Marchese Italian Market & Cafe — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

Really nice Italian Cafe only a couple miles from my house. On my early afternoon visit (230-330p 3/20/2018) Everyone there (a group of men, a guy behind me, the owner and the waiter) was speaking Italian other than me and a couple on the table next to me. So you get the ambiance of actually being in Italy.

The big screen TV behind the counter was playing music (looked like a cable station). I think it was italian.

I ordered the dish of the day which had small chubby pasta (the owner described as a sort of gnocchi), chicken and some sort of cheese/cream sauce (definitely not mac and cheese), a small balsamic vinegar dressing salad, a small cannoli for dessert, and a cafe mocha to finish. I should have gotten a plain cappuchino or an Americano (black) instead to not overwhelm the flavor of the cannoli. I'll likely swing by here for breakfast to try that out.

The main dish was quite good. If I find out what it was, I'll update the review. It did not have a heavy, overly seasoned or greasy flavor like you would find at a "chain Italian" restaurant. It had a distinct Mediterranean flavor to it. I liked it a lot since it did not taste common/familiar probably the type of cheese/cream. Smooth creamy flavor. Chicken was tender (small chunks perhaps only 2-3oz in the dish).

Portion size was good for my late lunch. Not monsterously large as you may find at a chain restaurant and not too small like at a gourmet restaurant. You won't be bringing home leftovers though.

The cannoli was good, but I'll have to try it again with a more neutral beverage.

The cafe mocha was ok, I'll try something plain next time to actually taste the favor of the coffee.

Like one of the other reviewers, I try to avoid the chain fast food joints and try to support my local small...

One of the Best and Most authentic Italian markets. Anamaria- the proprietres, is wonderful, very knowledgeable and a perfect hostess. She makes the deserts she sells and can always recommend a way of preparing your pasta at home. I buy from her the cavatelli, the Piccolo Romano and the pancetta for my meals. When I eat there I usually get Paninni Parma or the house special. The paninni are served with ruffled chips and if you get the pasta you get a wonderful house salad with the delicious balsamic vinaigrette. I quite like the house wines and I am yet to have a glass of something bad while enjoying a nice lunch there. The cheese and the meats for the panini are Italian brands- which if you like can purchase some to take home. For desert I always order a capuccino- one of the best in the area with lemon mascarpone cake or canoli. Anamaria makes her creme for the deserts and it is very light, has a wonderful taste without a hint of butter or too much sugar, yet creamy. You can pick the size of the canoli- small and large, and the attendant behind the counter would fill them with the creme and dip them in chocolate chips.

For wine- I quite like the La Cattura- the red Toscana wine with nice crisp taste with hint of berries. If you like white wine- they have pretty good Castellani Reserva- a Chianti which is chilled to perfection and pairs well with the cavatelli or any other pasta dish.

This place is small but quite good and the coffee and the deserts are just what you might need as a pick me up. Highly...

I asked the woman behind the counter if she could make Italian Rum Cake and she said yes of course so I ordered the cake for a birthday party. I tried to call and leave a message for her to put a name on the cake but she did not answer the phone. She told me she doesn't answer the phone I told her I left a message and she said I don't even know where the messages go. She told me the price was going to be $65.00 I said ok. I went to pick the cake up and she brought it out on a round cake tray (no box) and told me be carefull. She did write the name on the cake like a 5 year old child. I could not even make out the name. I said no box she said no. She then wrapped the cake up with tooth picks on the top and a plastic cover that did not cover or fit and said here you go.I went to pay and she was very rude and said $87.00. I told her she said $65.00 and she said it is heavy and I have to charge more. I said no way and I did not pay $87.00 I paid $65.00. THE CAKE SUCKED. SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO MAKE ITALIAN RUM CAKE. Be careful when you order a cake and make sure you write the name yourself. She may be Italian but clearly does not know how to make cakes like an Italian. She was rude and got me for $65.00 but never...