I’ll use pretty much any excuse to have my boyfriend take me out to dinner, so on a rare Thursday night free, he received an email list of restaurants that sounded tasty. Luckily he opted for the sleek and hip Market, located in the W Hotel in Buckhead.
Having driven by this chic-looking spot almost daily, I was curious to what culinary delights Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten might have in store.
I fit in with the trendy vibe of the joint in my oversized boyfriend blazer and skinny jeans, though the crowd was sparse that particular night. The perky blonde hostess sat us right smack in the middle of two other pairs of diners, though most of the restaurant was empty. (We didn’t understand the reason for this.) The table space was minimal, but the décor was a combo of funky, modern and sleek.
We started the night by ordering a bottle of red and the Shrimp and Smoked Bacon with Passion Mustard and Avocado. Although supremely tasty, the dish was served with a mere four shrimp. This seemed a little scant, considering the appetizer was $13.
For dinner, we went with the Organic Chicken with Parmesan Crust and Artichokes in Lemon Butter and the Slowly Cooked Salmon with Cherry Tomatoes and Miso-Yuzu Broth. We were both secretly hoping the other would order the Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Cherry Mustard and Crunchy Potatoes. Maybe next time.
Portions for the entrees were generous and the presentation was pleasant. The chicken was slightly dry but not disastrous, though the parmesan crust slid off, leaving a skinless chicken breast with a side of parmesan crusted chicken skin--it was a little sloppy and a lot frustrating. The artichokes in lemon butter weren’t a favorite, as evident from the sour face I apparently made the moment the combo touched my tongue. My boyfriend enjoyed his salmon, although it was basically drowned in the miso broth.
I am never one to pass on dessert when someone else is paying, and I had a tough time deciding between the Sour Cream Cheesecake with Blueberry Verjus Compote and Pink Grapefruit Sorbet or the Warm Chocolate Cake with Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream. In the end the cheesecake won, but only after we substituted the sorbet with the ice cream. The dessert truly was an amazing finish to our meal.
We decided we’d make it back to Market, if only for the reasonable wine selection, delish dessert and friendly, attentive service.
Prices seemed fairly reasonable, as the B.F. only had to fork up around $80 for wine, an appetizer, two entrees and dessert. The lunch menu looks promising and the brunch menu is enticing enough to get me out of bed on a Sunday morning.
All in all, Market merits a second visit. It probably won’t be my favorite restaurant in Buckhead but the atmosphere, experience and most of all that Sour Cream Cheesecake will have me coming back for more.
Market is located in the W Buckhead, 3377 Peachtree Road NE, and is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as Sundays for brunch. ~Blair Branch
