2nd visit to Martine...first time was the dine-o-round a year and some ago. This time, they still offered a prix fixe menu which I totally appreciated. However, this place is still over-priced for what you are getting. Food is fine, ambiance is great, service is spotty...you see, the whole thing just does not come together. I can prepare a great meal at home that rivals what was served here. Salad was fine, lamb was good but the accoutrements were just ok. My pals pork was good but again, I can make a mean pork chop at home. Desserts were nice...chocolate was rich...gingerbread was the winner. I love this building and the soul of the interior, however, it won't be a place that I frequent.
(3)
Lisa R.
Quaint European style cafe in historic building. I enjoyed the salmon sandwich for lunch with cucumber-ginger-black bean slaw and field greens, plus a side green salad with tomatoes and cucumbers and it came with chips. I had a very good waitress Carley who was attentive and sweet. The main reason I came here when in SLC was the name. My mom's name is Martine and I never see her name on keychains or mugs, so I wrote Martine Cafe and asked for something to bring back. The manager Lindsay wrote me and said I can take menus with me. Carley gave me a dinner menu which has Martine written in beautiful script and I cannot wait to give these to my foodie mom!
(4)
Stephanie B.
This was my second time dining here in 2 weeks because plans were set in motion and I could not cancel them. I had dined here previously and thought it was great. But these last two experiences have me not wanting to return and also wanting to warn others. This restaurant should be MUCH better for the cost. I have eaten there the last two Saturday nights in a row and the service has just been AWFUL! No other words for it. On the first attempt, our friend got the lamb and when sat down in front of him he asked for salt (salt and pepper is NOT on the tables there... which drives me nuts) and nothing comes... we get a second glass of wine delivered several minutes later and again he asks for salt.... nothing... waitress is chatting with another table. Finally after about 10 minutes (which is a long time when the entire table is eating without him) he goes up to the bar and asks for it himself. At this point the entire evening is ruined because he is mad... his food is cold... and it's a tense atmosphere. The manager (or at least we think it was the manager.. he didn't say) comes to the table and asks if everything is OK. Well, no... it isn't OK. My friend's plate was cold which he offered to heat. I wanted to ask "just how do you reheat the lamb shank in a way that doesn't ruin the already cold dish?" Reheating something is NOT a fix! They did buy the table dessert but what should have happened is my friend should NOT have been charged for his lamb entree. Period. We didn't want dessert. We all wanted to have a nice dinner together and it didn't happen. This is just NOT ok in a restaurant that is wanting to be a high end restaurant. It shouldn't happen anywhere, but it really shouldn't happen when we are spending $300 for a table of 4. Second attempt was last night with a party of 5 women. Food was OK, not hot when it arrived. Waiter was VERY much distracted by much larger table sitting by us. We couldn't get water refills and we had to ask for bread several times. Another thing that drives me nuts... 5 women at a table asking for EXTRA bread and the bread arrives 30 minutes after our arrival (not kidding) and there are 5 slices. This was after I asked in the beginning for extra bread. I'm not sure how many they would have brought us otherwise? All 5 of us ordered appetizers and entrees and two women ordered dessert. We ordered drinks. This was not a cheap ticket. But I felt we were treated like a cheap table. At the end of the evening we even had to go hunt for our waiter to pay our bill. He was standing by the bar with his head propped up on his hand... at this point in the evening it was 10pm and there was a huge basket of bread. I'm thinking to myself "why on earth couldn't they just bring us a few plates of bread? There is no way they even finished the bread they had sitting there. The service here is NOT good and it's not acceptable and I will NOT return. It is really no surprise that the last two weekends have been VERY quiet with very few diners. I won't be one of them again. :(
(2)
Aaron J.
I went here on Valentines Day with my lovely wife and found it to be just OK. They had a set fee/menu for the night, which had plenty of options that sounded great. We had reservations and they sat us quickly, which was appreciated. Some of the dishes were tasty (Scallops with Blood Orange Aioli), but most were bland -rich, but lacked taste (Tilapia & Butternut Squash soup). The Filet I ordered was significantly smaller than expected, then after a few bites I determined that I was happy it wasn't bigger since it would have been a waste to the poor cow. The Bread Pudding dessert was a nice way to end, but overall the Sarah McLachlan concern we attended was much better than our experience at Martine's and I don't even like Sarah's music that much. I'd give it a try for lunch, but I'll pass on dinner here...
(3)
Tim K.
Not bad. Disappointed in the turkey. I love places that use fresh carved turnkey. This place was all about the processes turkey. Disappointing for $10. Hit blue lemon, awesome fresh carved turkey!
(3)
Jennifer S.
What a wonderful restaurant! Martine sits in a beautiful old brownstone and the atmosphere is fantastic inside...very cozy! The service was great and the food was incredible. My mother-in-law and I each had a tapas, entree and dessert and everything was wonderful!
(5)
Jefferson B.
While in Salt Lake City on business, we found this place on the web, almost by accident. What a happy accident it was. The space is beautiful (although walking there in the dark and cold, there is a giant pit where a building is going in across the street, and the approach is bleak; don't let it throw you) and was perfectly lit. We had a table of five, and so we opted to order a selection of starters to share from the tapas menu, and some entrees. Memorable were the seared calamari with lime dressing and grilled polenta, and a special of rabbit in beggar's purse. Both were outstanding, as was the ragout of mushrooms (without the calamari, though, the richness would have been overwhelming, especially given the highly flavored cheese on the ragout). The French and Moroccan Mediterranean influence was apparent, and pulled off without a hitch. I let the chef select my entree, and he chose the sea bass. Sweet and perfectly balanced spice complemented the fish, the only drawback was the undercooked yellow lentil salad on which the fish was perched. All of my fellow diners opted for what I recall was braised beef, and I heard no complaints. The service was outstanding, and the wines (especially the Spanish wines) were very good. We had an excellent Rioja for about $45. There were a few other large tables (it was the day before Sundance began) and the kitchen handled the pacing well. Whether you're heading to Utah for work, or to head up to the slopes, a stop at Martine Cafe & Tapas would be well worth your time.
(4)
Silvy A.
I went here for a business dinner and had the wild salmon special. It was delicious! I also had the bread pudding, which was a bit dry for my taste, so I wouldn't order it again. I would agree that it's pricey, but for a business dinner, it was perfect. Plus their salmon was much better than the salmon I had on another night at Market Street Grill.
(4)
Jessica P.
Martine is one of my favorites in the city. Their menu has a very tasty selection of Spanish tapas. Check out my full review here: foodieslut.com/restauran…
(4)
John M.
Watch out for the sangria. By the time you find yourself drooling it's too late. We were clearly told they put brandy in it. I must have forgotten :) The tapas were very good. We ordered one of each and really weren't disappointed. The octopus was especially delicious. I sent friends here the following night and they were equally pleased. I wish they had more tapas and fewer dinners however not having the dinners I'm biased.
(4)
Jill P.
Going downhill? This used to be my favorite SLC restaurant but I think it has gone downhill while some newer, better, restaurants are opening in the area. That said, this is still one of the better options in SLC. The sauces used to be complex and surprising, now they seem just good enough. The menu changes often (weekly?) with nightly specials but the flavor profiles have not changed at all over the years or even across dishes. Meaning, if you've eaten here enough times, pretty soon the options become pretty boring. Their pork and duck dishes are still some of the best prepared I've had. The service has always been great. The brownstone location with tin ceiling is awesome. I just wish Martine would continue to impress. Instead it has kind of stagnated near "better than average".
(3)
Lee B.
