I was disappointed again. I went for lunch with my friend. I have the rigatoni with italian sausage. She had the mac n cheese. The noodles were so over cooked they were mushy. My friend ate a third of her dish and packed it to take home. She tossed it into the trash in the parking lot. The martini's were great and the server. But the food disappointed. I hope this isn't the sign of a decline in quality. I loved the place for years, amazed at their delicious dishes. Please don't fail me now. read more

Went here for a date night, and we were excited because of the good reviews. Here's what we ordered and here's what we thought: Biscuit w/ honey: 5/5 Hands down the best ever had Beets: 2/5 Whatever it was spiced with was too much, you couldn't taste the beets Corn dog: 3/5 It was good, but didn't wow us Pierogi: 2/5: Too much pickled sauerkraut flavor Duck w/frites: 2/5 duck was bland, no cherry flavor and the frites were boring Altogether nothing really wowed us, except for the biscuit, which isn't enough to come back for. read more

I had been wanting to try Mint Mark for a long time but it ended up being a bit underwhelming. The savory dishes that we got were pretty good but not out of this world compared to the amount of rave reviews I've heard about this restaurant. For the price, I definitely expected better. On the other hand, the cinnamon roll & pancakes were both incredible. The service was good, the ambiance was awesome, & we loved all of the plants. My partner had taken me here as a surprise and was very disappointed with the food. This is my partner's review: "It was barely good. The cauliflower was straight up salt and I threw the leftovers away. The eggs in purgatory were okay at best. It felt like all the effort went into the presentation and high prices and atmosphere and they were trying so hard to be fancy and pretentious that they forgot to make good food. Except for whoever the sweets chef was, who was by far the exception." I am curious to see if the dinner here is any better, but I'm not super eager to go back any time soon. read more

Mint Mark - Cauliflower, cinnamon roll, Calabrian potatoes, & eggs in purgatory - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This was a fun dinner spot! The service was attentive and I appreciated the server's recommendations. All the small plates we ordered were delicious! I'd definitely have dinner here again. read more

Mint Mark is a refreshing culinary experience that highlights the beauty and flavor of seasonal produce. With an emphasis on farm-to-table dining, this earthy restaurant brings vegetables and fresh ingredients to the forefront, while still offering a well-rounded menu that includes classic dishes with a modern twist. To begin, we were treated to their reknown and irresistible honey garlic biscuits, and they were nothing short of divine. Warm, soft, and slightly flaky on the outside, each biscuit had just the right balance of sweetness from the honey and savory depth from the garlic. Pierogis with Gouda and Carrot Salsa Next, we tried the pierogis filled with melted gouda cheese and carrot salsa. The pierogis were golden and crispy on the outside, with a rich, gooey gouda filling that was both savory and smooth. The carrot salsa added an unexpected burst of freshness, with a subtle tang and crunch that perfectly complemented the cheese. Roasted Beef with Yorkshire Pudding For the main course, the roasted beef with Yorkshire pudding stole the show. The beef was perfectly cooked, tender, and juicy, with a beautiful crust that brought out its natural richness. Paired with golden, Yorkshire pudding and a savory gravy, this classic dish had a modern twist that elevated the experience. The pudding, airy and slightly crisp on the outside with a soft, pillowy interior, soaked up the gravy beautifully, making each bite a comforting delight. Another standout dish was the chicken fried catfish. The catfish was perfectly fried, with a crunchy, golden crust that was seasoned just right. The flaky fish inside was incredibly fresh, and the crispy coating provided the perfect contrast in texture. This dish was an excellent take on a Southern classic. For a unique and delicious side, we tried the cabbage with coriander béarnaise sauce. The cabbage was tender yet still had a bit of bite, providing a beautiful texture contrast to the silky and rich béarnaise sauce. The coriander added a fresh, citrusy flavor that brightened up the sauce, making this dish a refreshing accompaniment to the hearty meats. It was a lovely way to highlight the versatility of vegetables, turning cabbage into a star of the plate. It was one of our favorites. Chef Kasey came to our table to check in on how everything was. With a warm and genuine smile, Chef Casey shared the inspiration behind the dishes, particularly the focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and how the menu changes with the seasons. It was a lovely personal touch that added an even greater connection to the meal and a deeper appreciation for the dishes we were enjoying. Chef Kasey's passion for the craft was evident, and it made the experience feel even more special. With its focus on fresh, local produce Mint Mark highlighted both vegetables and quality meat. The restaurant offers a well-balanced menu that satisfies a range of tastes. I highly recommended for anyone who appreciates vibrant, seasonally inspired cuisine. read more

