MARLOW'S by Roberto — Restaurant in Jalisco

We've heard so many good things about Marlow's, but one visit was enough for us. We won't be back. We had reservations for 7 and because the tables are closely squeezed together, it was difficult for us to be seated. Service was very slow and we the server never checked back to see if we needed any more drinks or water. One of our friends had to ask for a straw THREE times before the server brought one to the table. The food was good for most of us. Another one of our friends was served a bloody steak that was under cooked. He ended sending it back to be grilled for a bit longer. Prices are very high for the small portions you get. Side dishes are tiny, as are the salads. Our big issue was that we were uncomfortable the entire 2 hours we were there. There is some kind of ventilation issue in the kitchen, which is open to the seating. The kitchen and grill area were engulfed in thick smoke while we were trying to dine. It was so thick, even where we were seated, that our eyes were burning and we started coughing. It appears that either the exhaust fan was broken, turned off or didn't exist to begin with. It's a very tight space with tables crammed in tightly and with the cramped surroundings and all the thick smoke, we really wanted to get up and leave, but decided to wait, and wait, for the food to be served. At a restaurant with these prices, we expect a certain level of service and clean air to enjoy our dinners. That did not happen on this visit. All seven of us talked about it after dinner and decided that none of us will go back. There are much better options for steaks...

We arrived early for our reservation at 6, Sunday 19 March. The kitchen and bar were not ready yet, but we were taken to our table, which was right beside the kitchen. We were offered water while the bar was setting up. It was a delightful experience to watch the kitchen set-up, 4 person kitchen that was just humming with activity. This also gave ample time to check out the menu and wines.

We placed appetizer orders for the Crispy Pork Belly and Egg Roll. And of course a bottle of wine. There was focaccia with citrus butter that was so light, flaky with a nice bite of garlic. The citrus butter was a wonderful addition. Watching the theater and attention to detail in the kitchen made the time just pass on by.

The Crispy Pork Belly was addictive and indeed crispy, sweet, salty ... kind of like everything you would want to get ready for your main. The Egg Roll was so full of flavour, and the aioli and teriyaki sauce blended well with the filling.

I could have (maybe should have) stopped here. But then it was time to order our mains. I was first thinking of going with the Sea Bass for mine, but then these beautiful pieces of meat were presented to us as ... so much for the Sea Bass.

Two steaks, med-rare ... perfectly prepared. Brought to our table for slicing so you can see the cook of the steak before placed in front of you.

Desert was Flan with Espresso to finish the meal nicely.

Thank you to each of the actors that made the meal and night a memorable one.

I will be back, hopefully next year. Then I must have the Sea Bass. I should try to make it for...

As an executive chef myself, I'm always critical of the food I eat when I go out. My fiance and I always go to one or two high end restaurants when we take our annual trip to PV. I did not want to go to Cafe Des Artists for a plethora of reasons, but we did want to celebrate our engagement with a high end meal. Thus, we found ourselves reserving a table here at Marlow's. I don't want to type a novel here, so let me get to the key points. Chef Jonathan did impress. The service was top notch, even with a server in training, we were well taken care of. The hostess sat us at the table closest to the kitchen, so we even got a show with dinner. A head chef, and 3 hands all working in sync, it was a dream to watch him work. We were presented with the protein cuts table side(some of which even come with a glass of wine), I ordered the USDA Prime Ribeye, and while steak is never my go to when going out(I don't have the largest appetite) I found myself blown away by this specific steak. The fat melted in my mouth, almost no connective tissue, three different sauces for the meat, hand cut shoestring truffle fries, and pan roasted vegetables, there was nothing that could be improved upon. This was hands down the best steak I've ever had, including my own. I've been inspired, impressed, and left with a taste of envy! What a restaurant.

To make things short, if you are looking for the best fine dining option in PV, specifically as a couple, perhaps a small group, make no mistakes...Marlow's...