Mario's Table is the classic neighborhood bistro. I love everything about this cute spot. It's cozy and inviting. It has a great bar area, many types of seating and has big windows facing out onto the neighborhood. Classic Italian dishes are always delicious. They offer special as well. Service is fantastic! The staff remembers you and Mario is always there. read more

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LOVED Mario's table!!!! It was the cutest little local spot, I've lived near by for years now & I'm so glad I finally made it here. The patio is so peaceful. Our serve was super helpful as well. She told us we can pretty much make any modifications to the pasta and told us we can order half orders of things. I ordered the half Rigatoni Roma (no sausage, sub peas) and half eggplant parmesan. I didn't love the eggplant parmesan, but my pasta was great. The tomato sauce tasted super fresh and homemade and pasta was perfectly cooked as well. They also made me one of the best martinis I've had in the city so far. Highly recommend. Can't wait to go back and try so much more!!! read more

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One of the biggest reasons I keep coming back to Mario's Table is that I already know exactly how my night is going to go in the best way possible. I walk in, head to the bar instead of waiting for a table, and settle in knowing I'm about to have a great meal and an even better experience. The bartenders always set the tone, making the space feel relaxed and welcoming, whether you're there alone or with someone. It's the kind of place where time slips by without you even noticing. And then there's the food. I don't even hesitate when it comes time to order. I always go with the farfalle with prosciutto, peas, mushrooms, and chopped tomatoes in a light cream sauce, and it delivers every single time. It's simple, comforting, and full of flavor without being heavy or overdone. The balance is perfect, and it's one of those dishes that reminds you that great food doesn't need to be complicated to be memorable. I've tried other things over the years, but this dish is the reason I keep coming back. Mario's Table is one of those rare spots where the atmosphere, the service, and the food all work together effortlessly. Whether I'm stopping in by myself, meeting someone new, or turning it into a casual date night, it always feels like the right choice. It's dependable in the best way, and that's what makes it a true favorite. read more

Mario's Table - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Felt at home whining dining in Mario's Table. As we were seated, Mario himself welcomed us! I appreciated our server. She was very honest with serving size recommendations and gave us time to settle in and browse the menu. I enjoyed the bread service and the rigatoni. A bit overpriced for quality but nevertheless a fun time. read more

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Our second visit to Mario's and I hope it is not the last time. We are from out of town and this wonderful neighborhood restaurant is walking distance from our friends home. Our server Cheyenne was charming and attentive. The Rigatoni Roma is fantastic so why change what is working well. Just as good the second time. read more

Had the ravioli with Vodka sauce, small house salad and peppermint ice cream for dessert! Everything was outstanding. The staff and the owner were very attentive. Nice atmosphere and overall great experience. Our group of 4 enjoyed everything!!! read more

I have to keep the reviews coming every couple of years to reaffirm that this is still one of my favorite Italian places in the country. I love the atmosphere, the food, and the overall vibe. They continue to have outdoor seating as long as possible during the appropriate seasons, but sitting inside is a delight as you have a chance to get to know your fellow patrons. I almost always get a veal dish here and their veal is as tender and as delicious as any I have ever had. The staff is always very friendly, helpful, and seem to enjoy working there. Mario himself as often roaming the restaurant making sure everything is going well. read more

Mario's Table - Real Piccata - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fabulous casual and intimate experience. Friendly and attentive staff, wonderful food and the best tiramisu I've ever had. And Mario made it a point to stop by our table and greet us. read more

I got the Alfredo and chicken Parmesan and it was good but basic . Make a reservation for sure ! Everyone is super nice and it's cute for a date . read more

I love an old school, Italian spot with reliable food, great service, and a cozy atmosphere. This place has been around forever and I finally tried it on a Friday night. It was crowded, but service was quick and the food was good. We split the Mario salad and the Rigatoni Roma. I love that they still give free bread service and that everyone seems like they know each other. Mario introduced himself to us and you can tell that it's such a family place. I would definitely come back! read more

Mario's Table - Rigatoni Roma - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lovely local Italian spot. Some nice outdoor seating in a quiet street. Mario's is cozy, can be a bit loud. They have a nice bar. Plenty of space to eat at the bar if you want. A wide variety of Italian classics on the menu. I particularly like the palm and cuke salad. A small is enough to share with the entire table. Entrees as generous. Pastas all cooked well. Pizzas are also very good. Make sure to check out the specials board: read more