I have to say, this place rocks! The setting is awesome giving an instant feeling of class walking through the door. Beer and wine selection is good (Beer being all local). The food is to die for, and I am not over exaggerating, it is that good. The Mac and cheese is something of another world and the clams were delicious. Make sure to save room for desert, because the gingerbread and gelato is yum. All and all a great experience, I will for sure make this a regular dinner date location.
(5)
Kelli T.
This is a great downtown lunch spot. Perfect if you want to escape the chaos of the lunch rush and unwind in a quiet, cozy spot. Go with the half sandwich and salad for a lunch that won't put you in an afternoon food coma. They now serve a few tasty garlic chips and savory dipping sauce with their sandwiches instead of the handful of wimpy potato chips they used to serve. Definitely an upgrade.
(3)
Kita B.
This was a very nice restaurant with a lovely ambiance! The salmon with the touch of mango was awesome. We tried one of each of the appetizers & they were all great. The price was amazing too. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is because the menu was not very diverse. However I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Chantal F.
Dinner was fabulous! We were a group of eleven, they accommodated our group with an hour's notice on a Friday night. We were seated upstairs in a private room (beware...no elevator). Food was superb, service was even better!! Great wine list, our server recommended a great rose. Another beware...old hardware prevents split checks, although our server was incredibly accommodating in allowing multiple payment types and extra copies of itemized receipts. Highly recommend! And try the grilled gingerbread, really!
(4)
Laurence B.
My wife and I ate at Martine for the first time in many years and it turned out to be one of the best meals we have had in Salt Lake City. Special mention needs to be made for their Brussels sprouts, which we thought were even better than those at Eva's. Service was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. Portions were not skimpy and although the meal was more than we general spend, I felt that I received a decent value.
(5)
Ryan H.
My experience at Martine started off as a spontaneous date night. I was looking for something unique, with good food and semi romantic. I was not disappointed. Martine has a classy feel and it's very mellow. We were there early, about 6pm and didn't have any issue getting a table. We were warmly greeted and introduced to our server, Miranda, who was incredible. She will get her own paragraph later in this review. To start, they have unique menu because you get three courses for $30. They have soup/salad, tapas, entrees and dessert. You can choose any combination of the four. They do not skimp on them portions or quality either. I had the ceviche, which was nearly its own dish and the lamb shank which was just slightly smaller than a turkey leg from Disneyland. My boyfriend had the applewood smoked salmon from the tapas menu. While the serving was smaller, it was amazing. His dinner was the hen and I was jealous of how tasty it was. They cooked it perfectly and the skin was so crispy I wanted more. We also have their carafe of wine, but there was a fancier name for it. Now the customer service is what makes this place stand out. Miranda was on the ball, our water glasses were never empty, our wine was poured for us, she checked in on us regularly. She truly seemed to care about the restaurant and the food. Her recommendations were honest and helpful. She also made a point to engage with us beyond just the feed. She made us feel welcome and special. We will definitely be going back.
(5)
R I.
To put things in the right perspective I should say that I went there during Dine O round for lunch. The restaurant itself is awesome. I especially like the vault behind the bar. The location is great especially if you realize you can park at City Creek for 2 hours for free if you pre-pay at the booths by the mall entrance from the parking lot. I got the Moroccan Braised Beef and the corn chowder. I really liked the Beef. There were a lot of different flavors which complimented one another quite well and the meat was very tender. The corn chowder was more like a corn soup but aside from not being creamy, it tasted fine. My wife got the Cioppino. We did not like it. We usually love most fish stews but this one was just a little bland. What you could taste of the sauce was overpowered by a whole lot of cilantro. The seafood in it tasted fine, but the sauce left much to be desired. I would give this place a 3.5 stars if I could because I would definitely recommend the braised beef to anyone but the rest of the dishes we tried were just okay. Our server was awesome and the atmosphere was great. I may go back for a second opinion.
(3)
Nicole P.
Amazing food & such a cute relaxed atmosphere. Nice to get different flavors with a moroccan influence.
(5)
Scott P.
Expensive, but the tapas might be worth it! We ordered and thoroughly enjoyed the Lobster and Lamb Kibbe tapas! The lobster was in perfect form on top of a small bed of linguine and tasted close to perfection. I'll admit that the lamb was executed nicely, as well. And, I won't get started on how good the mushroom soup was! Fresh ingredients and presentation are Martine's strengths (I also like the location). However, you could break the bank without ordering a lot of food. And, the decor is nice only if you're sitting in specific seats. I'm conflicted! I'd like to give an extra half star!
(3)
Ashley M.
So good! My husband and I really enjoyed our meal. We had the 4 course prix fixe and everything was SO good. The service was excellent. Server was Alan and he was very attentive and knowledgeable with food and drink recommendations. The ambiance of the place was nice as well. It was our first time there and we will definitely be back! Oh and valet parking is free!
(5)
Lily G.
Our evening at Martine felt like being at a fine New York restaurant. It's a perfect place for a romantic dinner but will also impress a business client. We were greeted warmly by Greg who had a good sense of humor and made us feel immediately welcome. He was professional yet personable. We sat at a lovely window table and were immediately greeted and given water. Our waitress, Keanna, was warm and very helpful. The entire staff seemed confident and knowledgable and happy to be there. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the staff adds to that. We thought the menu was interesting and really liked the small plates options. We loved the house salad which had chunks of squash and delicious dressing. Even the bread was fresh and delicious. Prices are reasonable for the quality that is served. Martine will definitely be a regular stop for us. Sometimes everything just clicks and it certainly did for us at this delightful restaurant.
(4)
Alethea M.
Our favorite place to enjoy the best sangrias in town! Great place for good food, great drinks and great service!!
(4)
Stacy W.
I used to really like Martine. However, the service (I think her name was Teresa or Tami) was abysmal. The food was just okay, certainly not worth the price. Two of use thought our entree was fine, the other two didn't even eat theirs.
We wanted to like it, we really did. The building, the lighting, the music, the mood - it all seemed promising. But we had immediate attitude from our server and the food was disappointing. I won't say that the service was bad, he was prompt and checked in, but among other things, when he motioned to put pepper on our soup and we nodded yes while still talking, he seemed determined not to stop until we actually uttered the words "that's enough." By then he'd pretty much destroyed our soup with pepper. The arugula salad was bland which defies odds somehow, and the short ribs were 2 little meaty nuggets over a bowl of beans. The meat was good but as a server, I'd be embarrassed to serve it up as an order of short ribs without fully describing what to expect. Last but not least, free bread is always a nice touch but in this day with great bread practically falling out of the sky, it's unfathomable that you don't serve something warm or fresh. You might also consider adding salt and pepper to the tables - just simple things that make life a little easier as a diner. What is life about if not for a restaurant to make a dining experience as pleasant as possible? Would not go back, would not recommend. SLC food culture is booming - there is no reason to settle.
(2)
Claire P.
Really solid French and European cuisine, in a gorgeous environment. I had a date down here for Valentine's Day and their prix fixe menu did not disappoint. However, I would say it's a tad pricey for what they have to offer -- hence the knocked off star. But if you're looking for a fine dining experience for a special occasion, this place fits the bill (literally)!
(4)
peter r.
Inventive, expertly executed, great service. A decent wine selection. The ambiance of a family brownstone does not disappoint. Very consistent over the years.
(5)
Sara W.
One of my favorites! We love to go for a good meal and always enjoy the atmosphere. The specialty drinks are delicious and the seasonal menu is always wonderful. The presentation is great and I love the atmosphere. A go to for an evening out. :)
(5)
Margie W.
