So i have been to Marios about 10 times. I think its great but it also reminds me of Bertuccis if u know what im saying. You all probably think im crazy fr thinking this omg lol ok lets be serious. Its good it used to be our hangout for like our high school kids but honestly like i think there are better places for this. For middle age i like it but not best family hangout or dinner for couples. They have best pasta out of everything on the menu but eat anything its good.
(4)
Michael R.
Great food at a Great Price! This place has that Italian restaurant feeling that you grew up with. It's a cozy place (think slim building with tables in two rows, which brings the noise level up a little). It's warm in the winter and the only down side is it is BYOB and the closest liquor store is about a ten minute walk. Definitely bring your own bottle of wine. The meal: I had the eggplant and chicken parm. It cost under $9 and I couldn't finish it. The eggplant parm was great and came with a side of pasta. I went with a friend who got the Stromboli which was equally large for a very reasonable price. This is historic Lexington at its best. Customer service was great.
(4)
Brian S.
I've been to Mario's many, many times, so that alone should tell you something. I often get lunch takeout and am usually fairly well pleased. I'm a big fan of their chicken parm. Now, it's important to note, this is not the chicken parm you'd get in Italy or even the north end. This is the breaded fried heavy on the sauce and cheese american version of chicken parm, but it's so delicious I don't really care. Last time I was there I ordered a side of broccoli and it was way overcooked :(. I'll give you a pass this time Mario's, but don't let it happen again. Overall, great Italian comfort food place in the heart of Lexington. Parking can be a pain in the metered lot behind the restaurant, and the local police seem to be just itching to hand out tickets, so be careful.
(4)
Sarah B.
I've been to Mario's several times, and the food is always great and the waitresses very friendly and helpful. My favorite dish is the ravioli with chicken parm - SO good, and the price is very reasonable. The portions are pretty big. The food is always tasty.
(5)
Victoria T.
I used to be a regular in high school and I recently came back after not having eaten here in a few years. Pretty much nothing's changed. Marios is a very unpretentious place. Adjust your expectations to to match their prices! They definitely serve "comfort" Italian food, heavy flavors with a lot of meat and cheese. The Marios formula: Carb (ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna noodle, etc) + Lots of homemade marinara sauce + meat + lots of cheese. I'm not much of a cheese connoisseur so I have no idea what kind of cheese they use on their dishes--but it not a fancy cheese. Everything on the menu is pretty basic; if you can't make it with carb/sauce/meat/cheese, the probably don't have it. My go-to dish is the Chicken Parm with Ravioli. Lunch price ($8.99 for lunch, $10.99 at dinner for the same thing) is a steal for the portions they give! I can get 2 medium-sized meals if I don't stuff myself. (People say chipotle burritos are 2 meals, but they really aren't. This dish is ACTUALLY 2 meals worth). I've also had their pizza, calzones, and lasagna. Lasagna is your comfort lasagna: heavy on the sauce flavor and pretty simple. I'm actually a fan of their pizza and I think their calzones are solid. I don't like Bertucci's and Upper Crust's thinner, dryer crusts, so if you like those kinds of pizzas, Marios may not be for you. Their crusts are thicker but not super mushy and soaked in grease like some other pizza places. Also, some of my friends who prefer Bertucci to Marios say that Marios' marinara sauce is too sweet. I have to agree that it is a little on the sweet side, but the meat sauce is definitely less sweet. The sauces are supposed to be homemade. Whether you like sweetness in the sauce will be a matter of preference. Service is decent; no complaints. The last time I was here the waitress was super eager (some might say, overly eager/bordering on hovering) to get us water, check on how were we liking the food, and whether we wanted the check. She came over repeatedly, perhaps 7-9 times. I dont think she was rushing to get us out the door though. She was friendly and was probably trying to be attentive.
(4)
Martin A.
First time at Mario's and I loved it. They have nice size portions at a very good price. The staff was friendly and service was fast. Don't forget to stop at the liquor store on the way as they have no liquor on the premises but you can bring your own.
(5)
Adam L.
Haven't had good inexpensive Italian restaurant in a while! If theres one word that i can describe this restaurant it would be home style Italian! I had to drive 30 mins out here just to try this restaurant! I enjoyed this place a lot. I was recommended the chicken parm! The amount flavoring and cheese in this chicken parm was excellent. It came out in two separate bowl with the chicken in one and the noodles in another! I can't tell you how much I thought this parm was one of the best i've had in a while. Everything you look for in an italian restaurant. Good Cheese, great portion, and the meal cooked at perfection. It was a great blend of home style cooking with high quality ingredients. Must check out this place yourself!
(4)
Eric G.
Neat little Italian place near the battle green in Lexington. Great atmosphere and the service was excellent. Our server was very engaging and friendly.
This is a somewhat limited review as I only go here for lunch and almost always get a grilled chicken salad. The bang for the buck is great. You get a good sized salad with a healthy portion of chicken for 2/3rds what it will cost you at Panera across the street. I've also had a meatball sub there and it was very good. Pretty much everything you'd expect from an Italian joint. Big, meaty meatballs, good sauce and some melted provolone to make sure it's a messy, delicious treat.
(3)
Sarah B.
Oh Mario's, how we love thee! When I mention Mario's to my husband, I swear he starts salivating! I'd venture to say it's the best place to go for cheap, delicious Italian comfort food outside of the North End or Nonni's kitchen (If you are lucky enough to have a Nonni). It's a hidden gem. The service is consistently great and the food has never disappointed us. Of note, the baked ziti is different than most Italian places I've experienced as it is similar to the Greek Pastitsio. However it is amazing! Give Mario's a try!
(5)
Christine J.
Good family styled Italian food, can be crowded at rush hour meal times. Service was avg. not a must go.
(3)
Mike L.
Yes, you have had better Italian food. But you don't come to Mario's because you expect a Michelin star level food, but you come to Mario's because it's a nice inexpensive option with generous portions in your neighborhood. One of my favorite options for take out here is the pasta bucket. It's a "Half Gallon Bucket of Spaghetti or Shells with Sauce, 12 Meatballs and Bread" for about 15 dollars. It's an extremely hefty amount of food for a good price. The pizza here isn't anything to write home about, but it's very solid (though sauce can be a bit runny sometimes).
(3)
Jessica W.
Mario's is a classic and an all time favorite. I've seen some reviews from people who don't like the look of the restaurant, but I love it! It's a low key environment , and that it hasn't changed since I was a kid, and I hope it never does! The quality of the food is great, they have THE BEST sauce, all of the dishes here are delicious, from the pizza to the baked ziti, to the salad and bread, you must try Mario's.
(5)
Sarah F.
Pretty much exactly what we expected in a neighborhood Italian place. Red-checked tablecloths, all the standard American Italian menu items. The waitresses knew basically everyone in the place, adorable. Friendly, fast service and the prices are fabulous. The bread they bring to your table was supermarket quality, pretty boring French bread. The mozzarella sticks were definitely frozen, which we probably should have expected. They were cooked well, so all fine. The chicken Parmesan was tender and delicious with LOTS of cheese... really everything you're looking for in a red-checked-tablecloth Italian place in a small town. When we walked in there was a (short) wait to be seated, and no one greeted us or told us that we were supposed to write our OWN names on the list until we flagged a waitress down several minutes later. No real harm done, but for non-locals it would be nice to have a sign or something saying that.
(3)
Roxanne B.
Great food for price. Nice gravy! Tasty veal parm. Baked ziti was good since I never tried before it went for it we brought our own soda water and beer. $50 for 4 with tip- such a deal. Lots of regulars. Wait was their an early bird special for the elderly? Nice friendly patrons!
(4)
David L.
A solid three stars. I enjoy Mario's because I walk in that door with managed expectations - in other words, I don't expect meals or dishes that are served up in The North End, nor do I expect stellar customer service. What I do know is that Mario's has bargain basement prices and large portions, which should be a clear giveaway on the overall quality of the food. I really don't mind if their pastas are frozen...as long as the person in the kitchen can thaw the pasta, boil the pasta, and serve it on a dish with meat sauce we're square. Ditto with their lasagna. Il Casale is moving in next door, so I'm sure the owners of Mario's aren't so thrilled. But they shouldn't be too worried, if history is any guide. In true "Survivor" fashion, Mario's outwitted and outlasted the Evil Empire Vinny T's, which was located in Vine Brook Tavern's current space. And I will be clear - Il Casale is no Vinny T's. In more retailer terms, if Il Casale is the Gap (or Gap-owned premium brand Banana Republic), then Mario's would be Old Navy. Mario's value/bargain basement prices and lower end products and services simply cater to a more price conscious demographic. And if there is another economic draw down/recession - which is inevitable should one subscribe to market cycles - the silver lining is that all of us will most likely trade down to less expensive offerings. Hang in there Mario's...Outwit, Outlast, Outplay.
(3)
Wendi X.
First of all this place is inexpensive limited menu restaurant. With that said it serves it purpose on all levels for everyone with today's finical entanglements. However, this place could use a new sprucing up, from the table cloths, floor, decor, new menu's, etc... The food is good over all. I have eaten here a lot on all different times from lunch, dinner, in between those times and after those times and have had various things. As the saying goes dont knock it until you try it.