So delicious and authentic! We loved everything, the calamari, chicken piccata, chicken Parmesan, the wine, the gelato! So good; and Courtney is the best server! read more

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The Wait staff is always welcoming and attentive; there is good reason we make a reservation, and dine at Mario's table whenever we are in Chicago. Food is delicious, everyone is engaging, and the atmosphere is warm. Mario always make a point to acknowledge his patrons; when he is there. It remains one of our chosen spots; because of the staff and the tasty food. read more

I have enjoyed several years of excellent dining experiences at Mario's Table in the Gold Coast Neighborhood of Chicago. The food is always excellent. The atmosphere is very enjoyable. Conversations with other restaurant patrons at this restaurant over the years have been very enjoyable. The servers are awesome! I have made new friendships at this restaurant over the years. The restaurant's owner and servers have made me feel welcome and at home at this restaurant ever since I first dined here. I was a Gold Coast Neighborhood resident and landlord, and have been very active in many Chicago civic organizations. I was introduced to this wonderful restaurant in 2015, when I was a member of the Gold Coast Neighbors Association. I want to thank Mario's Table and Mario himself (the restaurant's visionary founder and owner), and all the Mario's Table servers, for all being a wonderful part of the Chicago community. Thank you all for always making me feel welcome and at home. I look forward to many more dining experiences with you all! God bless. read more

Soft shell crabs are in season and really tasty. Service is excellent. Noise level can get high at times. A really friendly neighborhood restaurant. read more

Very friendly service. Local neighborhood feeling. Excellent food. Great wine list of Italian wines.

As usual the food was outstanding as was the service! Cannot say enough good things about Mario's. If you are in the Windy City.....go!!!

Wow. What an amazing place. So glad to find a somewhat old school Italian joint without all the glitz and glamour and 'showy' spaces you have now a days. Just good people and good food. Came across this joint by accident. As we entered right off the bat, I liked the feeling. The wait staff (God she looked like an angel) was just so sweet, polite and did not mind that we were 45 minutes early for our reservation. She accommodated us with a smile. The gentleman that took us to our table too was just so nice and lively. Our server was really the sweetest. Very patient, not rushing us at all and took great care of us. We had the special beet salad which was great. We also ordered a vegetarian pizza to share. Really liked their sauce; not super tart yet not too sweet. It had just the right balance. What was amazing was the crust; Mamma Mia; I LOVED it. The crispness without it being a hard cracker was just right. Wonderful. The only thing that disappointed both of us (and sadly has resulted in our decision to not visit here again) was the fact that the owner practically ignored us (please, don't get me wrong. We don't seek attention but we also don't seek to be 'othered' out). The gentleman came to every table, greeted the guests, had a brief chat with all of them. He came next to our table, noticed us but ignored us completely. Normally this would not have felt a big deal at all. Owners come out once in a while and speak to certain guests (either they know them, etc.) but just felt very uncomfortable here that every table had the courtesy; not just one or two. Yet we felt singled out by not given the same courtesy. I'm from the service/hospitality industry so maybe am thinking too hard about this but there you have it. Had it not been for this experience, I would have said this is probably going to be my go to Italian restaurant in Chicago; that's how much I loved the service, friendliness of the staff, the food and the old school vibe. read more

Soft shell crabs special! Excellent -served in the month of June. Good bread and olive oil. Nice wine list, excellent service and comfortable bar to drink/eat. Angel hair with marinara and meatballs- yummy (maybe add a little olive oil to the marinara). Veal was excellent... Always excellent service. read more

Service was phenomenal. Within 10 seconds of arriving (my first time dining here), the staff/owner made simple accommodations that made me feel welcome as if I was a 25-year patron. The patio is very nice and charming, and the casual atmosphere is relieving (did not feel out of place in a golf shirt and chinos). The meatballs were exceptionally good! Looking forward to trying more on the menu... read more