I was really looking forward to having lunch at Martine after a couple of recommendations. I was so very disappointed. The service was just horrible and the food was below average. After waiting longer than necessary the server finally took our order. I was excited to try the Angus burger only to be told they didn't have any. No apology. No recommendation. So I decided on French Onion soup only to be told they were out. Mind you this was 12:30 p.m. I then decided on the pastrami panini. It took another 30 minutes to be served and there were very few people in the restaurant. The bread was barely toasted and it was cold. My server walked by the table at least four times and never once acknowledged us. I was not going to cause a scene because I was with a very important client and trying to conduct business. The bill was placed in front of me ten minutes after the food was placed on the table and again she walked by another three times. I saw her walk out the door before we paid and I realized she was most likely waiting for us to pay so she could get her tip. I'm a good tipper (at least 20% every time) and only left 10% which I never ever do. To top it off I wrote to the restaurant with my concerns and still not a word of apology. If they had just simply acknowledged my concerns you wouldn't be reading this review right now and I also would have given it another try. I live downtown and frequent all the neighborhood restaurants but will not be back. I hope your experience is better than mine.
(1)
jack s.
As spoiled foodies from Portland, we were impressed by their fabulously fresh tapas and very sweet server. Halibut cakes, prosciutto-wrapped white asparagus and Lamb kibbeh were big wins; as was their signature grilled gingerbread. Housed in a mellow, redux-old-west building. A big win for business travelers.
(4)
Bani S.
I had dinner here with a couple of friends tonight and had pretty good food and a great time. I really wish I could give it 3.5 stars. The first thing I noticed is that Martine is located in an old brown stone building which, I'm told, dates back to the turn of the century. At one point, it was even a bank and the old school vault is still in plain site. This place has character. Try to get a table by the window as it isolates you from everyone else in the place and adds a little something to the experience since you're about six or seven feet above ground level as you look out. The menu is rather short but with good options for tapas and entrees. We started out with some wine (priced twice as high as you can get it in a supermarket) and bbq shrimp. I then had the beef tenderloin with potatoes, squash, mushrooms, and asparagus as sides. I asked for medium rare but I found that it was overcooked, yet still pretty good. So why only three stars? Well, aside from the meat being overcooked, the bbq shrimp could have been better and was missing the wow factor you'd get from a 4 or star place. That being said, I would still highly recommend this place if you want to try something a little different. Important to note that this place is probably best for parties of two, or three at the most as most of the booths and tables are a bit cramped.
(3)
Silus G.
Martine is a fine example of American small-plate cuisine -- in the tradition of mezzo, dim sum, tapas, and amuse-bouche. If you're not familiar with the approach, think appetizers-for-dinner. But that hardly captures the charm and allure of this type of eating. You select four or five plates for a party of two and share them. They're like mini portions of the best meals served by the very best restaurants. So that's what they are ...a word on HOW they are: the wait staff isn't terribly attentive, but they are friendly and fairly knowledgeable. The ambiance is very European minus the smoke and attitude. The food is creative and expertly crafted. My only complaint is that sometimes the chef's willingness to experiment runs outside my tastes ...so if you're more mainstream, ask your server for a little guidance. Parking's hard to find, but literally right next door in a paid garage (turn down the alley way, then follow the signs) ...and if you want a little privacy, ask to be seated on the balcony. Very nice.
(4)
Tony L.
I first heard about this place was from sampling their small dish during the Tastemaker event. We came here one night with a large group for celebration. I was not expecting much out of this place in terms of portion, but I had hope for decent quality, which did not ended so well. The ambience is nice and quiet with a neatly decorated classy dining area. Service was awfully slow. The first thing I noticed on their menu is the very long names. Maybe they thought it was a good idea to merge description with the item name? For tapas, we went with "Pan Seared Calamari with Blood Orange Verjus & Crimson Lentils" and "Grilled Provencal Beef with House Garlic Chips & Bearnaise". The Calamari was way too sour, I am not usually a sour flavor type of person, but it was sour to the point that was unbearable. The Beef was on the dry side and was a little chewy, good thing there was a small bit of sauce with the dish, but it still tasted a little bland. I also sampled my kid's children size pasta with a little cheese and lime flavor in it, and that was actually better than all the tapas we ordered. For entrees, there were "Leaf Wrapped Halibut with Blood Orange Verjus Sweet Corn & Asparagus Pilaf", "Seared Sea Scallops with Smoked Tomato Coulis & Pancetta -Toasted Orzo Timbale-", and "Pork Tenderloin Wrapped in Serrano Ham with Apricot Mahon Cream -Roasted Baby Red Pot". The halibut was just ok, we had no idea why they put the white sauce on the dish, as it added no extra flavor to the fish inside. The scallops were delicious, I actually enjoyed the tomato coulis flavor goes very well with the scallops, and the veggies and timbale were both decent. The pork tenderloin was similar to the beef earlier, the ham tasted a little awkward with the pork and the apricot sauce was a little bitter. Overall, I was not entirely impressed by my dining experience at Martine, there were many vicissitudes throughout the night. It was definitely not the best fine dining place I visited, if the portion is small, quality ought to be inversely proportional to the decrease, and this place failed offer that.
(3)
Minx K.
Love the southwest salad ! The staff is very polite and accommodating.
(5)
Carrie M.
I had the scallops and butternut squash and both were great! I also got to try the meatballs and Brussels sprouts. The meatballs are kind of spicy and delicious! I went to dinner with people who go to Martine frequently and we were treated very special. The building is a neat old brownstone building and it feels like you're in NYC!
(4)
Lydia K.
Went for my mom's birthday... wonderful! Kianna was a fabulous server and we enjoyed all our courses. Shared the soft shell crab, Frog Greens salad, the Bay scallops with risotto and the chocolate decadence. Everything was fantastic, flavors, service, etc! Also very reasonably priced for the quality of food and service! Still has the same charm.
(4)
Ayla K.
Very good food and drinks. I've enjoyed every meal I've had. The sangria is very, very good.
(4)
Cory T.
Good food but over priced. Good bread and sorbet desert. If priced 25% lower would be a 4 star.
(3)
Emily B.
My husband and I stumbled upon Martine when we were looking for a different restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised by the food and ambiance. The staff were timely, but not entirely friendly.
(4)
Laird B.
Nice tapas, nice service, nice wine selection. None of it outstanding, all of it 'nice.' And, yes, service -- even on a quiet evening -- can be slow. But nice. Today's gripe: I'm tall but the booths are weird to sit at. The tables are somewhere near your chin. I felt like a little kid, which isn't how I want to feel when I'm about to spend a bit of money on a nice meal. Why not invest in better benches in the booths?
(3)
Travis B.
Went here for the Dine O' Round at lunch. We ordered the lamb with risotto and the chicken. We ordered the chicken noodle soup (not bad a little bland and the broth lacked power) and the salad with the 3 cheese vinaigrette ( that was so good I almost asked for a gallon of it to smother on myself and then walk into a weight watchers meeting so I could finally write that letter to Penthouse Forums). The lamb with risotto was by far and away the best thing we had. It was moist, succulent , tender and rich (all of those describe me as well......except the rich). The chicken was tender and cooked perfectly. We are going here again for dinner so I will update this review later. I am as excited about this as a fat kid being left unattended in the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory.
(4)
Kate M.
Went to Martine with a bunch of ladies at lunchtime. Service was OK, for a large table she did fairly well, though she was a bit slow. I had the french onion soup. It was somewhat bland, unfortunately. I also had one of their panins, one with prosciutto, gruyere, fig & arugula. It was very good, although I would have preferred it a tad warmer, it arrived fairly cold. I think I'd come back at dinner for a better idea of the restaurant, but lunch wasn't bad.
(3)
Nate S.
