Some Mother’s Day gifts come with a bow. Mine came with a reservation. My husband surprised me with dinner at Markette because he knew it had been sitting on my food bucket list. Yes, I keep one of those: a running list of restaurants I need to eat my way through, both near and far.
Markette had been on it for a while. A Black woman-owned European restaurant with a Caribbean twist, led by Chef India Doris, who won the Michelin Guide Northeast Young Chef Award. That combination — supporting a Black-owned business and eating well — is exactly the kind of night out I go looking for.
Why We Chose Markette
I know this post is landing months after the actual dinner. But a restaurant this good doesn’t stop being worth talking about just because the holiday passed; honestly, the food, the room, and the vibe feel the same in September as they did in May.
Quick Take
| 🍽️ Cuisine | Modern European with Caribbean influences |
| 📍 Location | 326 7th Avenue, Chelsea (28th & 7th) |
| 💰 Price Per Person | $30 and under, though cocktails and shared plates add up |
| 📅 Reservations Needed? | Yes, book via OpenTable or Resy, especially for weekends and holidays |
| 👩🏾❤️👨🏾 Best For | Date nights, milestone dinners, family celebrations |
| ⭐ Would I Return? | Yes, I still haven’t had the Wellfleets |
The Vibe Check
Chef India Doris trained at two Michelin-starred SAGA and Crown Shy before opening her own place, and you can feel that pedigree in the room without it feeling stiff. It’s lively, not hushed; good for a milestone dinner, good for date night, good for a family table that’s going to order a lot of food and talk over each other while doing it. There’s also The Argyle, a cocktail lounge right below the restaurant, if you want to extend the night. Dress code leans smart casual.
What to Order
Appetizers
We started with the cod fritters and hamachi crudo. If hamachi crudo is on a menu anywhere, my husband and I are ordering it, no exceptions. I had my heart set on the Wellfleets too, but they weren’t available that night. That’s my excuse to go back.
Related: Is Cuerno NYC Worth It? An Honest Review From My Daughter’s Birthday Dinner
Mains
I had the dorade, and the sauce is what made the dish for me. My husband loved the curried scallops with asparagus, coconut rice, and papaya salad.
My youngest had the grilled prawn with chili crunch. My oldest started with the braised oxtail before deciding at the very last minute that she also wanted the lamb and roti.
Drinks
The Hay Barbie, a mezcal-based cocktail with beet juice, was my pick, and I really enjoyed it. It had enough going on without being overly sweet. My youngest was into the Hay Skipper, while my oldest took one sip, politely declined, and then pivoted to a Shirley Temple. My husband went with the crémant, which I ended up enjoying too when they surprised me with a complimentary half glass. I definitely appreciated that little touch.
Portion Size & Value
Portions are built for sharing, which works in your favor if your table likes to order across the menu the way mine does. Between two starters, four mains, and a round of drinks, this isn’t a strictly $30-and-under night once everyone’s ordered what they want — but nothing we had felt priced ahead of what showed up on the plate.
Service Experience
One of the little moments that stuck with me actually happened after dinner. My oldest decided—at the very last minute—that she needed the lamb and roti, and somehow, in the middle of all the dinner chaos, they brought me a complimentary half glass of crémant.
It’s a small gesture, but I noticed it. There’s a difference between a restaurant simply getting the food out and a restaurant actually paying attention to the experience happening around the table. Those little touches make you feel seen—and they’re often what you remember after the meal is over.
Logistics That Matter
| Neighborhood | Chelsea, at 28th Street and 7th Avenue |
| Subway Access | Close to the 1 train at 28th St, walkable from the A/C/E at 23rd |
| Reservations | Book through OpenTable or Resy because this is a popular restaurant, especially on holidays |
| Hours | Open nightly for dinner |
| Noise Level | Lively, not quiet; a talk-over-your-food kind of room |
Is It Kid-Friendly?
Yes, with range. My youngest was fully on board all night. My oldest started skeptical — swapping her drink for a Shirley Temple — but came around enough to add a second entrée before we left. That’s about as honest a review as a kid can give a restaurant.
The Beauty in the Bump
Mother’s Day dinners have a way of turning into more than just a meal; this one was also about who I chose to spend my money with. My husband knew Markette had been sitting on my food bucket list, and he booked it without me asking, which is its own kind of love language at this point in our marriage. Supporting a Black woman chef who’s already collecting Michelin recognition felt like exactly the kind of night out that fits what this blog is supposed to be about: showing up for the people and places that deserve the spotlight, one table at a time.
Who This Restaurant Is Perfect For
- Millennial moms looking for a Black-owned restaurant that’s also one of Chelsea’s best new openings
- Couples who order the same appetizer every time no matter where they are
- Families who want a celebration dinner that doesn’t feel like a kids’ menu situation
- Anyone who wants Caribbean flavor built through a European technique lens
Not ideal for: a quiet, whisper-quiet date night; this room has energy.
A Good Reason to Come Back
Markette delivered a really good meal in a beautiful, intimate space, with enough interesting dishes that I left already knowing there’s more I want to try. The Caribbean influence adds a familiar-but-elevated touch without taking away from the European foundation. Between the dorade, curried scallops, hamachi crudo, and that Hay Barbie cocktail, there were definitely some standouts. The Wellfleets being unavailable just gives me another reason to return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Markette in NYC kid-friendly?
Yes. There’s no dedicated kids’ menu, but the food translates well for kids willing to try something new, and the restaurant welcomed our family without any awkwardness about it.
Is Markette Black-owned?
Yes. Markette is led by Chef India Doris, a Black woman chef and Michelin Guide Northeast Young Chef Award winner.
Do you need a reservation at Markette?
Yes, book ahead through OpenTable or Resy, especially for weekends and holidays.
What should I order at Markette?
The hamachi crudo, cod fritters, and dorade are standouts. The curried scallops and braised oxtail are also worth ordering if you’re at the table with people willing to share.
Where is Markette located?
326 7th Avenue in Chelsea, near 28th Street.