Markette — Restaurant in New York

There's something delightfully paradoxical about Markette—a restaurant that sounds like it should be a corner bodega but delivers the kind of dining experience that makes you want to cancel your next three meal plans just to come back sooner.

From the moment the oysters arrived, glistening on their icy throne like they'd just been plucked from the ocean and given a first-class ticket to Manhattan, I knew we were in capable hands. Fresh, briny, with just enough mignonette to accentuate rather than overwhelm—these were oysters that understood the assignment.

But it was the vegetable composition that really announced Markette's intentions. Calling it a "salad" feels reductive, like calling a Rothko painting "some rectangles." Paper-thin beets and cucumber ribbons danced across a vibrant golden puree (carrot? squash? delicious sunshine?), punctuated by watercress and shaved radish. It was the kind of dish that makes you temporarily forgive every sad desk salad you've ever eaten.

The lamb—oh, the lamb. Presented with the drama of a French-cut rack, charred to caramelized perfection, sitting in a pool of deeply savory sauce and crowned with what I can only describe as crispy, lacey magic. The charred lemon half wasn't just garnish; it was a citrusy exclamation point. This is the dish you order when you want to remind yourself that yes, you're an adult who can appreciate properly cooked meat, and no, you will not be sharing.

Those dark, mysterious croquettes (bitterballen? mushroom?) served in their own little black pot were the sleeper hit—crispy exterior giving way to molten, umami-rich interior, with a sauce that made double-dipping not just acceptable but necessary. And then dessert arrived like a soft landing after all that intensity: a cloud of panna cotta topped with toasted coconut that added just enough texture to keep things interesting without getting in the way of the silk-smooth, vanilla-kissed cream beneath.

The space itself strikes that increasingly rare balance of intimate without being cramped, candlelit without being cliché. Those pale green plates? A subtle but genius choice that made every dish pop like Instagram hadn't even been invented yet.

The bottom line: Markette is proof that you don't need to reinvent the wheel when you can simply source better ingredients, cook them with intelligence and restraint, and present them with genuine care. It's neighborhood dining with citywide ambition, and it deserves a spot on...

What a spot! Lucky enough to make it in on their first night open to the public, the experience was ethereal. The room is beautiful, the staff charming and knowledgeable despite being open for the first time. The food, oh my! The food is nothing less than sensational. The menu reads simply, however there is a LOT going on. Punchy through soothing and refreshing, it ticks every box for the perfect sharing menu. The drinks also were incredible. We started with a Lucky Plum, light refreshing and crushable. Alongside A Snake in the Grass, also just as refreshing, with an earthy undertone from the horseradish. Delish. Next we went in on the salt cod fritters, delicious, light and pillowy, with a quaffable habanero aioli on the side. We married it with the bibb salad, which for me at least, transported myself to a time in my life waiting for my father to finish work while I ate sour cream and onion SunChips at his office. Amazing.

We dared, we ventured, and chose the sardine linguine. Wow! Immediately transported my memories back to being an 8 year old returning from a day of fishing. Unctuous, delicious yet light all at the same time. You should probably be a sardine fan for this dish, and if you are, you’ll have a great time. Finally we finished with the Peri Peri chicken, and accompanied it with the orzo with creamed charred corn and summer squash. Meredith feta was abundant on top and in itself provided a soothing foil to the crazily delicious and punchy spice from the chicken.

Mango dessert. You gotta. Especially after the chicken, soothing, complex, vegan and gluten free!!!

Thank you Haymarket!

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Markette is incredible, truly a must-visit restaurant! The chef, India Doris, has cultivated an amazing menu that mixes London vibes with Caribbean tastes. My family and I got several different things on the menu and loved all them. The Salt Cod Fritters and the Peri Peri Chicken especially were amazing, my eyes were literally rolling in the back of head at first taste. I'd seen the Peri Peri chicken on other people's social media (the contrasting colors of the two sauces is so cool) and had been wanting to try it for a long, and it delivered!

The decor and atmosphere is really moody and cool, it's warm and conversational without being too cushy (I really liked the custom glasswork on the chandeliers). Drinks were fantastic as well! I got a 'I Have A Martini Kink,' it was bold and flavorful and had this crazy balance of sweet and warm, I was so happy with it. For dessert, we tried the Concord Grape Cheesecake, which almost tasted like candy!

I can't wait until I come back, I want to try the Grilled Lamb and check out the Argyle (the basement bar, we didn't have time but we poked our heads in and it's a BEAUTIFUL space)! And coming back will be easy next time I'm in NYC, the restaurant is stupid close to Penn Station, so it's easy to get to!

Thanks for a great...