Marco Polo
Since Marco Polo's owner has recently been in the news, we figured it was high time to discuss the food at this old-school neighborhood spot — and at it's new-ish adjacent restaurant, Marco Polo Take-Out. Brooklyn-born blogger Bergen Carroll remarks on the original restaurant's decor: "Actually, not much has changed in Marco Polo since my visit 22 years ago, three years after they had opened! Everything from the Venetian gondola ice sculpture filled with decorative clams... to the gaudy chandeliers and the exposed brick set with Murals of An Adonis Marco Polo in picturesque Venice seemed just about exactly how I had remembered it."
As for the Marco Polo Ristorante menu, Helen Zelon for New York magazine says, "Fresh pastas are topped with hearty ragu and Bolognese sauces, and main dishes like the unadorned veal chop arrive majestic on the plate, joined by seafood selections like baccala (dried salt cod prepared with tiny white potatoes), lobster and fresh fish prepared to order." Chowhound Thissteaks4you says, "[My wife] had the octopus appetizer... and said it was the best octopus she'd ever had. I was less thrilled with the trout I ordered (something like trout gratina). It came swimming in a butter sauce that I could've done without entirely."
For a more casual affair, Chowhound missmasala recommends Marco Polo Take Out, where she recently fed 3 adults and 4 kids for $46. Her order included 1 large sopresata and olive pie ("the sop is thinly sliced and crisps up nicely and the olives are real ones, not the canned sliced ones"), and 1 large mushroom and sausage pie ("the sausage is good tho there could be more of it and the mushrooms are fresh and not too thinly sliced so there is some meat to them"), 1 house salad, 2 free liters of soda (1 per pie), and 4 free small cups of ice cream for the kids. Any thoughts on these two spots?
Click here for the Marco Polo Ristorante menus — you'll find the Marco Polo Take Out menu via the menu link at right.
Reviews (7)
daveinbedstuy wrote a review on December 11, 2008 12:08 PM
I heard money laundering goes on there.
r1b2 wrote a review on December 11, 2008 12:22 PM
The authentic old-Brooklyn Italian decor is endearing, and the food is decent, but we much prefer The Red Rose. Whenever we have company in town, we insist on taking them there. I make clients schlep out to BK becaue I like it so much, and everyone is always pleased I did. But the Marco Polo has good food and a polite, attentive staff.
denton wrote a review on December 11, 2008 1:36 PM
I haven't been there in a while, but the times I've eaten there when I lived closer were quite good. Traditional old-school Italian, but always well prepared and fresh. Get a booth with your back to the wall, tho.
harrythehat wrote a review on December 11, 2008 2:43 PM
You go to be kidding me, the food in thisplace is way, way overpriced and lousy. I had the worst italina meal I ever had in this place. Its was Seafood Fra Diovlo. Some of may neighbors also say the same thing. Red Rose is way better by far.
r1b2 wrote a review on December 11, 2008 3:08 PM
Harry, I was being polite. The gap between Red Rose and Marco Polo is much greater than I may have suggested. Thanks for being more direct.
yanks77 wrote a review on December 11, 2008 5:51 PM
food is better that Red Rose but much more expensive....these guys had some problems with the IRS a few yrs ago...they supposedly priced parties over the phone w/ and w/out tax......Blagojevich wouldn't have tried that....piano guy is great though
dwarbi wrote a review on December 12, 2008 11:15 AM
I've been curious about this place for a while - maybe it's time to check it out... but some of those prices do seem a bit high. Especially for the pastas. You could get some great pasta at Aunt Suzies for a lot less.
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