Cancel

Open app

Search

Mario's Italian Cafe

3.2 (283 reviews)
ModerateItalian, Pizza, Seafood
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Order Mario's Italian Cafe Takeout or Delivery

Mario's Italian Cafe Photos

Business Info

MARIO'S ITALIAN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

You might also consider

More like Mario's Italian Cafe

Recommended Reviews - Mario's Italian Cafe

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

The ceiling is beautiful
Gregory Michael C.

We just got back to Palm Springs after being stuck in Florida for 14 months (thanks, Hurricane Debby!) and the first place we went? Mario's Italian Cafe. Why? Because for over a year we've been listening to Mario's loud, hilarious ads on KGAY -- bragging about the best pizza, biggest glasses of wine, and his $8 pizza nights. We had to see if the man was telling the truth. Spoiler alert: he absolutely was. The Food We normally don't care about giant portions -- we care about quality and flavor first -- but Mario gave us both, and we're still laughing about it. We ordered two $8 pizzas, assuming they'd be tiny. Nope. Two 16-inch pizzas showed up, screaming hot, loaded with cheese and pepperoni, smelling like heaven. Next table's salad looked like it needed its own seat, and the wine goblets? Overflowing. Mario, you weren't lying -- and you've officially earned our trust. The Service Warm greeting, friendly staff, quick drinks, happy vibes. The only warning we wish we got was that we were about to be buried under two giant pizzas. The Atmosphere Classic Italian décor, beautiful painted ceilings, cozy space. Bathrooms could use a little extra attention, but honestly, I was too busy inhaling pizza to dwell on it. About Those Yelp Ratings... Right now, Mario's shows 3.1 stars on Yelp, and honestly? That's a crime. So many of the 1-star and 2-star reviews should be completely ignored. People complaining about "low quality ingredients" clearly weren't eating what we just ate. And some reviews are just silly -- like the guy who left 1 star because he was shorted $1.32 in change, or the one who's never been to Italy but critiques the restaurant size. (Really?) If I could, I'd give this place 4.5 stars -- but since Yelp doesn't do halves, I'm rounding up to 5 to balance out the ridiculousness. Final Thoughts Mario's is not just hype -- it's the real deal. Fantastic pizza, generous portions, friendly staff, and prices that feel too good to be true. I hope reviews like this help people see past the noise and give Mario's a try. We'll be back soon -- and next time, Mario, I'm trying the pasta (but if it's parboiled, we're gonna have words ).

Front of restaurant.
Melanie G.

This restaurant is dependable for great take out and is conveniently located where I grocery shop, get gas and pick up pet food and gifts at Home Goods. The portions are very generous and the food is delicious! The take out is always superb and we love to order from Mario's for big family gatherings. We recently had a casual office lunch at Mario's to celebrate the holidays, which was my first time to eat there. My husband and I and his Office Manager ordered a shared pizza and the other staff ordered different items off the menu. Their food arrived but we were told that our gluten free crust pizza was accidentally made with regular crust, so a new pizza had to be made. Our office staff had long finished their meals before we got to even start ours, which put a kink in the meal because everyone was able to go home early directly from lunch. No discount to our bill, but then we didn't ask. It was a bummer so I knocked off one star for that, but otherwise the food is excellent.

Allolio-eAglio
Demetrius G.

Took my daughter here for Mother's Day.Ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce she had Allolio-eAglio and we ordered the Marios special pizza. The food was delicious and took leftovers home.

Tom Z.

It's a nice small family restaurant. We visited the location in Bermuda Dunes, but apparently, there are a few more around the area. Inside, it feels like a typical family-owned Italian restaurant. There's a cool mural on the wall. The staff was really friendly and the food came out super quickly. The drinks were served in really large glasses, so no waiting for refills. I had lasagna, and my friend had the lemon chicken. Both were really tasty. The lasagna comes in two sizes, which was nice since I wasn't super hungry at the time. Overall, this was a quick, tasty, and relatively inexpensive Italian restaurant that I'd definitely eat at again.

Angel, hair pasta, and garlic bread

I love the Mario Italian Café scattered all over the valley out here. This was the first time I stopped at this one in Bermuda dunes. Like the other ones they were very nicely decorated inside and has a nice atmosphere. They also have some amazing specials and the cost is very reasonable for most of their meals. I had Angel hair pasta with meat sauce, and a basket of their garlic bread both were very tasty and well worth the price. The service was OK. It could've been a little bit better seems like the young lady spent a lot of time in the kitchen area talking with some other people instead of watching all the tables it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't very good. All in all I would recommend coming here. I'm sure it was just an off day for the servers.

Fettuccine
andrew l.

