Marché In Ba - bridge Island

Incredible. The chef is truly skilled. The steak is consistently cooked to perfection. Everything here is exceptional. This is by far the best restaurant on the island.

My girlfriend and I visited Marché for our anniversary over a week ago. I've taken some time to reflect on this review, hoping to gain a more balanced perspective. Unfortunately, the more time passes, the more my experience feels like spoiled milk rather than a fine wine. First, I want to acknowledge that my expectations were high due to Atkinson's strong reputation, both locally and online. He and his wife were present and seemed charming during the brief moments we saw them. The staff appeared to be enjoying their time in the kitchen, which was visible from the entryway, and the atmosphere was pleasant, albeit a bit generic in its “homey” vibe. However, the food was shockingly disappointing. I've only ever sent two plates back in my life, and this was one of them. I’m not a picky eater by any means; my small-town roots have taught me to appreciate what I’m served. But when a dish costs over $30, I expect better quality. The squash was unseasoned and undercooked, the mussels were bland and accompanied only by overcooked fennel (with nothing else), and the pasta had a cheese sauce so poorly executed that I would have had to sift through pools of oil to find any flavor. Honestly, a small-town diner chef could have done a better job. They did offer to prepare another plate for us, which in hindsight we should have accepted, but by that point, we were so deflated that we decided to leave in search of a more fulfilling dining experience—perhaps at Anthony’s Homeport. We ended up leaving hungry and $25 poorer for two drinks and an “appetizer.” The menu did feature an interesting selection of daily specials that might entice us to return in the future, given some time to heal from this experience, but for now, we plan to explore more dining options on Bainbridge Island.