The former No Neck Tony’s in Lake Elmo has found new life as Marma — a chef-driven restaurant that features a range of global cuisine.

Chefs Max Basaker and Marcus Clark, who worked together at Marx Fusion Bistro and Wine Bar, have remade the space, which had previously been a gas station, with new lighting, seating and a new color scheme and art.

The ribeye at Lake Elmo’s new Marma features a chimichurri sauce. (Courtesy of Marma)

The name Marma started as a portmanteau of the chefs’ first names, but when they were researching the name, they discovered that the word means “meeting place” or “essence” in Sanskrit, which seemed just about perfect.

The scratch-made menu ranges from Asian to Latin to a very American burger, and the chefs are aiming to please not just those looking for a date-night spot, but those who are just looking for a good, affordable sandwich.

“The menu is really fresh, really fun, with lots of bold flavors,” Clark said. “There’s not crazy amounts of spice, but we’re also not afraid of spice.”

Clark, who spent the past eight years working for The Velveteen and Wild Hare in Stillwater, said the building, which had only been No Neck Tony’s for three years, is nice and new and the staff is eager to provide the east metro with something new.

The restaurant seats 65 or 70 guests. There’s a full bar, with 10 original craft cocktails, and a patio when the weather warms.

Marma: 11127 Stillwater Blvd., Lake Elmo; marmamn.com

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