We took an uber from Times Square to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx for a change in scenery. We decided on Mario's for lunch. It was Thursday and not crowded at all. The calamari was wonderful. We tried the Spiedini alla Roman .... It was not for us.... Too much anchovy flavor. The French onion soup was hot and delicious.... The pasta was cooked perfectly. The tiramisu was good and the pistachio truffle was pistachio ice cream with a chocolate covering. The service was attentive and I loved how they delivered the food to the table on a cart. The food was good and I was glad to see the area but it was a long ride from midtown .... read more

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Went there for legit Italian experience and it didnot disappoint!! The ambiance is really nice and service is top notch. Food is authentic and prices are so reasonable. One of the best dinning experiences. Loved their pasta and chicken. Will defo go back! read more

Mario's - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

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Mario's sits on Arthur Avenue, which is the Bronx's answer to the eternal question, "What if every other restaurant in one neighborhood was Italian, and all of them claimed to be the best?" In such a place, competition is not just steep. It is vertical. You need climbing gear to order an appetizer. This was stop number three on Scott's Pizza Bus, which is exactly what it sounds like. The owner, Regina, came out to meet us. She carried with her the ghosts of Mario's past and a framed copy of the menu from 1940. It looked like something you would find in a museum, which is fitting, since Mario's itself feels like an exhibit. For decades the restaurant tried to reinvent itself as something more than a pizzeria. At one point pizza was demoted to appetizer status. Then in the early 2010s, pizza disappeared from the menu altogether. Still, the insiders knew to whisper their desires to the servers and the ovens would obey. COVID changed everything. Dining in was gone. Pizza was salvation. It was brought back to the forefront, not because of nostalgia, but because survival is a hungry business. Our group was presented slices. It was crisp and crunchy, like it wanted to remind you it had been through fire. The sauce was thin and a little salty. The cheese was low-moisture mozzarella, but sliced instead of shredded, which gave it a strange and distinctive texture. Not bad strange. Just strange. All in all, it was a decent slice. If Mario's were down the block from me, I would be a repeat customer. But it isn't. It is up in the Bronx, surrounded by other restaurants, each of them promising history and sauce. I will not be making a pilgrimage back just for the pizza. Four stars, because history counts, and Regina's framed menu deserves one star all by itself. read more

Mario's - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

I had to take away one star for lack of seasoning everything needed salt which was slightly annoying! However my mom's dish was perfect and I lovedddd the Cesar salad you can tell the dressing is made in house. My clams also weren't that fresh had a funky taste I could finished them, we also loved the bread we got 2 round. The service was great we were ah party of 5 and we didn't need for anything just napkins lol. This place is ah family style place quiet and quaint however it was packed on ah Saturday tables full people enjoying themselves. The drinks were also good the pear martini was my fave but it's not pictured. read more

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Fun time in a place you might feel like you're on vacation with friends and good people-watching but can't possibly be the best option on Arthur Ave. Everything was just OKAY minus the bread. OMG the bread! Do yourselves a favor and get wine, bread and split one decent enough dish. Friendly staff but hard to hear anything in there. read more

Mario's - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

The people here are incredibly friendly! They went above and beyond to help us choose the perfect dishes for what we were craving--penne alla vodka and a baked pasta with chicken. We started with a mozzarella caprese appetizer, which was so fresh and flavorful that it set the tone for the rest of the meal. The meal also came with warm bread served alongside olive oil, and when I mentioned wanting crushed red pepper, they even brought out a spicy version of the olive oil, which was a really thoughtful touch. Both were absolutely delicious, and we couldn't get enough of the bread! When our entrees arrived, we enjoyed them in a beautifully calming dining room that felt refreshingly spacious for the city--no cramped tables here! It was the perfect atmosphere to unwind and enjoy our meal. At one point, my friend accidentally spilled pasta sauce on his shirt, and I jokingly said out loud, "If only I had club soda right now." To our surprise, someone quickly appeared with a napkin and club soda to help us out--it was such a kind and unexpected gesture! This place truly exceeded our expectations, and I had an amazing lunch here. read more

