The Marq

I’ve been here multiple times, both for lunch and after work drinks. I actually think it’s much better than most other places in the vicinity. They have a lot of wines by the glass. As far as food, their version of a Caesar is really good with added chicken. The chicken is like soup chicken so it’s larger bite sized pieces that are very tender. The steak salad is also good. The grits are super awesome. They also have great pork belly that can be added onto entrees. All pork belly is good but some is better than others and I feel this one is better than others. The fried pickles and sliders are both decent. I really like having this option so close to work and will continue to frequent here.

A few of my coworkers and I had lunch there. I liked the atmosphere/​seating arrangements but the menu left too much to be desired for my taste. Two soups, four salads, and eight sandwich choices basically summarize the options; hopefully this was just their lunch menu. The prices were decent and all sandwiches came with fries. There was only one choice for dessert (which we all shared); a chocolate cheesecake with peppermint topping. This was also just ok, it reminded me of one of those frozen cheesecakes that you have to thaw out before eating.

We found this awesome place on Unilocal after looking through 30 or so restaurants to meet and satisfy 5 friends with different tastes, budgets and hunger levels.
Upon walking in (had reservations) we were seated quickly. The waitress who should have been serving us was busy so the manager actually got our drink orders and first food orders.
We started with a bottle of Malbec which was reasonably priced for downtown Chicago, and very good.
To start we had the artichoke dip and the fried pickles, pickles were served with a sriacha aioli which was great.
The entrée selection was amazing! I had the executive which was an 8oz steak loaded with roasted Brussels sprouts, potatoes and onions. It was insanely good. My wife ordered the funny guy and subbed out the mushrooms for chicken, it was epicly good! Amazing flavor.
One guest at our table had the burger and after reading the menu description it was surprisingly bland. Not bad, just kind of normal.
Overall awesome place and great prices.

I’ve been for lunch a couple of times now, and I’m impressed. The Venetian Mule is a really fun twist on the typical Moscow Mule; it has a bit of a smoky note to it. Also, the Greek salad is very tasty. Service has been spectacular. Servers seem to know their menu well, and are helpful with suggestions. Food comes out of the kitchen quickly, which is really helpful when you’ve got to get back to the office.

I have now been to The Marq twice. The atmosphere is very casual — perfect spot to grab a bite for a business lunch. They have a variety of drinks on their drink menu. I had the cider which was very crisp and refreshing. I LOVED their French fries… Paired with the grilled cheese and I was in heaven. They have a nice choice of salad I would recommend the Greek kale salad. The restraint is decent size and could definitely accommodate large parties. The staff is very friendly and attentive.

I decided to go out for lunch with one of my friends, he spoke highly of this place. The staff was very welcoming. We came in around lunch time and it was very packed, but no wait time. The waiter was happy to assist us with a popular appetizer dish which he recommended the artichoke dip (which was great suggestion). The artichoke dip had a little spice to it and tasted better on the pita bread. Will come back some time for dinner

I went here with colleagues because I really wanted a burger and the reviews sounded so positive. We got there early on MLK day, so there was no rush. All 3 of us ordered burgers. They arrived in less than 5 minutes. That tells me they were either using a Turbo-​chef or microwave. The burgers were completely tasteless. Thank goodness for all the salt on the fries!
The restaurant is attractive and our server was nice, but the food was definitely not worth a walk in the cold.

We stopped at the Marq for some drinks and a quick bite on our way to a party. Since it was a Friday night I made a reservation, and I’m glad I did, the place was packed!
The food was all very good. I tried a few different things from the appetizer menu and it was all good. The drinks were… ok. I had a specialty cocktail that did not knock my socks off (ok, fine, I wasn’t wearing socks, but you get the idea).
The service was good, they were busy but our server was attentive.
I’d definitely stop in for a drink or dinner at the Marq again. It’s on my way home from work and I think we all know how much I like to drink after work.
PS…If you do stop in check out the lobby of the building… There’s a really cool mural made of Tiffany glass (or so they tell me).

