Kathe B.
Yelp
We are BIG FANS of Marco & Billy for years, and we were excited to bring some dear friends out to dinner to celebrate some milestones in their life. The expectant Mrs. wanted Italian, so we knew just where to recommend!
Like walking into Cheers, when you walk into Marcolino's, they greet you like you're old friends. The ambiance is classy & intimate, but at the same time, you'll feel OK whether you're dressed office casual after work or dressed up for a fancy date night.
Yes, parking near the river is challenging but that will all change when they move to their new spot in the former DT Reno iconic Rapscallion building soon!
We did have a reservation for 6pm, and we were quickly greeted, seated and settled in - and I think we may have ordered *EVERYTHING* lol. I had a glass of red wine, the expectant Mrs. had a Pellegrino & the guys had Italian beers.
We started with calamari friti & garlic bread. Impossibly crispy, cooked to perfection & with a duo of dipping sauces, they were probably some of the best calamari bites I've had outside of the Monterey wharf. We followed with the burrata salad & house Caesar, both were delish.
For entrees, hubby had Marco's hearty ribeye and massive lobster tail, our guests had that evening's specialty pasta, a lemony angel hair with lobster, and their veal scallopini, and I had chicken picatta. Each was delectable, the proteins perfectly cooked and sauced appropriately, and the mains were served with creamy mashed potato & seasonal asparagus.
Normal people would stop there after a meal like this, but we didn't. We had dessert. Correction - dessert(S). Their light & lush Limoncello cake slice & a glass of Spumoni ice cream. Spumoni is better than Neopolitan - change my mind! And too good to just have at the holidays. Oh, and coffee, because some caffeine was the only way were weren't going to be a food coma after such a leisurely, indulgent meal.
Guys, the prices are REASONABLE and the service is impeccable. This place will impress a date, a boss or clients, or would be the place for a celebration/special meal like a bday or anniversary. About 2 weeks later, we recommended Marcolino's for a friend's birthday meal and they also had a wonderful experience!
This isn't a fluke, this is good food, and plenty of it - served with a touch of class, seasoned with a passion for elevated dining & exceptional service. Pro tip - make a reservation and plan for a few extra minutes to park until they relocate, and try EVERYTHING!
Oh, and Mangia, mangia - you're too skinny!