Mint Mark - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This restaurant is likely in cahoots with a towing scam... spots out front after hours a tow truck sits around the corner and tows 5 minutes away, charging $340. I complained to the restaurant and they told me too bad. They should ask everybody who checks in where they park to warn them. Made for a very expensive night. read more

I love a place with small plates because I love sharing food. My favorite thing on this menu was definitely the biscuit, definitely a must try item. The biscuit was so fluffy on this inside and the butter was SO GOOD!!! We ordered a lot of carbs on accident... I think I could've been fine without the bucatini. It was interesting in terms of flavor because it was tangy/zesty in an unexpected way. I didn't hate it but I couldn't eat too much of it. The texture on the noodle was very al dente but the beginning of al dente The radiatore on the other hand was perfect. It wasn't too creamy and summer-y as Julie would describe it. Corn in pasta was not something I've had before the but flavors blend in the right ways and I could have this as an entree. The texture of the pasta was so fun and perfect chewiness and not hard at all. The langos donut was a donut. For some reason, I didn't think it was going to be one, but it was a very nice shape and size. Inside, the filling is a savory squash filling but I don't think I could taste but of the squash. I thought it was good but almost too savory for me. The smoked onion dip was also pretty good. In my mind, it would be looser of a dip and more onion-y but the chips were awesome! The cookie skillet was also delicious, the ice cream had a savory taste to it (maybe from the bourbon) but I burned my mouth because I couldn't wait to try it. read more

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I came here wanting to try the new location after several people were raving about it. Now, this was the second week that they were open the public, so I'm sure there are a lot of growing pains with with this process. I was able to get here at 5:02 pm, right when doors opened and was honestly pretty shocked that there was already a line of about 10 people ahead of me waiting to put their names down for a table. The inside kitchen bar area is first come, first serve and was completely empty, but with the in-laws visiting, we were hoping to be seated at a table. The estimated time for a table of 4 was 45-50 minutes, and we also let the hostess know that we were open to an outdoor table, in hopes for a shorter wait. We decided to wait at the restaurant and get a couple of drinks while we waited, but upon walking over to the bar were also shocked at the amount of people waiting around and drinking. There was barely enough standing room around the bar without crowding the walkways for staff at 5 pm. I was able to quickly order a couple of drinks and sit outside on the patio for a bit before they asked us to leave to use the outdoor space for dinner service. As time went on, the bar quickly got busy, and I ended up having to wait 25 minutes to place a second round order of drinks. The three bartenders were super busy, but probably could have used a fourth to help with the large crowd. After 50 minutes, we were able to get seated outdoors and ordered plates to share between the four of us. We ordered duck frites, radiatore, the biscuit, kale pizzetta, terrine, and white fish rillettes. Honestly, the star of the show was the biscuit and radiatore. I felt like everything else was just okay and overpriced. I think the largest complaint I have is the customer experience. This place isn't cheap, and more expensive restaurants want to the whole dining experience worth the price. However, I got the feeling being here was that people just wanted to get their jobs down--get drinks and food made, ready and served. It wasn't what I expected for a nice dinner out. For example, we ordered the radiatore with cheese on the side. When it was brought out, the staff member said, "we have the radiatore but the cheese isn't on the side, it's in the dish." To which I responded, "can you please make another one with cheese on the side." She seemed annoyed and we ended up with another radiatore dish without cheese at all. Tl;dr The restaurant is overhyped in my opinion. The food is expensive and only okay, and could improve on customer service. Not sure if I would come back. read more