Awesome, authentic Italian great price point!! if you're looking for casual Italian with great food this is your spot. The prime rib special was outstanding totally unexpected.

Calamari
Steve L.

Very fresh not to bad at all .food was great We got a large pizza taste great. Service was Good the only thing that piss me off is the waitress. Gave my bill and i paid $40.00 My change was $1.32 cents She gave me $1.00 I think she thought it was funny but I didn't think it was funny at all. Next time Iam not leaving a tip .its point trying to short me 32 cents.

See all

2 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Daniel D.

Daniel D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Daniel D.

Daniel D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Daniel D.

Daniel D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Tom Z.
71
105
210

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Nico and David were delightful and very helpful. We like this location the best. Trying the pizza tonight

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Robert S.
145
217
367

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Daniel D.

Daniel D.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Bob P.
0
48
0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ivan C.
58
93
489

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1
Photo of Steve B.
2
457
177

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Michael L.
2
226
308

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Rob C.
0
100
0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 2
Photo of C L.
0
63
69

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of P. C.
5
35
19

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 2

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of David G.
304
205
86

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1
Photo of Bob M.
0
32
4

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Cindy F.
189
13
7

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 8

Ask the Community - Mario's Italian Cafe

Are they charging $2 per water glass and are they letting customers know ahead of time, as they weren't doing this before?

They charged us for water on that day. Haven't been back since so I'm not sure if it's a continued practice.

Had a nice lunch here today and saw a sign about St Louis ribs on Sunday. Would like feedback on the ribs specifically. Would like to try them depending?! Thanks!?

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

You might also consider

Fisherman's Market & Grill - Shrimp Cocktail

Fisherman's Market & Grill

4.0(751 reviews)
2.1 mi
•$$

Strange but true: this is THE place to come for a delicious steak. Nicely seasoned and always…read moreperfectly grilled, you can't go wrong coming to this fish house for a great steak! Early bird specials all summer starting now. Great deals on excellent food.

First and foremost, the service was excellent. We popped in Saturday afternoon just before 3 in the…read moreafternoon which it was quiet. This location is part of a strip mall with plenty of parking out in the lot. There's a pretty massive patio and outside bar area with seating which wasn't utilize as it was majorly hot outside. They did have mister to believe. We of course sat inside. When we walked in, there was no one dining as the only other patron had just finished and walked out. That in-between lunch time. It was one of those things, do we stay or do we leave.... The waitress that was working that afternoon, Michelle was the sweetest. So welcoming and friendly which is alway a good sign. As it was our first time here, she gave us a thoughtful breakdown of everything. Good customer service if I do say so. Menu, if you want seafood, this is your place. They had specials that go on all day with a good list of about 8 or so items to choose from. Lunch specials were also offered and then you have the main menu. Alcohol was also on the list. There's also a big menu along the board if you were waiting in line to order. Everything is done at the counter and food will be brought out to you when ready. They also have a soda station for your helping and the condiments are set aside there too. Menu did have a good selections of items. But limited on their pastas, which probably a given as it's a seafood place. They only had linguine and clams. We went with an order of the 3 fish and chips from the all day menu. That came with thick cut seasoned fries which were delicious and Cole slaws. The all day specials come with two sides I believe. Also an order of the ceviche which was from the starter menu. Fish was quite tasty and lightly battered which was great. Tasty and flakey which the battered was great. Not overly covered where it basically defeated the purpose but this place was nice. Also tater sauce was also accompanied. The ceviche was decent and came with tortilla chips. Nice decent size cup with avocado chunks on top but it wasn't that juicy. Wasn't that much juice, maybe it was just scooped and drained when served. It was decent. Also an extra side of the fries which were great. Thick cut and seasoned. The service was great and our waitress Michelle working that afternoon was a major doll. The sweetest and friendliest and so welcoming. The restaurant is full service minus the ordering. You order at the counter but your food will be brought to your table. It did pick up during our meal but we also noticed that it was a major go to for takeout. Everything was fresh and didn't take long to come out. There's also the downtown location that we need to try out next.

Photos
Fisherman's Market & Grill
Fisherman's Market & Grill
Fisherman's Market & Grill - Big fish

See all

Big fish

Oceana Restaurant - OMG, Alaskan Halibut, calamari steak, Drunken Shrimp, Rosemary Gimlet and best service from Gina (the queen)! Thank you

Oceana Restaurant

4.6(676 reviews)
1.1 mi
•$$

Stopped in for weekday lunch at this new spot for us. We orderd off the summer lunch menu and…read moreshared two entrees: the chef's pasta special and the mussels in white wine garlic broth. Both dishes came out perfect. Mussels were fresh, large and plenty and the broth was very tasty. The chef's pasta was even better, with perfectly cooked large prawns, mixed peppers, veges and several spices combined into a yummy yet light-ish creamy sauce. Will definitely return to try their extensive dinner menu. Service and ambience were both excellent too.

