Marta

Marta had an amazing selection of alcohol/​cocktails/​wines. I opted for a cocktail. I did the lunch prix fixe. For an appetizer, I got the chicken meatballs. And for an entrée I chose the duck. Their seasonal dessert was a frozen apple cider. Food was decent. Wasn’t a fan of the anchovy pizza because it was too salty. Ambience was nice. Went for an anniversary date because we had a USHC gift card.

When you are craving pizza in the big, bad city, and don’t want to brave the black ice and the crowded trains (winter coats add volume to the commuting population) to take you to Di Fara in faraway Brooklyn, you will find a contemporary pizzeria in Marta in the Madison Square Park area.
Marta boasts of Danny Meyer pedigree and is an «ecosystem» that also includes the Martha Washington Hotel and a sizeable bar, that doubles up as a waiting area for the restaurant. Just the other day, I went with a good friend and former colleague who lives in the area. And the experience was flawless.
High ceilings, a communal feel, great service and especially good crackly-​crusted pizza. What more can you ask for? The mezzanine area lent itself to quiet conversation. We discussed work, gossiped about common friends, plotted a few clever moves, and then agreed to catch up again soon. I consumed a pizza and a half, and most of the ricotta-​hazelnut appetizer.
I will return to Marta soon. Not so much to experience the diversity of the menu, as to simply indulge in what I like most – great thin-​crust pizza. Hopefully I will have equally delightful company for my future trips!

A Danny Mayer high end pizzeria. The day we ate there it was freezing outside, we walked in and it was a big hallway with boots and a cozy entrance. Popular and contemporary, Marta is in a just remodeled hotel, in a trendy area. Danny Meyer is huge. If you don’t have a reservation you’ll wait longer.
We waited a bit for our meals, it was a pizza and pickles. The pickles ok, the menu was small. The pizza was excellent. One of the best pizzas around.

A pizza place with a sommelier, a first for me, for sure. Über modern, high-​end décor, and a very upscale feel. By far the most expensive pizza we’ve ever had… BUT, it was all delicious. And the wine the sommelier recommended (big, bold red for under $ 100 was hard to find, fyi) was fabulous. It’s definitely a treat place in my mind, but everything was delicious.
Holding back 1 star for two reasons — 1) we were 2 families (9 people total) and they made us wait in the lounge area before giving us a table, even though our table was empty and we understood we couldn’t order food before 5pm. Why couldn’t we sit and order drinks? 2) While waiting we had to walk to the bar to order drinks — for the price point of this restaurant, couldn’t someone have provided drink service while we were waiting? As a result, the kids were running back/​forth, etc.

Being a big fan of Danny Meyer, I wanted to try his new pizza venture since its opening. I arrived around 6pm without a reservation and my party of two was quickly seated. We ordered the the macellaio pizza ($ 21), which is the meat lovers pizza, and the anatra ($ 29) also known as the duck. YOU MUST GET THE DUCK! The duck is perfectly cooked and tender. It was seasoned with just a bit of salt and the radicchio salad with berries was a good complement. The pizza was just okay though. I enjoyed the think crust and the load of meat, but the pizza wasn’t the best I’ve had. The crust was also a bit burnt. But the whole meal was saved my the duck! The menu items and prices seemed to have changed since it first opened, so expect a different menu and raised prices. Overall, this place is good for a great food and a nice ambience.

Service: efficient, no-​fuss, quick
Food: beyond good; the green risotto croquettes were cheesy and not too heavy; the straccietella pizza boasted lovely cheese and fragrant tomato sauce; the cannoli cheesecake was a great end to the meal without being too sweet. Next time, I’d want to try the tiramisu ice cream sandwich!
Ambience: cool, trendy, open, and laid back; went on a Tuesday afternoon and there was a mix of men in suits and young friend groups.