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This is a restaurant that deserves more than 5 stars in my opinion the chef is a world renowned cook very professional and his food is just amazing the best meat balls I ever had seriously the owner is such a beautiful nice woman the restaurant is decorative and the staff is very professional I would definitely come back again and again to this restaurant definitely worth the trip if your visiting New York come to Arthur ave it's worth it it's the organic little Italy read more

Hands down the worst dining experience I've had. We went to Mario's on our way to the NYBG and were all looking forward to having an excellent Italian dinner. What a major disappointment. I could have bounced the rubbery salmon on the floor, the string beans were inedible, and I was left with a disgusting aftertaste that lingered all night. I couldn't wait to get home to brush my teeth. The place was empty on a Friday night while the restaurant across the street was packed -- now I know why. Service was a joke: we asked for separate checks and were told food would come out at different times, and it did. One friend waited 15 minutes after we'd all finished, only to be served raw filet of sole. Absolutely disgusting. Do yourself a favor and eat somewhere else! read more

Absolutely one of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever had. Mario's is a masterclass in how not to run a restaurant. Service was beyond terrible -- our server practically vanished after taking our order. Drink refills? Forget it. We sat there with empty glasses like we were invisible, wondering if anyone working there actually cared. Now for the real joke: it took TWO HOURS for our food to come out. TWO. HOURS. Meanwhile, tables that showed up well after us were served, ate, paid, and left. No explanation. No apology. No acknowledgment that this was completely unacceptable. Just silence and indifference. At that point, it didn't even matter how the food tasted -- the experience was already ruined. If a restaurant can't handle basic service or food timing, it has no business being open. If you enjoy being ignored, waiting endlessly, and feeling like your time doesn't matter, Mario's might be for you. Everyone else should stay far away. read more

A table for 2 Ordered a French onion soup, penne a la vodka, and Rigatoni a la vodka fra diavolo, a glass of pinot grigio and montepulciano Our bread was on the table quickly and server took our order and brought our wine in a timely fashion. The French onion soup was fantastic, tasty and umami. It took a little time, but when the pasta dishes came out, they were exquisite and our plates were clean in the end. A place to check out if you come to Arthur Ave. read more

Mario's - Penne a la vodka - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

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Not too bad, but had higher expectation since Mario's had such a long legacy. The ravioli tasted a bit hard at edges and I noticed some part were still hard (not fully cooked or maybe defrosted? I'm not an expert) Workers weren't rlly friendly when we were waiting to be seated. We had to flag down many workers for them to tell us to wait for the host. Overall, service was good but not worth the trek that we made just to get to Bronx little Italy read more

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Mario's on Arthur Ave. in the Bronx has lasted the test of time. The Great Depression, WW II, and Covid, they must be doing something right. Could it be the romantic atmosphere, the pleasant music that isn't so loud that you can't hear across the table, the cloth napkins and table cloths, or the attentive service, that your water glass never runs dry? It's the Old School attention to details that makes a difference. That's all nice, but it's the food and the menu that are the stars of the show. The meal begins with freshly toasted bread a small carafe of oil and wrapped pats of butter. The mussels cozze are perfectly prepared. Enough for two people. She opted for the spinach with garlic and oil as a side dish. Delicious. The stuffed shells with a Bolognese sauce was very good. The only thing missing was a little parsley mixed in the ricotta filling. Yelpers can receive a glass of house wine, on the house. We used to come here more frequently, when we were still in the Bronx. It holds a lot of happy memories and the dining experience. read more

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My go to Arthur avenue restaurant for Italian food great to go there before a Yankee game or after. Call your staple type Italian dinners and lunch of course. read more

Mario's - Sorentina Gnocchi awesome - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

For the price unless you are getting a pasta dish the portions are tiny. That being said the food is still yummy. I had the shrimp fra davlo, my mom the salmon but my sons penne Alfredo was bomb. read more

We were told Enzo's would be an hour wait, so we walked down the block and went to Mario's. The singer they had took all of our requests and entertained the whole family, and the food was fantastic! Highly recommend :) read more

Food was amazing, service was amazing, Highly recommend when in the Bronx area family has been going there for over 50 years read more