(4)
Courtney C.
I have been going here since I was little. All my family goes here, and I got all my friends hooked as well. The food is great and you cant beat their prices. The chicken parm and shells with meat sauce (you have to get the meat sauce) and their salads are amazing. The staff is always so nice and most of them remember us whenever we go. I drive about 25 min for both dine-in and for take out. It is worth the drive! Been to many parties that they have catered as well. Cant recommend it enough!
(5)
Benjamin E.
What a great little place right in the center of Lexington. It's right off the bike path so for people like me who like to go on weekend rides, this place makes the perfect place to stop in for lunch. The decor is very simple but the food is anything but plain. Loads of hot cheese and a delicious meat sauce. There is no alcohol served here, but it is BYOB so if you want to bring a bottle of wine or a few beers to have with your meal, it is perfectly fine.
(4)
Gray W.
Great local family Italian restaurant. The ziti is a favorite!
(4)
Joie S.
It makes me sad to see all of the negative reviews for Mario's. I have been going there for my whole life and my family and I love it! We lived in the neighborhood when I was a kid but we moved and now drive a half hour to Mario's a few times a year. The decor is charming, I love that nothing ever changes and that when I go there I'm flooded with family memories. It's small but it's cozy and parking is easy in parking lot behind the restaurant. The food is not what you will get in Boston's North End or Providence's Federal Hill. It's not fancy Italian but it is delicious and affordable, my favorite combination. As a kid, I always got the ravioli and it tastes exactly the same now as it did then. I usually order the lasagna now and it is huge, cheap and some of the best lasagna I have ever had. We always order trays of both the baked ziti and the lasagna for holidays and it's always a big hit. I don't have anything negative to say about Mario's. If you are looking for an upscale, expensive, authentic Italian restaurant, this place isn't for you. If you are looking for a charming restaurant with pretty delicious food that is incredibly affordable, you should check it out.
(5)
J C.
Had the lasagna, topped with marinara meat sauce, and a fried chicken cutlet on the side, topped with marinara and parmesan cheese. The marinara was something special here. It was sweeter than I expected with your typical tangy tomato, so I wonder if they mixed in some honey or something. Regardless, I liked that variation. The lasagna and chicken were standard and cooked correctly. No complaints. The value for food here is great. I got two meals out of a $13 (pre-tip) entree.
(4)
Ram K.
The pizza is fresh and made with real ingredients rather than using those frozen toppings. The crust is awesome. We had the vegetarian pizza which was great. I dont like actual when they put actual tomato without removing the flesh as it starts making the pizza mushy. The place is not clean. It is a typical hole in the wall on the better side but not an upscale classy place. Calzone, Pizza are great. Lunch should be good here. I hope
(4)
Kellie W.
A friend told me a few times how delicious this place was. I love Italian food, and I've had a lot of real traditional homemade Italian food. I can't explain how disgusting this was. Dominos or papa ginos is better I swear! It's so hard to screw up pasta but they did it. I had ravioli, thinking it's going to be yummy. It was gummy barely warm and the sauce was bland as bland can be. I was hoping it would be as good as my friend said. Shocked and grossed out it was definitely FROZEN! That's all I have to say! I'm not mean, it was bad. Save your $.
(1)
Chris G.
Very good value for the price. Not the best Italian food you will ever eat but definitely good and portion size is extremely generous. Definitely prefer the meat sauce over the marinara. Every meal I have had on the menu is enjoyable and warming. Perfect place for a good and enjoyable family meal, good for takeout as well.
(4)
Damon H.
Bleccccchh! We tried Mario's not too long after moving to lexington. I can't imagine how they're still in business unless just through unsuspecting tourists. Freezerburned ingredients and canned sauce over poorly cooked pasta. My son was 9 at the time he tried their chicken parm. He looked at me and said, "Daddy, I can make better sauce than this." I know he's right.
(2)
L J.
It's true the menu is very limited, but seriously GTFO with these negative reviews. When you calculate the fact that this place is extremely affordable, and you consider that it's BYOB, you should be giving this place the 3 or more stars it deserves. Some people will give it a 5 star review because it's down-to-earth. Other people will give it a 2 star review because they're pissed some ingredients are frozen. You do realize all restaurants have freezers, right? Jesus. The vibe of this place is simple, seemingly catering to the 70-year-old Italian couples and locals who've been coming here for years. So lighten up, Yelpers, check out the menu before you go if you think that's going to take away from the experience.
(4)
John P.
My family went to Mario's sat night after a short wait we enjoyed the eggplant chicken pram with shells dinner it was very tasty and plenty of it would come back again when in the area
(5)
Toodles K.
The negative reviews for this fine Italian establishment are flukes. Friends took me here for lunch. They had been there many times and had nothing but positive things to say about it. They said it was inexpensive Italian food. If you want Italian food from the North End then go there. The place was clean and our waitress was a doll. There were three of us and we shared what we ordered. There was a small pizza with sausage and mushrooms on it. There was chicken and eggplant parmesan. I ordered the lasagna with meat sauce and a side of two sweet sausages. There was a generous portion of lasagna. Totally fresh. Nothing tasted previously frozen nor microwaved. The pizza's crust was heavenly: not too thick, not too thin. The chicken and eggplant parm was flavorful and totally yum. Lastly, the tomato sauce they used in the dishes tasted different and fresh in each dish. Not an easy feat. I would definitely come back here anytime.
(5)
Steve J.
My life is complete. I came all the way from Los Angeles for their baked Ziti. It is amazing. The best in the country. Mekelia was the best thanks for making the evening special.
(5)
Susan L.
I could definitely do this meal at home with cheap frozen ravioli. But I wouldn't. The pasta was thick, obviously mass-produced, though the sauce was OK. If you want a cheap meal, and you have no taste buds, this place is OK. Decor, out of date, and the floor looked grimy. Would not return.
(1)
Kate C.
Mario's is one of my favorite restaurants. Huge, delicious portions for around $8. I always get the stuffed mushrooms to start, a house salad with creamy italian dressing, and the eggplant parm with spaghetti and meat sauce. This meal is incredible and feeds me for days (I am eating leftovers as I type this!). And the fun part is, it's BYOB. Mario's is such a laid back restaurant, that you don't need to get dressed up to go to, but you can if you want! Lexington is also adorable -- you can go for a walk before or after your meal, catch a discounted movie at the Lexington Flick on Wednesdays, or visit one of the many ice cream / FroYo places after your meal. I have been going here for years, and will be coming back for many more. I highly recommend Mario's!
(5)
Olivia M.
Such a great value! I wish there were more restaurants like this. I got the Chicken Parm which had a side of spaghetti, both of which were great and in large quantity. The food isn't fancy or adventurous but it's exactly what you would want in comfort food.
(5)
Marcus T.
Save yourself the trip. Call dominos. Pizza tasted like cardboard. Pasta was watery drizzle. Service was hilarious.
(1)
Christine T.
Went here with Mom since we were in the area. We were going to go to a chain restaurant down the street but saw this little hole-in the wall type restaurant and figured what the hell. Mario's is small, but cozy. It was great on a Wednesday afternoon, we parked in the back (meter parking: 25 cents = 1 hour) we walked right in and sat ourselves. Typically you'd have to sign in and wait however long the list says but not on a weekday afternoon. Our waitress was friendly and upbeat - I wish I could remember her name. We ordered garlic bread, salads and we split a chicken/broccoli calzone (all pictured). The salads were okay - you could tell they were pre-made and they were soaked in dressing. The garlic bread was good, it could've been toasted a bit more but needless to say there wasn't any left on the plate. The calzone was delicious, a good size and beautifully cooked, also came with a side of marinara which was FRESH, that made it extra delicious. we had a ton for left overs too which I love. All in all we had a hardy meal and it was all only $23, whicih is really cheap. My only complaint is I wish the menu was bigger and I wish they had more Italian based items (this is certainly an Americanized menu)... for example I can't find a good Italian egg-roll anywhere. that would've made my day!
(4)
Scott L.
Ate here for the first time on a date. Great atmosphere despite the small size of the restaurant. Just a short wait on a Saturday night at 5:30. Attentive waitstaff, very quick response, and informative. Menu is very straight forward. Spaghetti? Check. Ravioli? Check. Veal Parm. Yup. Despite the simplistic menu, took awhile to decide. Food was terrific with hefty portions. They don't serve alcohol but you can bring your own, Mario's will even give you two paper cups. Best part of my experience was the "Pay it Forward" theme going with our waitress. Throughout her shift, patrons had been paying $5 - $10 for the next party at the table or another table. So cool. With our $5 off, the bill ended up being only $16. So, I left $5 at our table and $5 at another table. Will definitely eat here again. Highly recommended!!!
(5)
Tanya I.
Great price and the food is OK. Family atmosphere but not very clean. Great house salads.
(3)
Elizabeth M.
