â REALLY? Â Never again.
Review Source: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. Â 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.
Review Source:Service is good. As for the food, what I ordered was not good. The vegan bbq sandwich was a disappointment. BBQ sauce was too sweet, too much seitan, barely any cabbage slaw on it, and it was super hot, like it just came out of the microwave. My mother had the reuben and was equally disappointed.
Review Source:This is a relatively new restaurant near the Joyce Arena at Notre Dame. The food is pretty varied and all home-made. There are lots of vegan choices, meat-eater choices, non-gluten choices etc, with some very interesting and eclectic menu items.
There are two dining areas, a lounge-type area where the bar is located, and a dining room if you prefer to sit at a table. The atmosphere is relaxing and light.
Their jalapeño poppers are awesome, by the way!
There is a decent wine list if you like a glass with your meal as I do. Prices are pretty reasonable.
There is a TON of baked goods available to take with you if you like; lots of goodies like cookies, cupcakes, cakes, pies, chocolaty-nugget things et cetera.
I must get better at taking photos of where I go; I will endeavor to improve there.
I was visiting Notre Dame for an Alumni meeting and was happy to see a decent looking sit down restaurant next to campus. Â Several alumni and myself went there for dinner. Â I was disappointed after I ordered the steak and they ran out of Hollandaise sauce which came with the steak. Â It was around 845pm and I understand that it was towards the end of the night, but I still think when you order a $30+ steak you shouldn't run out of the anything. Â In addition they ran out of the pork dumpling appetizer as well. Â
I probably won't go back to this restaurant. Â It's too bad because the location is great.
This review is strictly for the beer, bar, and burgers. Â (What ELSE do I review?) Â On our way to the game, we decided to try The Mark for a change of tradition. Â This place has seriously quality beer on tap (I had a North Coast Old Red Seal Ale and a Southern Tier Harvest Ale...YUM), really good burgers (a little pricey and overcooked but luckily the awesome toppings make up for it), and a nice bar complete with bartenders who know what they are talking about. Â Nice touch. Â It was a little strange to come in to a bar on game day and not be shoulder to shoulder with a leprechaun, but I'll take the quiet if I can get a quality brew. Â
I don't know if South Bend is prissy enough for a place like this to make it, but I'm glad to have a place to stop in that has premiums nicer than Guinness.
*UPDATE*: Â The second visit to The Mark yielded the same results. Â Good food, great beer, and decent service. Â Two tips though: Â This time it was packed so you may want to drop someone off to put your name on the wait and you can't sit in the bar unless your whole party is 21 and over (but it's first come first serve if you are).
**THIRD TIMES A CHARM?**: Â The Southern Tier taps are always awesome and DON'T GET THE FISH AND CHIPS. Â That is all.
As a week long visitor without a car, there wasn't much to choose from within the vicinity of the Notre Dame campus. The Foundry across the street provided a wider variety of fast food places and this sit down restaurant (one out of the few in the same location). The food was decent and offered the standard American fare. I do have to say that I'm a fan of all-day breakfasts, so I gladly welcomed a waffle for dinner. It was a nice change from either a burger or another burger. The service was fast and friendly.
Review Source:I've been to The Mark numerous times for brunch, lunch, dinner and after works drink (and was a little surprised when I realized I hadn't written a review yet). Â Overall I would probably rate the experience 3.5 stars. Â I love the concepts of both The Mark and Uptown Kitchen (both locally owned, independent restaurants operating under The Clean Plate Club Restaurants), but think there is room for improvement at The Mark.
The times I have been there for brunch and lunch have been fine. Â They do a good job about getting you in and out during the work week for lunch. Â The menu strays a bit for the more healthier Uptown Kitchen and provides some unique twists on classic diner and comfort foods (think meatloaf, mac and cheese, etc). Â Salads are great and always make for a nice lunch although I think they are a little pricey.
We seem to end up at The Mark for brunch (it's close to our home) and they do make a terrific bloody mary that just happens to be half price on Sundays ($4.50). Â Our last visit was a week ago.