Mario's - Fettuccine on the right vodka Sauce - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

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A true Arthur ave restaurant. Spacious comfortable atmosphere. An awesome menu with something for everyone. The sauce was amazing and the portions were large. I had the best canolli ever. They have a parking lot around the corner and it's free if you get your ticket validated. read more

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Great old school Italian restaurant in the Real Little Italy" on Arthur Ave in the Bronx! Next to great bakeries and pork stores and the Arthur Ave Market. Great place to go after a day at the Bronx Zoo or Botanical Gardens. read more

At our table of 7, the last dinner was served 20 minutes after the first. The salmon was overcooked, the filet of sole was undercooked and had to be returned to be finished, the vegetables were inedible, the lettuce in the salad was brown, and the pasta was not drained properly so the sauce became tasteless. In short, AWFUL!!! read more

Stopped in for lunch this week- party of 4. Very busy since most other places on the Avenue were closed - maybe for the 4th? Seated quickly but it went down hill from there. Took almost an hour to get our appetizers, then - guess what - entrees came out while we were still on the apps. Table overflowed with plates. Plus side - apps were good - burrata and clams oreginatta. Entrees were just ok. Maybe our expectations were too high for a place that opened in 1919. I expected more on Arthur Ave. read more

Great spot for the family. It was Saturday at about 2 pm, not super busy yet. The table is served warm sesame bread accompanied with your choice of olive oil or butter. Of course, I dipped my bread in oil. Also, a pickled carrot salad it was good. The staff is very friendly. Our server Manny he was so funny. He made the experience worth it. We were a party of 6, and i appreciate that they did not do an automatic gratuity charge. I like it when establishments allow you to tip not force you into it. I ordered the veal saltimbuco, and it was cooked nice and tender.for my side I had the potato croquet. It was just ok. I tried a slice of pizza that one of my aunts ordered, which was thin crust. Good sauce it was yummy. I'd come back here. Some of the perks are right around the corner they have free parking available, and they have some seating out front if you would like to dine outside. read more

Mario's - Veal Saltimbocca - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

Pleasant service, nice atmosphere. Food was not up to the old Arthur Ave standards. The chicken in Scarp. Was overcooked and dry. read more

Mario's Restaurant is an Italian restaurant that opened in the Bronx's "Little Italy" in 1919. Although many think of Manhattan's Mulberry Street when they hear the term "Little Italy", the Bronx's Arthur Avenue and surrounding area is an even older Italian-American enclave. The restaurant was founded by the Migliucci family. Mario Migliucci left his home in Naples, Italy in the 1890s after his hand was blown off by fireworks. Ashamed of his disfigurement, he relocated to Cairo, Egypt with his wife Scolastica and son Giuseppe. They opened the first Italian restaurant in Egypt. Giuseppe later married and returned the family to Italy. In 1913, the family emigrated to New York City where they opened 'G Migliucci': a pizzeria with just six tables. Giuseppe's son (also named Mario) worked at the restaurant after school selling pizza slices for a nickel. Little Mario eventually took over the restaurant with his brother Clemente in the 1930s, and the name was changed to "Mario's". The pizzeria morphed into a white-cloth, fine-dining Italian restaurant. Little Mario's son Joseph Migliucci ran the restaurant for several years until he passed away from COVID-19 in 2020. His daughter Regina Migliucci-Delfino has since taken over the business. Any fan of "The Godfather" will be familiar with the famous restaurant scene where Michael Corleone shoots Salozzo and Capt. McCluskey at the dinner table, with a gun that was planted in the bathroom for him. Author Mario Puzzo had Mario's in mind when he wrote the scene. Director Francis Ford Coppola wanted to film the iconic scene at Mario's Restaurant, but Mario Migliucci turned him down saying, "I want my restaurant known for its food, not for a fictional murder." Thirty years later, Mario's was filmed for an episode of "The Sopranos". I recently visited Mario's with my family after we went to see the Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo. We had previously visited Mario's and ordered some of their delicious Italian entrees. This time, however, we intended to try some of their pizza. Until recently, the pizza wasn't even listed on their menu; you had to ask for it. We decided to order a large "Margherita" and a large "Sausage & Peppers" pie. This pizza was fantastic! The sauce and toppings were great, but what really stuck out for me was the crust. The pizza was cooked in a gas oven, but I would swear it was cooked in a brick oven. The crust was so crispy and flavorful; almost like crispy Italian bread. To drink, I ordered a "Black Manhattan" (Redemption High Rye Bourbon, Averna Amaro, Cherry Bitters) and my sister-in-law ordered a "Pomegranate Martini" (Pama Pomegranate Liqueur, Effen Yuzu Citrus Vodka and Triple Sec). We had a great meal and were serenaded by the sweet sounds of local singer Joey Tribuzio as we dined. I would go ahead and call Mario's pizza the best pizza in the Bronx! We look forward to coming back again and again! read more