I've been to Mario's a few times, and I wasn't expecting mind blowing cuisine or service, but as the the two star rating says "Meh- I've had better." Not sure why it has such a following, but it looks like a place you can take your kids on the cheap, while avoiding the Burlington/Middlesex Turnpike madness. Expect to be served by a grumbling teenager. Menu is VERY limited. There's just not much to it at all. As far as the food goes.... Again, I've had better. Red sauce is pretty watery, ravioli looked like they had been frozen, it was sort of sad. I was expecting it to be some small town gem that makes a lot of its dishes from old family recipes, but it looks like it's mostly frozen stuff that gets nuked and served up. Spend the same money down the street at Neillio's and get amazing, freshly made pastas, raviolis and sauces and make it at home. More bang for your buck, that's for sure.
(2)
Amanda J.
Delicious typical hole in the wall Italian place. Not a huge selection, but everything we ordered was a large portion and very flavorful. I had the chicken parm, and the chicken was cooked perfectly. If you like simple good Italian food, you will like this place. If you are looking for complex dishes and an upscale atmosphere, it might not be for you.
(4)
Elizabeth K.
I don't want to like this place, but, I do. I've been going since I was a kid. Occasionally I still meet up there with my mom for lunch or dinner. Know why? It's cheap, easy, and yummy. It's not creative, but, it's solid. The chicken parm is always crispy and smothered in cheese. Absolutely smothered. The portions are also huge, so, it's like two meals. It's cheap. Super super cheap. Occasionally a girl needs a budget meal to fuel her fancy food addiction :) Also, it's BYOB and it's on the Minuteman Bike Trail - both perks on their own, though, I wouldn't suggest combining them.
(4)
S S.
My family likes this place. Very simple but the food is good. Prices are good as well. I love their lasagna and pastas. Will recommend to check it out for lunch.
(5)
Brian D.
Heard nothing but great things about this establishment which faded quickly upon arriving. The decor was quite outdated, the food was obviously from frozen and just all around bland. Ordered the baked ziti and it arrived like a piece if pie with overcooked ziti and with the cheese being the only thing that was baked. Cheap prices yes but I'd recommend buying the ingredients (I'm positive anyone could replicate this food and make it more flavorful). The waiter I had was the only positive aspect of this visit he was fast and very polite. I can easily say I will not be having a return visit
(1)
Greg H.
Food tastes frozen!! It sucks! Don't ever go here!!! The pizza has too much cheese and ingredients taste cheap. Maybe the sauce isn't real...
(1)
Jim S.
Cheap for a reason. Same (very ordinary) sauce on everything. Menu from an "Italian-American" restaurant of the 60's (bet there's no real Italian cook within miles of the kitchen). Food is competently cooked but very ordinary. Really out of place in Lexington with its selection of semi-upscale yuppie food places (and the obligatore set of Asians). But it serves a purpose and is always crowded for that reason.
(3)
Amanda L.
I. LOVE. MARIOS. I went here almost everyday for awhile with my boyfriend of 15 years ago. Not because he was cheap, but because I love this place so much. This is the kind of place you can't find for love or money in LA. Just plain old regular Italian, nothing fancy, nothing foodie-rific, just GOOD. They gave me anchovies in my little salad, and that makes me happy. They gave me sauce on the side and that makes me happy. They have those cute little serving bowls for broiling the lasagna and that makes me happy. I'm crying on the inside because I can't go to Mario's tonight. I love Mario's.
(4)
Joanne G.
Everyone says "don't go to a italian restaurant and order spaghetti and meatballs..." seriously people??? isn't that the lock, stock and barrel of any GOOD italian restaurant? So I can't say that I *just* went to Marios - because that would be a big, fat lie - I was exposed to this mound of awesomeness last year but never reviewed it (not even sure i was a yelp'r then either) So I wanted to make sure that I went to it before I yelped about it again (not fair to have years past flavor memories, you know?) Hubbie and I went while we were driving thru Lexington to go to his workplace on the other side of I-95 - and yea, the place is wikked small and aside from the awesome oil paintings on the wall - it's like this place I waitressed at in Richmond Virginia - kinda dumpy. But don't let the looks deceive you - that's were "dumpy" stops. We were seated immediately for lunch (something that is kinda unheard of at this restaurant at dinnertime btw) and the cute, peppy and quite busy waitress came over to us right away. And you people know what she brought us right??? Yes, soft bread and butter - OH MY. Carb heaven I say We ordered the following: Mario's special baked ziti and 3 side meatballs - for me Eggplant parm over ravoli - for hubbie It was all good - I wasn't totally blown away with the baked ziti - kinda boring - but hubbie LOVED it - it's because he's a noodle fiend - seriously - it was noodles then meat then noodles then cheese - it was about 6 inches tall for goodness sake! His meal was moist and yummie - the eggplant is always my fave part of any eggplant dish - so I dug in a couple of times. It was a lot of food - so request a doggie bag - and wanna know something? skip the drinks - just have water - the drinks are super expensive - even for just lemonade.... Oh yea - I started off this yelp with my whole "spaghetti and meatball" speel - and I'm sure you are wondering why I didn't have it - well - I thought I would just rave and rave about how great it is - because really, I've only had that here before because it is so spectacular. Spaghetti is perfect, meatballs are huge and sweet and saucy..ok it's 8:09am and I want some now!!!
(5)
David K.
The baked ziti was wonderful!
(5)
K G.
Mario's is a small, family friendly Italian place. In my opinion, the menu is very small and there is nothing unusual on it. The decor is kind of dull and seating is crowded, and very loud...not ideal for a special date or anything... However, for the price and to bring the kids to have a nice time...just relaxing in the most casual way, this place just about nails it. The food was well cooked...they had a chicken / eggplant parm special going and plenty of bread that we kept coming. I prefer the meat sauce over the regular marinara. The waitstaff was fast, friendly and seemed to really care about doing a good job...even though it was overrun with people with a 30 min wait the night we went. Will be back again.
(4)
Stephen C.
Reasonable food, reasonable service. If you're looking for a nice fancy italian restaurant, probably not where you'd want to go. But otherwise probably your go to place for simple and tasty italian dishes (like pasta and marinara, chicken/eggplant parm, etc). Their food is pretty good and they give nice hearty serving sizes.
(3)
Kate B.
I have been a huge fan of Mario's Italian Restaurant since I was a kid. The wait time can be a little long as there are not many tables. The bathroom is all the way down in the basement and the tables are a little cramped. The decor is also a little tacky with checkered table cloths and Italian landscape paintings. Other than that I love this place! The food is delicious. It is definitely Americanized-Italian but a big step up from Olive Garden. The bread is decent, warm and soft. I adore the chicken parmesan. It might be a bit salty for some people's taste but I like salty. It also comes with pasta with marinara sauce. The spaghetti and meatballs are also quite delicious and so is the broccoli and chicken calzone. It makes my mouth water just to think about. The portion sizes are good, usually too much for me to eat in one sitting so I take some home. The prices are pretty good too, nothing is more than $11. They also sell their yummy marinara and meat sauce by the quart and meatballs, buckets of spaghetti, and lasagna trays for parties. If you are fortunate enough to live in Lexington or are just passing through, I suggest giving Mario's a try.
(5)
Katie S.
Its cheap, but you can taste the cheapness. Service is alright, nothing special. I only went there because it was right near my school, I no longer go.
(3)
Vanessa M.
The meatballs are tasty, and huge. I would buy just them, and I have. The lasagna is gooey with a baked layer of cheese on the top, and the chicken parm is more than enough for the price. The bread's a bit eh, but add butter and you'll be fine.
(3)
El S.
If you like the taste of frozen Lean Cuisine Lasagna but want more calories without the hassle of microwaving then Mario's is for you! This place has been around for over 30 years, I think and I can't understand why. This is Italian food for Irish townies.
(1)
Jasper F.
For some strange reason this place seems to think if you order chicken cutlet they can serve you processed chicken fingers and you won't notice! I was SHOCKED to receive three chicken fingers with my ravioli in place of the chicken cutlet I had ordered. When I asked about it I was told that is what they serve for chicken cutlet! I then asked to have meatballs instead and was presented with three rubbery and clearly frozen (not home made) meatballs. I just don't see what people like about this place.
(1)
Tara M.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the "I love Mario's" FB group. I spent my entire childhood waiting for those times when my mother would be too tired to cook and our family would go to Mario's for dinner. In those pre-Bertucci days the wait could be over an hour. It was totally worth it. I wouldn't quite call Mario's an Italian restaurant. It's an Italian American restaurant. There's nothing delicate or rustic about it. You get red and white checkered table cloths, faux Italian paintings on the wall, and red plastic baskets of bread. Still, the food is very good and you will not find an ounce of pretense here. Love the eggplant parmesan subs. Love the pizza. Tastes like home.
(5)
Rich K.
I agree with other reviewers that this restaurant provides good Italian food at a reasonable value. However, the interior is very ordinary and a little cramped. I thought the service was really quite good. Nothing too special about this place.
(3)
Dizzy W.
Great place for lunch - nothing fancy but basic Italian food cooked with care. It's a bring your own wine, it gets busy in the evening and it's a first come first served place. Kids are welcome and you know they're getting good food rather than the pre-cooked frozen stuff from the big chain fast food outlets.
(3)
Min Y.
Not a fancy place but adequate for group outings..
(3)
Anthony S.
