I know there are a lot of 5 star reviews but our experience just didn't measure up. There were many positives such as the delicious bread and butter, so good, all tasted homemade. Caesar salad good too but a little small for the price. The chicken saltimboca was very salty as was the steak and mashed potatoes. My steak medallions and mashed came out room temperature so had to send it back to reheat. I ordered the pot de creme for dessert and it was way over salty and I usually don't mind salt. We got the chocolate mousse instead and it was dense, hard and grainy. I love French press coffee but ours was way too weak. All these little things add up to a not 5 star experience. We may give them a other try in the future...just not sure read more

So amazing! The ambiance was unique yet tasteful. The food was so flavorful, fairly priced, and catered to our dietary restriction. They had several gluten free options too and were very cautious of celiac disease. The portion sizes were perfect for one so I would recommend each person get their own plate. read more

My wife and I have had the pleasure of dining at the Star Diner twice now, and each experience was absolutely fantastic. We had heard of this fabled restaurant... a dining space opened in an old gas station at the end of the sleepy downtown of Marshall, NC, settled by a premiere chef, offering perfectly prepared dishes in an eclectically decorated and transformed space... It almost sounded too good to be true. The Star Diner is a true gem. We have visited for both their dinner and brunch services, and we've been wowed both times. The staff here is exceptional, Brian, the executive chef, prepares dishes with great care and thought, and the results are truly delicious. His wife, Kate, manages the front of house and wears many hats as both hostess and server. The pride they both show in their creation is contagious, and well deserved. Should you take the time to make the short drive to Marshall to dine at this wonderful spot, don't miss out on the mountain trout or the chicken saltimbocca. Both incredible! Oh! And the desserts. Make sure to save room for a tasty sweet treat at the end of your meal! read more

We were driving through the area and saw the classic car parked out front. Stopped in for lunch on Sunday. It was fabulous! Shrimp and grits and schnitzel for my husband. Both were excellent. the restaurant is quaint and the staff are friendly. read more

I wish you could award a special 6th star for a perfect experience. Absolutely amazing brunch. The execution from the kitchen, to the character of the location, paired with the expertise guidance of the impeccable Kate, created a dining adventure I will remember for a long time. read more

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Star Diner is a funky little former gas station on Main Street in Marshall North Carolina. The atmosphere was quaint and very European, from the moment we walked in the door we felt like we were in another country on vacation. The meal was superb and the dinners were prepared to perfection. The taste was magnificent and unforgettable. I recommend this place with every ounce of energy I possess! It is a bit pricey but worth every bit if you got the coin. read more

Star Diner - New American Near Me - Marshall, North Carolina

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We are new to the area from Atlanta and Cashiers, NC and this was recommended by our new neighbors. Incredibly quirky small indoor dinning room where we were able to secure a table. Staff attentive and happy! Food was great albeit a bit salty (prior reviews noted this) but not overbearing. The sauce on the sea bass was amazingly layered and succulent. A hint of curry. Excellent. Wine list small, not surprisingly, but at the higher end of the reds the choices are interesting. Will define my return when a wee bit warmer and sit outside. read more

Wonderful and unique place for dinner. The space is so much fun as it's an old restored gas station with so much history. The food was incredibly fresh and flavorful. We recommend all the salads, the Brussel sprouts, the chicken and the meatloaf. All was fabulous. read more

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I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. It was truly one of the best meals I have had in several years. Where to start? First of all, the restaurant itself is an old gas service station. The owners did an impeccable job turning it into a cozy 6 table restaurant. (Make sure you step inside both restrooms just to check them out.) My wife and I went with another couple to celebrate getting married a few weeks ago. We started with a caesar salad which was super fresh with homemade blue cheese dressing. I ordered the special which was a salmon filet and crab cake served on top of pureed butternut squash and topped with bernaise. My wife ordered the roasted trout served on top of cheese mashed potatoes. We were both blown away by how good it was. It's now two days later and I am still thinking about the salmon. Also, the portions were the perfect size; not too big and not so small you leave hungry. I ordered the apple cake with caramel drizzle and my wife ordered the chocolate mousse. Again, it was delicious and all made in house. The service was wonderful... it is a fine-dining experience with a casual feel (if that makes sense)... it's the opposite of stuffy. I lived in LA for 20 years and have eaten food from some of the best chefs in the world: Joaquin Splichal, Woflgang Puck, Curtis Stone and on and on... I would put the Star's food up against any of them. Truly remarkable. We will definitely be going back! read more