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We decided to go to Mario's Italian Restaurant on Arthur Avenue and it was a good choice. The joint has been here for many, many years. A lot of history here. Been here a couple times before and it was a good experience. The hostess I believe is the late owners Daughter and she was very warm and friendly. Mario's has an old-world and vintage feel to it...but that's what we find charming. We were taken to our seats quickly and the waiter was accommodating and friendly. Our appetizers consisted of a dish of fried calamari, a dish of clams oreganata and a small margarita pizza. All was delicious. They had plenty of wines to choose from. Italian and non-Italian...and we ordered our share of wine. Our main course consisted of a dish of linguini with white clam sauce, chicken scarpariello (and the portion was a nice size),and a dish of the old stand-by...veal parm. It was all excellent. Kudos to the chef. We ordered a side of broccoli rabe with oil and garlic...and it tasted great. Also...on the table they give you a small bowl of sliced carrots with their homemade olive oil and it was tasty. Also...plenty of bread on the table (I'm sure it comes right from Arthur Avenue). The parking can be a little rough on Arthur Avenue...but they do have a parking lot around the corner, so that was a help. Anyway...if you're ever on Arthur Avenue, stop in. I think you'll enjoy it. BTW...order yourself a cappuccino. They do it right! read more

Not our first trip to Mario's. While we knew we were having other dishes we had to start with pizza. Tasty, crackling crust with yummy sauce and mozzarella. It's a lot like New Haven or Colony pizza for CT folks. Such a great balance. So good! The EVOO with warm bread was excellent. I was going to ask where I could get the oil it was so good. I had the hot antipasto as my entree to get a big mix. The clams oreganato were great. As were the mussels and shrimp. The eggplant and stuffed pepper were very good but covered and smothered in tomato sauce. While it's a very good sauce It hid some of the flavors going on. A little less and it would have been perfect. Another person in the party had the fried calamari and it was cooked perfectly. The lasagna suffered from the same dousing in sauce, or this would have been another 5 star review for Mario's. read more

Mario's - Wonderfully balanced pizza - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

Super traditional old fashioned restaurant in the heart of Little Italy. Really enjoyed the people, food and outdoor dining experience. Linguine and white clams/ clam sauce keeps calling me when in the Bronx... not sure why.. but again it was tops here too. Best friend went for the seafood pasta..... I tried it.... was good.... Wine was reasonable and drinkable... a must have when dining out often in Little Italy. Bread was a bit old fashioned.... regular white seeded.. but admittedly good. Liked going inside and seeing the neat darker restaurant, and neat restroom reminiscent of days gone by for a nice night out for people of our parents and grandparents generations. That was nice. Liked the outdoor vibe with full tent.. in case of rain.. hey it happens. Would return. read more

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This was a staple in my house for many years. My husband and I thought we'd go in. Glad we did. We had spiedini! We loved it. The carrots they put on the table were excellent. I went with two specials. One. Ring the salted Caramel Martini, which was superb. Then I got the pork Ossobuco! He got good ol' Garlic and oil! Everything was great. Service was great! read more

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The food is just ok. Drinks were good. Clams oregenatta were good. Burrata was fair. The special of pasta with wild boar ragu came out simply as a tomato sauce- there was no meat at all. While the waiter was good about offering a second choice, the second dish did not come out until after the other guests were finished. No apology and no offer to bring a thing. A little biscotti. Desert. No. Underwhelming service and food. read more

