Of course, the next question was “Where
should we go for dinner?”
We asked the clerk at
the desk at our Hampton Inn what she would suggest. She told us that a local favorite was a place
called the Marketplace Grill. It was
only a short distance away…the next exit down…so off we went. As you can see, this restaurant has a nice curb
appeal.
The interior of the
Marketplace Grill was very open, a bit industrial but still classy, warm and friendly. The center service area is reminicent of the
arrangement at Macaroni Grill.
The grill/kitchen is open to view, something
that is fairly common these days and I find it to be a bit comforting…like I’m
in someone’s home. Décor in the
restaurant is tasteful but simple, perhaps even a bit understated.
Now…to what’s really important…the menu
and the food!
We started out with an order of Jalapeno
Cheese Fritters. ($4.99) Not only do they photograph well, they were also
excellent, with just the right ‘pop’ of flavor.
Other available appetizers range from
Fresh Salsa and Chips, ($2.99) on up to Tostada Florentine, ($6.99), and
Lettuce Wraps. ($7.99)
Laurie ordered an individual
Margherita Pizza, (with sausage and pepperoni), for her dinner. ($8.99) She added a Dinner Salad for another
$2.99. Everything was very good! The Marketplace Grill prides itself for it’s
use of fresh ingredients…
Other entrée options
include Pasta and Stir Fry, ($11.99 - $15.99); Chicken, Beef and Pork, ($9.99
to $17.99); Steaks and Prime Rib, ($13.99 to $21.99); Seafood and Fish, ($13.99
to $19.99). There are also a selection
of burgers, sandwiches and wraps available from open to close. ($7.99 to $9.99)
I was interested to see the variety that was available...ranging from a Turkey Filet Mignon dinner, ($11.99), to Ultimate Jambalaya Pasta, ($15.99), and on to Blueberry Salmon ($16.99)
As usual, I went with
something ‘light’… In this case I did order some nice healthy broccoli to go
with my Chicken Fried Steak, ($11.99), and mashed potatoes and gravy. The Chicken, Beef and Pork Dinners come with
a choice of two sides and hot bread.
Looking at my receipt, I think that I was charged an extra $.50 for
extra gravy for my mashed potatoes… Curious to say the least.
In any case, this was a
very nice slab of chicken fried steak! I’ve
decided that although I like garlic, it’s just a bit much in mashed
potatoes. I should have gone with either
the Parmesan Spinach or the Sweet Greet Beans as my second side.
OK…Why did I include “Arrested
Development?” in my title for this blog?
We liked this place well enough to inquire about expansion plans…maybe
in an eastward direction toward east Tennessee!
According to our server, the owners have tried to expand beyond the 3
Marketplace Grills and 2 Marketplace Express locations. According to her, one major deterrent seems
to be the owner’s religious beliefs related to the sale of alcoholic
beverages. In most markets, it’s hard to
compete if you can’t pick up that extra margin that comes from the sale of
adult beverages. Apparently, at least
one attempt to expand had already failed…
In any case, we liked
this group of restaurants enough that when we arrived in NW Arkansas at
lunchtime and we spotted our 2nd Marketplace location, this time a
Marketplace Express, we went for it a second time!
Again there is the
emphasis on fresh ingredients. This
version of Marketplace calls for the customers to place their order at the
register…find a table and then the food is delivered to your table when its
ready.
I took another shot at my version of ‘more’
healthy dining… This time I ordered the American Burger and for my side, I
chose the fresh fruit. ($6.99) The bun was toasted, the burger was flavorful
and juicy plus the fruit was actually ripe and very fresh!
Laurie went one better
on me…ordering a healthy Thai Crunch Salad. ($6.99) She really liked it with
her Cilantro-Lime dressing. The textures
and ingredients were first class…
We enjoyed both of our
dining experiences with the Marketplace restaurants. Service was pleasant and the restaurants were
very clean. Just a word to the owners of
the Marketplace group… There are lots of folks here in East Tennessee that don’t
drink or approve of it…and there are others, like Laurie and I, that would be
happy to forgo an adult beverage in exchange for a quality meal!
The Marketplace Grill in
Conway Arkansas is located at 600 Skyline Drive. Phone: 501-336-0070. The Marketplace Express in Rogers Arkansas
is at 3000 Pinnacle Hills Parkway.
Phone: 479-273-9110. For more
information on the Marketplace group of restaurants, just go to www.MarketPlaceGrill.com.
Just click on any photo
to enlarge it…
Thanks for stopping by
for a visit!
Take Care, Big Daddy
Dave
They have a pretty extensive menu but it's not cheap - I assume they can't be without the alcohol income. If they can survive on food revenue alone, I'd have to believe it's good eats.
ReplyDeletewow too many great choices--my husband would never be able to order--love it :)
ReplyDeleteDear Dave, It sounds like the food is good, or you would not have gone for a second time around.
ReplyDeleteThe fresh salad Laurie had sounds real good. Also, I like a hint of garlic in my mashed potatoes too.
I hope you both have a great day. Blessings, Catherine
That chicken fried steak looks and sounds marvelous, and I love garlic mashed potatoes. Rarely see chicken fried steak unless we go south. And the prices sound typical. Interesting with the alcohol issue. Down in Louisville last week, I devoured more than my share of hush puppies. It's a good thing they aren't here in any restaurant!!!!
ReplyDeleteyou give retirement a good name.
ReplyDeleteDave I love all the food and the Restaurant look awesome but I love the Pizza Margarita Laurie order look delicious:) I love all this cheese!
ReplyDeleteIm hungry! lol