Martine has a nice vibe. I could belly up to the bar for cocktails and small plates and be very happy. EXCEPT, their food isn't very good. Here's a tapas place with (on the night of our recent visit) NO cured pork products on the menu. Alarming, shocking, depressing. Even worse, though, was the bizarre fascination with over-breading. We had incredibly sad, Iggy's-level calamari that our excellent server removed from the bill without us saying a word. She knew it sucked. What she didn't know was why the kitchen kept doing it. Fascinating and baffling ... Then the sardines---You know those gross onion rings you sometimes encounter that are basically interred in a big doughnut? That's what Martine did to our sardines. (Even the awesomeness of that sentence's alliteration and internal rhyming can't redeem those poor, breaded fishes.) There were some decent plates, so there remains some hope, but I am in no hurry to return.
(3)
Nat B.
I enjoyed this place. The food was very good. I was there with a large party and the service was unimpressive. My server completely forgot to bring me one of the plates I'd ordered, and another server spilled wine all over the table and dripped all over my plate. Other items to note: They had valet parking and a double door entrance of sorts (this is important in the middle of winter if you are the one seated at the table near the entrance).
(3)
Angie L.
came here for a late lunch and the food was just okay. it wasn't bad, but it wasn't memorable either. service was average.
(2)
Cori L.
I usually love tapas, but I felt like Martine's tapas offered nothing special. The salad was lack luster, as well as the tapas. Plus it is incredibly pricey. It was a lovely building though, very quaint.
(2)
William B.
Note that Martine the lunch restaurant and Martine the dinner restaurant are essentially two entirely different enterprises occupying the same physical plant. Dinner is tapas, as discussed by two previous posters. Lunch is probably the best simple sit-down lunch within walking distance of the federal building. A lot of sandwiches with side salads, soups with half sandwiches, etc., for less than ten dollars. Plus there's an upper level that's a little quieter and more private if that's relevant to your lunch plans.
(4)
Corby B.
We went here on New Years Eve with 8 friends. Food was wonderful even with the unexpected pre set menu and their servers did a great job. Watch out for the drink prices as you can easily spend more on drinks than dinner for their overpriced alcohol menu!
(4)
Jeanne L.
Martine has that old world elegance feel (dark wood, booths, freshly baked bread, etc) that really creates a nice ambiance for your meal overall. The food was alright, but our server kept forgetting things (like a glass with sparkling water - we're not going to drink it straight from the bottle..., missing silverware, etc. Small things, but a little irritating), and service was pretty slow. To be honest, i'd really prefer eating at Cafe Molisse instead, down the street (even the bread rolls at Molisse are to die for). I've had better tapas and and fancy fare.
(3)
Caramel S.
After frequenting a variety of hipster joints (including Eva, Tin Angel and The Wild Grape), I thought I'd raise the bar and treat myself to more luxury. However, I was severely disappointed by my experience. Our server was CLEARLY too busy. What I perceived as an attempt at a leisurely pace quickly turned into a long-drawn-out-question-of-whether-or-not-we'd-Âever-see-her-again. When we finally ordered our meal, the first appetizers took a looong time. Perhaps the kitchen was backed up as well? Even so, I'm typically happy to enjoy prolonged wine/conversation if the food is worth the wait. For me, this was NOT the case. My date ordered lamb, which he loved because lamb is just inherently good. But my salad was TERRIBLE! Terrible doesn't even describe the disappointment of finding almost NO dressing and bland flavor in general. I pushed it aside and stopped at Taco Bell on the way home. Anyway, it's disappointing when high expectation meets a lower standard than more moderately priced establishments. I think I'll stick with my Eva---she's never let me down.
(1)
Rich B.
This is our favorite restaurant in Salt Lake city- my wife and I always go here for dinner when we want something special. They do lunch too but we've only been there for dinner so this review is strictly related to the dinner shift. First the lighting and atmosphere is dark enough for a romantic evening dining out but we've also been there when a crowd was celebrating a birthday. There's also a second floor if you really want to get away from the main crowd though we've never sat up there. The wait staff is always friendly and helpful but service can be a little slow when it's busy. They're quite good with answering questions about the wine and food (for those of us who may not know Spanish-specific ingredient names). Fist and foremost, this is the only tapas restaurant in SLC and fortunately it does that very well. We typically order a handful of tapas dishes and then share an entree and dessert and that's enough for us to be satisfied. The main dishes are all done with the same care as the tapas, flavored expertly and presented beautifully. The menu isn't extensive- it typically fits onto 1 page but it does change with the season so there is variety enough. Just about everything we've had here has been absolutely amazing. The one exemption is when we've ordered certain dishes containing a very strong blue cheese (Cabralas) but that's a personal preference, not a criticism of the food. And to our shock, they do a good job with seafood which is uncommon for most of the restaurants we've been to in SLC. Save room for dessert- I highly recommend the grilled gingerbread and home-made gelato. We almost always get this after a meal and it is simply amazing. We've taken some out of town colleagues here before- from Australia and they've agreed this is the best place in SLC they've eaten.
(5)
Sarah C.
They make the best whiskey sour in SLC!
(5)
Mike G.
My favorite in SLC. Food is important and they always do a fabulous job. Duck entree was artfully done with fresh braised plums and Cambazola, amazing.
(5)
Audra E.
Nice restaurant in a historical building in Salt Lake City. Had the grape leaf wrapped halibut, Cajun style bbq grilled shrimp, and the bay scallops wrapped in a beggar's purse (crepe). All very nicely presented, and very fresh food. Wine selection was ok, and about 2.5-3x the cost of buying it yourself at Whole Foods. Tables and booths are small, so big parties might be hard to accommodate. Cost for each of my tapas plate averaged $13, bottle of ok, not great wine was $42 (cost at Whole Foods about $18).
(4)
Margrit S.
Wonderful, interesting food. Great service! One of my favorite restaurants in SLC.
(5)
Kelly S.
Only ate their for lunch and the food was pretty good. Somewhat elaborate & thought-out sandwiches and salads. Pleasant atmosphere and efficient service.
(3)
Brian B.
My wife and I went last night to Martines, a restaurant we have dined at for years, and this had to be one of worst expieriences we have had on a long time. First we had a reservation at 6:45 upon arriving the restaurant was not even half filled, we were sat at a very small table next to all these booths. I asked the hostess if she had a booth available and said they were all reserved. By the end of the night the booths were still not vacated. The staff, our waitress Tami was nothing short of rude and unattentive. She went to three other tables to fill water and take orders of patrons who sat AFTER us as we sat with empty glasses. Then the food, I understand its Dine O round, we ordered the crispy calamari which was more like crispy strings. There was no meat to this dish, it was bland, you could tell it was frozen and just reheated. My wife got the moroccan beef which was very little beef as well. Then the entrees came out. I had the beef tenederloin which I ordered medium. It was red throughout and after I had to flag our waitress down (of course she never checked on us on the food) she brought it back to the kitchen. 15 minutes later she arrives with the same beef and the pieces I cut were placed on top of the fillet and the whole thing was covered in sauce. They didn't reheat the mashed potatoes or veggies as now they were cold. Needless to say this restaurant is on the decline, with so many great new restaurants in Salt Lake there is no need to waste your time or money on Martines.
(1)
Brianne K.
Martine is probably my favorite restaurant in Salt Lake. Always inventive and delicious, and the service has always been spot on.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Lexi S.
2nd visit to Martine...first time was the dine-o-round a year and some ago. This time, they still offered a prix fixe menu which I totally appreciated. However, this place is still over-priced for what you are getting. Food is fine, ambiance is great, service is spotty...you see, the whole thing just does not come together. I can prepare a great meal at home that rivals what was served here. Salad was fine, lamb was good but the accoutrements were just ok. My pals pork was good but again, I can make a mean pork chop at home. Desserts were nice...chocolate was rich...gingerbread was the winner. I love this building and the soul of the interior, however, it won't be a place that I frequent.
