Marciano

Marciano’s was amazing! We went here spur of the moment and it was the best decision. Our server, Marina, was so helpful and sweet. She made us feel really comfortable and explained everything so clearly. We got the bolognese and the special, which was a crab-​stuffed flounder. The flounder was absolutely perfect and I would request it every night if I could. It came with zucchini on the side which was delicious. For dessert, we had the crème brûlée and I have honestly not had any that great in years.
The place was pretty empty – probably because it was late on a Monday – but it definitely should not have been! Half-​priced wine added to the greatness. This place is a gem and we will definitely be back.
PS, the complimentary bread and olive oil is to die for, and it’s not your typical olive oil. It’s the chef’s special recipe and has lots of pesto! My boyfriend and I were honestly considering asking for a tub of it with a loaf of bread. It’s that good.

Fantastic with our large group. Food was amazing. Reasonably priced
Really…I’m not sure when I’ve had food this good or service this great. Moved our party of 30 in and out in 1.5 hours. Owner worked with us to make a limited menu of Pasta Bolognese and a version of their Chicken Diablo past. Both were amazing. The Pesto dipping sauce for the bread is some of the best I’ve ever had. Service was on the spot. Had a very nice Cabernet for $ 9/​glass.
Superb. Absolutely in Memphis I recommend this place. It’s independently owned. Wonderful dining area and reasonably priced.

I have been wanting to eat here for a long time and finally got there. We were one of 3 tables, and I still cannot understand why this place did not have more people! My brother and I started with the stuffed grape leaves, which were very well prepared and tasty. The bread was lovely. My brother had the veal saltimbocca and I had the veal parmigiano. We both loved it! We are both veal fans and order veal often at restaurants, and we both commented that this was some of the best we have ever tasted. We also enjoyed a bottle of wine that was very good and moderately priced. I have read the other reviews, and I do not share their mediocrity! All I can say is Marciano’s is definitely worth a try, and I will definitely go back and take my friends!

Fair cuisine while service left a lot to be desired. Empty water glasses, no bread till asked, additional bread requests unmet, no follow up on how our meal was. I expected more based on the prices and the ambiance. Could be so much more if staffed better.

The service was very good. Did not have to wait long for any of our items. The food was not very good, however. Both of our entrees were waaaaay too salty!

The $ rating on this place is incorrect it is between $$$ and $$$$. The food is delicious, the atmosphere was nice, quiet and relaxed… until we come in with our three kids, so happy they were well behaved… our children are 6, 4, and 2. The waitstaff there is one of the best I have encountered in Memphis, Kevin was our waiter and he was awesome. All of the wait staff were sociable, kind, and they like kids. A lot of post talk about the chef/​owner coming out to the tables, I would have to say that he only came out to one table while we were there and that was to say hi to patrons he knew. So don’t go there expecting to meet the chef… you probably won’t.
Overall we would definitely go back there again but as a couple only not with our children. The had a four cheese pizza that we ordered for the kids because there is no kids menu, the pizza cost was $ 16 and it was the size of a dinner plate but it was delicious.

Wife and I traveled to Memphis together and were interested in eating something other than chain food restaurant.
Glad we found this place.
We started with crab cakes and salad. Crab cakes were really good. Greek salad was good as well. Chefs Salad dressing was very tasty.
Fresh bread was hot fresh and the bread dip was awesome.
Wife had Seafood risotto shrimp and scallops. I had Veal Saltimboca.
Both were fabulous. Rich but not overpowering. Delicate but very filling. Very nice balance of flavors and textures. Not what you would experience at a chain store for sure.
Will definitely come back.

Love love love this place. The food is always cooked to perfection and they have the best lamb in the city. What other restaurant will the owner /​chef come out to your table, personally greet you and ask how your meal was? The owner, Mortez cares not only about the food but each customer in his restaurant. Put this place on your radar — it’s well worth it.

The food at this restaurant is simply the best Italian food I’ve ever eaten. The caprese for a starter had the most flavorful fresh mozzarella cheese and arugula topped with a sweet spicy sauce.
The seafood risotto was simply to die for… and had a generous amount of shrimp (lightly grilled) and scallops that were fresh and cooked to perfection.
I would highly recommend Marciano’s to anyone traveling to Memphis.

My husband and I have been going here for years! My absolute hands down favorite place to go for date night. it is quiet and romantic. sometimes they have a fab band. the dantones. You must try it. A lot of memphians don’t know about it. I would say it is the best kept secret in Memphis!

Food is fantastic!!! Chef was friendly and personal… Came out to say hello… Staff was helpful and attentive… Not a great interior or décor… Could use updating…

7:00pm on a Wednesday finds a pretty empty restaurant. Service was friendly and we got our Stella immediately. The pre-​dinner bread and pesto were SO good. I’m told it’s made with green olives. We split the antipasti platter which was also good – especially the ravioli. We didn’t stay for dinner. It’s a fairly limited menu and we were satisfied after our appetizer.

