Visited Chico Marx for dinner with a friend while I was staying in a nearby hotel before an early flight out of SFO. It was initially hard to find a restaurant in this area -- as many seemed to be food trucks, or close early, and/or were difficult to access from the hotel/pharma block. Fortunately, this establishment was conveniently situated in a nearby office building. I was hesitant but, upon entering, the mixture of lighting, live plants, leather seating, and a giant tile mosaic brightened the space alongside appropriately friendly staff. It'd be hard to believe anything could brighten up a cold grey cement building but they did a great job and making the space feel wildly inviting, lively, and even cozy! The dining experience was slow paced and very European, which I appreciated. I felt like we were able to enjoy our meal without being rushed along. We started off with the braised beef empanadas that we ate too quickly for me to photograph! They had a light tender puff pastry exterior filled with juicy braised beef that was perfectly accented by the bright chimichurri (that we generously spooned inside with the beef). Next, we had the Lomo saltado and the lentil and cod entrees. The tender juicy Lomo had a nice balance of fresh veggies along with the beef, potatoes, and rice! The cod was perfectly pan-seared with a crisp, well-seasoned exterior, hey smooth buttery interior atop fragrant green lentils, tender potatoes, and greens. The pickled onions and grilled Lemon, were the perfect garnish. This was served with a hearty grilled whole grain bread lightly drizzled with extra virgin olive oil which was a really nice balance to soak up the soupy bits of bright citrus, earthy lentils, buttery fish, and tangy pickled onions! (This was a great twist on a classic Spanish dish that is traditionally made with lentils and salt cod) I was craving a sweet treat, so we also ordered the chocolate mousse which was made with honey and chipotle and topped with fresh mint and sliced strawberries! This was not too heavy, like some mousse can be -- it was a nice, light, whipped, chocolate treat to wrap up the meal. Don't be scared away by the business park location... This place is a real gem full of modern interpretations of various Latin-American favorites. read more

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Service was disjointed and pushy throughout the casual Friday lunch. Menu was very unclear about allergies and contents - "short rib" everything thought it was beef but ended up being pork. Our waiter took our order piecemeal (first order of just water), prioritized other tables seated after us, and pushed aggressively for extra dishes while ignoring specific requests - never received hot pepper or sauce request. Mains took over an hour to arrive. The food itself was a mix of highs and lows. The pan-seared fish with lentils looked great, but the portion was small and so heavily over-salted that it left us parched long after leaving. Desserts were equally hit or miss. The chocolate mousse was exceptional, rich and creamy without being overpowering, while the churros were terrible, resembling dry, oil-soaked breadsticks paired with an overly sweet chocolate sauce. Poor pacing and inattentive service make this hard to recommend. read more

I really want to give 5 stars but I can only give 4 because many non-alcoholic mocktails from the menu were not available during our corporate event. But the bartender made this delicious strawberry agua fresca to save the day even though I really want to try their N/A margarita and grapefruit & rosemary. Our company hosted a company-wide dinner on a weeknight and we had the whole place to ourselves. Service wise, other than the hiccups at the beginning at the bar, the rest of the evening felt pretty smooth and we were all well taken care of. We had the appetizer + dinner setup as buffet style. I definitely want to highlight their short rib empanadas and their tuna ceviche/poke. Both of them were excellent bites from the appetizer table. I also liked the chicken skewer too but the short rib empanadas were just superb! I can see myself coming back just for their short rib empanadas. For the dinner, we had two salads, one with the green salad with couscous and I loved their green dressing. For the protein, I remember we had braised short rib, poached salmon, and mary's chicken with this tomato sauce. They were all excellent. The salmon was slightly overcooked after sitting on the hot plate for a while - but the short ribs and the chicken were still tender and juicy by the time I had it. I can see myself coming back to this place for date night. It has booths for cozy conversation and I really like this space. It's perfect for a smaller event (e.g. for 50-75 people). I'm sure you can fit 100 people easily but this space is perfect for intimate private event. Now I just hope more folks will find out this restaurant. It's not just a typical spot in an office complex but it has some solid food for sure! Can't wait to come back and try entrees from their regular menu! read more