(3)Lisa R.
Quaint European style cafe in historic building. I enjoyed the salmon sandwich for lunch with cucumber-ginger-black bean slaw and field greens, plus a side green salad with tomatoes and cucumbers and it came with chips. I had a very good waitress Carley who was attentive and sweet. The main reason I came here when in SLC was the name. My mom's name is Martine and I never see her name on keychains or mugs, so I wrote Martine Cafe and asked for something to bring back. The manager Lindsay wrote me and said I can take menus with me. Carley gave me a dinner menu which has Martine written in beautiful script and I cannot wait to give these to my foodie mom!
(4)Stephanie B.
This was my second time dining here in 2 weeks because plans were set in motion and I could not cancel them. I had dined here previously and thought it was great. But these last two experiences have me not wanting to return and also wanting to warn others. This restaurant should be MUCH better for the cost. I have eaten there the last two Saturday nights in a row and the service has just been AWFUL! No other words for it. On the first attempt, our friend got the lamb and when sat down in front of him he asked for salt (salt and pepper is NOT on the tables there... which drives me nuts) and nothing comes... we get a second glass of wine delivered several minutes later and again he asks for salt.... nothing... waitress is chatting with another table. Finally after about 10 minutes (which is a long time when the entire table is eating without him) he goes up to the bar and asks for it himself. At this point the entire evening is ruined because he is mad... his food is cold... and it's a tense atmosphere. The manager (or at least we think it was the manager.. he didn't say) comes to the table and asks if everything is OK. Well, no... it isn't OK. My friend's plate was cold which he offered to heat. I wanted to ask "just how do you reheat the lamb shank in a way that doesn't ruin the already cold dish?" Reheating something is NOT a fix! They did buy the table dessert but what should have happened is my friend should NOT have been charged for his lamb entree. Period. We didn't want dessert. We all wanted to have a nice dinner together and it didn't happen. This is just NOT ok in a restaurant that is wanting to be a high end restaurant. It shouldn't happen anywhere, but it really shouldn't happen when we are spending $300 for a table of 4. Second attempt was last night with a party of 5 women. Food was OK, not hot when it arrived. Waiter was VERY much distracted by much larger table sitting by us. We couldn't get water refills and we had to ask for bread several times. Another thing that drives me nuts... 5 women at a table asking for EXTRA bread and the bread arrives 30 minutes after our arrival (not kidding) and there are 5 slices. This was after I asked in the beginning for extra bread. I'm not sure how many they would have brought us otherwise? All 5 of us ordered appetizers and entrees and two women ordered dessert. We ordered drinks. This was not a cheap ticket. But I felt we were treated like a cheap table. At the end of the evening we even had to go hunt for our waiter to pay our bill. He was standing by the bar with his head propped up on his hand... at this point in the evening it was 10pm and there was a huge basket of bread. I'm thinking to myself "why on earth couldn't they just bring us a few plates of bread? There is no way they even finished the bread they had sitting there. The service here is NOT good and it's not acceptable and I will NOT return. It is really no surprise that the last two weekends have been VERY quiet with very few diners. I won't be one of them again. :(
(2)Aaron J.
I went here on Valentines Day with my lovely wife and found it to be just OK. They had a set fee/menu for the night, which had plenty of options that sounded great. We had reservations and they sat us quickly, which was appreciated. Some of the dishes were tasty (Scallops with Blood Orange Aioli), but most were bland -rich, but lacked taste (Tilapia & Butternut Squash soup). The Filet I ordered was significantly smaller than expected, then after a few bites I determined that I was happy it wasn't bigger since it would have been a waste to the poor cow. The Bread Pudding dessert was a nice way to end, but overall the Sarah McLachlan concern we attended was much better than our experience at Martine's and I don't even like Sarah's music that much. I'd give it a try for lunch, but I'll pass on dinner here...
(3)Tim K.
Not bad. Disappointed in the turkey. I love places that use fresh carved turnkey. This place was all about the processes turkey. Disappointing for $10. Hit blue lemon, awesome fresh carved turkey!
(3)Jennifer S.
What a wonderful restaurant! Martine sits in a beautiful old brownstone and the atmosphere is fantastic inside...very cozy! The service was great and the food was incredible. My mother-in-law and I each had a tapas, entree and dessert and everything was wonderful!
(5)Jefferson B.
While in Salt Lake City on business, we found this place on the web, almost by accident. What a happy accident it was. The space is beautiful (although walking there in the dark and cold, there is a giant pit where a building is going in across the street, and the approach is bleak; don't let it throw you) and was perfectly lit. We had a table of five, and so we opted to order a selection of starters to share from the tapas menu, and some entrees. Memorable were the seared calamari with lime dressing and grilled polenta, and a special of rabbit in beggar's purse. Both were outstanding, as was the ragout of mushrooms (without the calamari, though, the richness would have been overwhelming, especially given the highly flavored cheese on the ragout). The French and Moroccan Mediterranean influence was apparent, and pulled off without a hitch. I let the chef select my entree, and he chose the sea bass. Sweet and perfectly balanced spice complemented the fish, the only drawback was the undercooked yellow lentil salad on which the fish was perched. All of my fellow diners opted for what I recall was braised beef, and I heard no complaints. The service was outstanding, and the wines (especially the Spanish wines) were very good. We had an excellent Rioja for about $45. There were a few other large tables (it was the day before Sundance began) and the kitchen handled the pacing well. Whether you're heading to Utah for work, or to head up to the slopes, a stop at Martine Cafe & Tapas would be well worth your time.
(4)Silvy A.
I went here for a business dinner and had the wild salmon special. It was delicious! I also had the bread pudding, which was a bit dry for my taste, so I wouldn't order it again. I would agree that it's pricey, but for a business dinner, it was perfect. Plus their salmon was much better than the salmon I had on another night at Market Street Grill.
(4)Jessica P.
Martine is one of my favorites in the city. Their menu has a very tasty selection of Spanish tapas. Check out my full review here: foodieslut.com/restauran…
(4)John M.
Watch out for the sangria. By the time you find yourself drooling it's too late. We were clearly told they put brandy in it. I must have forgotten :) The tapas were very good. We ordered one of each and really weren't disappointed. The octopus was especially delicious. I sent friends here the following night and they were equally pleased. I wish they had more tapas and fewer dinners however not having the dinners I'm biased.
(4)Jill P.
Going downhill? This used to be my favorite SLC restaurant but I think it has gone downhill while some newer, better, restaurants are opening in the area. That said, this is still one of the better options in SLC. The sauces used to be complex and surprising, now they seem just good enough. The menu changes often (weekly?) with nightly specials but the flavor profiles have not changed at all over the years or even across dishes. Meaning, if you've eaten here enough times, pretty soon the options become pretty boring. Their pork and duck dishes are still some of the best prepared I've had. The service has always been great. The brownstone location with tin ceiling is awesome. I just wish Martine would continue to impress. Instead it has kind of stagnated near "better than average".
(3)Lee B.
I have to say, this place rocks! The setting is awesome giving an instant feeling of class walking through the door. Beer and wine selection is good (Beer being all local). The food is to die for, and I am not over exaggerating, it is that good. The Mac and cheese is something of another world and the clams were delicious. Make sure to save room for desert, because the gingerbread and gelato is yum. All and all a great experience, I will for sure make this a regular dinner date location.
(5)Kelli T.
This is a great downtown lunch spot. Perfect if you want to escape the chaos of the lunch rush and unwind in a quiet, cozy spot. Go with the half sandwich and salad for a lunch that won't put you in an afternoon food coma. They now serve a few tasty garlic chips and savory dipping sauce with their sandwiches instead of the handful of wimpy potato chips they used to serve. Definitely an upgrade.