Ok so I went here yesterday with some colleagues and one of my co workers has lived in the area for years and recommended this place and said it was great! So we said, lets go and give it a shot. I first stepped in and didnt think much. Looked a bit small, but im a sucker for mom and pop, hole in the wall ish places, so I didnt mind it at all. I sat down and every immediately was attentive and friendly which is a huge plus in my book. They were not overly annoying either with coming back to the table. I checked the menue out and thought to myself how small it was. Typical subs, calzones, pizzas and typical pizza place food. I thought, well maybe its very very good then since its only a few things. We decided to get a Large Veggie Lovers Pizza. When it came to the table I started my critque. The pizza was a bit smaller then I expected a large to be and we had to share with 4 people (including me). The pizza looked great though and then tried it. I thought i was fantastic. Crisp crust, right amount of sauce and it had a different flavor then most places. The veggies on it were loaded on there and tasted all over delicious. The crust had a unique taste too which was my favorite part about it. Overall, the place has a so so ambience, amazing staff, great tasting food if you want Italian (but dont want Olive Garden or pay for North End prices), decent prices (pizza was about $18 ish plus tip), and overall good place. I will probably do a follow up critique and try this place again and give a more detailed review. Thank You! Check it out!
(4)
TennisTravels T.
Stopped for lunch after enjoying the Liberty Ride tour, Mario's hit the spot. Our party of three was shown to our seats immediately and our drink order was taken. Upon receiving our drinks, we were also given a basket of bread. My companions ordered spaghetti & meatballs and ravioli with meat sauce. I ordered the baked ziti. Ziti with a layer of crumbled meat in the middle covered with cheese and baked to a golden brown; served with marinara or meat sauce on the side. Portion sizes were large. Food tasted fabulous! I would definitely go for a return visit.
(4)
Michael S.
I had the lunch chicken parm with meat sauce and shells. This was so good! The lunch size was huge! I should have stopped half way through and taken some home but it was to good to stop. It was cheap too! $8 for lunch.
(5)
Eye Am V.
Family-friendly. Very. Small. Cramped. Affordable. NOT hoighty-toighty at all. Lil'bit grimy - but that is the territory of [again] Family Friendly. Not bad food (I happen to like Italian food) but limited chunky tomato sauce on everything. And thick cheese on everything as well. Can't go too wrong w/sauce & cheese...can you?!?!
(3)
Kristen B.
If I was rating this place only on the food, it would be a 1 star. However the service was fast and friendly and the prices are on the low side so I suppose I'll bump them up to 2 stars. Not impressed at all. I got the ravioli parmigiana with meatballs and the raviolis were probably some of the worst raviolis I've had. I could only even bring myself to eat one. My boyfriend tried one and thought they weren't even completely cooked. The sauce was extremely too watery. The meatballs were okay. Nothing to write home about. Boyfriend got spaghetti and sausage. I tried some of his since I wasn't going to eat mine. Meh. Wasn't impressed either but it was at least more edible than my ravioli. I read the reviews and I wanted to like this place, but I don't think I'll be giving it a second shot.
(2)
Cecilia L.
My friend used to rationalize ridiculous excuses to come to Lexington just to pick up a pizza here. So when she took us for the "best pizza" a couple years ago, I was expecting more than the greasy, heavy, bland pie I got. I recently went again and had the same mediocre pizza literally dripping with grease, accompanied by an unexciting buffalo chicken salad. Mario's isn't gross or anything, just the type of average that makes you think "well, I'm full now and there goes another meal of my life." Skip it in favor of the many better spots in Lexington Center.
(2)
M M.
This is our family's absolute favorite Italian restaurant. I've been coming here since my teens, and now as a mom in my 30s, my husband and I love taking our two young daughters here. Absolutely delicious food in charming Lexington Center. We love it, and in 20 years, I can honestly say every meal has been delicious!
(5)
Corey F.
Honestly, I wasn't too excited about Mario's when I first stepped in. The place looked fine, somewhere between stereotypical American "Italian" restaurant and a pizza joint, but the menu was sparse and not especially exciting. I guess there's nothing wrong with sticking to the basics, as long as you do the basics well. So I went for the basics: pizza. And it was good. Good sauce, right ratio of sauce and cheese, tasty toppings. I was surprised to get Greek-style crust (not deep dish, but medium-thick, though I guess there's nothing inherently non-Italian about that), but I happen to prefer that to thin. I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the menu. The reason this place shines to me (and the reason I already need to review after only one visit) is the staff. Everyone was friendly and attentive as soon as we got there. Drinks were refilled promptly, servers who weren't working our table asked if we needed anything, and they all wore smiles. Craziest of all, when our pizza had a pretty minor mistake -- they left off one of the two toppings, and they caught it before the pizza even made it to the table -- they made it right to an impressive degree: not only did they quickly whip us up a pan of the missing topping to put on ourselves, but they gave us the whole large pizza for free. They wouldn't even let me compromise with them to pay for a small, or pay half, or *something*. I'm a fan of top notch devotion to customer satisfaction, so I'm a fan of Mario's.
(4)
Susan D.
What a great little neighborhood joint! My server was super sweet and had good timing. She never rushed us, but was swift in taking our orders and getting our drinks to us. I tried the eggplant parmigiana with cheese raviolis. That bubbly meat sauce with melted mozzarella cheese on top is to die for. I will definitely return with friends and get the same thing.
(4)
Dietsodafix C.
I grew up just a bit down Mass Ave in Arlington. So I been going to Mario's for years. Its a medium sized place very family friendly, cheap and tasty. You can BYOB which is awesome. My sister is vegetarian and loves the eggplant parm here better than anywhere. The staff of mostly high school & college age girls are very friendly and quick to get you anything you need. Nothing fancy, pasta pizza and salads but yummy none the less. Baked Ziti is popular, they layer it with ground beef and smother it with cheese. Take out is available too. You can order spaghetti & meatballs by the bucket to go. Its perfect for a nice cheap local night out with or without the family.
(4)
Paul C.
This place has the best "cheap" Italian food in the area. (And I mean "cheap" here in the best way possible!). This place does not have a huge menu selection, but what they have is just amazing. When I worked in Lexington I used to come here at least twice a month for lunch with my coworkers. I usually get the ravioli parmigiana or the Italian calzone (which is HUGE by the way). The chicken parm is also very good as is the lasagna. The sauce they have is very tasty. So good in fact I sometimes walk in here just to buy a quart of sauce for use at home! Please do not go to this place expecting world class service or decor. (You will be disappointed). Go here thinking this is a hole-in-the-wall place that has fast service and great inexpensive food and you will be happy. Because I know I am every time I leave here.
(5)
Sheri H.
I was in Lexington recently and, having read a review about Mario's in a local newspaper, I decided to go in for lunch. As many have already mentioned, the menu is fairly limited (pasta, veal, eggplant, and chicken parm, ravioli, lasagna, pizza, etc.) so I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs--which consisted of a big plate of spaghetti, plenty of (fresh) sauce, and 4 big meatballs. There was also endless Italian bread (which was nice and soft) and, all in all, the food reminded me of the Italian restaurants that I used to eat at as a kid (although, admittedly, with a lot less decor). But I don't look for decor for lunch, I just want to eat, and, based on my experience, this was just good, solid, well-cooked, old-school Italian food--and it only cost $6.79 (before tax, of course). My only complaint would be that the service wasn't all that great. If you are a food snob and/or are looking for ambience, you're not going to like this place. There is no herb-and-olive oil dipping sauce. And they don't offer anything in the way of the newer versions of Italian cuisine that you now see in many of the more "upscale" Italian restaurants that are opening in the area. (In fact, from what I could see, their only concession to modern restaurantism is that they offer the refillable soda.) There is nothing fancy going on here, so if you are the kind of diner who can't enjoy a meal unless it is served in an upscale environment, with plenty of "atmosphere," then don't bother with Mario's; it's not a place for yuppies. It's just a nice, small, family restaurant and while it's not the best old-school Italian-American food that I've eaten, it is still very good (and if the rest of their menu is on par with the meal that I just had there, then I will definitely want to eat there again. And again, and again. Maybe even become a semi-regular...)
(4)
Dexter F.
Solid italian place. I love the pizza, and chicken parm dinner. This is one of those places you get cravings for, even when you've moved 50miles away.
(4)
Joel O.
This place would be better if it wasn't for the sauce. There's just something about it that doesn't sit well with me. Maybe it's too sweet, maybe it's just too red... IDK. I even think they use the same sauce on both pasta and pizza. Both the garden salad and chicken parm (minus the sauce) are OK but there are better ways to waste some calories. My family loves this place. It's a shame that everytime they want to eat here I can't help but think that I'd rather eat at any of the other restaurants nearby.
(2)
Meghan O.
I absolutely love this restaurant! My boyfriend, who grew up in Lexington, showed me Mario's on my first visit to Massachusetts and we always go back every time we visit. Prices are great and the food is delicious! I love love love the pizza and their sauce is magnificent. Now I only wish I lived closer!
(5)
Steve C.
Three and a half stars, really..:... Not, this was a gem. Great pasta and calzone and so inexpensive. Service with a smile.
(5)
Erin M.
