Marseille - Favorite In The Theatre District - NYC - Foodie Alert!

Marseille

630 9th Avenue (between 44th and 45th Street)

New York, NY

(212) 333-2323

Marseille is a mix of French, Italian, Greek, and North African cuisines.

Hotel Note: Anyone needing accommodations in this area, check out the 414 Hotel, and many more.

I mentioned Marseille as part of my Appetizer Crawl but I love it so much, I've decided to do a full dinner post. People are asking me all the time, "What restaurant do you recommend in the theatre district of New York City?" And I always include Marseille.

Whether you sit at the bar or in the main restaurant, it's a beautiful and comfortable space, reasonably priced and has great food. Plus it's just minutes from most of the Broadway theatres. What could be better than that?

First up...my dining partner and I shared the Crispy Calamari appetizer. Wow! Superb! Served with heirloom tomatoes, jalapeno aioli and a citrus-leek emulsion, this was the best I've tasted in years. Seriously. Fresh, tender and the calamari was tossed with the creamy sauce. The jalapeno gives the dish a great kick and kept it from being too rich. And the serving size was gigantic. Not sure how one person could eat it as an appetizer. Great as a main dish.

Crispy Calamari

For an entree, my friend ordered another appetizer, the Porcini Risotto with vegetable bolognese and grana (mature hard cheese).

Porcini Risotto

I'm sorry this pic does not do this dish justice. It was light, the vegetable bolognese gave it a unique twist and it was a perfect pairing with the porcini mushrooms. So earthy. Mediterranean comfort food.

Seafood Tagine

And I ordered the Seafood Tagine. Monkfish, scallops, shrimp, and mussels are swimming in a saffron tomato broth with leeks and potatoes served with pearl couscous. It's topped with cilantro and I sensed there was a bit of tarragon in the dish too. Light, fresh and bursting with flavor. Marseille's menu.

So if you can't make a quick trip to the Mediterranean for a great meal, head on down to Marseille.

 Bon Appétit!

 

Appetizer Crawl - NYC - Part 5

Marseille - French/Mediterranean
630 Ninth Ave @ 44th Street

Marseille, my go-to restaurant in the theatre district.

Hotel Note: Anyone in search of a hotel in this area check out: Distrikt Hotel.

Marseille is a French restaurant with strong Italian, Greek, and North African influences. The food is consistently delicious and the ambiance charming. Plus, it's not unusual to rub shoulders - or napkins - with celebrities. Last citing was the lovely Brooke Shields.

When having dinner, I often order their seafood tagine - monkfish, scallops, shrimp & mussels in a saffron tomato broth with leeks & potatoes. Finger licking good, I swear.

But this trip was a seat at the bar and a couple of appetizers. It was restaurant week in New York City and an item I've never seen on the menu before was their melon carpaccio with shaved porcini, Piave Vecchio, peppercress & candied hazelnuts.

Melon Carpaccio

I've never had shaved melon before. It was melt-in-your-mouth sweetness cut with the nutty flavor of the Piave Vecchio. A cow's milk cheese, it's made in the Dolomites and is similar to Parmigiano-Reggiano. And the peppercress, a cousin of watercress, gave the plate a zing and balanced out the sweetness of the candied hazelnuts. A really creative dish.

Saffron Risotto

Also ordered was the saffron risotto with roasted tomato broth and roasted artichokes. I could have had three more servings. The arborio rice was cooked to perfection. Creamy, not too mushy and the roasting really brings out the flavors.

Drop by for lunch, dinner or after theatre and maybe you'll rub napkins with...me!

Bon Appétit!