9 benefits of Morning Workouts

DINING AT MARTELL’S (Revised)

Many K-college students may not be familiar with Martell’s, an upscale restaurant formerly known as Black Swan. It is a fine restaurant that combines a great atmosphere and an exquisite Italian-American cuisine. It is located in a secluded area which is about a 10 -15 minute drive from K-college, on Greenleaf Blvd, Parkview Hills. It is a restaurant, which specializes in home-style Italian and American cuisines and famous for its beautiful surroundings, ideal for diners who appreciate a natural setting. Through the large floor to ceiling glass windows of the dining room, diners are exposed to the beautiful view of green tress, grass and the pond which is a great feature of the restaurant, especially in the summer time, when it is graced with ducks splashing around.

Martell’s is crowded on Saturday nights, but this does not make parking an issue for clients. A friendly female receptionist immediately attends to clients with a greeting and a smile as they walk in, and she quickly checks for their reservation. The reception area décor consists of stonewalls, a tiled floor and a lot of soft green and brown colors and paintings hanging on the walls. There are also some dry flower arrangements, giving it a homey but elegant atmosphere. After confirming reservations, patrons are guided to their tables in the dining room or the outside patio. The dining room is carpeted, and warmed by a fireplace, with dim lighting, which gives it a kind of formal/ romantic atmosphere. The bar is small, has higher noise levels and even dimmer lighting compared to the rest of the restaurant.

The restaurant is usually filled with middle-aged clientele with very few small children sitting with parents at family dinner tables. Noise levels are usually at a minimum; allowing most diners to hold a conversation without being distracted by the music or chatter from the next table. There are some leather seats, which are connected through their spiraling design forming booths around tables, creating a cozy and private space for each table. There are also other regular detached tables and chairs set apart in a more formal way but equally comfy.

The menus are not very long but they are filled with a variety of great Italian choices such as Penne Formagio, Frutti di mare, penne Arrabiata, Parpaddelle and Italian chop salad. Some of their best appetizers include Caponata bruschetta, Crab cakes and chef’s selection antipasto platter. It is definitely a great place to get a taste of two different cultures especially for an international student. Martell’s also have quite a large selection of pizzas, sandwiches and burgers ranging from $8.95 -$14.50.

All entrees are served with pieces of Tuscan bread and dipping oil sprinkled with some green rosemary herb, served right before the waiters bring out the entrees. The friendly and attentive waiters replenish glasses of water every time the glasses are half full. The food is simply exquisite. Most of the dishes are just as tasty, original and as luscious as they look. Their $15.50 lemon chicken is an oven roasted; rustic marinated half chicken, served with crispy potatoes and sautéed spinach. The chicken’s original flavor, taste and aroma are still retained even tough it is sprinkled with rosemary spice. The only possible disappointment in this meal could be the bland taste and rough texture of the crispy potato cubes, which are not as crispy as they sound but rather look a little withered. For the same price, one can get the chicken Marsala, which is a sautéed chicken breast, covered with a creamy mushroom Marsala sauce, and served with buttermilk mashed potatoes with green beans. This meal is equally as delicious as the lemon chicken. The Marsala sauce is a bit too sweet and the chicken meat is not as soft as the lemon chicken. Luckily, there is a carving knife provided which can be used to overcome the challenge.

The presentation, color and texture of the foods are simply rich and mouth-watering. The vegetables are well cooked, the spinach is not too soft and the green beans are fresh and crispy, and just like the other food they also retain their original flavor, which is evidence enough that they are really fresh.

The prices are quite high for an average student especially on weekends when they do not have any specials. There was a Valentine’s Day special going at $44 per couple with a complete three-course meal. It is a great bargain compared to the cost of ordering each of the three meals separately but still high enough to affect a student’s wallet. Students can however be comforted to know that they can fully consume their money’s worth because waiters can package their remaining food in reusable containers for them to take back home or to the dorm.

Getting a reservation in advance would be recommended because it is a small restaurant, hence its can get pretty crowded. It offers a great dining experience, a place to have a private, comfortable, quiet and romantic dinner, perfect for a date or formal meeting. It may not be an ideal place a student can frequent or hang out with friends. But, it definitely passes for one of the places a K college student can visit once in a while to get out of the K-bubble and have a different experience.