A Taste at Marble: High Hopes, Mixed Results

Marble in Rosebank is one of those iconic spots everyone seems to rave about. Having visited Pantry by Marble, countless times, I was curious to see if Marble could live up to its reputation. Restaurant Week presented the perfect opportunity to experience their menu, so we booked a lunch and were ready to indulge

Atmosphere & First Impressions

Marble’s ambiance is sleek and sophisticated. The waitstaff were presentable, hostess dressed in black, though our initial welcome lacked warmth. We brushed it off, ordered a cold chilli gin, and settled in.

Bread & Butter Teaser

Before our main courses, we were served bread with butter and a butternut purée. The butter had an intriguing marble effect, possibly created with charcoal powder, but the explanation from our waiter was hard to catch. My hearing loss made it a bit challenging, but my partner also struggled to hear – not an ideal start.

The Mains

We chose the 2-course lunch menu, hoping it would be just enough. My partner enjoyed a sirloin served with cauliflower, pickled mustard seeds, butternut, and a rich beef jus. I opted for the line fish, accompanied by grilled corn, tomato salsa, pickled red onion, and avocado cream. Unfortunately, the dish fell short for me, as the dominant sauce seemed mismatched with the rest.

Dessert Finale

Dessert offered a mix of strawberry crème with peach sponge, berry tuiles, and a peach and rose sorbet, while the other option included a churro with Frangelico ice cream and hazelnut praline. While the sorbet was the standout of the strawberry dessert, the ice cream left us yearning for the creaminess of Pantry’s options.

Final Thoughts

We left Marble a bit let down. It’s a beautiful, popular spot, so perhaps the Restaurant Week menu didn’t showcase their best. Marble might be worth visiting for a regular night out, but based on our experience, I’d be hesitant to recommend it for Restaurant Week