Classic Italian restaurant in the heart of Downtown Riverside. Came here to celebrate my wife's birthday and it didn't disappoint! We got a few specials that weren't on the menu: lobster bisque soup and clam pizza, as well as a mushroom risotto dish. All of the dishes were amazing and the highlight was the clam pizza for me. The cheese and clams were perfect and the seasoning was great. The risotto was really good as well, with strong mushrooms and cheese flavor. You also get complimentary bread and butter! The food was really good, the dishes came out to about $30 each which isn't too bad for an upscale Italian restaurant. Service was outstanding throughout! The staff took really good care of us and checked in on us often. Restaurant was clean with a classic Italian feel, nice decor and a good ambiance. Will definitely be back to try more dishes! read more

Marios Place - Clam Pizza (Chef Special) - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

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It's been about 8 years since I last dined at Mario's. I remember it being a lovely Italian restaurant in downtown Riverside with amazing bread. The interior is totally what one expects an Italian restaurant to look like. Upon arrival, the restaurant is as authentic and traditional as the last time I was here. It was about half full on a Friday night but bustling and busy. Our server was a bit slow throughout our entire meal and even told us they were getting over a cold (not something one wants to hear from the person breathing on and touching our food and drinks). We had the calamari fritti and yellowtail to share. Our table also got the diavola pizza, spaghetti bolognese, a couple orders of the mushroom ravioli that came with a runny egg, and sides of fingerling potatoes and broccolini. The food is as delicious as I remembered. Service was a bit off this particular night, but overall it was a good experience. read more

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For starters, I ordered a new soup (can't remember the name), and unfortunately it was very bland and lacked depth of flavor. I ended up sending it back, which the staff handled professionally. I switched to a Caesar salad instead and wow. That salad completely surprised me. I usually order Caesar salads, but this one was exceptional. Perfectly dressed and crisp. Whatever you're doing with that Caesar, please don't change a thing. For my main course, I ordered the Angus beef tenderloin. The steaks are typically prepared medium, but mine came out medium rare which actually happens to be my preference, so it worked out perfectly. The sauce paired beautifully with the steak and really elevated the dish. It was cooked beautifully and incredibly tender. Overall, aside from the soup miss, the experience was very enjoyable. I'd definitely come back especially for that Caesar salad and the tenderloin. read more

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After a long day soaking at the Glen Ivy we needed something special before heading back to the coast. Yelp said Mario's was the special spot we needed to squeeze in and try. Being Mother's Day it was totally booked. We went anyway and opted for two seats at the bar.... Then the miracle happened! If we were done by 7:30 (6pm) then we could take a main booth specially reserved. We jumped at the chance! First off, every encounter with staff was a pleasure. The food was totally delicious! Coming from old world family recipes by a single family for over 1/2 a century we knew we scored! The pizza sauce was spicy, sweet and tangy. A real treat. I can't say enough about the atmosphere. Vintage California with a long history of great food and jazz performances. A great dinner club from the yesteryear. We are not often in Riverside but we'd love to combo dinner and Jazz on our way out of town! A true legendary spot worth everyone's attention. Thank you Justin for fantastic service and great commentary! read more

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We sat in the back outdoor space which was decorated very nicely for the holidays. But what was out of place was the music playing fromZZ top to Michael Jackson Thriller. It made us laugh and thought we're probably listening to the early day setup music that never changed. Staff didn't even notice. Staff was very on top of things from refill of water glasses to bread. Always felt very taken care of. I ordered a salad with arugula and beets. For dinner a margarita pizza with glass of wine. He ordered the steak frites with caramelized onions and a Caesar salad. Very good and we will be back. read more

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I was very, very disappointed with the so called spicy chicken breast "diabola" withsome kind of semi dry type of grains,also the acidic sauce(taste like tapatio sauce) on plate(discussting). Dish very simple no presentation and obviously the taste not good at all. Not again to Mario's for a good while. read more

Marios Place - Spicy chicken breast (Diabola) - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

Classic Italian restaurant indeed. Good place for your pasta fix. Above average ambiance- you can go casual or a little dressed up, up to you. Service was good. No complaints, really. Not a raving review either but to be fair, Italian isn't my favorite or anything. Despite that, I still enjoyed my meal and would recommend this place. read more

Incredible food, quality service, and great environment. Went for dinner and got the butternut squash ravioli as an app, and the oxtail penne as the main and OMG delicious. Already trying to see when I can go back for more. Our server had his menu memorized and was able to answer all of our questions, helping us with our choices for the night. 100% recommend. read more

Location is right across Mission Inn hotel. We had the window seat and it was very quiet and comforting. The staff were friendly and the service was quick. The pasta was our favorite dish and the sauce was delicious 9/10. The diavola pizza was good, however it was too burnt on the bottom, which unfortunately overpowered the flavors of the rest of the pizza 5/10. The angus beef tenderloin was flavorful however nothing too special 6/10. Overall, great service, however not order the same food items. Thank you read more