After two visits to Star Diner, I feel qualified to give this restaurant a glowing five star review. My first visit was a birthday brunch for six that we gave for a dear friend, and the second visit was a intimate wedding celebration dinner for five people. It must be coincidental that three of my favorite restaurants are former gas stations that have been converted, the Star Diner, along with Mod PizzA, and Gan Shan Station. In each case, the restaurant managed to create something interesting and unique, that actually works, while still retaining something of the service station infrastructure. Brunch and dinner were both elegant, while being very tasty and hearty. Our service was excellent, with lots of individual attention, without being overwhelming or fawning. The decor is a treat in itself, especially the bathroom, with its unusual and towel system, antique sink, and authentic autographed photos from stars of yesteryear. My brunch was a crabcake Benedict with asparagus, and it was spot on in all respects. The hollandaise was perfectly hot with excellent taste and consistency, the asparagus was tasty and perfectly cooked, and the crabcake was a real show stealer, Second only to a crabcake I had in New Orleans back in 2012 at the Royal Orleans hotel. For the wedding dinner, I had the mountain trout over herbed potatoes, again with the most perfect asparagus and hollandaise that I can remember. It was Crisp on the outside, flaky on the inside, the potatoes were subtle creaminess that perfectly complemented the tasty trout. I sampled wifey's scallops, and confirmed her assertion that they were perfect. Everyone else at both events echoed my sentiments. Chef Brian Sonoskus and his family run this quaint, elegant, retro restaurant in downtown Marshall, after he left the restaurant he co-founded, Tupelo Honey. Here, unrestrained by corporate dicta, Star Diner achieves the greatness that others miss, in my opinion. read more

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WOW!!! I had the pleasure of eating Sunday brunch at Star Diner a few weeks ago and I cannot stop thinking about this gem in Marshall. First off, a reservation is highly recommended! Once you try the amazing food coming out of this tiny kitchen you will understand the need for a reservation. I ordered the meatloaf, which came with mashed potatoes and asparagus. I know meatloaf does not sound exciting but this was BY FAR the best meal I've ever eaten!! I've been dreaming of this meatloaf ever since. My uncle ordered the smoked salmon omelet which he thought was delicious because it the salmon tasted like they smoked it in-house (not 100% sure). Service was excellent, Kate took wonderful care of us and she knew the menu and the wine list very well. I cannot say enough positive things about Star Diner, my new favorite restaurant! read more

Two New Yorkers, stumble on small southern town, Marshal. They happened to make the mistake of arriving on a Tuesday, as it appears, Marshals' doesn't employ the standard work week. It's more of a Wednesday, sometimes Thursday, through Saturday work week. So, we waited one sunset (Wednesday for those not paying attention) and allowed Wednesday to start the day as it would like but, made sure Wednesday knew how the day would conclude: at The Star Diner. Wednesday day: blaaaahh bllaaahh did stuff blaaa blahhhh blah Wednesday Night (attempt one:) We arrived at TSD at a prompt 6:45 and requested a table for 2. Just as fate would have it, TSD had just sat a table of 7. The hostess politely asked if, "We'd so terribly mind going to grab a drink and come back in 30 mins." In a prior life, I was in the service industry. What this hostess did was elevate stress on her kitchen all while establishing our expectations as the dinners. Great job. 30 mins later: We return to TSD and are immediately ushered to our seats. White table cloths, French food, heavy cutlery, and an charismatic, personable waitress from BK. Can't get better, right? On the special board, that evening, was (never heard of this before) North Carolina Clam Chowder! What it was is a New England Clam Chowder but, with a Potato Leek base. Are you kidding me?? How, really how, is this first time I'm hearing about this? 10/10 Southern Chicken Fried Saltimbocca with Prosciutto, Sage, Provolone Marsala Wine Sauce, White Cheddar Mashed Yukon Golds, Asparagus. Comfort food at its finest. I had room to eat and just that room to do just that. 10/10 We were going to skip dessert but, wiser heads prevailed. Dessert: French Press Decaf Coffee: sorry I have to say this but, I love my coffee and this was not even to be considered mediocre coffee. 4/10 Graham Cracker Pie: TSD, you crushed it again. This is stupidly good. Have this!! One more thing, I found out that French Places don't have whole milk to I enjoyed my desert sans whole milk, like I prefer. Still, it was incredible. 9.5/10 (milk counted a bit) g. read more