Convenient East Memphis restaurant. We arrived at the restaurant and the hostess asked if we had reservations. We said no but we’re quickly seated. even though it was a Friday night, the restaurant was not very full.
Our waiter was very attentive. My husband order the grouper special and I chose chicken Marciano. My husband cleaned his plate. I brought home a to go box. My dish was ok.
Since this restaurant promotes Mediterranean and Italian dining, I wish they had more Italian dishes.

New Happy Hour find in East Memphis– yummy Italian food with Mediterranean flair– have loved full dinner here, glad to run across Happy Hour! We enjoyed antipasta and pizza– with warm Italian bread that is worth the stop alone! Pic of menu added

OOOOOOk. So Unilocal: this place is not bad at all. Maybe they took your recommendations to heart! Basically, I went in there assuming the worst – i waltzed in at 7pm (on a Tuesday) and the place only had the elderly locals as described, but they seemed like a bunch who would have good taste so i wasn’t afraid to try stuff… But I did end up asking the server to double-​check all my choices to make sure he liked them as well haha… Didn’t want to risk the bland flavors and whatnot I’d heard described on here cause I was on a date!
Anyways, the crab cakes are amazing – they’re super creative and Mediterranean… it was so good. And then we just went for some serious classics: shrimp fettuccine alfredo and veal saltimbocca. A+
The service was kind but a little confused. However, he came around frequently to take good care of us. And the atmosphere is very nice. It’s the kinda place you go for a hidden, off-​the-​beaten-​path kinda chill experience. Will definitely go back.
Oh yeah, and wear whatever you want – it could be construed as a dressy place but wear casual if you feel like it – they’re friendly and can use the business! GO!

Hubby and I stopped by here on the recommendation of some friends who loved it. They have signs everywhere announcing that they are now open for Sunday Brunch from 11 – 3.
I gotta say it was really just ok. We enjoyed the service, the bread, the décor, and the plates, but the food was honestly just not what we hoped for. Our waitress, Alex, was awesome and let us sub in angel hair pasta on both our dishes. And the bread and pesto was ridiculously awesome, but our meals were not. We got the Chicken Alfredo and the Pollo al Diablo. The alfredo was bland and the diablo was overpowered.
We also got the cheesecake, which I thought actually tasted better without the fruit.
Maybe this is how Italian food is supposed to taste. We are not sure and we don’t know. But if so then I guess it’s just not our thing.
Loved:
Bread and Pesto
Ok:
Cheesecake
Disliked:
Fettuccine Alfredo Chicken
Pollo al Diablo

Everything had a very homey mom-​made taste :) The atmosphere is romantic and quaint, and the Italian server is a sweetheart. However the meals are fairly small and definitely pricey! Definitely make sure to give it a shot it’s a great experience! :)Try the pizza and a bottle of wine.

Love the atmosphere! Especially the curved windows. The waitress was excellent. Got to speak to the main cook himself. Had cinnamon gelato for the first time and it was delicious. The seafood was great! And the rolls and dip — I’ve never tasted anything so pure of olive oil!
Will definitely be recommending this restaurant! I cannot wait to go back.

The food, the atmosphere, the music… the staff. everything about this place was amazing!!!’
I would drive another 11 hours to eat here again

A-​OK sums it up pretty correctly. This place has been on my bookmark list forever so when my mom asked to meet Drew for the first time I thought this would be a cool place to do it. It is in East Memphis, has pretty good reviews, and most importantly — I hadn’t been. Apparently that last reasoning did not sit well with them though. Drew was thinking Folk’s Folly and my mom was thinking Erling Jensen’s. They wanted a place they knew was dynamite — oops.
I made a reservation for 3 at 7:00 for Sunday night but when we pulled up, we were the only car in the parking lot. And we remained the only people in the restaurant until an elderly couple walking around 8:00. I know this place has been open for a few years so I’m assuming they get more traffic on other nights… but it was kinda weird and awkward being the only ones in there.
For appetizers, I ordered the antipasta plate that was bland and not all that good but my mom was obsessed with the mussels and Drew loved his lobster bisque. I just ate the cheese off my plate. And for dinner, they enjoyed their rack of lamb and quail. (Aren’t they fancy? ha) while I liked my chicken parmesan but it wasn’t anything to write home about. I didn’t finish it so asked for a to go box and was annoyed when I came home to find my dinner and appetizer stuffed in the same box. (It didn’t exactly go together.)
I have to agree with Barrett R on the décor. The outside of the restaurant, which is nice, certainly didn’t match the inside. The interior is extremely dark and what you would expect to find in a restaurant in a strip mall. When you see the building outside you immediately expect the interior to match and be new, upscale, even slightly pretentious (and two stories?). But the dining room is plain. There is no crown molding and it is just… blah. I keep trying to think of how to describe it but it is nondescript. That would actually be my biggest recommendation is to make the dining room more memorable. If you’re paying over $ 20 for your entrée, I think the restaurant should have some charm.
It was OK but won’t be entering my normal restaurant rotation.