Swung by Marta on a whim as our first choice, Upland, was closed for a private party.
My first impressions of Marta was that it was super chic! Sky high ceilings and dripping in marble. Definitely a cute place for a GNO or a date night.
Since we walked in sans reservations, but still on the earlier side of the evening, we were sat at the pizza bar instantaneously. Later on in the evening though, a crowd had begun to form, so make sure to make those ressies!
We split the NEBRODINI ARROSTITI dish with mushrooms, as we had our heart set on the crispy mushroom dish at Upland. Pretty good dish — would recco!
We then had the FUNGHI white pizza and the SALSICCIA with pork sausage. Our fave was the Salsiccia, hands down. Not tha the Funghi wasn’t good, we just like saucey ‘zas! ;) Both came on thin crust #carbs and were the perfect amount for two girls. Drinks were on the pricier end, but in line with the caliber of the joint.
Would love to come back and try the famed rabbit meatballs!

Second time coming here in one week and it’s all because of the PIZZA.
I literally saw this place one day driving by and thought the ambiance looked cute — it looks and feels similar to Bottega Louie in Los Angeles but Marta is a little smaller. Anyway, this pizza is absolutely to die for. The only other time I’ve had pizza this legit was in Italy. The crust is über thin and yet still crispy. The margherita pizza is the only one I’ve tried but I’m sure the others are great too. I’ve also had the green risotto croquettes which are also quite tasty.
My god, stop whatever you’re doing and go get some pizza!

Danny Meyer has once again created a fantastic restaurant from great predecessor like Gramercy Tavern and Union Square Café!
It is a great pizza joint to impress out-​of-​towners with a restaurant that is casual enough to enjoy a few slices of their pizzas, while having upscale vibe.
Dishes:
Suppli Alla Terazza — AKA Fried Rissotto, which was a definite favorite of mine to start with
Polpettine Di Pollo — Chicken Meatball — which is a solid appetizer that everybody will like.
Macellaio — Red Sauce Pizza with lots of different kinds of meat — the upscale version of a meat lovers pizza and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Salsicccia — Red Sauce Pizza with Sausage and Mushrooms — a solid dish but is not the most memorable
Patate Alla Carbanora — Potato pizza with a carbonara sauce — this was my favorite dish and one of the more unique pizzas I have ever had. The guanciale (Italian-​version of Bacon on another level) is amazing with the cream sauce and potatoes.
Funghi — Use two kind of mushrooms– It is another favorite of mine and is very fragrant with the thyme and slightly sour from the red onion.

3.5 stars!
Marta is anything but the «downstairs restaurant» of the Martha Washington. The LOUD and BUSTLING ambience made my experience FUN and ALIVE. Our waitress knew her wines and gave helpful recommendations for food, but she was a bit MIA from our table.
POLPO – MEATY cross sections of perfectly charred octopus. It was slightly OVERCOOKED and chewy but the SALSA VERDE made me look past that.
SUPPLI ALLA TERRAZZA – RICHLY PACKED croquettes; SUBTLE but not dynamic in flavor.
MACELLAIO – great for SALTY MEATY pizza lovers; perfect thinness but crust was a bit overdone and CRISPY. Perfect portion for 2 people.
ANATRA – waitress’ recommendation was on point! the duck was TENDER and the FATTY CHICHARRON-​Y skin was attached. The pairing with the cherries and balsamic radicchio really made the taste buds on the SIDE OF YOUR MOUTH SALIVATE and lightened up the richness of the duck. definitely SHARE this dish; it’s a huge plate!
TIRAMISU ICE CREAM SANDWICH – BEST ice cream sandwich I’ve ever had. SOFT, SPONGY vanilla wafers hug a creamy icecream filling that tasted like a tiramisu!
CHOCOLATE CAKE w/​OLIVE OIL BUTTERCREAM, BATTENKILL MILK – the buttercream is RICHLY SWEET, almost too sweet but once downed after with milk, YOU THEN UNDERSTAND WHY. the cake was MOIST and not too chocolate-​y.
Overally, I would definitely come back to try more dishes!