Have been meaning to write a review of Star Diner since celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary while visiting the area back in May 2017. It was incredible- from the service to the food to the decor. It is well worth the drive if you are visiting the Asheville area. We can't wait to go back. read more

Star Diner - New American Near Me - Marshall, North Carolina

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Exceptional! From gracious and accommodating service to food worthy of any 5 star establishment, Star Diner was a hugely pleasant surprise in the quaint town of Marshall. Everything ordered from the regular and specials menu for our party of four was fabulous. Perfectly cooked to order, seasoning spot on. Thank you for this wonderful culinary experience! Will recommend to anyone in or around this area!!!! read more

what a beautiful little spot to discover . it's not a diner at all, but a desliscious 5 star treasure .the atmosphere is like a 50's movie set in a small town tennesee Williams movie which makes it all the more surprising . it's pricey but worth every dollar . read more

Another fabulous meal at Star Diner. We've gone beyond the equivalent of Joe Dimaggio's consecutive game hitting streak of 56. Next up? Cal Ripken's streak of 2632 consecutive games played. Tonight's gustatory delight? Cream of mushriom soup, caesar spinach salad, chixken saltimbocca, braised short rib and cheesecake pie. All "eyes roll up into the back of my head" good. read more

This is a hidden gem with the most delicious food - something for everyone- served by a friendly staff in a quirky and delightful environment. The trout was the best I ever have had. Don't miss the dessert- their pie a la mode is amazing. I recommend them completely. You won't be disappointed. read more

During a side trip from Asheville, my wife and I recently enjoyed a great meal at the Star Diner. Despite dealing with difficulties due to the Covid19 situation, and recently reopening for outside only dining, the staff delivered a premium dining experience. The outside dining space was charming. The service was friendly and attentive. Best of all, the food was incredible! If you find yourself in the vicinity of Marshall, NC, do yourself a favor and check it out. read more

I haven't written a yelp review in almost 10 years but after the meal my family had here the other night, there's no way I couldn't write one about Star Diner. Let me preface my review by saying that we arrived shortly after eight and saw that they closed at 8:30. My wife and I both work in public service so we were staunchly against eating there. We both despise when someone walks in at closing time. Despite the time of our arrival, the hostess (whose name I believe was Kate and ended up being not only our waitress but the chef's wife also) insisted that we stay and eat. We had to wait 5-10 minutes for a table so we sat outside on their quaint patio and ordered drinks. While waiting for our table Kate checked on us multiple times and made sure we had everything we needed. After being seated, Kate went over the menu in great detail and gave recommendations. We were a party of four , and quite hungry after a full day of hiking, so we ordered ALOT of food. Between the four of us we ordered the wedge salad, potato soup, fried brussels, crab cakes, meatloaf (made from beef, veal, pork, and bacon), the steak chamipgnon (filet medallions with roasted tomatoes and mushroom madeira sauce), and the filet. Everything was ,simply put, amazing! I ordered the filet which came with white cheddar mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. The filet was served with a bordelaise and bearnaise sauce but I asked to have it simply grilled without any saucing. Ive found that many restaurants try to mask poorly cooked steaks with elaborate sauces but that was not the case here. My steak was a perfect medium rare and excellently seasoned and the potatoes and asparagus were absolutely delicious. I tried a bite or two of everyone else's food and they all followed suit with mine. After dinner we were all four stuffed and ready to end the night and head home on full bellies. Then Kate came by and told us about the desserts. Within seconds of her finishing, we were ordering the graham cracker pie and another dessert (I can't remember the name of it unfortunately) that was the creamiest, tastiest cheesecake dessert you could ever eat. So after seating us within 5 minutes of closing time, feeding us a delicious meal, and allowing us to stay and enjoy until almost 10:30, Kate apologized for our wait for a table and told us our drinks on the patio were on the house. This was undoubtedly an amazing meal and my wife and I have already talked about making the hour and a half drive from home back to here just to eat again. Thank you Star Diner for an amazing experience. The only reason I'm giving five stars is because I can't give six. We will be back sooner than later. read more