I stuck with the usual bloody mary (they make their own mix with fresh herbs) and my fiance went for the Corpse Reviver #2, which was a good, but strong drink, for brunch. He's been searching for a good corned beef and hash so he tried it here. Â It was definitely homemade and had good flavor, but he thought it should have been crispier, which could easily be requested next time. Â His eggs were cooked a perfect sunny side up (although he did find a small hair on his plate, but didn't want to call attention to it despite my arguing otherwise). Â I ordered the Taylor Ham and Egg sandwich simply because I spent plenty of time in New Jersey growing up and eating Taylor Ham (affectionately known as Pork Roll). Â I should have stuck with my memories...it was a disappointment. Â Skimpy slices that had obviously been frozen past their prime. Â Next time I would go back to the South of the Border Omelet or Huevos Rancheroes.
One thing that really disappoints me with The Mark is the bar. Â The bar decor and atmosphere is fantastic; however, the last couple of times I have been there the service has been terrible! Â It really shouldn't be difficult to get a drink while sitting at the bar when the rest of the place is almost empty. Â The last time I was there with a friend, it took forever for us to be served despite the fact the bartender and a couple other employees were chatting behind the counter. Â We finally were able to order a drink, but our glasses sat empty, we were never offered another and had to beg for our checks. Â Hopefully service will improve as the venue has great potential!
The food is delicious, but the atmosphere leaves a little to be desired. Â It is really loud and difficult to hear! Â
Definitely order the edamame hummus and pretzel sticks for appetizers. They are two of the best things on the menu. Â For main courses, I like the Mac and cheese and the burgers (you can substitute a turkey burger, which is delicious). Â And of course, their cakes are incredible for dessert. Â The raspberry champagne is far and away the best. Â Also wonderful is the vanilla bean cheesecake and coconut cake.
I prefer their sister restaurant, Uptown Kitchen. Â However, the Mark does have great food and a great location.
Overpriced, weirdly prepared food. Â I had an omelet, which was made by cooking some eggs, and then stuff uncooked filling on top, and folding it up. Â Yum: unmelted cheese and cold ham. Â My dining companions were equally thrilled by the quality of the food. Â
Service was okay, but not anything to make up for the poor food.
I was in South Bend on business and found this restaurant on the CVB's website. Â What drew me to the restaurant was it's vast menu, with many options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians/vegans. Â Being a vegetarian, I don't find creative options very often, so I really appreciate the effort put into pleasing those of us with alternative diets. I find a lot of the restaurants in Indianapolis don't even make an effort in this area, so thanks for thinking of us!
Ambiance: Â the decor and layout of the restaurant really reminded me of Cafe Patachou in Indianapolis. Â The restaurant is designed in a modern style and is an open concept, with a counter separating you from the kitchen. Â I saw other reviews that state it was loud in the restaurant. Â I would agree somewhat, although it didn't prohibit my party of 6 from being able to converse.
Drinks: Â I just had a soda on this visit, but I noted there were many craft beer options on tap available. Â I love it when a restaurant steps beyond the usual Bud/Miller Lite.
Food:  I went with the vegan della rosa reuben.  I know it's strange, but I often order reubens without the meat at restaurants, making it essentially a sauerkraut  sandwich with cheese and dressing.  It was nice to be able to have this reuben, which had the vegan meat substitute seitan on it.  Very good!  The sandwich was grilled to perfection and not soggy at all, which I find tends to happen with this type of sandwich.  I switched out the house-made chips that came with the sandwich for sweet potato fries, which were also very good.  Crispy and not soggy.  My colleagues also enjoyed their meals, two of which ordered the black bean burgers, two ordered the turkey reuben and one ordered the cuban.  There were also these amazing looking cakes available, but we were too full to have a slice.  I was eyeing the orange cream cake, but there were also strawberry lemonade, white with chocolate Kahlua icing, gluten-free red velvet, and others.
Service: Â The hostess that greeted us was very bubbly and happy to be there. Â Our server was great, as well; I didn't feel it took her long at all and it was pretty busy, as we were there during peak lunch time (12:00). Â She was courteous and knowledgeable and gave us recommendations (the hostess did, too).
Price: Â The price of my meal was $14.45 before tip. Â This may seem a little steep for some, but to me this is about average when you dine in a sit-down restaurant in downtown Indianapolis where I work. Â I am willing to pay a few extra dollars if I am going to get a meal that I enjoy. Â There was plenty of food for that price, too; in fact, I had sweet potato fries left over.
If you're in South Bend, you need to check this place out! Â I was pleasantly surprised and if I return, I will definitely visit The Mark again...I'll remember save room for cake, too!
