Marlow Bistro — Restaurant in New York

Wow, this was one of the worst experiences at a restaurant I've had in a long time. Horrible service, horrible food, a health code violation, and zero effort on their part to make anything better. My partner and I arrived a little before 6pm on a Saturday to take advantage of their happy hour, which advertised $10 pizza and $8 wine. Great. We had a reservation, and so when we entered, we looked for the hostess to let her know we were there. The woman at the podium ignored us completely, while we just stood there waiting (the place was nearly empty), and finally told us to place just wait and she'd be with us in a minute, but in a very huffy way, as though we'd interrupted her day. Finally, she seat us, but then proceeds to get annoyed when we ask if all pizzas and wines are part of the happy hour. She irritatedly tells us that it's just the cabernet (which it turns out it wasn't), and just one pizza (the vegan one), and then some random other menu items. I'm trying to remember what she's saying and ask for a happy hour menu. She snaps back that they were all thrown away, so no. As my partner and I were trying to figure out whether to stay or leave, she eventually comes back, slaps a dirty piece of paper down on the table and says "I got this from the trash for you" and leaves. We were a little horrified. Also, on this happy hour menu, it doesn't mention wine at all, so I ask again, is wine included in happy hour? She says "yes, but just the cabernet", and leaves. I see on the menu there are 3 pizzas included (weird ones though, 2 meat and the vegan), and again we're debating whether to stay, when another waitress shows up and asks what we want. We tell her 2 glasses of the happy hour cabernet, and she says "of course that's not part of the happy hour." Whatever. We get the wine she claims is, and since I no longer want to eat dinner there, I order a plate of fries, because how could that go wrong? Turns out it can. The wine was... fine. The fries were some of the most disgusting I've ever had, and worse, they weren't plain fries as implied by the menu! They were coated in some kind of orangey-red-spicy crust that made them look and taste even worse than they already did, which was already greasy and strange. I had to spit several out because the potatoes were rancid. We had tried to explain to the second waitress the confusion from the first employee, the trash menu, the cabernet statements, the pizza questions, and the whole time, she's just justifying the other person's behavior. Always nice to be gaslit. At the end, we're paying the bill, and I also let her know that the trash menu behavior was unacceptable, and that they should warn people that the fries are spicy, and again she's defensive. I tell her, it wasn't a good experience and we're unlikely to come back, and she just says she hopes we try again there soon. WWWHHHAAATTT???? My advice? Run as far away from this place as possible. They are rude, the food is nasty, and their practices are unsanitary. Also, ZERO effort to try to improve...

A new addition to the neighborhood as of the time of this review, Marlow Bistro is serving delicious, thoughtfully crafted and seasonal Italian food in an intimate setting.

My wife ordered the tagliatelle with chorizo, calamari and sun-dried tomato sauce and I tried a short ribs special done over beets and braised cabbage. Both were exquisite. We also ordered a side of string beans (completely unnecessary, as it turned out; our mains were both large and filling), which were crisp and satisfying. At the time of our visit the restaurant still didn't have a dessert menu available, but we were each given a complementary slice of cake with a butterscotch (?) drizzle over the top that was moist and just-the-right-amount of sweet.

The ambiance is ideal both for a date night or a dinner out with a few friends. The larger tables hosted several groups during our visit but the acoustics of the space were kind enough to allow my wife and I to enjoy our own quiet conversation without needing to talk over our neighbors.

Mains ranged from the $mid-teens (pasta dishes) to the low-mid $20s (entrees). They had lots of wines priced at $7-12 a glass, which is always a welcome sight. The beer selection was a bit disappointing for a beer-lover like myself--only three or four bottle options, none of which were interesting (Corona at an Italian restaurant--really?!)--but we can't always have everything, can we?

In summary, Marlow Bistro is a newly opened, upmarket and romantic restaurant in a neighborhood sorely lacking similar options. The kitchen hit it out of the park during our first visit and we'll most certainly be back to try more...

Review for Marlow Bistro – Amazing Experience!

My friend and I visited Marlow Bistro during NYC Restaurant Week, and everything about our dinner was outstanding—from the food to the ambiance to the exceptional service.

The menu offered a fantastic variety, and every dish we tried was fresh and flavorful. We shared the Little Gem Salad and Cauliflower appetizers, followed by the Cappellacci Ai Funghi pasta and Margherita pizza. Each bite was delicious, and we ended the meal with a rich and creamy Tiramisu. During happy hour, we also enjoyed a couple of refreshing Aperol Spritzes, which were the perfect complement to the meal.

What truly made the evening special was the outstanding service provided by Jelena and Jean Paul. Jelena was our main server, and she was incredibly welcoming, kind, and attentive throughout our visit. She never made us feel rushed, and her upbeat energy added to the warm, inviting atmosphere. Jean Paul was equally helpful, making sure our experience was seamless. Together, they created a relaxed and enjoyable dining environment that made us feel well cared for.

The restaurant itself is beautiful stunning flower arrangements hanging from the ceiling—perfect for a cozy and elegant dinner setting.

Between the exceptional service, delicious food, and lovely ambiance, I highly recommend Marlow Bistro—and I especially want to thank Jelena and Jean Paul for making our visit so wonderful. They absolutely deserve recognition for their hard work and...