I had a nice early dinner here. They have a decent outdoor seating area and a lot of indoor tables. Inside is completely dead around 530 but definitely gets a lot more packed by 7 PM so keep that in mind. The three stars is really for the food, I wasn't that impressed. I was eager to try the tripe which I normally love but this one had no flavor. I had to keep adding salt and pepper and I rarely do this. I would stick to the pastas. My companion had the Alfredo and that tasted lovely and was a huge portion, only ate 1/5 of it. Drinks were also a good choice. I tried the rose martini, the blood orange martini, and a glass of Cabernet. They all tasted fine. It's really too bad that my entrée was not good at all. I'm definitely not saying to avoid this place, but I'd stick to the plainly traditional dishes read more

Mario's - Rose martini - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

Mario's of Arthur Avenue reminds me of old New York. And growing up in NY I have so many good memories. This establishment is over 110 years old. I love old places. What I loved, they have a coat check when you walk in, which was nice because it was pouring buckets that day. The old world ambience is old in style but clean. They had dinner lighting during lunch which adds to the ambience. So it really feels like an escape from Arthur Avenue. When you are seated you given menus and brought bread and butter and delicious green olive oil and marinated carrots. The bread was amazing and brought me back to Severollis bakery in Ozone Park. Ahhh sorry you're not here for my childhood flashbacks. Calamari- good flavor slightly chewy- we devoured it though. Burrata- Ahhmazing and so fresh tasting. Caesar's salad- ok Tortellini soup - it came in a beautiful covered vessel but the flavor it desperately lacked flavored and was sour- I'm hoping from lemon. Even after adding salt I felt it needed actual flavor Spaghetti and meatballs- I'm just gonna say that they must've been having a bad day in the kitchen. Chicken, Francaise- it was a mediocre at best, I think the lemon was lacking and the one piece of chicken was a little over cooked. Served with a potato croquette- this tasted like it was made with instant potatoes. A very sad dish. I will say you could've gotten the chicken française with pasta or salad. I hate to give an iconic old restaurant a bad review when there is so much potential but it does come down to the food. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they were just having a bad day. Oh , the wait staff was excellent. If Mario's Restaurant is reading this, don't serve frozen food like the potato croquettes, make every thing fresh from scratch, you will have a 6 month wait list to get into your restaurant. Your restaurant has so much potential. read more

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The restaurant is self is very charming and old world. There are lovely old oil paintings on the walls. It was slow during the mid afternoon, just one other party dining with around us. I did feel a bit unwelcome by the servers staring at my husband and I. When I asked for a new glass, the server didn't say a word just brought back the water. It was just a little cold. He said they were nice when they brought the bread and pickled carrots. The bread and pickled carrots are good. We ordered the arugula salad, minestrone soup and the Margarita pizza. The salad was good, I think next time I would order it with light dressing the minestrone soup was OK. The pizza was nice. It was all pretty average, and for the trek that we had to make to go get it, I don't think we would return. read more

Mario's - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

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The service was exceptionally slow last night, but for some reason it all felt good and we did not mind. The staff is friendly and attentive, but it did take a while to get the food (they say all food is made to order). The food itself is okay, but nothing special. Two of us had the Chicken Parmigiana, whose quality was good but the sauce tasted like it was from a can. The veal franchise was passible, but the meat was a little tuff for my palate. We also had fish and clams which were fresh and the sauces were tasty, but fish is NOT of the higher end grade of quality. Overall we all ate our food and had a good evening with a couple of exceptions - - - the fried meatballs were delicious to me, but they were not fried, and surprisingly spicy which some of us could not tolerate. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and great quality but the Bolognese sauce on the pasta used a lot of garlic which was not expected and some did not enjoy. The drinks were quite good, a deadly version of the Manhattan in particular. Finally the place is very comfortable, but very loud. So for a large group like ours (6 of us), talking was difficult; but don't let that detour you - - - This is quite common in many restaurants. Being next to the Arthur Avenue Market, a really fun place to go see, but get to the neighborhood in the late afternoon since most sites close around 6pm. read more

