Review: Marco's New York Italian Restaurant, Sheffield

Created by Italian chef, Marco Pierre White who worked at the Box Tree in Ilkley, his chain of New York Italian restaurants has a new restaurant opening later this year in Leeds. We visited the Sheffield restaurant which is housed within the Hampton by Hilton hotel on West Bar Green.

The restaurant had its own entrance and most of our fellow diners were not guests staying at the hotel, but people who had purposely gone out of their way to eat at the restaurant, which is always a good pointer.

We were served by the friendly yet professional Christopher who was very knowledgable about all the menu items and was happy to go through the wine list to suggest which ones went best with whatever dish.

Now you either like music like I do, but are perhaps not too keen on it playing whilst eating, but the soundtrack to your meal could be a selection of BBC Radio Live Lounge tracks mixed in with Eros Ramazzotti (one of the biggest artists in Italy). I suggest that they include Mario Biondi in the music mix, his style of soul tinged jazz would suit the ambiance of the restaurant.

White table cloths adorn the tables and you are either seated in a booth or a free standing table. It feels more like a restaurant experience rather than dining say at Frankie and Benny's.

My starter of warm baked Sourdough was very moreish whilst my partner's garlic pizza bread was served in a huge round and was very tasty.

I chose the Chef's special pizza which was Quattro Formaggio (Four cheeses pizza). it was delicious with copious amounts of Gorgonzola and goats cheese, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. My partner chose a steak which was served with sweet potato fries. On seeing my pizza I think she wished she had chosen a pizza. It was just like being back in Verona or Milan.

Desserts sampled included the Knickerbocker Glory sundae which had quality raspberry sorbet and ice cream whilst my partner's New York Chocolate Brownie was full of chocolate; the milk ice cream was ok but it might have been better served next time with vanilla ice cream

Fans of Alexander McQueen will enjoy sitting in the huge chair he designed that sits to your right as you enter the restaurant, or seeing his famous Vans shoes that are encased in a see through box as you enter the toilets!

Even dining on a Sunday night the restaurant was still busy and buzzing and our waiter informed us that on Saturday nights they do get full up. I would have thought that with being an Italian themed restaurant pizza would be the most popular item on the menu, but it seems ribs and then lasagne are the most popular dishes.

On leaving this highly desirable restaurant it felt like you had eaten a quality meal, served in a contemporary setting with excellent service that you just do not seem to get these days. Definitely worth visiting.

www.marcossheffield.co.uk

Telephone: 0114 399 0990