Market Place Tavern - Litchfield — Restaurant in Litchfield

I would give this restaurant more stars if I could. Spouse and I went to eat after I had an orthopedic knee procedure. We first went to another restaurant across the town square, and were treated with great disdain by the clearly annoyed-at-having to- work greeter. We then decided to cross the street and go to the Marketplace, where we have been before, usually for lunch.

What a difference! We were greeted as soon as we walked in by a friendly hostess. I explained about my knee, and she exclaimed that she would get us settled into a comfortable booth. Karie, our waitperson, very quickly arrived. Charming, personable without being overly familiar, Karie explained about restaurant week along with proffering the regular menus. We decided to stick with the regular menus-I had the butternut squash soup and salmon with risotto, both excellent, and spouse had the short rib focaccia with fries, which he happily devoured.

Karie kept coming by throughout the meal, sometimes just glancing over to see if everything was good-which it was! She was on top of everything, without being intrusive. She was so good that I asked to speak to the manager to express how delighted we were with the restaurant and with her. Mark, the manager, also a charming person, explained that the Marketplace is part of a restaurant group. Mark, if you are reading this, and if ever you need someone to train waitstaff, Karie is the person to do so. She is that professional, and that good.

Every staffer, whether Karie or another waitstaff member, was very pleasant, aimed to please, and was eager to make sure that we enjoyed our dinner in every way possible.

Last, the desserts! Save room for the desserts!

Karie, Mark, and the general atmosphere and food at the Marketplace are the exact antithesis of the restaurant that we originally planned to go to.

There is no shortage of good, even great restaurants in the area. Good food is the minimum that a customer should expect. What sets apart a restaurant is its attitude, its demeanor towards diners, its general vibe, the feeling that a customer is valued. The Marketplace restaurant in general, and Karie and Mark specifically exemplify what elevates a restaurant to GREAT.

UPDATE: Spouse and I ate here on Memorial Day 2024. Now, it is a truism that restaurants are not at their best on holiday weekends, as it is likely that the more senior staff takes time off, leaving the restaurant in the hands of less experienced staff. Well, I am very, very happy to report that this is decidedly NOT the experience spouse and I had here! The food (I had the salmon with risotto, and spouse had the short ribs sandwich) was delectable, the atmosphere delightful as always, and best of all, the service was impeccable! Tanya, our server, is perfection personified-friendly without being intrusive, constantly coming by to see that everything is as it should be, always helpful. Tanya is so good at what she does that I suggested to the manager that she should train other staffers in customer service. We will definitely be returning, and asking for Tanya's...

Okay. So I don’t normally do this but when I tell you… I was completely disrespected. Even that’s an understatement. My date and I showed up around 6:00 for dinner and I ordered the NY strip medium rare. The meals took about 45 min which is normal and as my steak came out, I cut it down the middle and it was well done. At this point I’m hungry but I remind myself that it’s a $40 steak and if I asked for medium rare, I deserve medium rare. I didn’t want to make a scene on my date but he agreed with me to comment. I apologized and kindly asked the waitress if there is anything we can do and she said she’d go ask her manager and takes my plate. 20 min later she comes back and says they’re making me a new one. Also note that the restaurant is DEAD, barely anyone is there. My date has his meal at this point and I told him to eat and not wait for me. 15 min later the manager comes over and says “I’m so sorry we undercooked your steak, we will be out soon with a new one” me “undercooked?” Him “is that not what you wanted?” Me “I’m sorry I asked for medium rare and there was no red in my steak, my steak was roughly medium well” and he goes “it looked medium rare to me.” 👀 my eyes go wide and I go “oh I’m sorry then I ordered incorrectly and would like a rare steak because I like some blood in my steak” and he says “okay” and leaves. 40 MINUTES LATER. I’m so hungry and it’s almost 8 and my meal comes out. I cut into my steak and it’s cold. Blue. And raw. Good thing I took a picture of this steak and I wish I took a picture of the first one. But here is my new steak. Honestly it was so rude but instead of freaking out in front of my date, I ate the whole thing and the manager asks me “how was it?” And I was just so fed up and just hungry at this point, I said “great.” I can’t believe that just happened. I normally see the marketplace as a high establishment and let me tell you, no one I know will be going there again. Learn how to cook a steak and learn how to be respectful to...

During a recent visit to Torrington, I decided to look up the old prison converted into a halfway house where I had stayed from 2002 to 2003. I was surprised to discover that it had been shut down and was now operating as a restaurant and bakery, with the old prison cells being used as a display. Patrons seem to find it nostalgic to dine near these cells, (even hanging a skeleton from one of the cell doors…) I find this trend deeply disturbing and upsetting. It appears that the restaurant owner is capitalizing on the novelty of its former use, without regard for the struggles and hardships faced by those who were once incarcerated there. The fact that people can now enjoy a meal in a space where others once suffered is, in my opinion, a travesty. The experiences of those who were formerly incarcerated are being trivialized, and their struggles and hardships are being exploited for the sake of entertainment. I find it deeply troubling that people can engage in convivial conversation and revelry in a space that holds such somber memories. The staff however was pleasant and respectful allowing me to look around and explained some of the changes that were made and helped to recall memories I had lost over time of the place that is now a landmark for a transition in My Life. I shed a few tears as I left the building but I think that could be equated to a final cleansing on that chapter of my life. I know they don’t need my money, but I could not give any of it to this...