Marco Polo Silverlake
The global pandemic has made an abundance of things clear for me, one of which is that I would like to spend a large portion of my life dining al fresco with my loved ones. Enjoying the company of friends and having good conversation over a delicious meal in the open air is perfection. I recently read a study that stated simple pleasures such as breaking bread with your loved ones increases your age of life.
Marco Polo is the restaurant located alongside Silver Lake Pool & Inn on Santa Monica Blvd. It’s half a block south of Silverlake’s hottest new club, Erewhon. It appears that a large portion of Marco Polo’s dining is alfresco which is delightful on most L.A. days. The striped umbrella-lined patio transforms the restaurant into what feels like a vacation destination, melting away the busy sights and sounds of the city. I appreciate an environment that can elevate my mood through its use of space and decor. Natural light beams through, making it an ideal choice for flawless selfies and food photography. This is the kind of place you’d want to enjoy an aprés midi cocktail, and I did.
It was a perfect 80º degrees when our lunch arrived at the table. We began with an array of multi-colored olives which were gleaming in olive oil, paired with a generous serving of Marcona almonds. For my entree, I veered toward a lighter order and selected a salad. There were 3 options available - cucumber, fennel, and baby kale - all were intriguing to me. I decided on the Cucumber Salad with avocado, mint, bottarga, and green goddess. When the server brought it to the table I was even more curious because I hadn’t seen a salad like it before! Although most of the ingredients are fairly standard, their combination appeared unique. Topped with a generous serving of vibrant yellow bottarga (salted, cured fish roe) raised it to the next level. I appreciate a nice sprinkle of fish eggs to give a dish the salty punch it needs. I’m returning to the restaurant simply off the strength of this salad.
The seasonal menu from Chef Casey Lane combines the rich tradition of coastal Italian cuisine with bountiful California ingredients. Hotel guests and neighbors are invited to enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch on the weekends, and daily Aperitivo Hour (4pm-6pm). [see more]
These days I am looking to be low-key while remaining surrounded by beauty, and Marco Polo offered me that kind of environment I have been searching for. Bucket hat, sipping my cappuccino alongside a nice slice of olive oil cake, catching up with a friend. The slow lifestyle suits me. I look forward to returning so that I can get a better understanding of the menu.
Location
Marco Polo
4141 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029, United States
Phone:+1 323 486 7176