Walter Macalma

Review of Marche Moderne

I've never heard of a French Buffet, but somehow p...

I've never heard of a French Buffet, but somehow people classify MM as one. They specialize in French seafood and fly in regional varieties daily.

I've done the 5 course set dinner menu which changes often enough that I'd consider it seasonal. Obviously items are subject to change due to availability. I found the food to be prepared and plated with excellence. Personally I found some to be amazing in flavor and others not so much. I went with the caviar because it was the most French to me (sashimi, uni and dungeoness crab all seemed worldly and certainly not French). The blini was soft, pliable and a nice medium for the smokey, briney and flavor packed caviar, small of course. Tuna and faux gras. Not fois gras. The CA ban has loopholes like giving it away. Interesting mix because the tuna also had ponzu truffle butter and here I'd believe they use the real thing. Truffle fries do not have truffle oil, you'd know by taste and you'd be paying $20+ for fries. Both the lobster and halibut dishes were excellent, but far to complex for me to remember the sauce. By now I've had a few drinks before the wine pairings so I honestly can't remember what I had as far as drink anymore. Green Tea and Pistachio gelato to go with a macaroon, unfulfilling as far as appetite goes. I went with the cheese plate which had some. If I recall had more non-French selections than French. It was great and setting us up for eating.

I really blew money in my other 3 times here. Loved tuna sashimi. Coconut vinaigrette, wakame salad. Excellent. The crab with the pickled veggies sounded more appealing than the more French version. Boudin Noir, oh lovely velvety rich blood sausage. Amazing. Don't get the oysters, fresh, but $18 for a half dozen, may as well go to Shuck and I didn't find them any better. Bone marrow was hearty and left me wanting more. The pork belly spoons is more an appetizer, but worth a try for the bacon lover, which is everyone. I stayed away from the steak tartar based on price and went with the Toasted Spanish Octopus. Subtle, warming, classic, I felt very French eating these. Pomme Frites are twice fried, made nightly and first come first serve, so order and come early and hope you get one. They are delectable and that's hard to say about fries. The Belgian's perfected it though.

Service of the food was excellent, but not cordial in the sense they were helpful and attentive. You get a French experience of fine dining and good food, but not necessarily a good time. I think that's why the French drink so much, jk. I was not impressed with it all in all. I only got a good table once and I wasn't willing up financially encourage a change. Perhaps it's because I'm used to equal money, equal service. It's expensive to eat the way a normal foodie eats here and don't' take someone here who doesn't like French food or isn't adventurous or a wino. A lot of money can be spent on just wine.