Love that they take reservations. Sign at hostess stand (nicely) asks diners not to exceed the 90 minute limit. Rez was for 5:30, adult daughter & l were one of the first tables seated as they open at 4:30pm. Our server was Eric. Very pleasant young man. Let us know what the specials were. Good pacing in terms of taking our drink order, then our food order. Did not feel rushed. Complimentary warm bread with EVOO and parm. Bread was just ok. Did not look scratch made but the fact that it was warm and complimentary was a plus. Restaurant was appropriately dimly lit, not too dark. One TV by the bar had Food Network on, the other had college basketball game, a plus. I ordered the Caprese salad, very fresh tasting, tomatoes were firm, not mushy. Would have liked more basalmic vinaigrette, but otherwise, tasty. Had a glass (two really!) of Drylands Sav Blanc. Very nice wine. Daughter ordered Jambalaya Tortellini, which had a good spice, lots of chicken and sausage, 4-5 nice sized shrimp. Would order again. I had the grilled salmon and asparagus with roasted red pepper sauce. Asparagus was perfectly cooked, firm and not mushy. Good portion. Salmon was cooked well, moist, but not really flavorful so l was glad for the red pepper sauce. That being said, red pepper sauce could have been a bit more flavorful. Either add salt or pepper or make it spicier. Got Mario's Mom's recipe Tiramisu to go. Oh my! Very very light, not a gut bomb. Moist, lightly sweet, nice drizzle of chocolate sauce on top. Highly recommend this dessert. When we left at 6:30, it was filling up and lively. Definitely would go back! I see they have an outdoor seating area for warmer weather. Would love to dine al fresco! read more

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A nice casual, Italian restaurant that every neighborhood should have at one of (tho this is in the upscale "Gold Coast"). Went a couple of times while in business trips, while staying in nearby hotel. Tasty pasta the first time. The second time, tried their thin crust pizza - which I found out, has a rather crunchy base, as opposed to the chewy crust that New Yorkers (that's me) are used to. Busy restaurant with good service and a happy crowd read more

We really loved our dinner here! Visited on a Wednesday evening and we were seated immediately. We ordered the vodka pasta and meat sauce lasagna. Both were very tasty, lasagna was the stand out. Really appreciated the old school vibes of the place, immediately felt at home stepping into Mario's. The main reason I plan to come again is because of the quality of service. Lots of places have great food in Chicago, but most don't compare to the level of service at Mario's table. read more

Mario's Table - Lasagna with meat sauce - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have walked past this place repeatedly without thinking anything of it. My friends and I were craving Italian on a Monday. Honestly, we kind of ended up here by chance because the other two places we wanted to try were closed on Monday... Truly went in with no expectations. The atmosphere is super casual and homey--perfect for a weeknight dinner or first date. We started off with the fresh, warm, crusty bread (comes before the meal). They also leave Parmesan on the table, and my "hack" is mixing it with the olive oil and dipping the bread--so good! Our server was kind, quick, and gave us wonderful suggestions. I decided to get the special which was a rigatoni vodka with spinach, sausage, and fresh mozzarella. However, I swapped out the sausage with grilled chicken. They are definitely flexible and will make these changes if you request! The pasta was fantastic. It was rich, had the right amount of sauce, incredibly flavorful, and I even got to take some home for lunch. Also tried a couple of bites of ricotta cheesecake, which was pretty ordinary--wouldn't get it again. Our server informed us that 80% of guests are from Gold Coast/Old Town neighborhoods, but I feel it's worth a trip from anywhere! Truly a neighborhood gem and will be returning. read more

Mario's Table - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Good service, good food, and great prices all around. I don't recall what dish i ordered below but it was very tasty along with the creme brûlée. I think they could do with improving the ambiance and increasing the lighting a bit but other then they all around enjoyed experience. read more

Mario's Table - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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nice cozy traditional italian, i had the aglio olio pasta with a meatball and marinara added, great food and service

Good, solid food and great service. The outdoor patio is a wonderful place to spend an evening. read more

Mario's Table - Chicago evening - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love their pasta! This is always a warm and friendly environment to walk into, and I know I'll have a great, hearty Italian meal any time I visit. Good service and generous portions. I almost always have leftovers to enjoy for an additional meal. read more

Love this little neighborhood spot. It's small and decorated beautifully. Great spot to have a nice dinner and a conversation. Our server was amazing. The hostess delightful. Service was timely and efficient. Nice selection of wine . And the food was absolutely delicious. If there was anything negative, it was the bartender in a backwards ball cap. It didn't seem to fit the beautiful atmosphere. read more

