Martel Bistro - Fairfield

Best food in town. Great service from long term staff. Can get a little loud because it is not a large spot. I don't know where they get their fish, but I alway... read more Best food in town. Great service from long term staff. Can get a little loud because it is not a large spot. I don't know where they get their fish, but I always order the fish special. Has never disappointed!

I really wanted to like this place but its just not great. read more I really wanted to like this place but its just not great.

The food is really good in this quaint French bistro, and they don 't skimp on the liquor in the cocktails when you eventually get it. I had been so very please... read more The food is really good in this quaint French bistro, and they don 't skimp on the liquor in the cocktails when you eventually get it. I had been so very pleased to find that a French restaurant existed in my town, I just moved into the area two years ago, so I 'm still exploring my culinary options. That said, I prefer my meal without a side of attitude.On Saturday [May 13] night, my sister and I decided to give Martel a try. We waited at the bar, and we were the only two people standing there while the others were seated and already served. The bartender Natasha did not acknowledge our presence, though she saw us. A gentleman came up to the bar, and she immediately asked him what he wanted to order. I let her know that we had been waiting to be served. He apologized for skipping over us. She didn 't.I don 't know if he was flustered because it was busy, but the big, tall gentleman whom I suspect is the owner displayed a brusque, impatient, and unwelcoming manner.We were fortunate enough to be seated next to friends, the only pleasant thing that happened there as we proceeded to wait for 15/20 minutes. When a wait staff member came to clear up their crusted dishes, we asked if she would be serving us. She looked her nose down and smirked a sarcastic no at me.Finally, our server Esteban came along. The first thing out of his mouth was not Hi, my name is Estaban. I 'll be.... . It was I came to ask for your order but you were talking. He did not. The place is so small, we couldn 't have missed him coming to the table. Not for nothing, he was wearing a mohawk. How could I have missed THAT?We ran out of water, and he didn 't refill until we waved him down. I wanted another drink, but since he didn 't return to check on our progress, I never got to ask. I got the bill, and that was it.It seemed like the place was filled with regulars, I had hoped to become a regular, however I 'll chose to spend my money where I am respected, not suffered.

I had a delightful experience at this quaint little restaurant during a work dinner with a group. Everyone was pleased with their meals, and I was too! Unfortun... read more I had a delightful experience at this quaint little restaurant during a work dinner with a group. Everyone was pleased with their meals, and I was too! Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to check out their wine selection, but I will definitely prioritize that on my next visit. We picked this place for its French-American theme, and the prices were very reasonable. We spent less than $300 for a party of eight, and we didn’t go overboard on the food.

The food was absolutely delightful—truly exceptional! The bistro ambiance was lovely, and the service was top-notch. I had the Romaine Salad and the Brisket spe... read more The food was absolutely delightful—truly exceptional! The bistro ambiance was lovely, and the service was top-notch. I had the Romaine Salad and the Brisket special, and the brisket was fantastic—tender and bursting with flavor, served with caramelized onions and carrots alongside mashed potatoes. My niece chose the salmon on pea risotto, which she felt was a bit lackluster. On the other hand, my parents are big fans of the Coquille Saint Jacques, escargot, and panna cotta, which they order regularly. And the beignets? They are simply extraordinary! I highly recommend paying a visit to enjoy a wonderful evening!