Marquis Bistro — Restaurant in Fayetteville

I am staying at the Doubletree 17 July, 2013 and did not plan on eating at the hotel but thought I'd look up the reviews on it since I was right here. There aren't many reviews and their social media is all but inactive so I was intrigued by the mystery. Especially once I discovered that Marquis Bistro serves what seems like home-cooked Indian food to the reviewers. My mother-in-law is an amazing Indian cook, held in high respect well outside her family. Anyone who knows her does so through her cooking.

I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised. The food does indeed taste as if it was home kitchen made in the best quality. But it truly is made fresh on property.

I'm pretty much a whimp when it comes to chili-type hot stuff (ironic that I love Indian food so; right?) and the food in my entree was well too hot for me. My wife and 'mom' would LOVE this place! But anyway - the other flavors were so amazing that I actually finished the whole dish! And on the quantity brought, trust me I am STUFFED. Yogurt in the end cured any suffering of tongue and lips ;-) If I were thinking straight, I'd have asked for it... Some nice guy who came out to check on me who was dressed differently from the bartender offered some. Someone else who looked like high kitchen staff (not sure if chef) also came by to verify everything was good not long after the plates arrived. A nice touch. The naan was really pita which is always a bit of a let down but real naan is actually very tough for a restaurant to pull off, 'cause it's... well naan.

I also got the Samosa appetizer, which was excellent. The Basmati rice wasn't as 'floral' as I'm used to but it was good and cooked to just the right texture. It truly was a quality meal. From a price standpoint; it's worth what you pay, albeit it may look a touch pricey if you've never been there. Indian food requires so much preparation, it should be expensive. Just facts...

The table service was slow (I think the bartender was working the whole room) out at the tables but also incredibly friendly and helpful when she was present. Apparently, she's consistently as friendly because the banter around the bar amongst the customers and her indicated regulars, which indicates a good bartender. It was the kind of atmosphere many associate with the old show "Cheers" where there's a companionship vibe that's very inviting. A good place to laugh and learn.

My first stay at the Doubletree Fayetteville is offering LOTS of crazy surprises (a real Spa in the hotel! - who knew!?) and this restaurant is certainly one. I peg one up for the reviews that support this place being a hidden gem; and say you're missing out if you pass on it. Likely to find it worth your time. Just sit at...

My wife and I were passing through, staying in a nearby hotel and were looking for a place to eat, preferably not a national chain. Google found us the Marquis, almost in walking distance. The Marquis is in the same building as the Doubletree Hotel, seems to be in the Doubletree price range, above average. The hostess was polite, the waitresses were friendly. Everyone tried, but seemed inexperienced. The menu is reasonable priced, but limited. The wine list shows more items than the food menu. When the waitress asked for my drink order, I was surprised to hear Bud and Yuengling as the only coices. Since I'm a fan of local craft beers, I asked about local beers. The waitress asked at the bar, and confirmed that Bud and Yuengling were the only choices. When the meal arrived, it was obvious that my wife's broccoli was cooked straight from the bag: the stem was discolored, brown. She also didn't like the seasoning of the brown rice and the asparagus (not the restaurant's fault). After a lukewarm apology, tThe waitress brought her new broccoli and new asparagus. While we were eating, the young couple in the next table had to ask the waitress for one of the two appetizers (sorry - she forgot), while their medium-rare steak was very rare, and needed was sent back to the kitchen too. It took some effort to hail the waitress and get the bill (I was surprised to see the asparagus, the broccoli and the rice on the bill, but cant complain: the wife ate 2 out of 3). However, 10 or 15 minutes later the waitress still hadn't shown up to process the payment, so I left some cash. There's a Vo-Tech school in our area that teaches hospitality, maybe the staff of the Marquis needs to contact them for a...

I stay at Hilton hotels most nights of the year, and I prefer the double tree, they typically have a restaurant (among other reasons). Monday night was my first night here and I was semi-surprised to see the restaurant was only taking to go orders. The service wasn't aweful, just less than friendly. Tonight the restaurant was open, 10 people between the bar and tables, with plenty of room to spare all around. I took a seat at the bar so I could get in and get out. Well, after 10 minutes of waiting I was finally acknowledged by the woman picking up dirty dishes and given a menu. Another 10 minutes later one of the servers (that has walked past me several times) asked if I needed something. So I placed my order, and another 10 minutes layer I got my water. Another couple walked in shortly after I placed my order, and within 2 minutes of sitting down, they had menus and their drink order. I'm hoping tomorrow night will make up for the last 2, if not I'm going to take my business elsewhere.

Update: Night 3 was a little better. I was acknowledged much quicker than the previous night. I think the problem is nobody knows who is supposed to be helping who, everyone just assumes that someone else is going to take...