I missed out on the opportunity to come here during the summer for a happy hour, and decided to make up for it by selecting it as the spot for a holiday lunch. The staff was very accommodating by moving us to another table to fit in 2 additional people. We started out with the Fried Pickles, which were delicious. I got the 9 to 5 sandwich recommended by the waitress, and was not disappointed. I also got the opportunity to swap out my fries for the roasted cauliflower gratin and that was the way to go. The prices were reasonable and I don’t think I’ll pass up another opportunity to come back here again.

When it first opened, I was not a fan of their menu (especially the appetizer list) — it didn’t make sense for the crowd here or for me in the context of when I stop by– during lunch or after work for drinks! I don’t want bone marrow, probably ever.
This latest visit, I noticed the bone marrow was gone (thank goodness) but so were the cheese curds (which I liked). Basically, the menu keeps changing and it’s annoying, and some items I’ve had were not so good. Food is inconsistent, so I usually just stick to the burger.
Positives:
— We always sit at the bar and the bartender there is super friendly — love her.
— Love the bar area — nice décor.
— Service is quick.
— Good beer/​wine choices, although it can get pricey.
— Convenient location if in the loop
It can be a good alternative to all the old school restaurant/​bars in the area, with a slightly elevated menu and beer/​wine selection, I just wish the food would be consistent and the quality matched the nice interior.

Was out shopping on the first day of snow. What snow? We are in the Loop!
This place is good. First time here and I will be back. I am usually surprised when a restaurant is quiet on a Sat night, but the 4 stars on Unilocal made stop in to see this place. I’m glad I did. Customer service was great. Everyone, including the manager was very nice. Food– excellent!
Ahi Tuna Poke– served cold and is a good app to order.
Salmon Bearnaise– must get this! The flavors from the foods blend together to give ur mouth a party.
Thank you to the chef!

Pros — there were a lot of men at this bar. Like… a LOT of men. For a while I thought I was at a gay bar. (Is this a gay bar? I know… if it is, it’s probably the straightest gay bar I’ve ever been in…)
Cons — Service was really slow, drinks were kiiiiinda overpriced…

I have been eyeing the crowds at the outdoor tables periodically throughout the summer. I finally came at lunch with two friends on a Friday. We waited a bit but then sat at the corner of the bar. When we checked in, I noticed that those «in the know» made reservations. Mental note for next time (especially at Friday lunchtime). My Marq burger was outrageously good (garlicky and tomatoey and cheesey on a fresh bun). I finished every bite. I was too full for the fries but they were awesome. Perfectly crispy and perfectly salted. My friends had the Cubano and the Cali sandwich and were equally pleased. This place is a complete transformation from the old Marquette diner. Can’t wait to come back.

I sat at the bar intending to order a beer and dinner. The bartender has a bit of an attitude so I only ordered a beer. The price on the menu for the beer I ordered, Belgian wheat, allagash white is priced at $ 7 on the menu, the bartender took my $ 10 and only brought back $ 2. Kept $ 1 for himself. Maybe that’s normal practice in Chicago but I think it’s more like theft.
The crooked bartender’s name is Andrew.
I received a message from the owner of the Marq. He explained that the bartender did not steal my $ 1, he said that my change would have been $ 0.26 after tax but they have a policy to round all change up to the nearest dollar. Still seems like thievery but they must have different laws in Chicago. It is also policy not to give a receipt if someone orders only 1 drink at the bar, which means people unfamiliar with their policies would never know where their change went or about the tax.
The owner did inform me that going forward they will be providing receipts and round up to the nearest quarter ($ 0.25). However, not giving the full amount of change due still seems a lot like theft to me, but I’m not a lawyer. I wonder how that put that in their books, misc. revenue? Or do the bartenders pocket the little change.

One of our best girlfriends was in town from LA and we met here to enjoy some cocktails and have dinner. We loved our drinks and the food was to die for, particularly the macaroni and cheese and fried pickles. We had a big group of girls and the staff was so friendly and accommodating.
It was our first time here but we can’t wait to return. It’s the perfect place to meet for dinner, drinks, have a meeting, or just enjoy the city.