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Absolutely fantastic meal from top to bottom. Beautiful atmosphere, attentive service. Both food and drink menu are rotating and seasonal, and I love their creative and innovative approach to the dishes we tried. Every dish was packed with super-bold flavors. A really memorable meal! Among the many standouts: a "submarine" terrine mimicking the flavors of a classic sub sandwich; a sausage and peppers dish that makes me rethink everything I ever thought about (the previously boring) sausage and peppers; the most sublime and pillow-soft biscuit; the deep, earthly smoked and roasted carrots cut with a beautiful herb salad; heirloom tomatoes in pistachio milk...I could rhapsodize. Fair warning: their small plates are not as small as we were expecting. Listen to your waistaff! She told us 4-8 for a group of three and we ordered 9...way too much! For aficionados of MSN fine dining, this is definitely the place to be with a group. My heart still belongs to Fairchild, but the food here is on the same level. Will definitely return. read more

The food was pretty good - it's all small shareable plates so might not be the place if you want a full meal!

Mint Mark was recommended to me by a friend, so I had to check it out! Took a few friends and reserved a Friday night of food and cocktails. To start, parking is very difficult especially on a Friday night. So plan ahead or expect to walk up to a quarter mile, street parking is difficult and most lots are full or reserved. We were able to get in before our friends, the challenge is to make sure your whole party arrives at the same time or the host will make you wait til everyone arrives to sit down. The host didn't make us feel welcomed unfortunately... Our server was excellent and the atmosphere was hustling and bustling, very busy by the bar. Start off with a perfectly crafted cocktail. The cocktails are a bit on the expensive side for Madison, expect $10-12, but definitely worth it! The plates are small and shareable, besides a few entrees. My partner and I had the cheeseburgers. Definitely worth the price point! I would come back for the cheeseburger alone - as silly as that may sound! The fries were hand cut and extra salty - Yum!!! I would have loved to sit and had more drinks! However the host had another reservation for our table, so our time was cut short. We felt a little rushed at the end... Until next time! read more

Mint Mark - Cheeseburger - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Best food and service in Madison! I've been here a few times and they never ever disappoint. The menu is always different, super creative, and super flavorful. The service is always fantastic too. Last time we came in we had Kara, who was very friendly and super knowledgable about the menu. She gave us delicious food recommendations and drink pairings (working with a lot of specific preferences, too!). We'll be back soon to try whatever they add to the menu next, and we hope we get Kara again! read more

Great food, drinks, and service. Had a dinner reservation with a few friends - did tapas style and loved everything. (Watch for the old vs. new location on e wash - our uber took us to the old location be we didn't realize :)) read more

Mint Mark - Duck and frites - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The things I have heard about Mint Mark had all been remarkable and let me just say that this restaurant tremendously exceeded our expectations. Our waitress was great and thoroughly explained the format of the menu and how the dishes were prepared as small plates that were meant to be shared. She suggested 4-5 plates for four people. In terms of the ambience it was great! The atmosphere was great and the open kitchen was really fun to watch. As for our meals we tried the smoked onion dip which was one of our most favorite things we ordered, the smoky flavor was perfect and the chips that were served with it were super tasty. We also ordered the biscuit which we were told was one of the most popular dishes and stayed permanently on the menu. It was great, very sweet but incredibly unique. The oyster mushroom schnitzel was my favorite thing that we ordered, it was amazing! The flavors were great and I would recommend going to Mint Mark just for this if necessary!! We also ordered the steak frites and gnocchetti sardi. The pasta was good but it felt like something I have had at other Italian restaurants but still very good. The steak frites disappointed us a little, we felt like for the price the dish was not worth it. The sauce the steak was covered in was over bearing and the fries felt as though it gave the dish an excuse to be so expensive. I wouldn't order this dish again but everything else was amazing and I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone! read more

My experience at Mint Mark could be summed up as style over substance. Everything felt like it was curated for social media and the taste and execution of the food did not live up what you see on their Instagram. The chicken fried maitake were a hunk of inedible burnt mushrooms with a tiny bit of pickled carrots on top. I would estimate that they were probably left in the fryer for about 90 seconds too long. The radiatore pasta was overly salted and the pasta was overcooked. It tasted like hamburger helper that I would make if I was kinda drunk at home. The duck was overcooked and served with a disgusting pile of "barley porridge" that had wilty lettuce mixed in. Additionally, the service felt chaotic. The expeditor kept screaming HANDS NOW every 30 seconds for pickup and while our food was delivered promptly, it was a different person every time and we it was difficult to get a second round of drinks ordered. Not my favorite way to spend $100/person. read more