I would advise the owner to be less defensive and to remember "the customer is always right". Â He is talented, for sure - but many have noticed that he does not respond well to any complaints or suggestions. Â
A very good place for out-of-towners, because there is a huge and interesting variety on the menu.
I guess I shouldn't expect honest reviews of a great gastropub from folks who vote The Original Pancake House the third best restaurant in town. I'm actually pretty glad I don't have to eat in the same restaurant as some of the folks who reviewed The Mark. I'm not sure what they were expecting to pay for their dinners, but clearly their expectations were the problem. We eat at The Mark many times a month and I've never felt there was a discrepancy between the quality of food and drink and the bill.
So what's great about the place? Where to begin... First, the bar! The taps are craft beer only, with a quickly rotating selection. I've had the opportunity to try some amazing beers from Germany, Austria, and small craft breweries all over the US. Think you can do the same at Fiddler's? Maybe once in a while - but this is an everyday thing at The Mark. Want a bottle of something rare and awesome? They have those too. In the mood for wine or an historical cocktail? Done. For anyone concerned about the noise level in the dining room, just spend your time in the bar and all your problems are solved (unless you're looking for a Miller Light - then you have problems The Mark can't solve).
It's hard to describe how good the food has been in just the past few months. I haven't seen the actual menu in all that time, because we keep ourselves occupied with the specials. Earlier this week I had some amazing duck confit crepes with a Lorraine swiss béchamel sauce and the oaked smoked beer - amazing! My husband had an awesome pork loin with a sour cream/maple syrup/cinnamon? sauce and scalloped potatoes topped with a 4-year aged cheddar. Where else are you going to get that in South Bend? Certainly not at the rapidly aging LaSalle Grille. But then again, The Mark draws a more adventurous crowd.
For anyone wanting a decadent breakfast, sometimes those are the best specials of the day. And on top of all this, The Mark is a place where I know I can take my vegetarian and vegan friends and they'll be able to get something besides a salad or a little pasta - that's not easy to do in South Bend.
So are there any problems with The Mark? Sure, I guess. It's no fun to be perfect. It is loud in the dining room and sometimes in the bar - I'd like to see some more art on the walls to absorb some of that noise. I'd also be happy to see the triumphant return of the cake truffle! Those were awesome.
I started out giving this place 3 stars, but after listing all the negatives I just had to drop it down to 2. Â The service was just terrible and the prices steep. Â We waited for around 20 minutes before our server came up to take our drink orders... I had a long day at work and all I wanted was a beer. Â It seemed like another 20 minutes before he came back with the drinks, then set them down and set he will return to take our food orders. Â After another 20 minutes we finally placed our food orders. Â So... after around an hour after entering we were finally able to place our food orders. Â This seemed a bit off since the place was about 1/4 full. Â The support staff was everywhere, the waterboys/busboys were all over their jobs. Â The food took quite a while to come out as well, but i can understand that.
I had blueberry pancakes and they were amazing. Â Nice and fluffy and bigger than my head. Â The two people I was with ordered salads... they barely got their salads and the main meal was out. Â I hate when restaurants do that. Â It does not take 20 minutes to prepare a salad, so why bring it out 5 minutes before the main meal???
Also, this place was pricey. Â I can understand certain items costing more, but my pancakes with sausage were like $15. Â Most breakfast places will give you 4 sausage links. Â The Mark cuts two in half and passes it off as four..... rather disappointed there especially for around $3.
My boss who took us there echoed the same comments about the service on her previous visit.
If you have about 2.5 hours, want to be ignored and overpay for food, The Mark is the place!
I came here on a recent trip to meet some of my boyfriend's family members.
Admittedly, I wasn't really impressed walking in. It was loud and very disorganized with a front desk display of some sad looking cheesecake. Almost immediately, I figured it out that this was a new restaurant that was still getting it's act together. Waitstaff were running around all over the place, the place itself was very loud, and there wasn't proper staffing in the reception area. Oh well, we figured our hosts knew what they were doing so we proceeded into the bar area for some food and drink and to catch the ND v. Michigan game.
We were here for dinner so everyone but me ordered standard far. The burgers looked good, big and and well worth the price. The fries, which I sampled, were tasty and crisp. The one thing I liked about The Mark was that they serve breakfast all day! YES FTW! I was already particularly full that day from a lunch trip to Gino's East so I settled for the blueberry baked oatmeal at the suggestion of the waitress.
