Marx Fusion Bistro

After reading the reviw below, I had to make note of our experience. I have travelled to many places and have had some fantastic dinner experiences in Manhattan, Barcelona, Seattle, Chicago, Hawaii, and Miami. When we walked into Marx, it had a vibe that reminded us of a trendy Manhattan or Miami restaurant. The atmoshere was energetic, the lights were dimmed and the music was appropriate for an enjoyable, upper scale dinner. We shared a dinner special that combined butter salmon and scallops. It was so large, it was enough for two! We both agree, it was THE BEST dinner we had ever had!!! The fish was fresh. It was seasoned with a variety of fresh herbs and the sauces that accompanied the dish were WONDERFUL!! It was fantastic and we can't wait to visit again!!

Possibly the best restaurant in Stillwater. From the time we walked in the service was excellent, with a great band playing! They had several specials going on and our server was quick on it, could remember everything and refilled out drinks throughout the night. The surf & turf was wonderfully delicious! I could finish it all but truly enjoyed it!

It was a late lunch, and there were people sitting and eating in the place so I took this as a good sign.  I've had some really great meals in Stillwater, so I tried my luck with a place I hadn't been yet. There are three major aspects to a dining experience; ambiance, service and the food. Marx failed on all three, to a degree that has shocked me into having to write a review on this site. So let's go down the list.
The decor dazzles in a way that only a color-blind, manic schizoid choose. Of the dozen or so tables there was not more than a pair that matched in size shape or height. White Christmas lights, loosely wrapped in thin white fabric zig-zag over the main dining area. Bright orange Chihuly-esque lamps hang in a row, mirroring the arc of the crescent shaped bar. There are neon lights embedded in the surface of the bar that pulse in an oozing modulation while shifting through the shades of a simple rainbow. The walls are overcrowded with an array of massive, "modern art," so loud the obvious intent behind the scheme is to drown out or blind what the employees of Marx Fusion Bistro will subjugate upon the accidental customer.
Upon seating, a drink list/ book was provided and water offered. The water arrived with menus and the server left. A few minutes later, the server reappeared (having avoided the one other occupied table in that section) and daily specials were read off. The order was taken at that time, yet the point-of-sale computer was overlooked for several more minutes after that. Some odd-sized chunks of bread surrounding a ceramic cup of oil, complete with a floater of a garlic clove and a single blade of rosemary arrived with side plates next. The bottle of balsamic was remembered soon after. At this point, I was growing nervous... so I took the initiative and flagged down the server since the menus were now gone and it was clear now I was not going to be offered the option to get a glass of wine. Some time later, the sole course arrived neatly arranged on a plate that had obviously been left to die under a heat lamp for a long time. When the silverware was dropped off, I was able to use the napkin to slide my plate over 7 or 8 inches so that it was now in front of me. Later, once I had had enough, I was asked if I would like a to-go container to which I declined, one came anyway. On a final note here, my server's attitude and demeanor as well as physical appearance were all quite pleasant, but a few years experience at a Denny's plus a bit of training from whomever is in charge of the front of house would greatly improve one's ability to the tasks of one's job in the correct order.
And then, there was the food. Starting with the menu, there were three sections; Salads, Pizza's, and Pasta. I was struggling to see the "fusion" aspect of American Bistro idea of Modern/ Food Network Italian. Some of the cocktails have a fusion like quirkiness to the flavor combinations, that's the bartender. My dining companion ordered the beet/ bacon/ blue cheese salad. I had just had a salad for my previous meal, and I wasn't too jazzed about the pizza/ pasta dichotomy, but upon hearing the fish heavy specials such as a Fruits de Mer, some Scallop concoction, and a Asian themed Mahi Mahi, my interest was piqued. So, I opted for that last one, to witch my server replied, "That one's my favorite." Armed with an $11 glass of Chardonnay, I sipped slowly in anticipation.  I was only told twice that my food would be out shortly. Then the big moment came. Off-center of the round, two little fillets overlapped each other, moored upon a mass of garlic mashed potatoes, under a hat of Asian slaw, and sauced with a thick translucent brown and speckled goo. Creeping around the rest of the plate was a series of vegetable piles; the first a stack of a half-dozen green beans, next a dollop of something orange, a single floret of broccoli, finally a fan of five snow peas. There was a lot going on on this plate that looked as if it was still listening to G&R while teasing the bangs of its mullet. And, it's well done. Not a little over - it's cat food. My server never asked for a temp, which I didn't think much of because who in their right mind would cook Mahi past medium rare for even the most squeamish diner? The sauce, basically a thinned out hoisin with a little ginger and sesame seeds. The garlic mash just okay. The veggies; raw but with some darkness at the tips of the floret, and no seasoning - blanched for a whole five seconds and finished via heat lamp, delicious! Not. Asian slaw was really just coleslaw with sesame oil instead of mayo with the addition of a hint of ginger and a sprig of cilantro for a garnish.
When it comes to the folks at Marx, it is a tasteless (visual and culinary) philosophy of function follows form.