(3)Kita B.
This was a very nice restaurant with a lovely ambiance! The salmon with the touch of mango was awesome. We tried one of each of the appetizers & they were all great. The price was amazing too. The only reason I did not give them 5 stars is because the menu was not very diverse. However I would definitely recommend this place!
(4)Chantal F.
Dinner was fabulous! We were a group of eleven, they accommodated our group with an hour's notice on a Friday night. We were seated upstairs in a private room (beware...no elevator). Food was superb, service was even better!! Great wine list, our server recommended a great rose. Another beware...old hardware prevents split checks, although our server was incredibly accommodating in allowing multiple payment types and extra copies of itemized receipts. Highly recommend! And try the grilled gingerbread, really!
(4)Laurence B.
My wife and I ate at Martine for the first time in many years and it turned out to be one of the best meals we have had in Salt Lake City. Special mention needs to be made for their Brussels sprouts, which we thought were even better than those at Eva's. Service was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. Portions were not skimpy and although the meal was more than we general spend, I felt that I received a decent value.
(5)Ryan H.
My experience at Martine started off as a spontaneous date night. I was looking for something unique, with good food and semi romantic. I was not disappointed. Martine has a classy feel and it's very mellow. We were there early, about 6pm and didn't have any issue getting a table. We were warmly greeted and introduced to our server, Miranda, who was incredible. She will get her own paragraph later in this review. To start, they have unique menu because you get three courses for $30. They have soup/salad, tapas, entrees and dessert. You can choose any combination of the four. They do not skimp on them portions or quality either. I had the ceviche, which was nearly its own dish and the lamb shank which was just slightly smaller than a turkey leg from Disneyland. My boyfriend had the applewood smoked salmon from the tapas menu. While the serving was smaller, it was amazing. His dinner was the hen and I was jealous of how tasty it was. They cooked it perfectly and the skin was so crispy I wanted more. We also have their carafe of wine, but there was a fancier name for it. Now the customer service is what makes this place stand out. Miranda was on the ball, our water glasses were never empty, our wine was poured for us, she checked in on us regularly. She truly seemed to care about the restaurant and the food. Her recommendations were honest and helpful. She also made a point to engage with us beyond just the feed. She made us feel welcome and special. We will definitely be going back.
(5)R I.
To put things in the right perspective I should say that I went there during Dine O round for lunch. The restaurant itself is awesome. I especially like the vault behind the bar. The location is great especially if you realize you can park at City Creek for 2 hours for free if you pre-pay at the booths by the mall entrance from the parking lot. I got the Moroccan Braised Beef and the corn chowder. I really liked the Beef. There were a lot of different flavors which complimented one another quite well and the meat was very tender. The corn chowder was more like a corn soup but aside from not being creamy, it tasted fine. My wife got the Cioppino. We did not like it. We usually love most fish stews but this one was just a little bland. What you could taste of the sauce was overpowered by a whole lot of cilantro. The seafood in it tasted fine, but the sauce left much to be desired. I would give this place a 3.5 stars if I could because I would definitely recommend the braised beef to anyone but the rest of the dishes we tried were just okay. Our server was awesome and the atmosphere was great. I may go back for a second opinion.
(3)Nicole P.
Amazing food & such a cute relaxed atmosphere. Nice to get different flavors with a moroccan influence.
(5)Scott P.
Expensive, but the tapas might be worth it! We ordered and thoroughly enjoyed the Lobster and Lamb Kibbe tapas! The lobster was in perfect form on top of a small bed of linguine and tasted close to perfection. I'll admit that the lamb was executed nicely, as well. And, I won't get started on how good the mushroom soup was! Fresh ingredients and presentation are Martine's strengths (I also like the location). However, you could break the bank without ordering a lot of food. And, the decor is nice only if you're sitting in specific seats. I'm conflicted! I'd like to give an extra half star!
(3)Ashley M.
So good! My husband and I really enjoyed our meal. We had the 4 course prix fixe and everything was SO good. The service was excellent. Server was Alan and he was very attentive and knowledgeable with food and drink recommendations. The ambiance of the place was nice as well. It was our first time there and we will definitely be back! Oh and valet parking is free!
(5)Lily G.
Our evening at Martine felt like being at a fine New York restaurant. It's a perfect place for a romantic dinner but will also impress a business client. We were greeted warmly by Greg who had a good sense of humor and made us feel immediately welcome. He was professional yet personable. We sat at a lovely window table and were immediately greeted and given water. Our waitress, Keanna, was warm and very helpful. The entire staff seemed confident and knowledgable and happy to be there. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the staff adds to that. We thought the menu was interesting and really liked the small plates options. We loved the house salad which had chunks of squash and delicious dressing. Even the bread was fresh and delicious. Prices are reasonable for the quality that is served. Martine will definitely be a regular stop for us. Sometimes everything just clicks and it certainly did for us at this delightful restaurant.
(4)Alethea M.
Our favorite place to enjoy the best sangrias in town! Great place for good food, great drinks and great service!!
(4)Stacy W.
I used to really like Martine. However, the service (I think her name was Teresa or Tami) was abysmal. The food was just okay, certainly not worth the price. Two of use thought our entree was fine, the other two didn't even eat theirs.
(2)Mary A.
This was a first time visit to this small restaurant located in a historic building in Salt Lake City. The exterior is brownstone and is next to what will be a new performing arts center space which is under construction. The interior of this restaurant is what I'd describe as rustic/modern. The brick walls of this building remain but the décor is fairly simple and comfortable. The menu is largely local and seasonal food. My husband chose an appetizer for his course. The lobster slippers---nicely presented and tender. I chose a prix fixe of salad, sautéed Brussels Sprouts, and chicken cooked in eggplant/pepper sauce. We ended up sharing the salad and Brussels Sprouts. I have never tasted Brussels Sprouts prepared the way these were----they were deep fried with pancetta and incredibly delicious! Our server was very helpful and knowledgeable about the courses and was good about answering questions about the food. We had mango cake and a napoleon for dessert. Both were excellent! There were many small plates offered on this menu and I noticed other people dining here that opted to do that. The server also explained that people often order these and can always keep the menu and order more food as they desire. A good choice if you want to sample a lot of different dishes.
(4)Samantha P.
We wanted to like it, we really did. The building, the lighting, the music, the mood - it all seemed promising. But we had immediate attitude from our server and the food was disappointing. I won't say that the service was bad, he was prompt and checked in, but among other things, when he motioned to put pepper on our soup and we nodded yes while still talking, he seemed determined not to stop until we actually uttered the words "that's enough." By then he'd pretty much destroyed our soup with pepper. The arugula salad was bland which defies odds somehow, and the short ribs were 2 little meaty nuggets over a bowl of beans. The meat was good but as a server, I'd be embarrassed to serve it up as an order of short ribs without fully describing what to expect. Last but not least, free bread is always a nice touch but in this day with great bread practically falling out of the sky, it's unfathomable that you don't serve something warm or fresh. You might also consider adding salt and pepper to the tables - just simple things that make life a little easier as a diner. What is life about if not for a restaurant to make a dining experience as pleasant as possible? Would not go back, would not recommend. SLC food culture is booming - there is no reason to settle.
(2)Claire P.
Really solid French and European cuisine, in a gorgeous environment. I had a date down here for Valentine's Day and their prix fixe menu did not disappoint. However, I would say it's a tad pricey for what they have to offer -- hence the knocked off star. But if you're looking for a fine dining experience for a special occasion, this place fits the bill (literally)!
(4)peter r.
Inventive, expertly executed, great service. A decent wine selection. The ambiance of a family brownstone does not disappoint. Very consistent over the years.