OMG, what a delicious choice. Coming from Texas, I had never had baked oatmeal but I was very happy with the decision. Out came an unassuming square of baked oatmeal that was crisp and hot fresh out of the oven! It came with a little pitcher of milk and some brown sugar (not that it needed the sugar). It tasted like a giant baked blueberry oatmeal cookie but it was rich, satisfying, and comforting on that rainy afternoon.
The place doesn't really win any awards but definitely, I would come back for the breakfast!
Great place across from Notre Dame. Â Diverse menu, we went for lunch and had breakfast choices, sandwich/salad/burger choices, and specials like the tenderloin with artichoke risoto. Â Great Monte Cristo, house made chips, fries, longhorn burger, and don't miss the pretzel appetizer.
Review Source:I really, really, wanted to like the Mark. Â A great gastro-pub by Notre Dame would be perfect! Â Unfortunately, this is not it. Â I love Uptown Kitchen, and have never had anything bad from there, but not a fan of the Granger-location. Â The biggest question I have is how can Uptown be so good and Mark miss the mark so much? Â The quality of ingredients seems comparable to Uptown, it's just the execution is way off. Â I've been several times, and the consistency of food just isn't there. Â The food is just...blah or bland. Â Service is usually very good, nice decor, great bar...the food just doesn't stand out, unfortunately. Â Two stars for the food, three adn one-half stars as just a place to grab a drink.
Review Source:Looks nice but it is the loudest restaurant in Michiana (that I've been in).
Interested in a place to have a meeting or talk? Choose some place else.
I had a burger and fries. The burger was mediocre. As I was eating it I was thinking how much better a Five Guys burger from across the street would have been. The people I was with got breakfast items (at lunch) and all seemed to like them.
One can get food not available elsewhere here. For a more organically and/or vegetarian minded customer, this restaurant might hit the spot.
I love The Mark. In fact I have even been twice in the past week. The sandwiches are excellent and the burgers are great and original. I haven't had an entree but friends have and said they are wonderful.
The staff is always friendly on both busy and quiet days. Even a brand new waiter was helpful with the specials and very attentive.
The atmosphere is fun. Don't go if you're looking for a private party, go if you're looking to see others and have fun in an upbeat setting.
As a Notre Dame student, it's fantastic that The Mark is walking distance from campus. Friends eat there frequently throughout the year and always jump at the opportunity to bring parents.
Overall, always a great experience.
This was my last meal in South Bend and I was not very pleased. I ordered a burger RARE and when it came it was burnt to a crisp. I am not sure why places ask if they are going to cook it the way they want anyways. Due to time crunch I just took it to go and got on the road. If I am ever in town again I will pass on this place.
Review Source:I love the mark, and I love the food because it is similar to uptown kitchen which I also love! the food is delicious! I had the 7 cheese Mac and cheese I think it was, and it was DELICIOUS! Jonathan was so nice as always, but service could have been a little faster. My friend and I can't wait to go back for some triple berry Belgian waffles!
Review Source:I went there for dinner. I thought the place was beautifully done, a nice addition to Eddy Commons. But I agree with other reviewers that the food is way over-priced. $22 for a beef stew that had about 8 tiny cubes of beef! I bet this whole dish--8 tiny cubes of beef, peas, corn, and potato--cost less than 5 dollars to make. Â I wouldn't have minded that much if the food was good. But the beef stew was really salty. Â I'm very disappointed; I want the pace to do well as SB really needs good restaurants.
Review Source:The Mark is an excellent restaurant but there are a few dishes that really seem to stand out. I would highly recommend the Monte Cristo, which at $9.50 is an absolute steal considering the amount of food you get. It comes piled high with house-roasted turkey, ham, and swiss cheese and is served with homemade chips. Their salads, appetizers, and other sandwiches are great as well. Their comfort food menu seems a little pricey, and I have not ordered from it so far, but the food looks great coming out of the kitchen. Their desserts are also amazing, just as they are at Uptown Kitchen, the owner's other restaurant--I highly recommend the triple chocolate brownie, which is so incredibly rich and dense that you basically have to share it. I would definitely recommend making reservations if you want to go there on a weekend, as the place isn't particularly large and the waits can get long. Finally, and this is important, I would definitely NOT go there on a ND home football weekend. They limit the menu and the prices go up, and it's just a bad idea all around.