Chico Marx is a very nice, modern restaurant with a great atmosphere, even though it's tucked away in the middle of work buildings. It was the perfect stop before my long drive home. I was seated immediately, the Maracuya sour drink was fabulous, and the Little Gem salad with shrimp was fresh and exquisite.Unfortunately, the experience could have been better by some questionable charges on my check. The server added guacamole to my chips and salsa without me asking for it, which was a separate fee. Furthermore, the salad was marked as $15 on the menu, but I was charged $21 on top of the shrimp price. When I questioned the discrepancy, the server gave a dismissive answer about ingredient quality causing price increases and just walked away.The food quality is definitely there, but be sure to double-check your receipt before paying! read more

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We came here about a month ago and what a wonderful surprise this place was. Pretty empty on a Friday night and I'm not sure why. Great ambiance for a group party or date night. The happy hour menu was pretty awesome as well. If you aren't interested in food but looking for a place to get drinks, the cocktails here are also on point. South San Francisco is a stones throw from where we live and even though there are some solid casual spots, we don't find too many places in this area where you can get amazing food, craft cocktails, and this kind of ambiance. With that being said we were ecstatic to discover this hidden gem. It checks all the boxes!! We ordered the Caesar salad, pozole, burger & Fries, and beef tacos from the happy hour menu. Everything was so good and I am not just saying that! The Caesar salad came served with slices of avocado. Not traditional, but absolutely delicious and nicely dressed. The burger was beautiful and juicy and cooked to perfection. It came served with those french fries that have that extra layer of crispiness.on them. I call them 'next level fries' because that's what they are. My favorite thing, hands down, were the tacos. Oh my God... the tacos!! There are a lot of great Taquerias in the Bay Area but this place can contend. I'm serious. Perfect crispy tacos that came served with this beautiful salsa verde. Truthfully we ordered so much food but the tacos were so good we got another order of them. I ordered a Paloma and it was the perfect drink to go with my tacos. This was our first and only time eating here, but this will definitely be a regular spot for us. I hope moving forward this place stays as wonderful as our experience was tonight. It's such a joy to have an experience like this that doesn't require us driving to San Mateo or San Francisco. It's about time we had places like this in this area. The staff that helped us was also wonderful. The young lady who served us was friendly and helpful with the menu, the bussers were great and there was another lady who checked in on us and helped us throughout the meal. Great service, great staff, terrific food. Please keep up the good work. read more

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Chico Marx has been on my list for a while, and we finally made it in tonight. It did not disappoint! We ordered a few small plates to share, which was the perfect way to experience a little bit of everything. The chicken taquitos were flavorful and perfectly crisp, the beet salad was fresh and beautifully balanced, and the short rib empanada was rich, tender, and absolutely delicious. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and well executed. The interior gives off upscale, luxury vibes without feeling stuffy, and the cocktails were the perfect complement to the small plates. Everything from the ambiance to the service made it feel like a special night out. We will definitely be back! read more

Chico Marx - Latin American Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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A high-quality restaurant inside a corporate building? That definitely feels like a 2025 thing. These campuses used to be all Subways, Panera Bread, and basic coffee shops--but now you walk in and find a legit, beautifully designed restaurant with great food and picture-perfect plating right on campus. I stopped by for lunch and had the shrimp tacos, while my friend ordered the salmon salad. We also shared chips and salsa for the table. Everything was excellent--the shrimp was cooked perfectly and honestly didn't even need extra salsa or a squeeze of lime. The salsa itself tasted freshly made and full of flavor. We also tried a special sparkling water that was surprisingly smooth--no harsh fizz that numbs your tongue, just really good sparkling water. Service was fast, the host was warm and constantly smiling, and the bar wall looked stunning. Bonus: they have an impressive selection of Spanish wines as well. read more