Maialino’s my favorite Italian restaurant in the city, and this is basically Maialino on pizza. Dreams do come true!
Came here for brunch on a Saturday around 1 (Halloween). Service was friendly, pizza was fabulous (order anything with guanciale). I especially liked how light and crispy the pizza crust was. I ordered the carbonara pizza, which had potatoes instead of pasta, and it should have felt like a carbo overload, but the flavors were so well-​balanced and the guanciale so crispy and delightful that I finished the whole thing.
Will be back!

Went there for lunch set. $ 32 appetizer + pizza dessert. Beets salad was yummy (baked and as if it were fried with some crust/​breaded texture), meatballs were delicious. I’ve been deprived of good thin crust pizza so I might be a bit bias saying this was an especially good. Think crust, not the thin chewy dough but the thin crispy type.
Dessert, the sorbet was yummy but it was too sweet for me. My friend loved it. It was pricey for what it is, the place is nice, I’ll come back again but unlikely as a regular patron.

Came here for dinner with a few girlfriends. Agree with others about the atmosphere at Marta — very open, lively, upscale yet not too formal. I loved the two pizza ovens side by side, so beautiful. The pizzas here are the stars, and I got to try the Patate alla Carbonara and Stracciatella (special). We also ordered the charred octopus, wood-​fired mushrooms, and salad of honey crisp apples, sunchokes, radicchio castelfranco.
All the appetizers were delicious and expertly prepared. I really appreciated how the natural flavors of the ingredients took center stage without being overly seasoned or dressed. The Stracciatella pizza is a must-​order. I didn’t experience a soggy center like some other reviewers mentioned, and the luscious gobs of cheese on an already great margherita had me in pizza heaven. The Patate alla Carbonara was definitely more filling, and I wished there was more guanciale than the meager sprinkling that was dotted amongst all the potato. Both pies had a crispy chewy bite and just the right amount of topping as to not overwhelm the dough.
The pizzas are all personal-​size but can easily be shared if you order more than one. I’m already thinking about what else I want to eat the next time I come back for more pizza. Definitely bring friends with you so you can sample a few of them at a time!

Who is Danny Meyers? Doesn’t matter, the food is great as well as the ambiance. Located inside the Martha Washington Hotel (not Martha Stewart as one of my dinner mates foolishly commented on).
Walking into the hotel, you scurry along a short corridor, before being impressed by the vast open atrium of a restaurant with high ceiling, open brick oven grill and kitchen and the overlooking mezzanine seating from above. Seating ranging from lounge sofas, to traditional 4 person tables and bar seating. Busy busy, lively, nyc hip. Come casual but well-​dressed.
As for the foods, I didn’t stray too much from the must gets:
#Rabbit meatball: mmm, incredible flavor, juicy, and not at all gamey, though I prefer a bit of game. An eye grabbing appetizier that a solid choice, though it’s not as adventurous as it might seem.
#Char’d Octopus salad: I’m a big fan of octopii, the charred exterior smothered in some kind of acidic sauce is always a winning recipe. The octopus itself is cooked to perfection, tender, savory, with just right amount of burnt, crispy goodness. The accompanying salad notes offer hint of bitter and a well balanced mix of citrus and creamy that works perfectly with the octopus.
#Pizza: sometimes I think that the best pizza in the world is not actually the traditional brooklyn thin to medium crust, but actually these new fancy gastropub ultra think crust recipes with a host of crazy cheeses and toppings that I can’t pronounce. Depends on my mood I guess. Here we have the former. I tried the Funghi and the Carbonara pizza. (1 pie, half and half, don’t be shy to ask). Both were excellent, savory with a thin thin thin crust that, yet, could support the toppings without getting soggy. Also, I would say for a place like this, the value is great, the pies were surprisingly large at 16 – 18 $ each.
Overall: great job Danny Meyers. well deserved 4 stars. Will have to come back to try the main courses.