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Absolutely wonderful service ! Delicious cocktails and pizza was amazing. Food menu was great and the best part was our server he was so amazing and funny and made the evening great! Would recommend for any special evening dinner or event read more

I'de been going to Mario's place for years, when in was in a house in a different location. Took my mother every Xmas eve. Haven't been since they moved .. so a long time. I have to say I was terribly disappointed. The menu lacked authentic Italian dishes and more important attentive , warm personal service. I was really looking forward to revisiting a wonderful memory and great food. I received neither one. I won't be visiting again. read more

Marios Place - Inside Mario's Place - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

I had the best dinner at this restaurant. The ceaser salad and the steel salmon was outstanding and was perfectly cooked. The ambiance of the place was very fancy and pleasant and our Server was very friendly and engaged my table in conversation! I give them 5 stars ! I would like to have given them 100 stars if that was an option read more

Marios Place - Salad - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

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What a meal. The chef has a beautiful way of combining flavors, and colors to create a major treat. We were there for a private wine tasting which included a fixed price dinner. The ones we brought.. the best of the best... mouton, lafite, Margaux, haut brion, d'yquem, and more ( totalling 20) each glass numbered by the sommolier etc. Now for the food. Epic. Amuse had the sweetest tomatoes imaginable with burrata. We had 7 courses each paired perfectly. The pasta with rabbit outstanding. I'll make notes under the photos. read more

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What is the difference between polenta and grits? Hint: They both deal with types of corn. And, if I'm being honest, polenta just sounds like boogey grits. But Damn. Just damn. This experience was phenomenal from beginning to end. Delightful specials. Stellar service. Butter that was soft and easy to spread. Like seriously. This is an underrated, but awesome, aspect. I dont eat much lamb, mainly because the times I've had it, it tasted meh. But this was the best lamb I've ever had. Only the 5th or 6th lamb dish I've had. I was slightly disappointed when my scotch old fashioned with Balvenie Double wood arrived with a multitude of ice cubes instead of just one. If you're going for the old fashioned, drink earlier when you're thirsty so the multitude of cubes don't drown out the flavors. But the creation was good, with an aftertaste of scotch and cinnamon. The bar is loud and darkish, with a romantic vibe. The rest of the restaurant quiet, with a mixture of well lit ambient light by the windows and classy/romantic vibes further back. The dessert has a welcome surprise of cheese choices. Very cool. But I went with the tiramisu, and it didn't disappoint. read more

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Food 4/5 Service 4/5 Ambiance 5/5 Higher end Italian restaurant located across the mission inn. I've been here a couple of times and it's good, but never blows me away. Dimly lit, mature and older vibe. Indoor seating only. Have to find street parking or parking structure next door. Pricier dishes, probably $50-$70 a head. Does come with complimentary bread and butter which was delish. Ordered wine but my wine had a piece of the wine bottle paper in it. Ordered a Cesar salad but as you can tell from the picture, way too much dressing. 2/5 for this dish Oxtail pasta was very good. Flavorful, al dente and a good amount of protein. Cheese stuffed zuchinni was okay, was a special of the day but too much cheese. Steak and frites was good. Meat cooked well, tender and juicy. Overall not bad and would still be back. read more

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I love the ambiance of this place. The bar area is always my favorite and right now they have a Venison special that is truly out of this world and one of the best pieces of meat I've had read more

Marios Place - Venison - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

I'll be honest and start with the not so good and end with the gooood. Our reservation was for 8pm but we were seat at 8:40pm. The goood, our server KAT was very friendly, personable along with very professional. She made excellent yummy dishes for us. Gareth one of the busboy explained the specials in detail! We all thought he would be our server. Alejandro one of the waiter told us abut the Chef Dinner( you have to call ahead for this. All in all we will be back. The Jazz Band was great. The band starts at 9pm-11:30pm. The music was not loud or disturbing. We all enjoyed the live music. The drummer has an excellent voice. Remember as for KAT !!!! read more

Marios Place - The Jazz Band - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

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A cozy, almost club like vibe. Our favorite Arincini w/saffron risotto (rice balls)....don't miss. Delicious pasta (Bucatini Amarruciana). Bread service is worthy of special mention. The dessert may be the best sweet we have ever had...Caramel Budino. Those crystals of salt running through the creamy caramel (mousse/pudding). Unbelievable. Would drive from Scottsdale to Riverside for that alone. Professional, knowledgeable and friendly service (Jeremiah). Real passion for quality food. Wine list is interesting, reasonable with a number of hard to find selections. Looking forward to returning when our travels take us back to the area. read more