Review Source:We love The Mark, though I will admit we spend far more time at the bar than in the restaurant. If you're looking for unusual craft beers or limited releases, this is the place to go. If you're looking for Bud Light, well, I feel bad for you, but I think they have that, too. They also have an extensive drink list with original drinks created by Wally, the God of all Bartenders. That's not an exaggeration -- go in and spend 10 minutes with Wally. You'll want to be one of his followers.
The food is excellent. I recommend the roast chicken, which is exactly what your grandmother wishes she could have made. Though the Comfort Food menu is a little pricier than the rest of the fare, I've always found it to be worth it.
Their sandwich menu provides staples with flair -- gussied up grilled cheese, a meatball sandwich with some serious kick, a vegan Reuben, and so much more. The Bari's Gobbler -- a croissant with turkey, brie and apple slices -- will change your life. Pair any of the sandwiches with their sweet potato fries.
Stick around for dessert -- they're homemade and big enough to share between three or four people. Order an Anonymous Coffee from the bar to wash it down.
If you get the chance, sit at the communal table in the dining room. It's a great way to meet others and strike up conversation with strangers.
I recommend making reservations on the weekend if you're planning to eat in the dining area, but don't discount just stopping by to have drinks after work and grabbing an appetizer. All in all, a great place and another win for Jonathan Lutz in our area.
I've been twice, but just for cocktails and an appetizer in the bar  so this review in way has anything to do with having a meal in the dining room. I am really impressed with the beer selection, feel favorably enough about the wine offerings, and am very enthusiastic about the creative cocktails. I really loved the Espresso Martini and my husband liked a drink that may have been called the Narragansett Cooler and is made with whiskey and juice. The ambience is great, including a bartender with a colorful personality. On my first visit, I tried the fried mozzarella appetizer. My husband thought it was great, but I found them to be mediocre beyond the impressive amount of cheese (I hate fried mozzarella that is mostly breading). On my second visit, five of us split the pulled pork nachos and I can't imagine sharing this appetizer with fewer people. They were pretty tasty although it was the kind of nacho plate in which the chips on top have all of the toppings and then the 2-3 layers of chips below are just hot and plain. I'll be back for cocktails for sure, and am quite eager to try one of their amazing looking burgers or breakfasts. I will also take groups here as there is a wide array of menu options, including plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.
Review Source:We thought we'd try this restaurant out when we visited ND. Â We were a bit disappointed. Â The atmosphere was modern with a bit a nice artwork on the walls, which was very nice, but unfortunately we didn't go there for the artwork.
Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, so that was good, but our meals weren't that great.  I ordered the roasted beets & gorgonzola salad. Upon arrival it was rather disappointing to look at.  It really looked like a mixed green salad with a little bit of beets in it and a sprinkling of gorgonzola.  It was totally flavorless, as well, including the gorgonzola cheese!  The beets were also sort of  limp!  Certainly not roasted beets--or if they were roasted, they were really, really cooked too long.  I think they probably were canned.  Awful!  The lemon vinaigrette was also lifeless!
My husband and son each ordered the Longhorn Burger. Â It was large and very messy. Â They both thought it tasted OK---But not spectacular. Â The fries were overcooked and dried out. Â Â All in all---we won't be back when there are other restaurants that we know we prefer in the ND/South Bend area.
This will be the loudest restaurant you will EVER eat in. Period. Â Unless you picnic on the tarmac @ O'hare someday. Unbelievable decibels. Â Yell @ the people right next to you.
Beware they have some not so clever "special" menus for ND football weekends. Same food -- just higher priced. Â I had the Mac and Cheese with Pancetta -- tasted good - but needed an angioplasty for dessert. Â Probably 3 days worth of RDAs for sodium and fat.
Will not be back.
This was my first time at the Mark. Â Unedited. Â I've since gone again and I believe they have definitely improved the experience.
Not impressed with The Mark.
First, we showed up at 8 pm and could only get the bar menu. Â They gave us two versions. Â No differences except the price. Â One was a dollar more on everything because it was an ND weekend menu. Â Thanks for upcharging. Â Everything is really expensive. Â 10 dollar burgers in South Bend. Â Really?
Second, the pretzels were cold in the center. Â If you are going to microwave, then at least check it before serving.