Probably the best meal I've had in Madison! We came here as a celebratory dinner so we didn't mind waiting and having a drink, but we did wait about 90 minutes for a table on a Friday. However, the food made up for it. We wanted one of everything, but we settled for about six things to share among four people. I'm already dreaming about the biscuit! A must. The steak was divine too. Can't wait to return. read more

Mint Mark - biscuit - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The food was notably bad. I loved mint mark and was so excited to come as the last time I came (~1 year ago) the food was amazing. Unfortunately the food we had wasn't good- it was flavorful, but simply not good flavors. We couldn't finish the pelmeni. We also couldn't finish the bucatini, which tasted like fish. The Amish chicken wasn't great- somewhat bland - although it was the best dish we had (relatively). This was a much different experience and not sure I would return unless they announced some kind of revitalization effort. read more

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First time coming in to the new location, loved the new setup. Sat at the bar and had cocktails and split a dessert. The drinks were as good as I remembered, and the dessert was excellent. Definitely recommend the honey tart. read more

Mint Mark - honey tart - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Made it to the new space finally and the food was amazing. The highlight for me was the French onion eggplant dip and the cheese bread. The new space is GORGEOUS!! Ambience 10/10! Service was fast and prompt. You have to order all food at once, just be aware. read more

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The main idea of this restaurant is that you're supposed to share. There are small plates, medium plates and big plates. Don't expect food to be served in any specific order. My dining partner got his food when the 3 of us had already finished our meals. He was not allowed to cancel because, as the manager explained, you should have shared! The second interesting issue is that this restaurant does not substitute ANYTHING. There was 1 salad on the menu which listed a cashew dressing. My friend has a nut allergy. They would not even consider serving her the salad without that dressing. The rigidity of this restaurant was shocking. I've never eaten at an upscale restaurant that does not consider food allergies or customer preferences. The food was fine and the atmosphere was fine but let me repeat the word RIGID. read more

We had a wonderful experience. They have small and several large plates to share. We had the biscuits, asparagus, perogies pizzeria, and roast beef dish for three. The perogies, asparagus, and roast beef were stand outs! Service was excellent and a very vibrant atmosphere. read more

Disappointing experience - very loud with a server we could not hear ... food meh at best and dishes timing to our table was way too fast ... likely not there again read more

We had brunch today. 3 of us, wife and adult son.They serve all the dishes family style. That was unique. We had a frittata. It had a little cheese but mostly just baked eggs. We had banana French toast . That was delicious. We also had biscuits and gravy. That was SUPER salty. Staff was friendly and great. The decor, I told my son, was 1989. Hunter green and peach with basket weave and brass chairs like we used to have. Everything was very clean so it was fun to step into an unexpected time capsule. I'm giving it a 4 because the food could be a bit better. read more

Great service, amazing food with fun flavors, and a super unique atmosphere. The sweet potato was delicious with unexpected flavors that combined together super well. The biscuit is a must-try, and the duck frites was outstanding. The pasta was definitely worth trying but not my absolute favorite (still great!). Would love to come back! read more

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Ordered cabbage, smoked onion dip, corn dog, biscuit, and bucatini. Need 4-6 dishes for 2 people. Service was great. Wished smoked onion dip came with something more substantial than chips, but all the food was good. read more

Beat meal we've had in Madison. Vegetable forward, proper cocktail stemware, reasonable and robust wine list. Highly highly recommend.

