I have long suspected that Belgian is the new French, as far as cuisine goes, and the great Markt restaurant in Manhattan is a case in point.
After a couple of dull, overpriced meals in French restaurants, Markt came as a breath of fresh air.
On a visit to New York after the longest time, we had no cherished old favourite restaurants, and so ate pretty much wherever a place caught our eye. Walking back uptown after a day exploring the Meatpacking District and all points south, we chanced upon Markt. Hectically crowded, buzzing with activity, but with one free table outside on the pavement, so how could we resist ?
Delightful service, excellent food, chilled white wine, great people watching on a warm Manhattan evening – what could be better ?
So much so that 2 days later we trekked downtown, walking all the way, to work up an appetite, and ate there again.
Equally crowded, and the same delightful waitress who recognised us with a huge smile and took us to the same table.
What’s not to like ?
The view :
The ambience – candle, huge napkins and sea salt :
My resolutely carnivorous husband had the same thing both times, a pavé de boeuf, saignant, declaring them delicious x 2 :
Don’t miss the trademark Belgian mayonnaise to go with your frites.
The first night I had mussels in white wine, which were fabulous :
The second time I had scallops with perfectly al dente asparagus and eel mash (yes, eel mash) which were even more delicious than the mussels of 2 nights earlier :
Heartily recommended.
I did not tell them that I blog and write reviews, and we paid our own bills.
