I had been a frequent visitor to Marotta’s on Union Street in Downtown Schenectady and was shocked when I heard they were undergoing this change. I had a chance to see what they’re doing over there at RARE Craft Steak and Cocktail House now and of course, I had to order the steak.
/edit this restaurant has since closed.
If you’ve been when it was called Marotta’s, the layout isn’t much different. The beautiful open kitchen in the back, the bar laid out on the side and a patio up front viewing lower Union Street. With the already established wood pieces it was a perfect fit for a steakhouse.
As an appetizer, we had risotto poppers which were mozzarella & cherry pepper stuffed risotto balls with chipotle aioli ($10). I really enjoyed these. Split between the two of us, they weren’t too filling and altogether they weren’t too spicy either. Risotto is a hard thing to cook but the consistency of these were perfect, just sticky enough. For dinner, since we were at a steak house, we each order steak.
My boyfriend ordered the New York Strip ($33) and I ordered the Filet Mignon ($33). New York Strip is one of my favorite cuts but we didn’t want to get the same thing so we could try each other’s. We both ordered our steaks medium rare and it was perfect. On the filet, there was a beautiful crust on the outside. I did find parts of the outside a little more chewy than I would’ve liked but once I got to the heart of the filet, it melted in my mouth.
Their menu looks delicious, even if you’re not a steak eater. They have woodfired pizzas, salads, and I saw a butternut squash ravioli that was calling to me for next time. Also our server Hailee was amazing, very attentive, and helpful when we asked for recommendations. There’s more menu for me to try to I can’t wait to visit again!
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