Mario's Table - Pizza - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cozy neighborhood spot with good food and wine Great friendly staff - Denise is fantastic! One downside is that it is expensive for Italian in the area. This is also not the most kid friendly restaurant. Some of our favorites are the chicken Parmesan, chicken limone, chicken Marsala, and the it's so Gouda pizza (add tomato sauce). Go on Tuesday for 2 for 1 glasses of wine! read more

If you want tasteless food in a filthy restaurant, yep there were flies buzzing around, then go. I would have left without eating but my elderly friend loves the place. The booths are worn out, the carpet smells, and the food has zero flavor. This place needs a makeover and a clean up! The server was super friendly and that is the only positive I have... read more

Cozy, casual, and great environment. Mario himself walked around and spoke with each table about their meals and experience, which was a treat! The food was delicious and the service was excellent - highly recommend to anyone! read more

So we had an amazing experience here. The bartender was delightful! Jeff was our server and he MADE the experience. Such a good guy. Knows his stuff. Helped us all decide on what to have and convinced us to have the tiramisu and sooooo glad he did!! The ambiance was very chill, relaxed, yet classy. Mario himself came by and visited us at the bar and the table. We felt like celebrities lol I will go back every time I go to the city now! read more

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The hostess was amazing and warm even with the packed house waiting for their tables. The food and drink selection was too great I couldn't decide. It was loud but only due to everyone having a great time! read more

came here on a Thursday night, tried a few wines before committing to a bottle. our sever Jeff was absolutely amazing & so so friendly. Would come back just for him!! my friend & I got the special pasta & we both enjoyed it! we ate on the patio that was super cute. soaking up every last bit of summer before it gets too chilly to eat outside. would def return read more

It's in our neighborhood and finally got a chance to try it out. It's a classic neighborhood place and even hard to find. The menu has a nice selection of Italian favorites and a reasonable wine list. It is soup season so I tried the minestrone soup which was warming and full of flavor. The warm bread came without having to order it with olive oil and cheese for a nice dip for the bread. My entree was the shrimp scampi which had a nice amount of shrimp, although the shrimp were a little undercooked. My wife had the chicken Parmesan which she enjoyed. The servers were terrific and the place had a neighborly feel. read more

Great spot and convenient location as we were staying at a hotel a block away. Very casual environment (not too "uppity"). We needed Gluten-free and they had options for pizza and pasta. The server was very informed about allergens...and the food was delicious. We'd definitely return if we're in the area. read more

When Chicago's winter wields its vicious hand and the thermometer dips to 12° and its snowing, windy and down right hellish, I've found the restaurant I want to go to, to "hunker-in"...... Marios Table in the Gold Coast! My wife and I went there last night with a marvelous group of friends and the second I entered this place I immediately felt warm, comfortable and at ease. Mario's had this almost soothing / homey feeling that rarely happens to me; call it karma, vibes or joie de virve, I felt tranquil. It was wall to wall this evening as every bar stool and table was occupied. The Cubs game was on TV at the bar and food was flying out of their kitchen at a steady pace. This was a restaurant cooking (pardon the pun) on all cylinders. We ordered our drinks and pizza to share as we each pulled out the menus ready to choose our dinner. I've got this Italian Restaurant "thing" that drives my wife crazy (but hell, we all have our shtick), I always order the same thing - Caesar salad and chicken or (rarely) veal parmigiana. Mario's did "my thing" really well. First off, my salad and veal was a huge portions. You are not going to leave here hungry. And, repeating myself, both were terrific. My wife had the Chicken Limone that she loved. The rest of our group ordered selectively, as they had all been here many times before. Of course, the owner, Mario came out of the kitchen and worked the room. He is this affable good natured man who is happy as hell, your here in his "house" enjoying his food. Everything about this place, worked. And, I meant what I said about that winter scenario I opened this review up with; but I'll bet I'll be here when it's sunny and warm, too! read more

Mario's Table - My veal parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food, atmosphere, and service. We met Mario himself! He is an amazing guy with great work ethic. As he says, "no plans of retirement. Things are going good!" Food is amazing read more

Mario's Table - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've sat at the bar, inside & their patio Both are absolutely incredible! I don't know if the food or the service is better, which says A LOT considering how delicious their pesto gnocchi is. read more