Went to Mario's on Sunday night with a friend. The place is tiny and humble but does not boast to be anything more than that. As others have pointed out, it has the crazy checkered tablecloths and big landscape paintings as the center of its decor. Since Mario's is a dressier version of take out pizza, this works. The restaurant holds around 60 people and was packed when we arrived around 7:00 pm. The table turnover was fairly quick but no one appeared to be rushed out. When we did get a table the waitress informed us that the dishwasher was having plumbing issues so they were using mainly paper products that night. Interesting. The use of paper, styrofoam, and utensils wrapped in plastic (napkin included!) made me feel like I was at an indoor picnic but at least Mario's and its wait staff let everyone know the situation rather than make its customers believe this was the norm. The menu is not extensive but did offer calzones which for whatever reason I have had trouble locating around the area so I ordered a broccoli and chicken one. The wait was not too long and the food came out at just the right temperature (on a real dish with a real knife thankfully). Honestly though, I expected a bit more cheese (ok, I SOME cheese) in it so I did feel a bit disappointed. It was a good calzone though but I do not see myself traveling back to Lexington for it. Apparently the lasagna is really good though so if in the area I may go for that. Overall, it's a cute little place with decent food that I caught on a weird night. Not bad, but not great. Also, the waitstaff was attentive and kind even though they were very busy. Kudos to them for that because it is a job I could never do.
(3)
Alexis J.
OMG! I am shocked... after a work function my coworker suggested we stop by Marco's for lunch before returning to the office. He said they had great eggplant parm and I agreed to go, expecting to have an average lunch break meal. Walking in Mario's looked like your typical little Italian restaurant... I was not expecting to have some of the best EPP of my life! Perfectly cooked with the right amount of cheese and flavor. The cheesy was baked and bubbling over the dish, smothered with sauce, yet the eggplant was still crispy (and not greasy). So many Italian joints make an average to bland EPP, but this was just perfect. And the tomato sauce was so rich with tomato flavor... just really tasty. As if it couldn't get any better, the whole lunch cost $7! For a huge portion of EPP and a side of pasta! Simple little family owned restaurant with friendly staff and quality food. I will definitely be back. Other bonuses... big parking lot out back and its BYOB!
(4)
Natalia O.
Yummy Italian classic dishes, simple but always hitting the mark. Good service and nice downtown location. Nice place for a low key meal.
(4)
Terry T.
I'm averaging this review as my friend gave it 1 star and I gave it 3. Basically bland italian-inspired fare. I had the special baked ziti and found it a hearty portion though somewhat bland. My friend had the chicken parm and commented that his reason for giving the place 1 star was that the service was friendly but the food was mediocre at best when given the fact that great italian food wasn't that hard to find in New England (besides the North End which is a given, there are a lot of decent italian restuarants all over). As such, despite having been back 1 more time, we'll have to leave the ranking a solid 2 stars - adequate but there are better options in the area.
(2)
Geo O.
Ok, right up front, I've been going to Mario's for nearly 30 years now and the place hasn't changed even though the atmosphere in Lexington has. It's the last hold-out mom-n-pop type establishment in an upscale town center, but that's what keeps people coming back. You don't go there for gourmet dishes with intricate recipes. Just go there for simple, hearty Italian dishes, smothered in red sauce and cheese, you will not be disappointed. The atmosphere is very old school: dim lighting, hardwood chairs, tacky wall murals and red/white checker tablecloths. The staff is friendly, but they can get rushed as this place tends to draw a crowd. Just follow my #1 Mario's tip: Always order the meat sauce! I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that reviewers here that say they didn't like the sauce ordered marinara on their food. The marinara is ok, but it is a little bland. The meat sauce has a lot more oomph. Their menu is short. I strongly recommend anything parmigiana (veal, chicken or eggplant) or their lasagna. Their pizza is very good, but it has a very unique crust that doesn't always click with everyone, I suggest trying it once to see which side you're on. And always check the specials on the board! Usually you can get a good combo plate. By far, my favorite place to just chill out. Highly recommended.
(5)
Orly M.
This is bizarre. I can't believe all of the positive reviews for Mario's!!! I am seriously in shock. I guess the ugly space with ugly, uncomfortable wooden chairs and checkered tableclothes that look like they have endured decades of use are "charming" or some crap. I certainly don't think so. Growing up in the metropolis that is Lexington with its handful of restaurants, I have been dragged to Mario's many a time and I don't think I ever ate anything that resembled decent. Everything is mediocre at best. Even my FOB Israeli ass couldn't be fooled into thinking this was decent Italian food. So where do I begin? Pizza that is mushy with too much sauce, fresh from the can, and too much cheese. Bertucci's down the street may be pricy but the pizza is far superior there. The pasta is always just a little overcooked and the tomato sauce tastes like Ragu. I'm not looking to go out for pasta that I can make for 5 bucks in 10 minutes at home. I give Mario's an extra star for good lasagna and decent meatballs. Although the polpette at Bertucci's are still much, much better. Service that rivals Dick's Last Resort for the rudest service around. Neighborhood Italian? This is Lexington center! If you want neighborhood Italian, go to Arlington. If you want to be surrounded by yuppies when you eat your Ragu, come here. Whatever, you can try it for yourself, just don't say I didn't warn you.
(2)
Melissa M.
Yes, Mario, I love you and your food. I love your 1974 ambiance with the old school pepsi light decor. I love your red and white checkered tops. I like the 15 year old sweet high school kids that work here. Mario has not changed with the times, and that my friends is a good thing. Your cheese ravioli, lasagna, pizza and even bread and salad is so worth the drive from my house. If you can't decide on where to go for Italian food, go here. It's cheap too!
(5)
Jack N.
What you'll find here is some good Italian quick-food. Don't take the parents when they come into town, but if you want fast, casual, cheap, and tasty, this'll definitely get the job done. I hit Marios every 3 weeks or so - I definitely recommend any pizza and the antipasto salad. I've ventured off that course, and while impressed, always go back to the pizza. A little noisy and crowded for goups, but great for just 2 or 3. Expect kids to be present and loud - for some reason, the parents who bring their kids here have no idea how to parent.
(4)
Valerie S.
Great pizza! I've been going here for years. It gets kinda crowded and noisy with high school kids and the mozzarella sticks kinda fall apart... but otherwise? I LOVE IT
(4)
Francis C.
The food here is very solid. I got the chicken parm and it did not disapoint. It's also very reasonably priced, particularly in comparison to its neighbor Bertucci's. The only reason for the four stars is that the service was a little slow on the night I went. Nothing major, I just had to wait a little while for another water. It can also get pretty crowded around dinner-time. Overall though, it's definitely a step above your average (generic) Italian place.
(4)
Tom F.
I love Mario's! Been going here since I was a kid and the food is as good and consistent as ever (and close to the same price!). Yes, the atmosphere is kind of bland, but I am willing to give that up for the great tasting Italian food that they serve here. The portions are generous and I really like their sauce. They serve little pieces of bread in a plastic basket with each meal that I enjoy dipping in their sauce. If you are looking for some good, inexpensive Italian food, you need to give Mario's a try. Don't be fooled by the atmosphere.
(5)
Dana Z.
Mario's is one of those places that the locals all flock to, but I'm just not a fan. It's hardcore middle-of-the-road canned sauce, too much mozzarella on everthing, bland and tasteless. In this day and age of delicious artisanal breads (or even with sesame seeds on top) and salads with flavor and variety, Mario's still holds on to that model of bland, boring squishy Italian bread and iceberg lettuce with 1/4 green tomato salads. You could go there if your kids were driving you nuts and you wanted to get out of the house (and that's who's mainly eating there...kids running wild and screeching in the place while their mommies send text messages and ignore them) . Everything is too salty, bland and just kinda nasty. And the decor is cheesy but not in a fun retro way. Lastly; the bathrooms are completely disgusting; if they cannot be bothered to keep clean bathrooms; what does that say about any of the quality concerns?
(1)
Nate B.
Definable nothing special, but it was where I always went with friends after a half day of high school. Go for the calzones/stromboli -- enormous, low priced, and reasonably tasty.
(3)
Rebecca O.
Wow - this place was really awful. We were there on a Thursday evening and the service was incredibly slow. We waited over 45 minutes to get our food and when it arrived, it was horrible - bland, overcooked, nothing fresh in sight. The baked ziti was a layer of overdone pasta covered with two inches of ground beef, with cheese baked on top. Gross. The calzone was the only edible item we ordered, but even it was not very good. Don't go - save your money for some place better.
(2)
Jeff B.
I almost don't want to write a review because I want to keep this little gem all to myself. But seeing how everyone else is letting the cat out of the bag, I'll stand up as a star witness (pardon the pun) and let you all know how much I revere Mario's. Bring your own wine if you like, let Mario's cooks do what they do best... make great pizza, pasta and subs. Their homemade marinara and bolognese are so good you can buy some to take home. The same goes for their Italian and creamy Italian dressings. This place is simple to say the least, but Mario's is consistently good as the first time I went there in 1996. It's clear that the owner's know what works: they only hire attractive, young, polite waitresses. In the day when you can get crummy Italian in the north end, that's the day you give a place like Mario's 5 stars. If you're looking for more than basic, good, quality, Italian American food in a bare bones setting, go waste your money at the olive garden, I'll be at Mario's, keeping the gem to myself.