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Took my BF for his birthday, this is luxurious Italian restaurant, perfect for a special occasion. They have a full bar, dirty martinis and blue cheese stuffed olives, red wine, and other cocktails. We had lamb chops, swordfish, wild mushroom ravioli, exotic and unique dishes not available anywhere else. And conveniently located across from mission inn. read more

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Fast service. Very attentive. Someone in our group dropped their napkin and immediately someone showed up with a new one. Food was delicious. We tried both pizza and ravioli. Their apps were also really great! Our server was quite entertaining with his Italian accent when he told us the specials. Price cant be beat for the service and food quality. Great view from across the street was also a plus. Will be back! read more

Marios Place - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

Grant provided great recommendations from the Penne Rigate, to the wine, and espresso martini. It was a great experience, The crew works so well together, and I truly felt appreciated for coming here. The Penne pasta was amazing with the oxtails that were seasoned very well. That was a nice combination. The ambience is very romantic, and I really enjoyed myself. They do have live music check. The schedule is towards the end of the month. Yes that was great. Everything Grant this is delicious. read more

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Most people don't like a prix fixe menu, but when it comes to holidays when you want to move people in and out, a prix fixe becomes mandatory. Which then goes to question the quality of the menu and the ability to make it special. Valentines 2026 was no exception at Mario's Place. The food was served quickly under friendly staff, cooked to perfection. It would have been nice for the restaurant to add a little "love is in the air" flare (rose pedals, roses decor, soft music, etc.) but missing the component did not change the love in every bite. read more

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We went to Mario's over the weekend mainly for the live jazz, but the experience was just okay. We arrived around 7:30 PM and the band didn't start playing until about 9 PM because of a very long setup, which was disappointing. The music itself was great once it finally started, but the wait felt excessive. The food was underwhelming for Italian cuisine. The calamari was over-fried with very thick cuts, though the marinara and lemon-oil dipping sauces were good. My husband's spaghetti with meat sauce was solid, but my mushroom ravioli was honestly the worst I've had, with a strong unpleasant aftertaste, so I wouldn't recommend that dish. Dessert was decent but overpriced at $13 for very thin slices, although the chocolate dessert (their "Italian KitKat") was the best part. The standout item for me was the Caesar salad. It's heavily dressed with lots of Parmesan, so great if you like bold, rich salads, but not ideal if you prefer something lighter. Overall, it was an okay experience, but not memorable enough for a return visit. read more

Mario's Place, is across the street from the Mission Inn and you walk into a timeless, "old-school clubby" dinner house that feels like a private escape. With original art on the walls and a sophisticated vibe, this is Northern Italian dining. Every dish celebrates a farm-to-table freshness that shines through, especially when shared family-style. The Highlights: * The Spaghetti Bolognese: Prepared the traditional way--focused on the richness of the meat rather than being "sopped" in sauce. It's a revelation that even our first-generation Sicilian friends called "stunning." * The Branzino: Perfectly seared with crispy skin and a bright, local citrus finish that captures the essence of the region. * Pizza was another star- thin crust, delicious ingredients and a lighter hand on the sauce. Great for sharing Authentic, elevated, and unforgettable. Highly recommended. read more

Great food. We had an awesome waiter (chubby guy) quite funny and he really knew his specials. He recommended the clam pizza, an asparagus noodle thing and sea bass all of which we got. I absolutely loved the caramel dessert (we had the trio). My husband liked the KitKat and the orange sorbet was great with such an eye catching aesthetic. The Leone salad was great too. read more

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I made reservations for 4 to celebrate my friend's birthday dinner at Mario's. We were pleasantly surprised! The food was so yummy and exceeded our expectations. Pizza, bolognese, salad, bread, steak - all 5/5. Everyone was friendly and the place was clean. We had an odd experience with our waitress, hence the 4/5. She was nice, but she wasn't very helpful or attentive. We were tended to more by the other staff. Initially, we ordered 4 gimlets, but only one of us enjoyed it. I felt bad because it was my friend's birthday and didn't want her to drink something she didn't enjoy. I asked our waitress if we can change our drinks and she seemed to have taken it a bit too personally. She even made a point to say "well one of you drank more than half" - which I then let her know yes, SHE enjoyed hers but the rest of us didn't. It almost felt like we were drinking a Margherita pizza flavored beverage. We replaced it with margaritas, but those weren't too enjoyable either. Perhaps just stick to the food and not the bar items here. After we were done eating and the table had been cleared by the busboy, our waitress came to ask us if everything was okay. We had to ask her for the dessert menu because it wasn't offered. Just overall, an odd odd vibe. But hey, good food read more

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We went during festival of lights. We had forgotten to get reservations and everything was packed. We were so lucky to get in! Jeremiah was our waiter, he was attentive, helpful, kind and recommendations were on point! Loved the food & desert trio was so delicious! Loved the ambiance too! Highly recommend this place. Directly across from mission inn hotel. read more

