We went here for lunch after a service. Very accommodating staff. The service and food were terrific. Highly recommended. read more

Went here for my birthday with a few of my friends. The food, decor and ambiance are top notch. Feels high end and casual at the same time. Accordion player was a nice touch. The place wasn't very busy and our waiter was more preoccupied with another table, a large family. I understand, but I waited 15 minutes after our table was cleared before we got to dessert and espresso. Then he seemingly forgot about it for another ten minutes. I get it--you assume because it's three guys in their forties that were more easygoing and not going to care. But we're also going to tip better than the big family. Why ignore us? There was only six parties sitting the entire time we were there. Don't assume we aren't in a rush. Be prompt. Other than that, I love this place. The prices are still very good, which is rare post-COVID. read more

Absolutely Mario's - An Absolute Failure We took my dad to dinner here for his birthday, and the entire night was completely ruined. We had 6:00 pm reservations for a party of 10. Appetizers did not arrive until 7:40 pm, an hour and a half later. In those 90 minutes, we were served only two rounds of drinks. Dinner didn't come out until 8:30 pm, which is unacceptable by any standard. When the food finally arrived, some of the entrees were wrong, and the sides came out 20 minutes after the main courses. After waiting hours, they couldn't even get the orders right. We repeatedly asked to speak with the manager or owner. When he finally came over, his solution was to offer free coffee and dessert, an insulting response to what had already been a ruined evening. After reading other reviews, it's clear this is their standard response to major service failures, which speaks volumes about the lack of accountability at this restaurant. We clearly stated we were only paying for drinks, appetizers, and the single edible meal my mom was able to eat. Despite this, the owner attempted to charge us $600 for food we did not eat. When asked if we wanted the food wrapped to take home, we said absolutely not and reiterated that we were not paying for it. Things became even more inappropriate when we were pressured to pay half the bill in cash instead of by credit card. We ultimately paid half the bill while being treated rudely and dismissively by the owner. As we were leaving, after completely ruining my dad's birthday dinner, they somehow thought it was appropriate to have someone sing "Happy Birthday" to him, accompanied by an accordion, as we walked out the door. It was awkward, tone deaf, and deeply inappropriate given how the night had gone. This wasn't just bad service. It was grossly mismanaged, unprofessional, and disrespectful. What should have been a celebration turned into an exhausting and embarrassing ordeal. If you value your time, your money, or the people you're celebrating, do not come here. Absolutely Mario's is not worth the risk. Not even worth one star. read more

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The food seems pricey, but you're getting a large portion for what you spend!! Unless you're super super hungry, entrees can definitely be shareable!! The service here is very good and professional, and they were very attentive and caring. The food is great!! read more

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This place is a hidden gem. How come I never heard of it. I went to a celebration of life for a coworker's father. The service is impeccable. The food delicious with good portions. I'll be back for sure read more

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Service was great and friendly, prices on higher side, needs new decor especially restrooms. Need to improve sorry read more

Very authentic Italian restaurant, rustic interior, servers who speak Italian, and the food is great! Decent price for the portions. I ordered the Chicken Semifreddo as a 'lighter' option and it was delicious. Went as a party of 8 and our server was still very attentive, friendly the entire time, and didn't skip a beat with our larger group. read more

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Absolutely delicious!! Wonderful food, professional and friendly service....we'll definitely be back. We were greeted by a nice hostess, attentively waited on by a superb waitstaff and thanked by the owner for coming in. The food was excellent. My wife had a very nice size house salad with a good mix of everything. I had the very good seafood bisque...one of the best I've had. My veal bravo was very flavorful and my wife's chicken dish was excellent as well. We finished off with a shared napoleon, homemade and flaky. Absolutely worth visiting!!! read more

Very nice place, went for a girls night 5 of us, seated when arrived. Food was great, service was great, would definitely recommend. Only thing which I think is a GOOD thing the bathroom was clean but very very COLD. read more

The service was fantastic. Asked the waiter to serve us the most authentic Italian meal and he delivered. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. If you're craving Italian food, visit Absolutely Mario. read more

Absolutely Mario - Muscles - Italian Near Me - Farmingdale, New York

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This is an outstanding restaurant...truly a hidden gem. The inside of the restaurant is gorgeous and the food is of the highest quality. I attended a Celebration of Life there on March 21st, 2026, and the staff and chefs really made the event memorable. Everything served was absolutely perfect. I had the Filet of Sole & Shrimp Oreganata, and I can say that it is simply not possible to have prepared that dish any better than it was. Thoroughly cooked but not even the tiniest hint of dryness, lightly breaded and with a white wine sauce that I will never forget. All accompanying side dishes and appetizers were wonderful, as well, but that fish was world class. The waiters were ever-present, attending to everyone's needs, and the main courses for about 30 people were ready without delay. That is a very hard task to accomplish without ruining something, but they did it and with style. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. If you want a truly authentic experience with outstanding food and service without breaking the bank, please make a reservation here as soon as possible. You won't be just satisfied - you'll be thrilled with your dining experience from the moment you walk in until the moment you drive away. Outstanding! read more