### **Consistently Amazing - Our Go-To for Great Seafood and Cocktails!**…read more We had another wonderful dinner with friends at Oceana in Palm Desert, and once again, they knocked it out of the park! This place has become a favorite of ours because the service is consistently fantastic every single time we visit. One of the things we love most about Oceana is the variety. We try to order something different from the menu each time we go, and we are never disappointed. The seafood is always incredibly fresh, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious. Beyond the food, the bar program is top-tier--the cocktails are creative, perfectly balanced, and always hit the spot. What truly elevates the dining experience here, though, is the staff. They are always amazing, welcoming, and attentive, making us and our friends feel right at home. If you are looking for incredible seafood, great drinks, and stellar service in Palm Desert, Oceana is the place to go. We already can't wait for our next visit! I highly recommend! Arthur Cervantes Properties Inc

Photos
Oceana Restaurant - Complementary cucumber, jicama, and beets to start.

Complementary cucumber, jicama, and beets to start.

Oceana Restaurant - Banana Peppers stuffed with shrimps in a delicious sauce!

Banana Peppers stuffed with shrimps in a delicious sauce!

Oceana Restaurant - Guayacal - mezcal, fresh guava nectar, housemade sweet & sour mix, and a lava salt rim.

See all

Guayacal - mezcal, fresh guava nectar, housemade sweet & sour mix, and a lava salt rim.

Haines Packing

Haines Packing

4.9(56 reviews)
3.0 mi
Family-owned & operated
Established in 2023

Haines Packing has the best frozen fish in the valley. From their Salmon, Halibut, Tuna and…read moreScallops. To their Lobster, Shrimp and Sandabs, everything thaws out beautifully and is so fresh once you cook it. The service in the place is spot on an his recommendations are good. If you're a fish lover, this is your place.

*Haines Packs a Big Punch*…read more My mom likes it here. Yelp seems to like it here. Now you can add me & wifey to the list. Sometimes life gets in the way and unable to try new places. But Haines Packing Fish Market has been on my radar ever since they docked ship. Was everything we expected and more. The customer service too. Cute store with some other grocery items... Wifey mentioned it's the first time here...so one of the owners included a nice package of Wild King Salmon for FREE to go along with packages of Sand Dads and Sablefish. The Sand Dabs and Sablefish was Fantastico. Prices are very reasonable -- especially for the quality. Looking forward to the Salmon and Halibut...and return visits when back in the area. Also want to try their Crab Cakes, Lobster and Sable Fish...and some catches of the day. It'd also like to express: Not all flash-frozen pre packaged fish is the same. But Haines has perfected their game. I eat fish more than any other source of protein. Sometimes I prefer the flash-frozen variety because it packs in the fish oil & flavor...and has a much longer shelf-life in the freezer. As this will be my final Yelp review for 2025...I highly recommend Haines. {{{Big-High-Five}}} Happy New Year

Photos
Haines Packing
Haines Packing
Haines Packing - Haines, Alaska

See all

Haines, Alaska

La Quinta Cliffhouse

La Quinta Cliffhouse

4.0(1.7k reviews)
1.8 mi
•$$$

There are a lot of reasons to eat at La Quinta Cliffhouse but in my most New Yawk accent ever you…read moreneed to know that their lobstah is from Maine. A lot of places in this desert serving lobster a lot of it from South Africa (and other place) and perhaps I'm biased but *taps heels* "there's no place like home!" The best lobster is hands down always gonna be the east coast. Sorry not sorry, rules is rules. In addition to great lobster they have Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms and if you grew up in or around Italian American culture, this dish is special. It gave warm fuzzies and memories of making these in childhood. They're light, crispy, salty and stuffed with delicious ricotta...a true gem of thia desert you won't want to miss. They were busy and service was still great. We sat outside to enjoy the beautiful cliffside view. The cocktail menu was fun and unique! And our kind server accommodated the birthday in our party with this huge ice cream tiered cake. If you plan on having another birthday, here is where you're going to want to celebrate! Thanks, @laquintacliffhouse for hosting us and making a special evening some how even more special.

