An excerpt from the article "Love the Nightlife - Downtown Saugatuck" run in the Fall 2004 issue of LAKE Magazine says it best.
Immediately , we can just tell it's the place to be. Maybe it's the neon sign on the corner of the building, the smell of pizza wafting from the front door, the faint sounds that hint at the thumping rhythm on the dance floor -- or maybe it's the cute blond guy taking the three-dollar cover charge. We make our way into the restaurant-turned-dance-party with hard hitting grooves as our entrance music.
Naturally, martinis are a big deal here, especially the chocolate-flavored kind and a mixture of rum, triple sec and pineapple juice known as the Lucky Charm. "All of our drinks have a three-pour," manager John Benson says. "People come here because they get a good value." For patrons looking for something a bit more filling, excellent thin-crust pizza is available until Marro's closes at 2 a.m. Not only is it the most popular carry-out item in town, but it may be the best reason to excuse oneself from mingling.
Judging by the flow of the crowd, the premium spot at Marro's is the dance floor. Each Saturday (and Sundays of three-day weekends and pre-holiday evenings), the dining room is transformed into the hottest party in town. As the dinner crowd dwindles at 10:30 p.m., deejays spin music that ranges from Copacabana to "Little Jon's" latest until closing. The dancers (ranging from just-legal barhopping age to, well, not so young) are whipped into a bigger frenzy with each song. "I think it's popular because our deejay plays what people want to hear," Benson says."We play all kinds of music, from the '50s to modern-day hip-hop and rap." As the opening chords of "You Shook Me All Night Long" drift across the restaurant, he adds, "And AC/DC." Greg Nash of Holland, a regular on the scene, agrees. "The music is great here," he says. "Good dancing music."
The location of this weekly dance party doesn't hurt, either. Tables in the dining room give patrons great views of the Saugatuck waterfront across the street. "You can see somewhat of a sunset and watch the boating activity." Koczwara says. Patrons agree that Marro's is the area's place to see and be seen, whether looking for "hot chicks" ( in the words of Dave Mielke, a regular from Holland), or just mingling with out-of-towners. "Everyone who goes here is so friendly," says Mary Jo Nash, also of Holland. "There's no tension." Marro's Italian Restaurant ( 147 Water St, 269-857-4248 )
All content © copyright 2005 Marros Restaurant