June 2009

The words ‘family restaurant’ are enough to make most of us run away screaming and Marco’s, on the face of it, looks as hideous as most. Bright colours, faux-cheery staff, unimaginative menus, incongruous play equipment, Marco’s has the lot.

However, that’s exactly what a lot of parents want. And kids love it. The colours and décor are vibrant and the playcentre is safe and exciting for even young toddlers. But what makes Marco’s a sound choice for lunch with your offspring is the food.

Fresh ingredients are competently cooked in simple, satisfying meals such as the hugely satisfying carbonara and tasty pizzas. That shouldn’t need shouting about but, because you can’t mess around when it comes to your kids, and the paucity of other options out there, Marco’s deserves recognition as a family favourite.

Still, while they rule the roost over the array of fast food options that parents so regularly default to, those fresh ingredients and good cooking are no match for Marco’s Bangsar Village neighbours across the road, FitFor2. There’s a place which genuinely creates quality food with kids in mind. Marco’s is too contrived and simplistic to challenge for that mantle. It is also a little disconcerting that a clearly family outlet has the sub-title ‘Pizza, pasta, vino’. Two out of three isn’t bad, I suppose.

But, to the hundreds of kids who love it and look forward to eating there each week, that doesn’t matter. It’s up the parents to control what their children eat and making the right decisions about their diet can be tough. Especially when they throw a tantrum when you refuse them their third serving of Chicken McNuggets that day. Marco’s offers enough to set it alone and I’m not going to dissuade parents from choosing it over dining with Ronald the Clown or Colonel Sanders. Michelle Whytcross