Order the soup of the day and it still takes 20 minutes for it to arrive. But the owners of the new Martin's on Eighth are serious about their service and are ready to give you a good three-course lunch and still have you back to the office in an hour. And it is pretty good food too. A kind of cross between the light and fresh California salads with tasty vinaigrettes and the chop house rib-eyes and porkloins, Martin s serves a nice mix of food for a broad clientele. At decent prices too.
Portions are large and desserts are hearty too.
Martin s biggest obstacle is the space itself. At 121 - 8th Avenue SW it is the former Criterion location. A beautiful room but a bit cavernous. The Criterion alternately confused and irritated customers with its charmless white decor and frequently changing food concepts. Martin s has warmed up the space with natural wood and earth tones but it could still use some softening.