Love this place. Not only because they validate parking but the food is amazingly good. The owners are on point. There was also live music, a band of one. Very talented. When I was there with Child of God and her friend, an 8 year old boy got up and played harmonica. Great time. Perfect for lunch. read more

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We sat outside today (July 8th) and we first ordered a small Margarita pie! I say it was pretty good , then we splint an small appetizer penne pasta w/ red sauce on top! I'm a big fan of chicken Franchise. There's was very good ..but it was dip in way too much butter . Basically I like to soak up it with bread for the taste . Definitely our Service was good here ! Was Not as buzy when we went on a Wednesday afternoon. We skip dessert today. I definitely would be back here . This place has been here 1919 . So you get the idea . read more

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Friendly restaurant with with worn out interiors but pleasant outdoor eating. Efficient service. Nothing special with the food, apart from the warm crunchy bread they offer with olive oil. Base tomato sauce for pasta and pizza is good. Pizza was ok, eggplant parmigiana was eatable. We are still to find that amazing restaurant in Little Italy in the Bronx's, cos we love the food shops and cafes around there. read more

Mario's - Margherita pizza - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

Our server was Val, he went above and beyond exceeding our expectations. We had an error during our order but he made it right. The portions were a little bit smaller than we hoped. The setting was easy on the eyes, a casual outfit would work for this location. If you go, I recommend Val! read more

Our group of 16 had lunch here after laying to rest a good friend of ours. We did not make any reservation but they were able to accommodate our big group. The host was very attentive and our glasses (wine for adults, water for kids) are never empty. The food are good and filling although some entrees like my penne ala Vodka is a bit bland. Hubby got the Chilean Sea Bass but it was overcooked and the red sauce was overpowering. The kids loved the complimentary bread and their fettuccine Alfredo. All the adults love the proscuitto appetizer. read more

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Busy time of the year. Service was quick, menu selection is extensive, and as always well prepared and delicious. Prices have gone up specially for this restaurant. read more

Food was excellent. Particularly the pasta in each individual dish had a homemade feel. Yes - I tasted each persons dish. The only dish I wasn't thrilled with was the calamari. A little chewy. But I've been warned to never get seafood from any restaurant on a Sunday. Fish markets are supposedly closed on Saturday and Sunday. Thus - seafood left from Friday. The waiter and the overall service was excellent. They had valet parking without a fee. That is definitely a bonus. The atmosphere was old school - liked that - allowed me to imagine of an era that has past and will not return. Extra touch - live singer that had great voice , sung loud enough to hear, but low enough to not disturb a table conversation. Overall - very satisfying experience. read more

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This is a difficult one in that many areas of rating are mixed. The service however was exceptional so I bumped a 3 to a 4 ENTRANCE- we were greeted promptly and quickly seated for lunch. We were the first diners but a small stream of patrons came within the hour. AMBIANCE - very rustic decor with many oil paintings of Italian landscapes. Very traditional looking. Old school but nice MENU - traditional fare with specials enough variety for everyone SERVICE- this was a 5 star item. Our waiter was quite congenial and had many amusing stories to share. FOOD - things were very mixed in this regard. The bread served was more like the kind you would get if you ordered a sandwich in a local deli. I mean they are next to one of the best bread stores on Arthur Avenue. For appetizers we had the octopus salad which had great oil and dressing but was slightly over cooked and a tad rubbery. Tried the mozzarella and tomato slices that were dressed well with balsamic and oil but the mozzarella was only ok. Again around the corner is Casa Mozzarella that has the best cheeses. ENTREES- I ordered the calamari fra diabolo that had a fantastic sauce but the calamari was also a tad over cooked. Wife had a a very delicious pasta dish with sausage and broccoli rabe. So overall I'm mixed on food rating. VINO - decent but nothing exceptional. They do pour a really full glass though PRICE - for the Bronx pretty reasonable. Two people a few drinks the bill was $120 ish. Like a high $$ low $$$ depending what you order. read more

Mario's - Nice table view of the oil paintings in the background - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York