If you’ve been to any new American-​style restaurant, you know what to expect from The Marq. Lots of trendy design choices, with a diverse menu and an extensive beer, wine, and spirits list.
Nothing wrong with that though! The burger I got was very juicy — almost too much so. Grab a pint and come here to relax.

My husband and I went to The Marq for the first time last night (saw it had high reviews on Unilocal,oh yeah) and were happy! The front of the restaurant was reserved for some industry type event, but there is a ton of seating in the back area and at the bar. We chose to sit at the bar and were able to drink and eat till we almost popped. We sampled a couple beers at the kind suggestion of the bartender and decided two that we were happy with. We had the heirloom tomato brushetta and burratta appetizer and then shared the blueberry salad and chicken entrée. Each dish was so flavorful and tasty that the hubs and I started to consider ourselves foodies. But then we laughed, finished our beers, and went on our way. If you are in the Loop area of Chicago, definitely go by The Marq –they have a great happy hour!

So great! Looked closed when we walked up, but happily they weren’t. We started with the spinach and artichoke dip. Outstanding. A perfect amount of spice. And the pita and crostini were a perfect complement. We shared the mac n cheese with pork bellies! Amazing. Very rich, so the half order was just enough. Service was outstanding. Even changed the TV so we could watch the Bama game. Recommended a great beer for me. Waiting for the chef’s choice of dessert, but am sure it will be equally delish!!!
And it was!

A few co-​workers and I came here for lunch and had an enjoyable meal.
Décor: I actually cannot really comment on the interior as we only sat outside. But the seating outside is pretty nice. We were not lucky enough to have an umbrella table but it was a really nice day so we managed. There are a handful of tables right on the sidewalk, behind a «fence» of course, and you don’t feel cramped at all.
Staff: Our waitress was pretty cool. She was laid-​back and very casual, just how I like them to be.
Food: We had a few different items: a salad (which was tasty), the Cubano (very good), and the Cali Love (also very good). The food was tasty and, really, that’s all I can really say. Nothing was knock-​your-​socks off delicious but nothing was terrible either. It was just kind of a general lunch with decently general food.
Value: The prices are about where you’d expect them: a bit more than I’d like to pay for lunch but, again, it is a sit-​down place so I knew what I was getting into.
The Marq is a pretty average place from my experience. I’ll probably come back in the future but there are many more places I’ll try before then.

Located in the Marquette Building… The fry that caught my eye…
LOVE the french fries here and they go very well with a beer from their decent selection on a cold winter’s night. I walk past here often and I was never one to catch a bite at the Marquette Diner so this place (being open ’til much later than the former business) was a sight for sore eyes and cold cheeks.
I’m solid on a three-​star rating… not sure about the four — I was stretching to give it to them for both the location and the service. My young server was personable and went out of his way to make sure I was happy. I always appreciate that.
The food we had was good. My friend did take-​out on the burger. I had the three-​cheese grilled cheese which likewise, hit the spot though I don’t care for it on foccacia. (The bread was slightly soggy.) Cool thing was that I’d taken half the sandwich home and nuked it the next day and surprisingly, it was much firmer and better.
The ambience is light-​toned-​modern. It’s nice and that’s such a lame word as is the word «lame.» But that’s the take-​away. It felt somehow «cafeteria-​ish» to me. Maybe if there were votives or a small flower on the table. It didn’t help that it was fairly empty on a freezing night; maybe what it was lacking was just a few more patrons as it’s a decent sized space. The bar/​tv area was the nucleus and the couple of groups of people who were dining were seated over there, but I felt like a window seat. It’ll be great for watching passers-​by when the temp isn’t 20 degrees.
All in all, I agree — great place for a drink, to warm-​up and to have a bite and conveniently located across the street from Federal Plaza so I can finally remember to mail the birthday card I toted around all day.
Enter off Adams or you can access via Dearborn and catch a glimpse of the lobby of the Marquette building.