Wow. This place is all that and more. The food is beyond reproach. Subtle yet boisterous flavors all cooked to perfection. Fresh ingredients, old favorites familiar yet, new. A must dining experience for anyone who appreciates fine cuisine. read more

This place is definitely NOT a diner. It is WAY better than diner food. Everything is superb. I mean everything. The appetizer, entrees, and dessert were all off the charts. This place is quaint, delightful, and more importantly delicious. We stumbled in here without a reservation and got lucky! We will be back. read more

Excellent! The setup might not be screaming come and sit down, but that's overly-compensated by the food they serve here. Everything was delicious! read more

I had only heard great things of this restaurant, so we gave it a try.. The food and service was incredible!

Star diner is a one of a kind gem in downtown Marshall. When making our reservation for dinner, I asked them for their best table, since my Husband and I were celebrating our Anniversary. When we arrived, the super sweet host brought us through the renovated gas station, explained where everything was and sat us at our table. Our table was overlooking a koi pond adorned with statues, lights and trees; it couldn't have been more perfect. We were greeted by our server Kate, who was lovely from start to finish. To start, we ordered crispy fried oysters and two glasses of wine. When our oysters arrived, the train flew by right outside the windows of the koi pond. This created quite a magical atmosphere and we were just getting started with our night. My husband ordered the beef tenderloin medallions with wild mushroom peppercorn sauce, Yukon gold mashed potatoes and asparagus. The steak was cooked to perfection. I ordered the special; fettuccini with lobster, shrimp, bay scallops, spinach, bacon and tomatoes all covered in a light sauce. Both entrees were exquisite; a lot of commitment went into each dish and the portion size was perfect. Last but not least, the dessert; brown butter pecan pie on top of chocolate ganache and topped with fresh whipped cream. Simply amazing! This was the best dining experience we've EVER had. If you're looking to celebrate a special occasion or just want a wonderful dining experience, don't hesitate and make a reservation at Star Diner. You will be thrilled that you did. Thank you Star Diner for making our experience a night we will never forget. Next...brunch! We'll be back! Luke & Hillary read more

From start to finish, this dinner was 5/5 amazing. We ordered the fried oysters, PEI mussels, and the crab cake. The brioche buns were hot and fresh. The Brown Butter Carolina Trout was flaky and delicious, with a pile of tasty Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. The graham cracker pie with buttermilk ice cream was the perfect end to the meal. All the ingredients and flavors were thoughtfully paired and delivered. read more

In the heart of beautiful, quaint Marshall with a view of the river and even closer to the train tracks this place takes you back in time- in a good way! The food was delicious and perfectly prepared. Everyone was incredibly accommodating to my dietary restrictions- no small feat! Service was impeccable- well worth the little bit out of the way to get to this place! read more

wow! My man and i just moved to sweet Marshall from Asheville a few months ago, and i had HEARD how ahhhh -MAAZZING this spot was...it DEFINITELY exceeded our expectations by ALOT in ALL the ways!!!! We had a reservation, and were greeted in a very inviting fashion by a super adorable young woman right away. (Savannah) Our server (Bri) was equally friendly and comfortable. i felt like we were guests in someone's home. Not rushed, perfect temperature, fun things to look at...happy staff......The atmosphere is just so warm, cozy AND cool! Very clean restroom even! with awesome character , i especially appreciated the Individual hand towels that drop from a cool looking chain into a basket ! nice! Using the restroom was even a treat! FOR REAL. My husband got the trout, that came with the best mashed potatoes i've probably ever had, perfectly prepared asparagus, and fresh salad greens drizzled BEAUTIFULLY on the gorgeous dish that i did not take pictures of because that's not really something i do however i appreciated seeing other peoples pictures when i'd read reviews before we went ! ! I ordered the salmon special, and words cannot describe how deliciousssss it was . By the way, i've never written a food review in my life. OH! THE BEET SALAD APPETIZER???? Come Onnnnn !!!!!!! I absolutely love this place and truly can't wait to go back again very soon! You guys are doing it RIGHT! - --Melanie and Josh--- read more