(5)
J. D.
Mmmm nom nom nom..love marios! I have been eating at Mario's for years and have never had a bad experience. If you took me to a fancy restaurant I wouldn't know what to do with myself so that is probably why I feel so comfortable here. Huge servings for real cheap. I know the food isn't probably the best quality but it definitely isn't lacking in terms of taste. The last time I went with three friends during a snowy blah day when we needed good food to cheer us up. We started with an order of mozz sticks and a sausage,pepper, and onion pizza to share. Is it weird to get a pizza as an app? We all sort of thought so but wanted a slice and a meal = ) I got the chicken/ravioli parm combo with meat sauce, someone else got the eggplant parm, and two people got the chicken parm with meatsauce. The eggplant and chicken parm entrees are served with choice of shells or spaghetti. The waitress kept replacing our bread basket and seemed to adopt the Planet Fitness "judgement free zone" philosophy on how much we were consuming. We all got our simple garden salads and I don't know why but I absolutely love the creamy italian dressing here. My friends make fun of me because it is the one thing I get most excited about ..weird. All of our food was delish as always. I don't do eggplant but all my friends who ever get it swear by it. Oh and Marios is byob so you can run across the st to the small package store grab a bottle (or 3) of wine and enjoy it out of the paper pepsi cups they supply, So classy I love it! Alllll that food for under $50 and leftovers for everyone. Unbelievable. We always have to tip our waitress 30% because I am sure we are pretty loud/obnoxious because we are so happy and food drunk. I love you Mario's and always will.
(4)
Rich S.
Mario's is your basic old school Italian-American joint. It has good pizza, pasta and the chicken parm is delicious!
(4)
Elizabeth F.
I ordered a mushroom and onion pizza, and my boyfriend had the ravioli parmagiana with sausage. It was, by far, the most boring, unsatisfying food I've ever had.
(1)
Matthew A.
Local good old neighborhood Italian food like it should be. No frills but very tasty. Yelp member recommended as a BYOB restaurant. See my BYOB List for more BYOB establishments.
(5)
ChianWen T.
So much in life is just average, like the middle of a bell curve. Mario's is like that , just average. I had an Italian sub for just about $6. For that money you could get something some much better and bigger on State Street downtown Boston. I guess you really have to have an affinity for Lexington in the first place to really appreciate and love Mario's. I am just not a Lexingtonian like that.
(3)
L H.
If you take it for what it is: a small Italian place with the basics and no frills, for a GREAT price, then you would love it. It is the perfect place to stop for lunch when riding your bike on the Minuteman Trail with your kids. Just bop in, plunk down, and have a meal. Nothing fancy and at times the food can miss, but really, find what you like, and go there just for that. Not nearly as diverse as Bertucci's next door's selection (nor as long of a wait), but it doesn't pretend to be anything other than basic and filling.
(4)
Sara C.
Chicken parm was pretty decent, lots of cheese. Really big amount. The only problem I had was with the spaghetti sauce on the side. It had meat which was fine but something was definitely off. Too sweet maybe?
(3)
Sarah B.
good, cheap food and friendly, quick service. great place to go if you don't want to wait long for food (unless it's a busy time and there's a wait to be seated). they never judge me for ordering off the kids meal. it's BYOB.
(4)
Kristen F.
Very cute little Italian parlor. I liked the set up and the checkered table cloths. My family all had Italian dishes they were pleased with. I had pizza, although I tad on the greasy side, I liked it. A great spot to pop into if you're in this area
(4)
Alicia T.
Mario's is great. Nothing fancy, just a great quick lunch or dinner with the fam. The waitstaff is very friendly and the restaurant is quaint and cute. It's like a home cooked meal, not over the top with presentation or flavors, but very satisfying. Terrible pizza though...
(4)
Cee L.
The baked ziti here is heaven. The portions appear to be small at first, but once you sink your jaws into that delicious concotion you will be surprised. It's filling and even if you have leftovers it's absolutely delicious when you reheat it.
(4)
Jules M.
All I have to say is get the eggplant and chicken parm with shells. You won't be disappointed. I very seldom eat anything with red sauce but I can't resist it here.
(4)
Christine C.
I just love Mario's. The food is great and cheap. The wait staff is always friendly. The lunch specials are very good. The only drawback is that sometimes it can be very busy and if you don' have all members of your party there, you can't sit down. I go with some vegeterian friends and they love the eggplant parm (as do I) and the pizza. They offer marinara or meat sauce. And when I went there last, there were about 6 kids (all under the age of 4) who seemed to be having a good time. Very kid-friendly.
(5)
luke b.
YUMMMMMMMMMM! This place serves the quintessential Italian-American cuisine. Great tomato sauce, great parmesans(chicken, eggplant... and RAVIOLI!), great meatballs! It's classic. F*CK Vinny T's... and Maggiano's. They both blow but I suppose that goes without saying. If you have a craving for a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs this is your joint. If you wanna drink, you have to bring your own... but still... so delicious.
(5)
Susan W.
This is not great red-sauce Italian. It is serviceable and sturdy. You will not get food poisoning here. It is not wonderful. What is with people who review here, passing out four and five stars? Is the frozen tv dinner their standard meal? Decent, serviceable but uninspired Italian deserves two stars!
(2)
LEONARD D.
My wife have been eating here for over 20 years , Great sauce & even better prices. Pick up a bottle of wine at the nearby store & drink from plasic cups . Gotta love this place ! 4 stars
(4)
Sara P.
The food is fairly basic, but good and inexpensive. There are a few surprises (when you think you're ordering sausage lasagna you're ordering lasagna with a side of sausage, and the eggplant parmesian comes with meat sauce if you don't ask for it to be vegetarian -- although the wait staff will warn you about that), but overall you get what you order and it's good.
(5)
Deanna R.
I love this place! I'm not really into Italian food, but it tastes so homemade- as opposed to Bertucci's and Olive Garden. This place reminds me of my friend's mother's recipes. It's cheap, the food is always HOT, and it's a small restaurant. My friends and I started going a couple times a month because we love it so much!
(5)
Eugene D.
Classic family joint. Informal, inexpensive, good filling food. A nice alternative to many of the other restaurants in Lexington.
(4)
Michael R.
Great food at a Great Price! This place has that Italian restaurant feeling that you grew up with. It's a cozy place (think slim building with tables in two rows, which brings the noise level up a little). It's warm in the winter and the only down side is it is BYOB and the closest liquor store is about a ten minute walk. Definitely bring your own bottle of wine. The meal: I had the eggplant and chicken parm. It cost under $9 and I couldn't finish it. The eggplant parm was great and came with a side of pasta. I went with a friend who got the Stromboli which was equally large for a very reasonable price. This is historic Lexington at its best. Customer service was great.
(4)
Brian S.
I've been to Mario's many, many times, so that alone should tell you something. I often get lunch takeout and am usually fairly well pleased. I'm a big fan of their chicken parm. Now, it's important to note, this is not the chicken parm you'd get in Italy or even the north end. This is the breaded fried heavy on the sauce and cheese american version of chicken parm, but it's so delicious I don't really care. Last time I was there I ordered a side of broccoli and it was way overcooked :(. I'll give you a pass this time Mario's, but don't let it happen again. Overall, great Italian comfort food place in the heart of Lexington. Parking can be a pain in the metered lot behind the restaurant, and the local police seem to be just itching to hand out tickets, so be careful.
(4)
Darya I.
So i have been to Marios about 10 times. I think its great but it also reminds me of Bertuccis if u know what im saying. You all probably think im crazy fr thinking this omg lol ok lets be serious. Its good it used to be our hangout for like our high school kids but honestly like i think there are better places for this. For middle age i like it but not best family hangout or dinner for couples. They have best pasta out of everything on the menu but eat anything its good.
(4)
Sarah B.
I've been to Mario's several times, and the food is always great and the waitresses very friendly and helpful. My favorite dish is the ravioli with chicken parm - SO good, and the price is very reasonable. The portions are pretty big. The food is always tasty.
(5)
Victoria T.
I used to be a regular in high school and I recently came back after not having eaten here in a few years. Pretty much nothing's changed. Marios is a very unpretentious place. Adjust your expectations to to match their prices! They definitely serve "comfort" Italian food, heavy flavors with a lot of meat and cheese. The Marios formula: Carb (ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna noodle, etc) + Lots of homemade marinara sauce + meat + lots of cheese. I'm not much of a cheese connoisseur so I have no idea what kind of cheese they use on their dishes--but it not a fancy cheese. Everything on the menu is pretty basic; if you can't make it with carb/sauce/meat/cheese, the probably don't have it. My go-to dish is the Chicken Parm with Ravioli. Lunch price ($8.99 for lunch, $10.99 at dinner for the same thing) is a steal for the portions they give! I can get 2 medium-sized meals if I don't stuff myself. (People say chipotle burritos are 2 meals, but they really aren't. This dish is ACTUALLY 2 meals worth). I've also had their pizza, calzones, and lasagna. Lasagna is your comfort lasagna: heavy on the sauce flavor and pretty simple. I'm actually a fan of their pizza and I think their calzones are solid. I don't like Bertucci's and Upper Crust's thinner, dryer crusts, so if you like those kinds of pizzas, Marios may not be for you. Their crusts are thicker but not super mushy and soaked in grease like some other pizza places. Also, some of my friends who prefer Bertucci to Marios say that Marios' marinara sauce is too sweet. I have to agree that it is a little on the sweet side, but the meat sauce is definitely less sweet. The sauces are supposed to be homemade. Whether you like sweetness in the sauce will be a matter of preference. Service is decent; no complaints. The last time I was here the waitress was super eager (some might say, overly eager/bordering on hovering) to get us water, check on how were we liking the food, and whether we wanted the check. She came over repeatedly, perhaps 7-9 times. I dont think she was rushing to get us out the door though. She was friendly and was probably trying to be attentive.