-They attempted to seat outside upon arrival even though our reservation was for indoors. -Drinks were not good. Bloody Mary tasted like V8 and Old Fashion had crushed ice. - Poor service. Had to ask for bread. Not offered ground pepper with salads, not told dinner specials, had to call server over multiple times and given poor attitude. Never brought the broccoli side ordered. Overall we were treated as an inconvenience. - Very limited food options. Both of our steaks were not cooked properly and had to be sent back. Overall an all around poor experience and let down. read more

Mario's place was amazing! I went there for my birthday and the food and service were phenomenal! They gave us a great table with a beautiful view of the Mission Inn Festival of Lights. Highly recommend the mushroom ravioli and the calamari. Their chocolate polenta cake is delicious as well! read more

Marios Place - Warm Valrhona "Manjari" Chocolate-Polenta Cake - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

Absolutely amazing service, very friendly staff all around. Boschetto salas - large portion, tasty Beef tenderloin - very soft cut and well cooked, the caramelized onions and balsamico were a little strong, overall enjoyable but would've preferred less balsamic Caramel budino - unique clashing of flavors served in a coffee mug that did not blend the best - the salt on top, the stark caramel flavoring, and the tart of the creme fraiche; was a little too much happening at once read more

Marios Place - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

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One of the best meals of my life! Each thing was unique, delicious, and perfectly prepared. Service was attentive, fun, and helpful. The setting is elegant but comfortable (we were in jeans and tshirts, though I would have preferred to dress up a bit.) The citrus risotto with prawns was unlike anything I've ever tasted; perfection! And it was a huge portion. The ravioli was the best I've ever had. Even the broccolini and the Child's Play Pinot noir were memorable, and the bread and butter! And the orange water and strawberry panna cotta literally brought tears to my eyes! I will gladly drive 50+ miles to come back here. Absolutely exceptional in every way. :D read more

Marios Place - Citrus risotto with prawns; wild mushroom ravioli; broccolini - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

Marios place is a true in Riverside. My favorite restaurant in the area hands down. I have eaten here many times over the years and the food is always spectacular. Great for date night, special occasions, or just because you want a great meal! read more

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Nice, cozy and intimate spot. All the servers were nice and attentive. They communicated very well. The food was great! I was here for an event so we received a set menu to choose from. I'd definitely come back to try their other food items. read more

It's a him, Mario. Marios Place is a nice Italian restaurant out in Riverside where you can stuff yourself full if your wallet is willing. I loved their bread, I kept wanting more, so fluffy and warm and umph. Everything was great, the beef tenderloin was so nice and juicy and properly cooked to medium when asked. Can't say anything bad about that! Otherwise, the mushroom ravioli was surprising. It was quite literally a giant ravioli (singular) that was smothered in flavor. Never had ravioli that big before. The caramel budani was an amazing dessert at the end. Couldn't resist but get a cappuccino to go with it. It was a great way to finish off the night. I kinda ate too much, bloating myself, but successfully food coma-ing after too. Anyhow, what I'm saying is.... It's good Italian food in good quantity too. read more

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Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. Great service! The atmosphere was romantic but social, the lighting was very dim. The food was delicious, from the appetizer to the entree's! This is a great option for a date and Italian cuisine. read more

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Came here on a busy Saturday evening with no reservation. Unfortunately there were no tables available as they were booked for the night but we were lucky enough to snag two seats at the bar! Our bartender was really nice and helpful. She was also very attentive and checked on us often, along with the other bartenders. Food was great and different from anything we've had before! Shortly before we left, a live band came out to play adding to the jazzy and romantic atmosphere. We've been here once before this visit and we had no complaints then either. We look forward to returning in the future! read more

Marios Place - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California

Really nice dinner at Mario's! We asked for a quiet table and we were offered a table in the corner (soft lighting for optimal dining- sorry the pictures were with the available light, I didn't add the flash). Service is amazing, food is great and there is music in the background. We will be back! read more

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Been there many times and always great food and service. The staff are great and the view of the mission inn can not be beat. read more

Came for my birthday! Food was delicious. I ordered classic spaghetti. Not too saucy to ruin my outfit either! Greeted by friendly server. Seated immediately and served with grace. Parking is a bit of a pickle. Must give yourself time as it is downtown Riverside. Would return. read more

We went into Mario's on Valentines Day without a reservation, simply as a walk in and lucky us, they had tables! They had a preselected specials menu and everything was absolutely delicious!!! My boyfriend and I loved everything. We drank a dirty martini and a fruit cocktail, ate lobster bisque, spaghetti with lobster tail, sea bass, and three types of desserts! The food were all delicious, no complaints!! read more

Marios Place - Valentines Day 2024 Specials - Italian Near Me - Riverside, California