Straight up fantastic food!
I was very skeptical when my mother informed me that we were going to dinner at a hotel restaurant.
I ordered the grilled broccoli with the hummus. Simple and delicious.
I also ordered the trout with chanterelles. It was so rich and velvety and flavorful, the chanterelles a perfect accompaniment. I actually had two of the trouts.
Highly recommended.

Great space. Highly recommended. I would absolutely come back for some perfectly executed thin crust and/​or to explore more of the menu. Rundown:
— Polpettine– rabbit meatballs, good, but wouldn’t recommend. Understated flavors but a good dish
— Macellaio– ridiculous. A bunch of meats (Pork Sausage, Guanciale, Sopressata, Mozzarella, Grana Padano) on exceptional thin crust
— Spignola– Olive oil poached poached sea bass was the highlight. Exactly what to order if you want something light and memorable.
Danny Meyer killing it

There are a few choice words or phrases that I would use in describing a pizza brunch after walking 20+ blocks on a sweltering, oppressive summer’s day: rejuvenating, mouthwatering, cathartic, tear-​inducing, God’s gift to mankind.
You get it.
But even without my heat-​induced hallucinations and hunger pangs, Marta surely serves up some of the tastier pizza I’ve had in the city and it wasn’t in short supply of ambiance, the sleek interior and open air format surely benefitting from its location within the lobby of the Martha Washington hotel.
Onto the food. My friend and I made a reservation for two on a Sunday afternoon, and around 12:30pm, it wasn’t too busy. We were seated quickly and were served with our choice of still or sparkling. For food, we decided to share two pizzas, the Macellaio and the Carbonara. Now, even though I was so hungry after a long walk in the sun, sharing these two pizzas definitely filled me up. I think sharing just one would have sufficed, but I definitely appreciated the different flavors each had to offer.
The Macellaio was a traditional pizza with marinara sauce topped with a variety of meats. The crust was thin, crispy, and the toppings deliciously flavored and salty. It was a nice balance to our Carbonara pizza, which, as a white pizza, was milder in taste. It was topped with potatoes, a scrambled egg, and chives. The egg was unique in that it wasn’t a fried egg (definitely made sharing more feasible), but even then I think the extra moisture turned the thin crust a bit soggy.
Service-​wise, the servers were polite and attentive throughout our meal. And, as a bonus, they even turned a blind eye to my disheveled appearance and sweaty face. Thanks to you all, wonderful servers of Marta!
In all seriousness, Marta is a great option for brunch, especially if you’re itching for pizza or if you find yourself on the east side of the city. For ~$ 20 a person including tax/​tip, it’s not a bad deal given the amount of food and the quality. Just… make sure the trains are running if you decide to check it out on a weather-​extreme day.

Came back yesterday with a reservation. I called a couple hours ahead.
Definitely come here with a reservation.
Sat in the main room under the pretty lights. The ambiance is great.
Choose to come here before the dinner rush started (5:45 ish).
The service was impeccable this time. They weren’t very busy yet.
The waiter came by a few times to check on us, made recommendations and was really nice. The hostesses seemed happy; the people refilling your water and drinks were nice as well and attentive to details.
The food was exceptional.
I haven’t had their entrees or pasta yet, but OMG the pizza.
They change a few items from the menu seasonally, which is cool.
I really wanted to have the cod croquettes, but they changed them to green risotto croquettes. They were a good choice, specially because we only wanted a small bite before our pizza. The order came with two and they were perfectly made. Crispy and cheesy, but not greasy at all. Still need to try the rabbit meatballs.
OMG the pizza!
We got the Macellaio this time. It was sooo good. I loved the balance of all the porky toppings (sopressata, guanciale, sausage) with the mozzarella & grand padano.
The pizza also comes out really fast which is wonderful. The crust is thin but can definitely hold on to all items. it could easily be a personal pizza but I’ve shared it both times I’ve been here. Definitely love the pizza here.
Got the mezzo litro red wine carafe and really enjoyed it.
It’s a good deal ($ 18). Forgot to ask what type of wine I was drinking — too excited for vino to care to ask about what I was drinking — for Unilocal.lol
The tiramisu wasn’t on the dessert menu this time. :(
The olive oil lemon cake looks so good, but we didn’t have room.
We had the gelato & sorbet trio for dessert. The chocolate brownie was actually a bit too salty for my taste — pass. Vanilla was good. DON’T PASS ON THE PEACH BELLINI SORBET — IT’S DELICIOUS. I was surprised. That was so good!
My little sister loved the place too.
I’ve noticed that sometimes when I take her out the service is less attentive, and even snotty, because we look so young but Marta is definitely not one of those places.
The prices are great too.
I also really appreciate that they serve Counter Culture coffee because that’s my favorite.