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Came here for a late work lunch since it has abundant parking which makes it much easier than downtown SSF. For a party of three, we ordered some chips and salsa with guacamole add on, and empanadas to start. Both were great but we really enjoyed their chips / salsa / guacamole. For our entrees, we all got the daily special of Dungeness crab enchiladas. This was very good. The crab was a tad bit fishy but the enchiladas were nicely loaded and the red and green sauces used were tasty as well. Pretty pricey but great ambiance, good service, and I love that there's parking. read more

Chico Marx - Dungeness crab enchilada - Latin American Near Me - South San Francisco, California

The Filipino male server was so nice and hospitable. I'm so sorry for forgetting your name but he deserves a raise. I ordered the tacos and they were the type of tacos when you see the price, you're like GYADAMN. But then when you take that first bite, you're like oh these are actually fire. Inside, with the white floor and black interior made this place feel hella fancy and we came in like super casual clothes lol. They got good food, drinks, and vibe. Just come through at least once and decide for yourself read more

Located on first floor of SSF office building, Latin American tapas bar with upbeat vibes and bold flavors. Every dish comes out beautifully plated -- from zesty ceviche to smoky empanadas. Excellent happy hour selections. Great for sharing plates with friends or a casual date night. Check their hours before going. Parking is either on left side or straight up to garage. read more

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Silly me I made late reservations at 6:45 and did not realize they close at 7. However the staff was so awesome and still took my party of 5. We ordered drinks, chips and salsa, plantains and empanadas as starters. The empanadas were packed with meat the crust was just right, the plantain is exactly how it's supposed to be. As the mains we got the crab enchiladas which by the way we devoured it was meaty and the sauce just paired well with it. The burger was thick and juicy. The burrito was pretty good too. Then we ordered chocolate mousse which was a nice surprise Brit had a little spicy kick to it. The churro was made perfectly. To be honest I wasn't expecting this place to be this good but it definitely exceeded all my expectations we enjoyed it and had a great time. Overall the dishes were all delicious. The ambiance of this place is chic modern, truly a nice place. read more

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I was slightly irritated at the beginning of this visit - the server was not interested in serving me. He actually didn't bring or order my drink. The bar tender was very sweet and noticed that I was sitting for a long time, so he came and brought my drink. The food here is modern Mexican. I love it. I love the little gem salad, and the mocktails are also great. The menu changes a bit from time to time but the empanadas have been delicious and I loved the pork belly tacos! It's a go- to for me when I'm in the area. The decor is also wonderful. It's clean and elegant. A great atmosphere. read more

Chico Marx is a pretty nice, modern place serving small bites, larger meals, and drinks. Located in South SF on ground level in a corporate building, Chico Marx is catered more to people who work in the area. Open weekdays only. I recommend the tacos dorados (braised pork, cheese, jalapeño, cilantro, salsa verde) and the croquettes (yucca, cheese, pepper aioli). Portions are on the smaller side, and drinks are just ok. Service is friendly and food/drinks come out pretty quickly. I've been twice during happy hour, and the selection is good and pricing is reasonable. read more

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Chico Marx is a South City treasure (they're under the same Bon Appétit umbrella as Foundry & Lux at The Cove and Chandlery at the Shore at Sierra Point). Always a deliciously good time whether it's lunch, dinner, or Happy Hour. Tucked away at 2 Tower Place (off Sister Cities Blvd & Airport), there's abundant parking--especially in the garage with free EV chargers on Level 2. From there, follow the clear signs guiding you to Chico Marx. The surface lot is closer but likely full of the business plaza's employees. Chic biotech vibe with a stunning oak bar, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Oyster Point and the Bay, and cozy seating for any mood: intimate booths for lowkey date night, plush lounges for post-work debriefs with colleagues, or watch the game at the bar with friends (2 TV's!) and vibe with Anthony, the resident mixologist, as he crafts your killer cocktail. Service is usually attentive, sometimes a bit slow depending on staffing, but always kind and never rushed. This polished gem serves up posh vibes, unique cocktails, and sustainably sourced ingredients for their seasonal Latin American bites. Highly Recommend: * Tacos Dorados (my FLAVORITE!) * Ceviche de Pescado * And a double order of Short Rib Empanadas and Patatas Bravas--get two each, IT'S THAT GOOD. Catch Happy Hour: * Tues-Fri, 3pm to close. Grab a Smoke N Spice (mezcal, ancho reyes chile liqueur, lime, jalapenos, soda) or share a Pepino Punch carafe (vodka, cucumber, lemon, agave, soda, cucumber salt). Cheers & Happy Taco Tuesday! read more