(4)
Martin A.
First time at Mario's and I loved it. They have nice size portions at a very good price. The staff was friendly and service was fast. Don't forget to stop at the liquor store on the way as they have no liquor on the premises but you can bring your own.
(5)
Adam L.
Haven't had good inexpensive Italian restaurant in a while! If theres one word that i can describe this restaurant it would be home style Italian! I had to drive 30 mins out here just to try this restaurant! I enjoyed this place a lot. I was recommended the chicken parm! The amount flavoring and cheese in this chicken parm was excellent. It came out in two separate bowl with the chicken in one and the noodles in another! I can't tell you how much I thought this parm was one of the best i've had in a while. Everything you look for in an italian restaurant. Good Cheese, great portion, and the meal cooked at perfection. It was a great blend of home style cooking with high quality ingredients. Must check out this place yourself!
(4)
Eric G.
Neat little Italian place near the battle green in Lexington. Great atmosphere and the service was excellent. Our server was very engaging and friendly.
This is a somewhat limited review as I only go here for lunch and almost always get a grilled chicken salad. The bang for the buck is great. You get a good sized salad with a healthy portion of chicken for 2/3rds what it will cost you at Panera across the street. I've also had a meatball sub there and it was very good. Pretty much everything you'd expect from an Italian joint. Big, meaty meatballs, good sauce and some melted provolone to make sure it's a messy, delicious treat.
(3)
Sarah B.
Oh Mario's, how we love thee! When I mention Mario's to my husband, I swear he starts salivating! I'd venture to say it's the best place to go for cheap, delicious Italian comfort food outside of the North End or Nonni's kitchen (If you are lucky enough to have a Nonni). It's a hidden gem. The service is consistently great and the food has never disappointed us. Of note, the baked ziti is different than most Italian places I've experienced as it is similar to the Greek Pastitsio. However it is amazing! Give Mario's a try!
(5)
Christine J.
Good family styled Italian food, can be crowded at rush hour meal times. Service was avg. not a must go.
(3)
Mike L.
Yes, you have had better Italian food. But you don't come to Mario's because you expect a Michelin star level food, but you come to Mario's because it's a nice inexpensive option with generous portions in your neighborhood. One of my favorite options for take out here is the pasta bucket. It's a "Half Gallon Bucket of Spaghetti or Shells with Sauce, 12 Meatballs and Bread" for about 15 dollars. It's an extremely hefty amount of food for a good price. The pizza here isn't anything to write home about, but it's very solid (though sauce can be a bit runny sometimes).
(3)
Jessica W.
Mario's is a classic and an all time favorite. I've seen some reviews from people who don't like the look of the restaurant, but I love it! It's a low key environment , and that it hasn't changed since I was a kid, and I hope it never does! The quality of the food is great, they have THE BEST sauce, all of the dishes here are delicious, from the pizza to the baked ziti, to the salad and bread, you must try Mario's.
(5)
Sarah F.
Pretty much exactly what we expected in a neighborhood Italian place. Red-checked tablecloths, all the standard American Italian menu items. The waitresses knew basically everyone in the place, adorable. Friendly, fast service and the prices are fabulous. The bread they bring to your table was supermarket quality, pretty boring French bread. The mozzarella sticks were definitely frozen, which we probably should have expected. They were cooked well, so all fine. The chicken Parmesan was tender and delicious with LOTS of cheese... really everything you're looking for in a red-checked-tablecloth Italian place in a small town. When we walked in there was a (short) wait to be seated, and no one greeted us or told us that we were supposed to write our OWN names on the list until we flagged a waitress down several minutes later. No real harm done, but for non-locals it would be nice to have a sign or something saying that.
(3)
Roxanne B.
Great food for price. Nice gravy! Tasty veal parm. Baked ziti was good since I never tried before it went for it we brought our own soda water and beer. $50 for 4 with tip- such a deal. Lots of regulars. Wait was their an early bird special for the elderly? Nice friendly patrons!
(4)
David L.
A solid three stars. I enjoy Mario's because I walk in that door with managed expectations - in other words, I don't expect meals or dishes that are served up in The North End, nor do I expect stellar customer service. What I do know is that Mario's has bargain basement prices and large portions, which should be a clear giveaway on the overall quality of the food. I really don't mind if their pastas are frozen...as long as the person in the kitchen can thaw the pasta, boil the pasta, and serve it on a dish with meat sauce we're square. Ditto with their lasagna. Il Casale is moving in next door, so I'm sure the owners of Mario's aren't so thrilled. But they shouldn't be too worried, if history is any guide. In true "Survivor" fashion, Mario's outwitted and outlasted the Evil Empire Vinny T's, which was located in Vine Brook Tavern's current space. And I will be clear - Il Casale is no Vinny T's. In more retailer terms, if Il Casale is the Gap (or Gap-owned premium brand Banana Republic), then Mario's would be Old Navy. Mario's value/bargain basement prices and lower end products and services simply cater to a more price conscious demographic. And if there is another economic draw down/recession - which is inevitable should one subscribe to market cycles - the silver lining is that all of us will most likely trade down to less expensive offerings. Hang in there Mario's...Outwit, Outlast, Outplay.
(3)
Wendi X.
First of all this place is inexpensive limited menu restaurant. With that said it serves it purpose on all levels for everyone with today's finical entanglements. However, this place could use a new sprucing up, from the table cloths, floor, decor, new menu's, etc... The food is good over all. I have eaten here a lot on all different times from lunch, dinner, in between those times and after those times and have had various things. As the saying goes dont knock it until you try it.
(4)
Courtney C.
I have been going here since I was little. All my family goes here, and I got all my friends hooked as well. The food is great and you cant beat their prices. The chicken parm and shells with meat sauce (you have to get the meat sauce) and their salads are amazing. The staff is always so nice and most of them remember us whenever we go. I drive about 25 min for both dine-in and for take out. It is worth the drive! Been to many parties that they have catered as well. Cant recommend it enough!
(5)
Benjamin E.
What a great little place right in the center of Lexington. It's right off the bike path so for people like me who like to go on weekend rides, this place makes the perfect place to stop in for lunch. The decor is very simple but the food is anything but plain. Loads of hot cheese and a delicious meat sauce. There is no alcohol served here, but it is BYOB so if you want to bring a bottle of wine or a few beers to have with your meal, it is perfectly fine.
(4)
Gray W.
Great local family Italian restaurant. The ziti is a favorite!
(4)
Joie S.
It makes me sad to see all of the negative reviews for Mario's. I have been going there for my whole life and my family and I love it! We lived in the neighborhood when I was a kid but we moved and now drive a half hour to Mario's a few times a year. The decor is charming, I love that nothing ever changes and that when I go there I'm flooded with family memories. It's small but it's cozy and parking is easy in parking lot behind the restaurant. The food is not what you will get in Boston's North End or Providence's Federal Hill. It's not fancy Italian but it is delicious and affordable, my favorite combination. As a kid, I always got the ravioli and it tastes exactly the same now as it did then. I usually order the lasagna now and it is huge, cheap and some of the best lasagna I have ever had. We always order trays of both the baked ziti and the lasagna for holidays and it's always a big hit. I don't have anything negative to say about Mario's. If you are looking for an upscale, expensive, authentic Italian restaurant, this place isn't for you. If you are looking for a charming restaurant with pretty delicious food that is incredibly affordable, you should check it out.
(5)
J C.
Had the lasagna, topped with marinara meat sauce, and a fried chicken cutlet on the side, topped with marinara and parmesan cheese. The marinara was something special here. It was sweeter than I expected with your typical tangy tomato, so I wonder if they mixed in some honey or something. Regardless, I liked that variation. The lasagna and chicken were standard and cooked correctly. No complaints. The value for food here is great. I got two meals out of a $13 (pre-tip) entree.
(4)
Ram K.
The pizza is fresh and made with real ingredients rather than using those frozen toppings. The crust is awesome. We had the vegetarian pizza which was great. I dont like actual when they put actual tomato without removing the flesh as it starts making the pizza mushy. The place is not clean. It is a typical hole in the wall on the better side but not an upscale classy place. Calzone, Pizza are great. Lunch should be good here. I hope
(4)
Kellie W.