Still thinking about this meal almost a week later. Had the chicken saltimbocca, a decadent meal for sure, but any and all guilt will drain from your skull when you taste it. Even the mashed potatoes n gravy it was served on were some of the best I've ever had. Partner got the shrimp n grits, equally rich, fresh, & hearty. Please, no one tip off Guy Fieri to this diner. But please tip your server. read more

Went here for dinner on a week night. The food was very good especially for a small town. The prices, however, were a little high for the level of the food quality and quality of the service. The restaurant is trying to market itself as a high end restaurant but missed the mark slightly. Our waitress was friendly but not very responsive. We had to request a refill on our tea several times and it was slow in coming. read more

This place is AMAZING. What a wonderful dining experience & great atmosphere. It honestly couldn't get any better. I want to come here every time I come to visit family in Madison County. The Brie is to die for. We had the trout, crab cakes, fried oysters & brussel sprouts...all of which were absolutely delicious. For dessert Kate (the owner) suggested the pot de creme which, paired perfectly with the red wine we had. I promise you the Star Diner will not disappoint! read more

This STAR Lights Up the WNC HEAVENS! We've all heard the saying, "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while." It means that anyone can get lucky and "hit a home run" every now and then. And that applies to baseball, slot machines, finding the right person to date, choosing the perfect pet--and to the ability of a restaurant to serve up a first rate dining experience. The Bible Belt of yesterday's United States has morphed into the Restaurant and Beer Belt of today. So just about any establishment in these mountains that hangs out a "Good food served here" shingle is being honest SOME of the time. But consistency is what separates the ordinary ones from those whose gastronomical fare lingers on the palate-- and in your memory-- long after the meal is over and you return home. It's been almost a week now since I celebrated my birthday at Star Diner, and I am still swooning. There are a lot of delightful eateries in and around Asheville these days--and I have filled my tummy in many of them--but Star Diner is hands down my favorite. It is no fluke--this was the second time they earned their 5 Stars in my book. Both times I have ordered the Brown Butter Almond Crusted Carolina Mountain Trout with Herbed Scallop Beurre Blanc, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus and Marinated Tomatoes. I love trout, and this is a dish they did superbly the first time, so I knew I couldn't go wrong. I added a salad starter this time: Chopped Kale, Romaine, Spiced Pecans, Salt Roasted Beets Gorgonzola and Pickled Red Onions. It's hard to mess with fresh greens, but the chosen dressing will either make Mother Nature laugh or cry. And Star's house made Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette is the finest I've tasted. They will be wise to keep this recipe under wraps. I saved room for dessert, and you will be glad that you do -- even if it means taking home some of your entree to enjoy later. It was difficult to choose but I settled on the chocolate mousse-y item, the first one mentioned, with the house-made whipped topping. It is so rich, but worth the calories, and sip a little of their French-press coffee along with it so you can linger over the dessert and make it last longer. My brother ordered Southern Fried Chicken Saltimbocca with Prosciutto, Sage, Provolone, Marsala Wine Sauce, Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus. He had a hard time settling on this because he prefers chicken breast with bone in to preserve the moisture, but Kate, our hostess assured him that the process the chef uses to prepare the dish guarantees the chicken is deliciously moist and flavorful. So he agreed to try it. It did not disappoint! He will definitely be back and will want to order this entree again. The food here is the STAR! And though definitely not "diner" food, it is surely comfort fare that will please the most discriminating palate. But wait, there is MORE! So much more to savor than just the amazing and creatively prepared food: Attention to detail in recreating a walk back in time from the structure of an old gas station; friendly, gracious, attentive though never overbearing table-side service; beautiful white linen tablecloths and napkins; soft lighting; swing music SOFTLY playing in the background, at a volume you can enjoy but that never intrudes on your table conversation. Which brings me to another point: There is hardly a restaurant in the area that I don't complain about the noise level. Clanging silverware, jangling table conversations reverberate from the walls and ceilings of restaurants everywhere, spoiling the ambience. But not at Star Diner! The only extraneous noise you are likely to hear is from a passing freight train. And if you are lucky enough to be there and hear it, savor and store the experience in your memory bank. It will delight you for a long, long while. Before you leave Star Diner be sure to visit the well-appointed loo where you'll schmooze with movie stars and other celebrities hanging out there. No worries, what happens in the loo stays in the loo. It's no secret anymore: The STAR DINER is a stellar experience! But remember, it used to be an old filling station, so seating space is limited. You'll want to call ahead for reservations, especially on weekends. read more