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Had dinner here with my two loves and we had such an amazing dinner. Not only because we were hungry after work, but because the food was just that good and beautifully presented! From appetizers to entrees to desserts, 10/10!! Everything that we ordered was delicious, you name it, it was yummy. Our drinks were especially good and the vibe in there is just oh so sophisticated! The servers were also friendly and continued to check on us often. Parking was no issue as there is a lot, which I was told was free after 4pm. And if not the lot, there's a garage up the ramp. read more

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Amazing little gem in SSF! Very cool and modern ambiance, delicious appetizers, great variety of food and wonderful service. Happy hour menu has everything you need for a full meal. Our faves: chips and guacamole, empanadas, taquitos, lomo saltado and the gem salad is my ultimate fave. They make the best espresso martinis too! And oooh the chocolate mousse....light, fluffy w/ a hint of spice. Love to bring clients and friends here (as they practically know me by now) and fun to watch sports games here too. My only issue is they are not open on weekends. But this place is a must to try! read more

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Great food. Great service. Love this place. Bar is great! Will go there again ! This was my 2nd time there read more

Chico Marx - Ceviche and chips and dips - Latin American Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Beautiful venue. Literally amazing view of the bay and the interior and everything about the place is gorgeous. This is situated in the heart of biotech so makes sense why the prices are high and the feel is very luxurious. I think overall the food was great, portions were a bit small considering the price. My only issue with this place, and it's my biggest pet peeve, was the service. I was served a flat beer, and waiter helped but seemed confused. All the staff seemed confused and not very warm and slightly busy and even though we were 1/3 parties there. read more

Chico Marx - Croquettes, tacos and calamari - Latin American Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Wow what a surprising location for a great happy hour spot. My friend and I came on a Tuesday evening before going to see the new Wicked movie. The restraunt is sleek with gorgeous modern interiors that suit its corporate park location well. You can tell most guests were coming from the office buildings upstairs for a post work happy hour. We got a pitcher of margaritas for $30 which is an amazing price for the Bay Area. We also tried the croquettes which were amazingly cheesy. The ceviche was nice and refreshing with a generous portion, and the tacos el dorado were filled to the brim with meat. I'd highly recommend this place for happy hour. The staff was also super attentive. Our waters were constantly being refilled and staff checked in multiple times to ensure our dining experience was going well. read more

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Id describe the food as traditional but with a slight twist. Everything was pretty good and flavorful. Pros: Short rib empanadas: full of meet which was cooked just right and had lots of flavor. The bread was soft, light, and fluffy. I really enjoyed the sauce they had to go on it, paired really well. Lomo saltado: meet and potatoes were nice and tender, deliciously seasoned, and weren't dry. The rice it comes with was also yummy. I really enjoyed it but not the best I've had. Cons: Killer bee cocktail: not really impressed. It was not ascetically pleasing nor was it tasty. Just tasted plain. Decided not to order any more drinks. Came on a windy rainy day and the parking is not convenient. Not practical at all. This is more of a spot for the corporate people to walk down and have lunch. read more

Chico Marx - Lomo Saltado - Latin American Near Me - South San Francisco, California