Come here for the drinks and stay for the food!! The cocktails list is one of the best I have seen in the Madison area. Great ambience, decor, and vibe at Mint Mark. Such a cute place for night out with friends or date night. The drink menu is WOW!!! Great list with something for everyone. The non-alcoholic drinks are great too. But seriously, the great selection of cocktails to try from. Love the tapas style food packed with flavors and lots of vegan options. Everything we ordered tasted amazing. Their menu changes with the season and they use local produce. Do check out this place for incredible drinks and amazing food. read more

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I've been to Mint Mark a couple times now and each time felt like a little food adventure. I recommend sharing the dishes because you're going to want to try everything. I would say four dishes for three people is enough, or maybe five dishes and a biscuit to yourself if you're really hungry. You can always add more dishes as you go if you want more. I've only had the nonalcoholic beverages; the raspberry beret spritz (bitter, goes well with the food though) and urban ferver, which I liked better. Biscuit - highly recommend; so much butter is used (the first time I went I sat at the bar in front of the kitchen and watched the cooks work, and I saw how much they slathered on there) but somehow it doesn't taste too buttery at all. Cauliflower - one of my favorites, I like that the cauliflower was one notch below being burned. The crispy cheese was *lip-smack.* Zucchini - this was my favorite dish. Considering zucchini is typically one of my least favorite veggies, this is saying a lot. Baby Bok Choy - also very good. The panisse was my favorite part of this dish. Chicken Liver Mousse - I didn't get a picture, but this was my least favorite. I didn't like the temperature difference between the cold liver mousse and the warm crumpet. And it was difficult to get over the texture of the mousse (I guess I prefer mousse as a dessert.) My friend liked this dish though so it's really personal preference. The service was spectacular. Considering how busy they were on a Thursday night (busy even right after they opened - I recommend making a reservation) our server was attentive. Each dish was brought out one at a time, and by the time we finished one, the other was on it's way. Truly a great foodie experience for me. The prices are reasonable considering the high-quality food, how unique each dish is, and the thought that is put into the ingredients and plating of each dish. I love trying food combos I would never have thought of before, as well as ingredients I have never heard of. If you're looking for a run-of-the-mill dinner with "safe" choices, don't go here. This is a place of fun, interesting food, that in my opinion the food tastes better than even the best of what a typical high-end restaurant serves. read more

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The place was beautiful and the staff was fine. We ordered 6 drinks and wanted fries for the table. They have fries but refuse to serve them without the entree. When I asked why, they couldn't really give me an answer. What kind of bar in Wisconsin won't give you an order of fries. They literally have fries on the menu, just serve us the fries! I will not ever go back. read more

This place was delicious! We strolled from downtown to grab a bite and enjoyed the cute atmosphere and friendly service. The plates were small and well-crafted so we got to try many different items on the menu. The cabbage, carrots, and garlic knots were fantastic. Definitely would recommend it! read more

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I enjoyed Mint Mark a lot. I've lived in the area for a long time and have never heard of this place, maybe a well kept secret? However, it was busy and we had to wait 20 minutes for a table without a reservation. The menu is mostly small bites to share, with 3-4 larger plates. I got the cheeseburger - super good and would recommend and order again. No parking lot, and somewhat difficult to find parking on the street but not impossible. The hostess was busy and frazzled when we arrived and not the most friendly, but that is understandable! Overall, nice friendly neighborhood atmosphere and will come again for a drink/food. read more

Mint Mark - Bar area - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Cool ambiance, reminds me of the Golden Girls in FL. Good service, descriptive but not overbearing (thanks Kara). Unique flavor profiles across the board. Menu changes often. Enjoyed our time. read more

I never got to check out the old space but the new one is vibrant, trendy and full of light & warmth. Staff were kind and attentive, too (Thanks Ryan!). I tried a few things to get a taste of the menu. The cucumbers were so fresh; I loved the zip of the dill, mint and tarragon dressing. The pasta with chèvre, peas and lamb was rich and flavorful; I'm still thinking about it. The pierogi were the definition of savory goodness; the onions and sauce were delicious with it. The skillet cookie was warm and buttery and the ice cream with butterscotch really took it up a notch. The only thing I didn't really care for were the deviled eggs; a little too salty for my taste. I also had two cocktails that were very good & rounded out my meal. Really lovely spot; I'm glad I could finally experience it. I hope this restaurant has continued success in its new home! read more

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Very cool design and fun atmosphere. Top notch service and happy employees. Nice wine/cocktail choices. Prices are fine. We had 7 sharables and the trout (entree size). Disappointed in the dishes...too much garlic and salt (other than the trout which was nicely seasoned). We will try again when they have some new menu choices. They are doing most everything well. read more