(5)Sara W.
One of my favorites! We love to go for a good meal and always enjoy the atmosphere. The specialty drinks are delicious and the seasonal menu is always wonderful. The presentation is great and I love the atmosphere. A go to for an evening out. :)
(5)Margie W.
I was really looking forward to having lunch at Martine after a couple of recommendations. I was so very disappointed. The service was just horrible and the food was below average. After waiting longer than necessary the server finally took our order. I was excited to try the Angus burger only to be told they didn't have any. No apology. No recommendation. So I decided on French Onion soup only to be told they were out. Mind you this was 12:30 p.m. I then decided on the pastrami panini. It took another 30 minutes to be served and there were very few people in the restaurant. The bread was barely toasted and it was cold. My server walked by the table at least four times and never once acknowledged us. I was not going to cause a scene because I was with a very important client and trying to conduct business. The bill was placed in front of me ten minutes after the food was placed on the table and again she walked by another three times. I saw her walk out the door before we paid and I realized she was most likely waiting for us to pay so she could get her tip. I'm a good tipper (at least 20% every time) and only left 10% which I never ever do. To top it off I wrote to the restaurant with my concerns and still not a word of apology. If they had just simply acknowledged my concerns you wouldn't be reading this review right now and I also would have given it another try. I live downtown and frequent all the neighborhood restaurants but will not be back. I hope your experience is better than mine.
(1)jack s.
As spoiled foodies from Portland, we were impressed by their fabulously fresh tapas and very sweet server. Halibut cakes, prosciutto-wrapped white asparagus and Lamb kibbeh were big wins; as was their signature grilled gingerbread. Housed in a mellow, redux-old-west building. A big win for business travelers.
(4)Bani S.
I had dinner here with a couple of friends tonight and had pretty good food and a great time. I really wish I could give it 3.5 stars. The first thing I noticed is that Martine is located in an old brown stone building which, I'm told, dates back to the turn of the century. At one point, it was even a bank and the old school vault is still in plain site. This place has character. Try to get a table by the window as it isolates you from everyone else in the place and adds a little something to the experience since you're about six or seven feet above ground level as you look out. The menu is rather short but with good options for tapas and entrees. We started out with some wine (priced twice as high as you can get it in a supermarket) and bbq shrimp. I then had the beef tenderloin with potatoes, squash, mushrooms, and asparagus as sides. I asked for medium rare but I found that it was overcooked, yet still pretty good. So why only three stars? Well, aside from the meat being overcooked, the bbq shrimp could have been better and was missing the wow factor you'd get from a 4 or star place. That being said, I would still highly recommend this place if you want to try something a little different. Important to note that this place is probably best for parties of two, or three at the most as most of the booths and tables are a bit cramped.
(3)Silus G.
Martine is a fine example of American small-plate cuisine -- in the tradition of mezzo, dim sum, tapas, and amuse-bouche. If you're not familiar with the approach, think appetizers-for-dinner. But that hardly captures the charm and allure of this type of eating. You select four or five plates for a party of two and share them. They're like mini portions of the best meals served by the very best restaurants. So that's what they are ...a word on HOW they are: the wait staff isn't terribly attentive, but they are friendly and fairly knowledgeable. The ambiance is very European minus the smoke and attitude. The food is creative and expertly crafted. My only complaint is that sometimes the chef's willingness to experiment runs outside my tastes ...so if you're more mainstream, ask your server for a little guidance. Parking's hard to find, but literally right next door in a paid garage (turn down the alley way, then follow the signs) ...and if you want a little privacy, ask to be seated on the balcony. Very nice.
(4)Tony L.
I first heard about this place was from sampling their small dish during the Tastemaker event. We came here one night with a large group for celebration. I was not expecting much out of this place in terms of portion, but I had hope for decent quality, which did not ended so well. The ambience is nice and quiet with a neatly decorated classy dining area. Service was awfully slow. The first thing I noticed on their menu is the very long names. Maybe they thought it was a good idea to merge description with the item name? For tapas, we went with "Pan Seared Calamari with Blood Orange Verjus & Crimson Lentils" and "Grilled Provencal Beef with House Garlic Chips & Bearnaise". The Calamari was way too sour, I am not usually a sour flavor type of person, but it was sour to the point that was unbearable. The Beef was on the dry side and was a little chewy, good thing there was a small bit of sauce with the dish, but it still tasted a little bland. I also sampled my kid's children size pasta with a little cheese and lime flavor in it, and that was actually better than all the tapas we ordered. For entrees, there were "Leaf Wrapped Halibut with Blood Orange Verjus Sweet Corn & Asparagus Pilaf", "Seared Sea Scallops with Smoked Tomato Coulis & Pancetta -Toasted Orzo Timbale-", and "Pork Tenderloin Wrapped in Serrano Ham with Apricot Mahon Cream -Roasted Baby Red Pot". The halibut was just ok, we had no idea why they put the white sauce on the dish, as it added no extra flavor to the fish inside. The scallops were delicious, I actually enjoyed the tomato coulis flavor goes very well with the scallops, and the veggies and timbale were both decent. The pork tenderloin was similar to the beef earlier, the ham tasted a little awkward with the pork and the apricot sauce was a little bitter. Overall, I was not entirely impressed by my dining experience at Martine, there were many vicissitudes throughout the night. It was definitely not the best fine dining place I visited, if the portion is small, quality ought to be inversely proportional to the decrease, and this place failed offer that.
(3)Minx K.
Love the southwest salad ! The staff is very polite and accommodating.
(5)Carrie M.
I had the scallops and butternut squash and both were great! I also got to try the meatballs and Brussels sprouts. The meatballs are kind of spicy and delicious! I went to dinner with people who go to Martine frequently and we were treated very special. The building is a neat old brownstone building and it feels like you're in NYC!
(4)Lydia K.
Went for my mom's birthday... wonderful! Kianna was a fabulous server and we enjoyed all our courses. Shared the soft shell crab, Frog Greens salad, the Bay scallops with risotto and the chocolate decadence. Everything was fantastic, flavors, service, etc! Also very reasonably priced for the quality of food and service! Still has the same charm.
(4)Ayla K.
Very good food and drinks. I've enjoyed every meal I've had. The sangria is very, very good.
(4)Cory T.
Good food but over priced. Good bread and sorbet desert. If priced 25% lower would be a 4 star.
(3)Emily B.
My husband and I stumbled upon Martine when we were looking for a different restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised by the food and ambiance. The staff were timely, but not entirely friendly.
(4)Laird B.
Nice tapas, nice service, nice wine selection. None of it outstanding, all of it 'nice.' And, yes, service -- even on a quiet evening -- can be slow. But nice. Today's gripe: I'm tall but the booths are weird to sit at. The tables are somewhere near your chin. I felt like a little kid, which isn't how I want to feel when I'm about to spend a bit of money on a nice meal. Why not invest in better benches in the booths?
(3)Travis B.
Went here for the Dine O' Round at lunch. We ordered the lamb with risotto and the chicken. We ordered the chicken noodle soup (not bad a little bland and the broth lacked power) and the salad with the 3 cheese vinaigrette ( that was so good I almost asked for a gallon of it to smother on myself and then walk into a weight watchers meeting so I could finally write that letter to Penthouse Forums). The lamb with risotto was by far and away the best thing we had. It was moist, succulent , tender and rich (all of those describe me as well......except the rich). The chicken was tender and cooked perfectly. We are going here again for dinner so I will update this review later. I am as excited about this as a fat kid being left unattended in the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory.
(4)Kate M.