Solid spot for pizza. They serve brunch (though only a small portion of the menu is «brunch-​like», which we saw online ahead of time and were fine with), it was easy to make reservations, the space is beautiful (high ceilings, modern and well-​designed).
RESERVATIONS: They were only a block from the parade route on Pride ’15 and had plenty of brunch reservations only 4 days in advance. We had a table for four at noon on Pride Sunday. It was pretty busy when we arrived and we probably didn’t need the reservation; by the time we left at almost 3pm it was pretty packed.
THE COST: About $ 22 total per person, brunch for four: 1 starter, 2 pizzas, 1 small brunch item, and 3 coffees.
THE SERVICE: Fine! A small thing, they asked if we wanted food to come out as it was ready which we were fine with, but then the Suppli (green risotto croquettes) came out last, when it would’ve been best at the beginning. They definitely get bonus points for letting us sit around and talk for over an hour after finishing our meal.
MUST-​HAVES: Patate Alla Carbonara (a white pizza)!! Very delicious.
Please see my photos for extra info/​details!
ANTIPASTI
* Suppli Alla Terrazza (green risotto croquettes, mozzarella, mixed herbs. 4 for $ 7) — 4 stars
Great crunch, nice soft risotto inside, and I loved that they were longer pieces. It could have used a bit more pizazz in the flavor.
PIZZE, ROSSE (red)
* Salsiccia (pork sausage, crimini mushrooms, mozzarella, pecorino. $ 16) — 3.5 stars
Well done, solid if you want a salsiccia. Not as memorable as the Patate below though! They were able to do sausage on half of the pizza to accommodate a vegetarian at our table.
PIZZE, BIANCHE (white)
* Patate Alla Carbonara (potatoes, guanciale, black pepper, pecorino, egg. $ 18) — 4.5 stars
Our favorite pizza by far! Loved the egg — it was soft scrambled and embedded in the pizza, not like the usual sunny side up (which is hard to share!). It added a great spongy texture. The kick from the pepper was fantastic, and the contrast of the crunchy guanciale (basically like a bacon) with the soft potato was great.
BRUNCH
* Avocado Bruschetta (who grain toast, chili flake, olio verde. $ 7) — 3.5 stars
We got this first. It was a solid start to the meal, perfectly toasted thick toast. It wasn’t quite spicy enough though.

Luckily I was able to snag prime 7 o clock reservations the day before. It was packed but we were seated immediately.
Note: the restaurant is inside of the Martha Washington Hotel.
The non-​pizza items on the menu were lackluster. But, we were there for pizza anyway so that’s fine.
We split 1 red and 1 white pie
Salsiccia-​mozzarella, pork sausage, cremini mushrooms, pecorino
Patate Alla Carbonara-​potatoes, guanciale, black pepper, pecorino, egg
The latter had great flavor combinations. I definitely enjoyed it more than the Salsiccia. They were both pretty salty, though.
Overall a good thin crust pizza.