I'll keep it short. Marie's is the real deal. We've been eating here for years, since it was Palma's, and I can't even drive near Deming without stopping here, lunch or dinner. It's been years since my first discovery, and it tastes exactly the same...as the first time. How many restaurants can claim that kind of consistency?
As one of Italian descent from New Jersey who has worked extensively in the restauraunt industry, I've seen my fair share of italian eateries, so take that pseudo-authority for what it's worth: Marie's is legit.
My recommendations/my "usuals":
Start with the signature soup. Fair warning, a cup wont be enough, get the bowl.
Chicken Parm: perfect in every way, posssibly the best I've had anywhere.
Fettucine Alfredo: also some of the best anywhere. Velvety, rich, but balanced. (Add the chicken breast)
Perfect Meatballs....Gotta have a side of 'em regardless of my entree. And THE SAUCE is truly the hero. Anybody that had an Italian grandmother that referred to their marinara as "gravy", this will take you back. I hate to use the word twice, but "velvety" is exactly how I would descibe the marinara. Seasoned perfectly, sublime. Drinkable, in fact.
Honorable mention: the southwest chicken pasta, teh shrimp scampi, and the ribye alla porto (with or without requested bleu cheese crumbles) is very much worth the extra time it takes to prepare. Also fantastic spicy cheese ravioli appetizers.
Really though, it's hard to go wrong here.
The beer is always cold, the service is always friendly, and very cool original historic interior with intact bank vault doors and everything.
So it wasn't short, but, I think I made my point; Marie's rocks.More