Creative, delicious, and fun. The smoked onion dip was excellent - I mean how can you go wrong, but it was also better than it needed to be. I loved learning the new-to-me word "langos" and the pelmeni is great (pro tip - if you have any chips leftover from the dip, use them here). The fjord trout sounded the least exciting but it was delicious and the smoked carrots were fascinating. The drinks and dessert were also really good. read more

We sat at the chef's counter, and Chef Kasey served us. He helped us craft our menu and the food was phenomenal. I cannot stop thinking about the Radiatori! Highly recommend sitting up at the counter and watching how Chef Kasey runs his kitchen... efficient, kind, and the food was to die for! read more

Horrible service. Our waiter took our order and an hour later we got our food. He checked on us once, only because we waved him down.

Absolutely excellent, memorable experience at the "kitchen counter," facing the open kitchen. It was inspiring to see the chefs at work and plates going by. The food was creative and outstandingly executed, with Chef Casey giving the final review of each plate on its way out of the kitchen. Overall, a really well-run kitchen. Menu had about 2/3 turnover since last time I dined there, with a few old favorites and lots of new favorites! Dessert is a must. Though the ambiance of the dining room is fun, there's no ambiance quite like a professional kitchen at work! Can't wait until next time! read more

Mint Mark 26 July 2024 Friday Biscuit ($6) was served with garlic honey, no not need to slather it with the whipped butter accompaniment, creative presentation and a nice way to start the meal. Cauliflower ($14) was served "bagna càuda," a savory 'hot bath' sauce with golden raisins and topped with a parmesan crisp. Pieces of the cauliflower were done well; other pieces were incinerated and inedible. Chanterelle Toast ($17) zucchini, summer giardiniera, poppy seed: I expected more than 3-4 small chanterelles which we ate separately to savor the taste. Instead, the crunchy single slice of toast, difficult to share, was topped with giardiniera garnis - pickled vegetables which were flavorsome but could not taste chanterelles. For $17 for a single slice of toast we were expecting a few mouthfuls of chanterelles but alas, had only two small mushrooms each. Chittara sungold sugo (tomatoes) and Sarvecchio (Parmesan) - A menu is foremost designed to list, price, and annotate the dishes served and thus should spell out what is being served and how, not to obfuscate and make the diner guess. Long al dente strands of chittara, a square cut pasta were served somewhat similar to Cacio e pepe and at $15, this was the highlight of the entire meal. Wagyu Tri Tip was easily the greatest disappointment: Served with B2 sauce - barbecue sauce - be forewarned, is a sauce that tasted like Lay's barbecue potato chips, an unpleasant distraction from the small, tender tri-tip that was cooked to perfection. Whole peppercorns sprinkled on top should have been coarsely ground, never left whole, and after the second slice, the sauce proved cloying that was that. Accompanying sunchoke potato salad not bad but did not compliment the barbecue sauce. For $47, we expected much, much more. Montepulciano: Nobody expects a sommelier but the server was clearly unfamiliar with how to open a bottle of wine and cracked the cork which should have been moist but instead was dry and not properly stored. Crème Brulee ($10) creatively incorporated sweet corn but instead tasted like sugary corn chowder flambee. No hint of black truffle whatsoever and parts were cold which meant that it was not properly heated and flamed. For Mint Mart, to paraphrase Tom Petty, the waiting was the hardest part. Sure, Friday night, everyone wants to try the trendy new restaurant but I waited 45 minutes in a line only to provide my name and cell phone number only to receive a text that "You've been added to the waitlist at Mint Mark!" and that the "estimated wait for your party of two is 1 hour and 15 minutes" which came and went without the promised "We'll text you when your seats are ready," which unfortunately never happened, 1 hour 30 minutes later. We finally returned to the host at which point we were told that "we were just ready to text you." To wait over two hours for creatively conceived albeit averagely prepared and overpriced cuisine should make anyone think twice about going during dinner. Regrettably we waited but to Mint Mark: Stick with conventional reservations instead of wasting people's time. read more

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Ordered one appetiser and two small plates. Food was extremely salty. Chicago crab is just a fried crab drowned in mustard. Way too much salt in all the dishes. Nice bar, just don't order food. read more