Really good Italian! We were in the area from out of town and stopped in for dinner. Very good meal, excellent service, and cool decor. I had their chicken cutlet parm with eggplant on it (forget the name on the menu) and it was very tasty. My wife had their chicken Francese and she loved it. They have some draft beer and a nice wine selection, too. Well worth stopping in for a meal. read more

Highly recommend! Food, staff , service and the owner were incredible. Food was awesome! I had the absolutely seafood and I felt like I went to heaven it was that good. My son and his wife had chicken parm and my wife had the eggplant rollintini and they said it was excellent. Can't wait to go back again. read more

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What a wonderful dining experience! This is truly a hidden gem. From the ambiance and the service to the delicious food, this restaurant gets 5 stars Great food choices, plus accommodations for special diets. Can't wait to go back!!! read more

First time there. From the start to end it was a great experience. Made reservations with Mario who was very accommodating and made sure we had enough room for a twin stroller. Started off with a nice selection of bread at the table. Our server was excellent. Food was great. The pacing of the meal was fantastic unlike many restaurants today which seem to rush you out so they can get the next table in. Accordion music player moved from table to table. All the staff was well trained and accommodating. A fantastic experience overall. read more

Absolutely Mario - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Farmingdale, New York

4 yums We were seated promptly and the server greeted us warmly. Our water glasses were filled and warm crispy bread was put on the table. The atmosphere is cozy. Our server suggested a delicious bottle of red wine. We started with the mozzarella bread which was so crispy and flavorful and the Caesar salad which was cold crisp and had a slight taste of lemon which I enjoyed We had the veal parmigiana which was so tender flavorful and served hot and cheesy. My husband had the seafood Mario which I tasted. The seafood was delicate and delicious. Amazing two dishes. We have been here before and we will be back! We highly recommend her read more

Absolutely Mario - Italian Near Me - Farmingdale, New York

Omg 7:30 reservations served at 10:30 When we sat down no silverware, after 20 mins had to ask for a menu. Had no designated waiter and finally got our food 2 and a half hours later because I asked to get the check I wanted to leave . I was done waiting 2.5 hours for our entrees. The entire dinning room was complaining. Over booked and not prepared. People were leaving before the food came out read more

Don't judge a book by its cover, once inside you will be treated to a great meal with great service. Portions are big and the food is delicious. We were served by Diego who was great and the prices are reasonable.. Definitely recommend. read more

I came to Absolutely Mario after a movie a few weeks ago. The environment is very quaint inside and rustic feeling. We really liked how cozy it felt. Very old school vibes. Overall, the food was good, not great. I had the chicken semifreddo and the chicken was a bit tough and soggy which was disappointing. They have an extensive drink menu and to our surprise the drinks came out to $10 each. Overall, we enjoyed the ambiance, extremely friendly staff, and the great drink prices. Flash forward to yesterday. We came back to the restaurant excited to try more items. The food was all good (except one of us had Chilean Seabass which was extremely fishy) but to our shock, the drinks came out to $20 EACH this time. I've ventured to many restaurants in Long Island and the only ones I have seen with prices like this are the high end steak houses like Prime, Tellers, etc. Keep in mind, this restaurant is located in Farmingdale off the beaten path across from a U-Haul facility. We could not believe a quaint little family owned Italian restaurant would charge $20 a drink. When we told our waitress that we paid $10 a drink our first visit, she said "$10 a drink? No way you paid that. I've never been to a restaurant in Long Island with drinks less than $20." Meanwhile she was our waitress our first visit too. They had our business for the foreseeable future, but after the apparent mistake of charging $10 a drink our first visit and now getting blindsided by $20 a drink our second visit, we sadly won't be returning. While the owner Mario and staff are all very nice, they need to take a step back and re-evaluate what type of restaurant they are, their location, and their clientele. read more

Food, service and atmosphere were fantastic. Ask for the best waiter Tulio. Party of 10 treated like it was a personal date.

The best Italian food in town thr service is excellent, delicious food and great drinks

Just stellar food, service, welcoming family ambiance no matter how long between each visit. Wish I lived closer, I would go often! Prices are very reasonable, too! Be sure to save room for dessert! Everything is soooo yummy! read more

Stay away. Located in an isolated industrial area with mediocre food and crazy high prices. Much better choices when you have to lay out $375 for three people read more

Delicious food, classical and friendly ambience. Great service will definitely return for another meal thank you.

Don't go for dinner if you have plans afterward. Took 3 hours from the time we were seated until we left. The place was packed. Maybe some more wait staff would help. Service is so slow. Twenty minutes to just get a drink ordered. Food was meh. read more

One of my favorite Italian restaurants. Staff is top notch!! They are so friendly and attentive. The food is amazing.