Went to Martine with a bunch of ladies at lunchtime. Service was OK, for a large table she did fairly well, though she was a bit slow. I had the french onion soup. It was somewhat bland, unfortunately. I also had one of their panins, one with prosciutto, gruyere, fig & arugula. It was very good, although I would have preferred it a tad warmer, it arrived fairly cold. I think I'd come back at dinner for a better idea of the restaurant, but lunch wasn't bad.
(3)Nate S.
Martine has a nice vibe. I could belly up to the bar for cocktails and small plates and be very happy. EXCEPT, their food isn't very good. Here's a tapas place with (on the night of our recent visit) NO cured pork products on the menu. Alarming, shocking, depressing. Even worse, though, was the bizarre fascination with over-breading. We had incredibly sad, Iggy's-level calamari that our excellent server removed from the bill without us saying a word. She knew it sucked. What she didn't know was why the kitchen kept doing it. Fascinating and baffling ... Then the sardines---You know those gross onion rings you sometimes encounter that are basically interred in a big doughnut? That's what Martine did to our sardines. (Even the awesomeness of that sentence's alliteration and internal rhyming can't redeem those poor, breaded fishes.) There were some decent plates, so there remains some hope, but I am in no hurry to return.
(3)Nat B.
I enjoyed this place. The food was very good. I was there with a large party and the service was unimpressive. My server completely forgot to bring me one of the plates I'd ordered, and another server spilled wine all over the table and dripped all over my plate. Other items to note: They had valet parking and a double door entrance of sorts (this is important in the middle of winter if you are the one seated at the table near the entrance).
(3)Angie L.
came here for a late lunch and the food was just okay. it wasn't bad, but it wasn't memorable either. service was average.
(2)Cori L.
I usually love tapas, but I felt like Martine's tapas offered nothing special. The salad was lack luster, as well as the tapas. Plus it is incredibly pricey. It was a lovely building though, very quaint.
(2)William B.
Note that Martine the lunch restaurant and Martine the dinner restaurant are essentially two entirely different enterprises occupying the same physical plant. Dinner is tapas, as discussed by two previous posters. Lunch is probably the best simple sit-down lunch within walking distance of the federal building. A lot of sandwiches with side salads, soups with half sandwiches, etc., for less than ten dollars. Plus there's an upper level that's a little quieter and more private if that's relevant to your lunch plans.
(4)Corby B.
We went here on New Years Eve with 8 friends. Food was wonderful even with the unexpected pre set menu and their servers did a great job. Watch out for the drink prices as you can easily spend more on drinks than dinner for their overpriced alcohol menu!
(4)Jeanne L.
Martine has that old world elegance feel (dark wood, booths, freshly baked bread, etc) that really creates a nice ambiance for your meal overall. The food was alright, but our server kept forgetting things (like a glass with sparkling water - we're not going to drink it straight from the bottle..., missing silverware, etc. Small things, but a little irritating), and service was pretty slow. To be honest, i'd really prefer eating at Cafe Molisse instead, down the street (even the bread rolls at Molisse are to die for). I've had better tapas and and fancy fare.
(3)Caramel S.
After frequenting a variety of hipster joints (including Eva, Tin Angel and The Wild Grape), I thought I'd raise the bar and treat myself to more luxury. However, I was severely disappointed by my experience. Our server was CLEARLY too busy. What I perceived as an attempt at a leisurely pace quickly turned into a long-drawn-out-question-of-whether-or-not-we'd-Âever-see-her-again. When we finally ordered our meal, the first appetizers took a looong time. Perhaps the kitchen was backed up as well? Even so, I'm typically happy to enjoy prolonged wine/conversation if the food is worth the wait. For me, this was NOT the case. My date ordered lamb, which he loved because lamb is just inherently good. But my salad was TERRIBLE! Terrible doesn't even describe the disappointment of finding almost NO dressing and bland flavor in general. I pushed it aside and stopped at Taco Bell on the way home. Anyway, it's disappointing when high expectation meets a lower standard than more moderately priced establishments. I think I'll stick with my Eva---she's never let me down.
(1)Rich B.
This is our favorite restaurant in Salt Lake city- my wife and I always go here for dinner when we want something special. They do lunch too but we've only been there for dinner so this review is strictly related to the dinner shift. First the lighting and atmosphere is dark enough for a romantic evening dining out but we've also been there when a crowd was celebrating a birthday. There's also a second floor if you really want to get away from the main crowd though we've never sat up there. The wait staff is always friendly and helpful but service can be a little slow when it's busy. They're quite good with answering questions about the wine and food (for those of us who may not know Spanish-specific ingredient names). Fist and foremost, this is the only tapas restaurant in SLC and fortunately it does that very well. We typically order a handful of tapas dishes and then share an entree and dessert and that's enough for us to be satisfied. The main dishes are all done with the same care as the tapas, flavored expertly and presented beautifully. The menu isn't extensive- it typically fits onto 1 page but it does change with the season so there is variety enough. Just about everything we've had here has been absolutely amazing. The one exemption is when we've ordered certain dishes containing a very strong blue cheese (Cabralas) but that's a personal preference, not a criticism of the food. And to our shock, they do a good job with seafood which is uncommon for most of the restaurants we've been to in SLC. Save room for dessert- I highly recommend the grilled gingerbread and home-made gelato. We almost always get this after a meal and it is simply amazing. We've taken some out of town colleagues here before- from Australia and they've agreed this is the best place in SLC they've eaten.
(5)Sarah C.
They make the best whiskey sour in SLC!
(5)Mike G.
My favorite in SLC. Food is important and they always do a fabulous job. Duck entree was artfully done with fresh braised plums and Cambazola, amazing.
(5)Audra E.
Nice restaurant in a historical building in Salt Lake City. Had the grape leaf wrapped halibut, Cajun style bbq grilled shrimp, and the bay scallops wrapped in a beggar's purse (crepe). All very nicely presented, and very fresh food. Wine selection was ok, and about 2.5-3x the cost of buying it yourself at Whole Foods. Tables and booths are small, so big parties might be hard to accommodate. Cost for each of my tapas plate averaged $13, bottle of ok, not great wine was $42 (cost at Whole Foods about $18).
(4)Margrit S.
Wonderful, interesting food. Great service! One of my favorite restaurants in SLC.
(5)Kelly S.
Only ate their for lunch and the food was pretty good. Somewhat elaborate & thought-out sandwiches and salads. Pleasant atmosphere and efficient service.
(3)Brian B.
My wife and I went last night to Martines, a restaurant we have dined at for years, and this had to be one of worst expieriences we have had on a long time. First we had a reservation at 6:45 upon arriving the restaurant was not even half filled, we were sat at a very small table next to all these booths. I asked the hostess if she had a booth available and said they were all reserved. By the end of the night the booths were still not vacated. The staff, our waitress Tami was nothing short of rude and unattentive. She went to three other tables to fill water and take orders of patrons who sat AFTER us as we sat with empty glasses. Then the food, I understand its Dine O round, we ordered the crispy calamari which was more like crispy strings. There was no meat to this dish, it was bland, you could tell it was frozen and just reheated. My wife got the moroccan beef which was very little beef as well. Then the entrees came out. I had the beef tenederloin which I ordered medium. It was red throughout and after I had to flag our waitress down (of course she never checked on us on the food) she brought it back to the kitchen. 15 minutes later she arrives with the same beef and the pieces I cut were placed on top of the fillet and the whole thing was covered in sauce. They didn't reheat the mashed potatoes or veggies as now they were cold. Needless to say this restaurant is on the decline, with so many great new restaurants in Salt Lake there is no need to waste your time or money on Martines.
(1)Brianne K.
Martine is probably my favorite restaurant in Salt Lake. Always inventive and delicious, and the service has always been spot on.
(5)