Third, we found a hair in one of the salads. Â Nasty. Â They offered free dessert but I think the waitress thought we put it in ourselves. Â We didn't and I really didn't appreciate her accusing attitude. Â Sorry if everything was a disaster at our table but we weren't the ones causing the issues.
Fourth, the waitress offered to box the salad with the hair. Â Are you kidding me?
Fifth, too loud. Â The place wasn't that busy but we had to scream at each other just to hear. Â Change the ceiling to some reverb.
I won't be back.
BTW, I like Uptown Kitchen. Â It's so much better.
Second review last Wednesday (01/05/11)...
I've since gone again and things were much better. Â I still believe it is a bit over-priced for South Bend. Â But maybe that's the point.
The food was fine. Â I had a burger and while I've heard people say they are the best in town, I would say they are very good. Â It's hard to say they are the best when CJs is just amazing.
The service was much better. Â And the recommendation of the fried green beans was worth it. Â I would go back for those again.
I would also like to thank Jonathan who owns both Uptown and The Mark for reaching out to a dissatisfied customer. Â While he didn't offer anything (which I respect), he did want a second chance. Â I completely understand that.
Good luck to The Mark and Uptown Kitchen and the families that work really hard to make them better.
I would give about 3.5 stars if I could but I am deferring to the generous side. Â I would also like to qualify my review by saying this was my first visit and I went with an extremely large party of about 20 people. Â Finally, The Mark has only been open about 3 weeks so I think there are still some very exciting things they can do.
SO - the good. Â The restaurant space is GORGEOUS! Â I love the bar area - huge bar with plenty of seating plus nice tables and space set aside from the other parts of the restaurant. Â I can so see myself sitting here and enjoying a cocktail on many nights.
The menu is huge and offers only fresh ingredients - very tough to find in our neck of the woods. Â It takes a lot of time and effort for this concept to work and the owners seem very dedicated to quality, something I greatly admire.
Now, the not so good. Â Our party found the service a little lacking. Â We were seated and it took approximately an hour for our whole party to get their food. Â Granted, again, we had a party of 20 and the rest of the restaurant was completely full. Â Then, it took another hour to get our checks and unfortunately, coffee and dessert was never even offered, though their desserts are one of the biggest selling points they have. Â The speciality made cakes are just to die for - you will find similiar offerings at their sister restaurant, Uptown Kitchen.
The food was . . .good. Â Not outstanding, not superb, just good. Â Below are my notes on what I had:
Lemon Drop Martini - at $10 each, I would have expected them to be larger, considering other high end restaurants in our areas offerings and it tasted watered down and icy.
Cuban Sandwich - VERY good meat but the bread and preparation is not a true Cuban, if that is what you are looking for. Â I thought the bread was a prepared a little too greasy/buttery for my taste. Â
Baked Vermont cheddar Mac N' Cheese - I was really looking forward to this and it was good. Â I didn't taste the baked part at all and it seemed a little liquidy but the cheese had a very good flavor.
Turkey Tower - again, very good high quality meat but not sure what I think about turkey and mashed potatoes served on  Belgium waffle.  Just didn't seem to go together.
Coconut Curry Bowl - I thought this was very good and offered a different menu choice. Â My companions who ordered it said tasted different than they would have expected but I really enjoyed it.
Beer Battered Tilapia and Chips - if you are a fan of fish and chips, this is a very tasty option and I do like the beer brand used in the batter. Â Again, anything fried is just too greasy for my tastes - if it is shiny, then chances are, I won't care for it too much.
Julia's Grilled Chili Garlic Shrimp - I think this was probably my favorite dish - nice sized shrimp and just the right amount of spice. Â Anything spicier to me would be too much and the soba noodles were great.
My two cents for the survival of The Mark Dine and Tap?  Cut your  menu in half, focus on your truly outstanding, unique offerings, let your staff and your fans get familiar with the quality and the atmosphere you offer and then slowly roll out more options as your success grows.  I think there is definite potential for this restaurant but with such an overwhelming menu, I would hate to see them run themselves out of business before they really get started.  Best of luck to them!
New restaurant from the owners of "The Uptown Kitchen." I had Coconut Curry with Tofu. My daughter had chicken pot pie. She said the curry was the best she has had. 8 different craft bears on tap. We sat at the communal table. Similar vibe to uptown but a little warmer feeling. Very diverse menu. Great service from everyone. Fresh ingredients. Jonathan was a gracious host as usual.
Review Source:
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