It's a little hidden gem that we found in SSF. We really enjoyed the service; great ambiance and food. Will definitely come back for Happy Hour. read more

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Really happy they finally opened since it's very close to a lot of the offices in the area and provides a really convenient option for lunch. The interior is warm and casual both a big 12-seat table and full bar. Food was good too! read more

Chico Marx - Bolinas Black Cod $22 - Haricot Verts (green beans...lol) braised potatoes, onions, and pickled onions - Latin American Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Wow, the North Peninsula gets an upgrade! Located in South San Francisco at the base of one of the worlds leading science centers is Chico Marx. Brand new to town (just opened up this week). The location is suburban-urban with easy parking both in the surface lot next door and in the on-site parking garage. Once inside you'll find all polished concrete floors, open exposed ceilings all matched with wood, leather and iron treatments throughout. To the left is lounge style seating. To the right you'll find a grouping deep comfortable booths along with well spaced table top seating. In the middle, yet uniquely independent, is a family style table for up to 12, made of gorgeous reclaimed wood. What a great place to entertain. The room is crowned with a 12 person bar top. And if you are particular in your selections you won't be disappointed. As a Spanish/Latin American based restaurant you'll find their tequila selection especially strong. Hint: don't pass up the Siete Laguas for your skinny margarita. The food selections roll from irresistible Small Bites through refreshing Salads into warm comfort food Entrees. For lunch I had the mixed green salad and the grilled cheese. Sounds kind of boring until your see that they use manchego and goat cheese topped with truffle aioli. Yum! You get the point, ever dish here is just an "extra bit special". Their Tempranillo Braised Short Rib looked amazing too. Highly recommend the drive to Chico Marx. read more

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I'm going solid four stars. Food was mostly very good - a few dishes needed more punch. Food is very pretty. Service was friendly and relaxed. Place was empty when we went mid-afternoon so it was quiet. Menu has several good options and we love small plates. Prices reflect the building - expensive. I'm hoping the staff is well paid at those prices! read more

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We tried out this spot for happy hour - many of the food items on the happy hour menu aren't on the regular menu so we ended up going with what our server recommended - short rib empanadas and Brussels sprouts with honey chile lime from the regular menu, as well as the beef tacos from the happy hour menu. I liked the short rib empanadas with the chimichuri sauce and my mezcal drink. The Brussels sprouts were too sweet, and the dip for the beef tacos was too spicy. $12 for 2 tacos also didn't seem like a good happy hour deal. We noticed on our bill we were not charged the happy hour price for our Hefeweizen so they adjusted it for us. read more

Chico Marx - Latin American Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Chef Jose did it again!!!! " Braised Short Rib Burrito " Is to die for!!!!!! Such a delicious, gourmet experience. Best burrito I've ever had. Yummmy Drinks are also so well made!!! read more

Wow! Wow! Wow! Saw this place in open table. Decided to try it out!! Pure deliciousness!! The ambiance is beautiful and welcoming. Our server was kind and attentive. Ohhh and my husband ordered the sangria... wow! Kudos to the chef and bartender! read more

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Overall 5/5: this place is a hidden gem. I went on a Thursday around 6 and was dead. Not sure why, because this place slaps!! Do not go to the hotel restaurant, come here. Worth it!! Food: 5/5. Was fantastic. So much flavor and tasted exactly what you would think. The Croquetas were out of this world, chowed them down in seconds. Then the lomo saltado was great, little over done on the meat but so much flavor. Drink: 5/5 was great, probably too goo because it went down so easily! Service: 5/5 nothing to complain about here, was very good. Bartender very attentive food came out fast. Very pleased. Ambiance: 5/5 inside looked great! Not sure why no one was there but very stylish. read more

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Wanted to try this location when it was recommended to me. There is parking outside since it's like an office building the restaurant is located. We were seated right away and we ordered: fried calamari as appetizers, lomo saltado, huachinango al ajillo (fried fish), and pollo con tajadas. We also ordered their house margarita and their hibiscus mule. Their food was not bad. Tasty and their drinks were ok. Not strong as we would like but ok. Their service was amazing. Even the bartender helped with our drink order. However, to be honest, their portions were not that big especially if you are big eaters. FYI . read more

