I recently headed out to Marcel, the fairly new restaurant on the lower level of Sotheby’s new location in the Breuer building (on the corner of 75th and Madison).

I actually had low expectations after reading a zero-star review in the NY Times, but I was so pleasantly surprised!

My friend arrived before me and requested the large, round corner table usually reserved for bigger parties, and they happily obliged. Walking toward her, I took in the magnificent space. The ceilings are so high they reminded me of the Summit indoor space, with massive windows and tables spaced out perfectly to allow for easy conversation. There was just a nice, low murmur of noise.

Our waiter placed a crisp mini baguette directly onto the table alongside a knife and soft butter. It was one of those breads where you could have eaten just that and been perfectly happy.

I had to try their Freezer Martini ($32)—Grey Goose poured directly from a zero-degree freezer, garnished with an Amalfi lemon peel and a large green Gordal olive from Seville (I asked for both!). My friend ordered an iced Earl Grey tea ($11), which came with a tiny pitcher of sugar syrup to sweeten it.

To start, my dining partner had the chilled zucchini soup ($24) drizzled with olive oil and topped with mint, chives, and chervil. I tried—and loved—the roasted beets ($27) in a horseradish cream garnished with dill.

We were also wowed by the colorful, layered beef terrine ($34) with a muscat gelée molding the carrots and leeks, served with a side of haricots verts.For my main, the Salad Niçoise ($38) was tasty, though not exactly traditional. It featured lots of dark greens, bell peppers, and shredded cheese alongside the usual anchovies, tuna, tomato, and soft-jammy egg—but it was missing the classic green beans and potatoes.

We also added the very pricey ($22) but delicious French fries to our mix.

We passed on ordering dessert, yet we still received a beautifully packaged treat with freshly made, chocolate-covered madeleines from their bakery to take home!

If you can afford it, I’d highly recommend a meal at Marcel—the service, ambiance, and space make it totally worth it.

Marcel
Breuer Building
Upper East Side
945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street
Nw York, NY
(East 75th Street)
212-951-0099
romanandwilliams.com/pages/marcel-menus