Food is superb. Casual, rustic setting, perfect casual traditional Italian meal! Will definitely be returning worth the trip

The best!!! Love this place have been coming for many years. Mozzarella Mariusco (CRACK!!!!), all the classics are made perfect here, chicken parm, raviolis, chicken and fish fran. They never miss. read more

Food was terrible-baked clams were large, tasteless and inedible. Nothing to do with real clams oreganata. Three people ordered some version of chicken. All we're rubbery - maybe microwaved to defrost first? Luckily there was Frank, a talented accordionist who played any song requested. A great guy and a very good player. If you go, have a drink and listen to the music. Service was great, ambiance is lots of wood and somewhat rustic. We would only go back to hear Frank. read more

Nobody puts baby veal in the corner! Hey Mario I dont see Veal Sorrentino on the menu can you make it for me!? Absolutely he said! Thats always going to be the answer at Absolutely Mario restaurant in Farmingdale! Pound for pound Mario is the nicest most accommodating restaurant owner I ever met & great entrees too the veal & chicken dishes are my favorite! read more

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They did a great job taking care of our party of 30 people. The food is excellent and the service is something special because this is a team of people who truly care about customer service. Mario himself is a terrific host who makes sure everyone feels catered to and appreciated. read more

I took my fiance to Absolutely Mario last night for his birthday after seeing reviews in this group and also as a recommendation from a friend and it definitely one of the best meals I've had. Our waiter, James, was so personable and friendly. We ordered a garden salad which had a delicious, creamy Italian dressing. I had the Veal Bravo and he had the chicken parm. James even included a side of pasta for the both of us free of charge. It was the perfect amount of food and so so good. For dessert, we had the homemade Raspberry cheesecake and it was a huge piece. James, Mario himself and the other waiter/bartender (didn't get his name) came over and sang Happy Birthday. The service, food and atmosphere just made it the perfect dining experience. We both said we can't wait to go back. read more

Absolutely Mario - Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - Farmingdale, New York

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Went for lunch about a month ago. Excellent service, and the answer to my request for something a little off-menu was "absolutely". The Veal Sorrentino was very good but serving could have been larger. The clam appetizer was good, if a little different. The coffee and sorbet were acceptable. Nice ambiance...not my favorite place, but I will return. read more

My wife and I walked into Absolutely Mario's Restaurant to hear a family compliment Mario as they were leaving. We sat down and first noticed the clean and shiny silverware and the warm inviting ambiance. Mario came over and I mentioned his restaurant came highly recommended. Our wine arrived and the glasses were spotless. We knew we were in for a treat. We thoroughly enjoyed the BAKED CLAMS OREGANATTA, but when we tasted the SEAFOOD BISQUE, OMG it was to die for. Mario must have heard us because he came over to check on our experience. He is very in tune with his customers as are his waitstaff. We were delighted. Shirley ordered CHICKEN PARMIGIANO lightly breaded in a traditional tomato sauce & mozzarella and I had CAPELLINI GAMBERETTO angel hair with chopped clams & shrimp in a light red sauce. Everything was perfect. It's the reason you go out to eat a meal in a restaurant. We didn't want to leave, so we ordered cappuccinos and Mario offered us an after diner drink. We really fell in love with this place. A friend had told me he loved it over a year ago and I only wish we had come sooner. The funny thing is as we were leaving we were telling Mario and his wife what a wonderful experience we had when another group of people arrived. And so it began again. We will be back ABSOLUTELY MARIO! read more

Absolutely Mario - Mario and his wife Maria, Absolutely Perfect - Italian Near Me - Farmingdale, New York

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Absolutely Mario sis your classic Long Island Italian restaurant. All of their dishes are delicious and I really love the old school ambiance. I highly recommend coming out for an elevated lunch or nice dinner. Their specials are worth opting for. Today I had their fish special (in photo) and it did not disappoint! read more

Absolutely Mario - Filet of sol special - Italian Near Me - Farmingdale, New York

Cozy place and the food is pretty good. My favorite is the seafood bisque, outstanding. Mario, the owner is very friendly and welcoming. read more

Food was amazing. The staff was beyond friendly. It's very cozy. Of course Mario is awesome and is on top of everything. We will be coming back read more

Loved it here great service! Def recommend it Penna with grilled chicken :) Bar area is littt read more

Absolutely Mario - Penna alla vodka with grilled chicken - Italian Near Me - Farmingdale, New York

Absolutely! Many years I've been coming here and love to hear the owner Mario say, "absolutely". Never an issue with service or food, which is top of the line. A pleasure to come here all the time, and when we have people visiting from out of town, this is where we bring them. "Mario, is our table ready?" "Absolutely!" He's the best, and the restaurant is the one we go to when we don't want to hear noisy people talking loudly instead of eating. Don't get me wrong, I can get pretty loud myself, but the place is spacious, the atmosphere is relaxed, a great place for a great meal. Their going to have to eventually put our names on the chairs, enjoy, eat good, oh, and the bar, yeah, really good! read more

This place was amazing. The food and service was absolutely perfect! I cannot wait to come back to this place- authentic Italian food!!!!