We have been dining at this restaurant for over 16 years, and the food is consistently delicious…read moreand the servers are usually very friendly and accommodating. During our most recent visit, we enjoyed the seasonal Peach Blossom Cosmo cocktails, as well as the crispy calamari and Caesar salad. For our main courses, we ordered the braised short ribs and the pan-seared sea bass. Unfortunately, the sea bass did not taste fresh. We alerted our server, who promptly took it back to the kitchen, and we ordered a second braised short ribs instead, which was perfect. While this was a rare issue, we wanted to share our feedback. We look forward to returning soon, just as we have for all these years.

Photos
La Quinta Cliffhouse
La Quinta Cliffhouse
La Quinta Cliffhouse

See all

Eddie V's Prime Seafood - Nothing sets the tone for an enticing night, quite like The Big Eddie chilled shellfish tower.

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

4.4(852 reviews)
5.3 mi
•$$$

It was our first time having the Eddie V's experience, and I can honestly say it exceeded our…read moreexpectations. We visited as a family to celebrate a birthday, and I was genuinely impressed. The staff was very attentive, and the food and drinks were amazing. The ambiance was extraordinary as well. The executive chef came out to thank us for choosing them to celebrate, and went the extra mile by sending over champagne to toast the birthday girl. That kind of thoughtful touch really made the night. I also shared my experience with my team at work--everyone can't wait to go. Thank you for helping make it such a memorable celebration!

What an amazing experience! Nayevah was fun, professional and just a joy during the whole meal, she…read morewasn't a server, she pampered us. It was the best meal we have had in a very long time. We just started with 2 types of oysters because my daughter missed having them (Henderson & Summer love),then the soup/salad course, my heirloom tomatoes with burrata was perfect. My daughter had the crab stuffed shrimp and her fiancé had the swordfish (special of the day) and I had the lamb chops, which were amazingly seasoned. Ordered a side of truffle Mac n Cheese and it was also perfectly seasoned and not over powered by the truffle, as well as the lemon asparagus. Nayevah noticed I had a challenge with my lamb, but I still ate most of it, brought it to the attention of her manager, Jose and they were trying so har to compensate for it, but it wasn't necessary. They really wanted us to have a fine dining experience. I wished I took more pictures but the desserts were also just outstanding. Next time, may opt to come in for happy hour to experience the open air seating but the restaurant had a sophisticated ambiance about it. Will definitely return!

Photos
Eddie V's Prime Seafood - Our signature Hope Diamond Cocktail, featuring Grey Goose vodka, butterfly tea and a purple diamond ice cube

Our signature Hope Diamond Cocktail, featuring Grey Goose vodka, butterfly tea and a purple diamond ice cube

Eddie V's Prime Seafood - Our signature Bananas Foster is flambéed tableside and served with butter pecan ice cream.

Our signature Bananas Foster is flambéed tableside and served with butter pecan ice cream.

Eddie V's Prime Seafood - Live music trios.

See all

Live music trios.

Mitch's on El Paseo - Chocolate Balloon cake

Mitch's on El Paseo

4.1(750 reviews)
4.4 mi
•$$$

We absolutely love coming to Mitch's on El Paseo! From the moment you walk in, you're treated like…read morefamily. The food is consistently outstanding, and the service is always warm and welcoming. Mitch and the entire team are simply the best. Whether we're dining with family or meeting friends, it's always a fantastic experience. The crispy rice is absolutely to die for, and the oysters are a must-order every time. I always get the filet, and it has never disappointed--perfectly cooked and incredibly flavorful. If you're looking for amazing food, exceptional service, and a place that makes you feel right at home, Mitch's is the place to go. Highly recommended!

. anniversary during our first visit to Palm Desert. From the outside, it's pretty understated for…read morea spot on El Paseo--but stepping inside was a completely different experience. The space is much larger than it appears, and the impressive wine selection immediately stood out. We were warmly welcomed by Mitch himself, which set the tone for the evening. We chose to sit on the patio, where we enjoyed a beautiful sunset--made even better when the staff kindly lowered the umbrellas so we could take it all in. For dinner, I had the sticky rice and the 808 sushi roll, both of which were outstanding, while my husband ordered the pork chop and loved it. To top it off, we were surprised with a complimentary flourless chocolate cake for dessert, and it was absolutely decadent. The service throughout the night was excellent, attentive without being overbearing. We even had the chance to say goodbye to Mitch and his wife on our way out, which added a personal touch. It's always special to discover and support a unique, locally owned restaurant like this

Photos
Mitch's on El Paseo - Beautiful, covered and heated patio

Beautiful, covered and heated patio

Mitch's on El Paseo - Crispy Rice was very flavorful and rice was very crispy, unlike other restaurants where it gets slightly soggy.

Crispy Rice was very flavorful and rice was very crispy, unlike other restaurants where it gets slightly soggy.

Mitch's on El Paseo

See all

Mario's Italian Cafe - italian - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...