I went to Chico Marx for lunch with a friend. Given the location, I had very low expectations, but I was completely wrong. This place serves some delicious Latin food. The appetizer wasn't okay, nothing special, but the entree was delicious. My friend and I ordered Gazpacho to share. We also got 2 entrees - pescado al Ajillo & Lomo saltado. Lomo Saltado was very flavorful. The fries and the meat were soaked in the sauce. Fries were soft, and meat was tender. Cilantro rice was also very flavorful and aromatic. Fish was crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and it had a nice flavor, too. The place was empty when we went there on a Friday afternoon. It was just the 2 of us. The decor is very nice and they have various seating options. read more

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Came here after a svc for a our friend, more people joined us than expected. The staff was great and patient with everyone, everyone loved the food and space. I would highly recommend. read more

This place is fairly new, it's been open for 6 months. The interior is super nice. Clean and chic. When I arrived I was greeted my Cortney, who is amazing. Very friendly and accommodating! I started off with drinks, by far my favorite was the Mexican spritz. For started I had the ceviche, Croquetas, short rib empanadas and a Caesar salad with salmon. All very delicious. For my entree I had the fish sandwich, braised Mary's chicken and the lomo saltado which was my favorite dish of the day! Ended with something sweet of course. The house made watermelon sorbet was UNREAL. The churros with chocolate was also tasty but the sorbet stole the show. Definitely will be back for the pretty view, spectacular service and delicious food :) read more

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My wife and I have been meaning to stop by this place for a while - especially because we're mere minutes away from it. Finally had an opportunity to stop by today and we're extremely glad we did. Happy hour was calling our name so we got a couple of rounds of wine & got some bites to go along with it (croquettes & mushroom quesadilla). Our verdict is... drumroll - an absolute must to come back again & again & again! The unexpected added bonus was the chivalrous service from Zair - and we eventually got to briefly meet Pamela. @Management in case you're reading this - kudos for hiring excellent human beings. The only gripe that we have about this place is that they don't close at later hours. But hey! We empathize with those who work there because they also need their time off :) read more

Yeah, this place is good! Really good and interesting drink (Einstein) and excellent sandwich. Very good fries. Can't complain! read more

First time going to Chico Marx and all I can say is WOW AMAZING, not only because the service was great but the food was so delicious . Starting with the home made Guacamole with chips, the ribs empanadas , following a good salad and salmon ceviche to finish with the best Pollo con tajadas and delicious ice cream. Will definitely recommend this place. read more

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Scrumptious An epic place for a team meeting or a mixer an the most convenient location. read more

Chico Marx is a beautiful Latin American/Spanish restaurant located right off the 101 s. in South San Francisco. There is plenty of free parking available for guest which makes dining here super convenient. The dishes here are exceptionally fresh and tasty. We started with the house made guacamole, salsa and chips, tuna ceviche and short beef empanadas. All dishes mouthwatering! Later we ordered the little gem salad with shrimp and the pollo en tajadas which is a weekly special :) needless to say, both extremely delicious! We ended with the strawberry sorbet, which is very light and yummy to top off our evening. The service is A1! From being greeted all the way through our entire dining experience. The servers are very friendly and professional as well as the Manager and Chef. I definitely recommend stopping by for lunch or dinner at this beautiful space!! :) read more

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Variety of food for happy hour til 7! Pretty big place with lots of tables and sleek bar.

The food and staff were outstanding. The short rib empanadas were super tasty, and all the appetizers we tried were delicious as well. Great atmosphere and decor. Highly recommend this place! read more

Great service yummy food, convenient location. Lots if choices in there menu. I would recommend Chico Marx to my friends and family. I would definitely love to go back and bring my friends. read more