We first tried to eat here, without reservations, on a friday night. We were unable to eat at that time. A little diner in Marshall Nc??????? Now we know why. If there were more stars, we would give them more. The food was absolutely incredible!!!! The service was impeccable. I normally don't review restaurants, but had to. If you are anywhere near Marshall Nc, make a reservation and eat at Star. read more

My wife made reservations to celebrate my 60th birthday. I love Marshall, it has that "from another era" feel. From the outside I thought dining at the Star Diner was going to be a great experience. We were seated next to a window that would have had a view of the French Broad River if it weren't for the cement block structure enclosing little Buddha statues and a small goldfish pool. I quickly chilled because of a "split unit" air conditioner blowing cold air on me from just a few feet away. When I mentioned this to the waitress she said that she would change the setting from 65 to 68 which made no difference. There were 5-6 main dishes on the menu, 2 of which were steak. When she explained that steak was really not on the menu that evening, I kindly explained that between being cold and not having anything on the menu that I desired, we were going to leave. Fortunately we found another restaurant at the other end of town that was much more accommodating and actually captured the essence of the delightful little town of Marshall. read more

Have been wanting to try this place ever since I heard about it, close to a year ago. Took my wife there for our 18th anniversary. I made a reservation the night before, and it's recommend because they can get pretty busy. If you call after hours, just leave a voicemail saying when you'd like to dine and they will reply with a call to confirm as soon as they open back up. There were too many great choices on the menu but we finally made some decisions. We started with the alligator, and it was the best I've had in a very long time. Prepared perfectly, not rubbery or gristley. I had the almond crusted trout, and it was great. And the mashed potatoes and asparagus were top notch too. My wife had the scallops and said they were unbelievable. They came with asparagus and fried grits, which we had never had, but loved. We shared a desert which was some kind of creamy/fluffy cheesecake with a fabulous blueberry topping. We were thrilled with our experience. The decor was very retro and nice. Our server was extra courteous and very knowledgeable about all of the dishes and what ingredients went into all of them. It's a great date night spot. It isn't cheap by any means, but no more than you'd expect to spend in any of the finer Asheville restaurants. read more

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LOVED!! My husband and I just moved to Marshall and came here for my birthday dinner. Everything we ate tasted so fresh, it was delicious! This is a definite on our list. We are looking forward to trying the Sunday brunch too! read more

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is a common saying and it applies here. This is a jewel of a find. The seafood lobster fettuccine was beyond words. I always say eating out should be an experience and this place delivers. My friend is on a vegan diet and they served him a cauliflower steak not on the menu to accommodate his diet. It was half a head and delicious! People make the comment yo keep this place a secret. Not me. This is a must if you love food. Family run and personable. A Norman Rockwell moment. Enjoy the experience. read more

Awesome takeout dining experience!! The online ordering process was easy but detailed and they got every detail right! The food was just delicious and the host very helpful. read more

This place is a great find in the hip and cool town of Marshall! Great food, awesome ambiance, service was impeccable! It's well worth the drive from Asheville. read more

Let me just say, our party of four ate every bite of every dish that was served to us. Food was flawless and the service was great. Visiting Marshall with friends for the weekend and went to Star Diner last night for dinner. This meal will be one of our best memories of a lovely weekend. Eclectic setting in an old gas station. The setting alone provided conversation for us. The meal was wonderful. We all decided to start with the French onion soup. It was rich and savory. The men in our group had the duck salad which was crowned with a perfectly poached egg. The women selected the house pasta, homemade pasta with beef and mushrooms. Delicious! Desserts were wonderful as well. read more

Wonderful food, service, atmosphere, etc! Tucked away in an old gas station in Marshall. Very cool space run by folks who are clearly passionate about what they do. Crab cake was best I've ever had. read more