A friend told me a few times how delicious this place was. I love Italian food, and I've had a lot of real traditional homemade Italian food. I can't explain how disgusting this was. Dominos or papa ginos is better I swear! It's so hard to screw up pasta but they did it. I had ravioli, thinking it's going to be yummy. It was gummy barely warm and the sauce was bland as bland can be. I was hoping it would be as good as my friend said. Shocked and grossed out it was definitely FROZEN! That's all I have to say! I'm not mean, it was bad. Save your $.
(1)
Chris G.
Very good value for the price. Not the best Italian food you will ever eat but definitely good and portion size is extremely generous. Definitely prefer the meat sauce over the marinara. Every meal I have had on the menu is enjoyable and warming. Perfect place for a good and enjoyable family meal, good for takeout as well.
(4)
Damon H.
Bleccccchh! We tried Mario's not too long after moving to lexington. I can't imagine how they're still in business unless just through unsuspecting tourists. Freezerburned ingredients and canned sauce over poorly cooked pasta. My son was 9 at the time he tried their chicken parm. He looked at me and said, "Daddy, I can make better sauce than this." I know he's right.
(2)
L J.
It's true the menu is very limited, but seriously GTFO with these negative reviews. When you calculate the fact that this place is extremely affordable, and you consider that it's BYOB, you should be giving this place the 3 or more stars it deserves. Some people will give it a 5 star review because it's down-to-earth. Other people will give it a 2 star review because they're pissed some ingredients are frozen. You do realize all restaurants have freezers, right? Jesus. The vibe of this place is simple, seemingly catering to the 70-year-old Italian couples and locals who've been coming here for years. So lighten up, Yelpers, check out the menu before you go if you think that's going to take away from the experience.
(4)
John P.
My family went to Mario's sat night after a short wait we enjoyed the eggplant chicken pram with shells dinner it was very tasty and plenty of it would come back again when in the area
(5)
Toodles K.
The negative reviews for this fine Italian establishment are flukes. Friends took me here for lunch. They had been there many times and had nothing but positive things to say about it. They said it was inexpensive Italian food. If you want Italian food from the North End then go there. The place was clean and our waitress was a doll. There were three of us and we shared what we ordered. There was a small pizza with sausage and mushrooms on it. There was chicken and eggplant parmesan. I ordered the lasagna with meat sauce and a side of two sweet sausages. There was a generous portion of lasagna. Totally fresh. Nothing tasted previously frozen nor microwaved. The pizza's crust was heavenly: not too thick, not too thin. The chicken and eggplant parm was flavorful and totally yum. Lastly, the tomato sauce they used in the dishes tasted different and fresh in each dish. Not an easy feat. I would definitely come back here anytime.
(5)
Steve J.
My life is complete. I came all the way from Los Angeles for their baked Ziti. It is amazing. The best in the country. Mekelia was the best thanks for making the evening special.
(5)
Susan L.
I could definitely do this meal at home with cheap frozen ravioli. But I wouldn't. The pasta was thick, obviously mass-produced, though the sauce was OK. If you want a cheap meal, and you have no taste buds, this place is OK. Decor, out of date, and the floor looked grimy. Would not return.
(1)
Kate C.
Mario's is one of my favorite restaurants. Huge, delicious portions for around $8. I always get the stuffed mushrooms to start, a house salad with creamy italian dressing, and the eggplant parm with spaghetti and meat sauce. This meal is incredible and feeds me for days (I am eating leftovers as I type this!). And the fun part is, it's BYOB. Mario's is such a laid back restaurant, that you don't need to get dressed up to go to, but you can if you want! Lexington is also adorable -- you can go for a walk before or after your meal, catch a discounted movie at the Lexington Flick on Wednesdays, or visit one of the many ice cream / FroYo places after your meal. I have been going here for years, and will be coming back for many more. I highly recommend Mario's!
(5)
Olivia M.
Such a great value! I wish there were more restaurants like this. I got the Chicken Parm which had a side of spaghetti, both of which were great and in large quantity. The food isn't fancy or adventurous but it's exactly what you would want in comfort food.
(5)
Marcus T.
Save yourself the trip. Call dominos. Pizza tasted like cardboard. Pasta was watery drizzle. Service was hilarious.
(1)
David K.
The baked ziti was wonderful!
(5)
K G.
Mario's is a small, family friendly Italian place. In my opinion, the menu is very small and there is nothing unusual on it. The decor is kind of dull and seating is crowded, and very loud...not ideal for a special date or anything... However, for the price and to bring the kids to have a nice time...just relaxing in the most casual way, this place just about nails it. The food was well cooked...they had a chicken / eggplant parm special going and plenty of bread that we kept coming. I prefer the meat sauce over the regular marinara. The waitstaff was fast, friendly and seemed to really care about doing a good job...even though it was overrun with people with a 30 min wait the night we went. Will be back again.
(4)
Amanda L.
I. LOVE. MARIOS. I went here almost everyday for awhile with my boyfriend of 15 years ago. Not because he was cheap, but because I love this place so much. This is the kind of place you can't find for love or money in LA. Just plain old regular Italian, nothing fancy, nothing foodie-rific, just GOOD. They gave me anchovies in my little salad, and that makes me happy. They gave me sauce on the side and that makes me happy. They have those cute little serving bowls for broiling the lasagna and that makes me happy. I'm crying on the inside because I can't go to Mario's tonight. I love Mario's.
(4)
Stephen C.
Reasonable food, reasonable service. If you're looking for a nice fancy italian restaurant, probably not where you'd want to go. But otherwise probably your go to place for simple and tasty italian dishes (like pasta and marinara, chicken/eggplant parm, etc). Their food is pretty good and they give nice hearty serving sizes.
(3)
Kate B.
I have been a huge fan of Mario's Italian Restaurant since I was a kid. The wait time can be a little long as there are not many tables. The bathroom is all the way down in the basement and the tables are a little cramped. The decor is also a little tacky with checkered table cloths and Italian landscape paintings. Other than that I love this place! The food is delicious. It is definitely Americanized-Italian but a big step up from Olive Garden. The bread is decent, warm and soft. I adore the chicken parmesan. It might be a bit salty for some people's taste but I like salty. It also comes with pasta with marinara sauce. The spaghetti and meatballs are also quite delicious and so is the broccoli and chicken calzone. It makes my mouth water just to think about. The portion sizes are good, usually too much for me to eat in one sitting so I take some home. The prices are pretty good too, nothing is more than $11. They also sell their yummy marinara and meat sauce by the quart and meatballs, buckets of spaghetti, and lasagna trays for parties. If you are fortunate enough to live in Lexington or are just passing through, I suggest giving Mario's a try.
(5)
Katie S.
Its cheap, but you can taste the cheapness. Service is alright, nothing special. I only went there because it was right near my school, I no longer go.
(3)
Vanessa M.
The meatballs are tasty, and huge. I would buy just them, and I have. The lasagna is gooey with a baked layer of cheese on the top, and the chicken parm is more than enough for the price. The bread's a bit eh, but add butter and you'll be fine.
(3)
El S.
If you like the taste of frozen Lean Cuisine Lasagna but want more calories without the hassle of microwaving then Mario's is for you! This place has been around for over 30 years, I think and I can't understand why. This is Italian food for Irish townies.
(1)
Jasper F.
For some strange reason this place seems to think if you order chicken cutlet they can serve you processed chicken fingers and you won't notice! I was SHOCKED to receive three chicken fingers with my ravioli in place of the chicken cutlet I had ordered. When I asked about it I was told that is what they serve for chicken cutlet! I then asked to have meatballs instead and was presented with three rubbery and clearly frozen (not home made) meatballs. I just don't see what people like about this place.
(1)
Tara M.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the "I love Mario's" FB group. I spent my entire childhood waiting for those times when my mother would be too tired to cook and our family would go to Mario's for dinner. In those pre-Bertucci days the wait could be over an hour. It was totally worth it. I wouldn't quite call Mario's an Italian restaurant. It's an Italian American restaurant. There's nothing delicate or rustic about it. You get red and white checkered table cloths, faux Italian paintings on the wall, and red plastic baskets of bread. Still, the food is very good and you will not find an ounce of pretense here. Love the eggplant parmesan subs. Love the pizza. Tastes like home.
(5)
Rich K.
I agree with other reviewers that this restaurant provides good Italian food at a reasonable value. However, the interior is very ordinary and a little cramped. I thought the service was really quite good. Nothing too special about this place.
(3)
Dizzy W.
Great place for lunch - nothing fancy but basic Italian food cooked with care. It's a bring your own wine, it gets busy in the evening and it's a first come first served place. Kids are welcome and you know they're getting good food rather than the pre-cooked frozen stuff from the big chain fast food outlets.
(3)
Min Y.
Not a fancy place but adequate for group outings..
(3)
Joel O.
This place would be better if it wasn't for the sauce. There's just something about it that doesn't sit well with me. Maybe it's too sweet, maybe it's just too red... IDK. I even think they use the same sauce on both pasta and pizza. Both the garden salad and chicken parm (minus the sauce) are OK but there are better ways to waste some calories. My family loves this place. It's a shame that everytime they want to eat here I can't help but think that I'd rather eat at any of the other restaurants nearby.
(2)
Meghan O.
I absolutely love this restaurant! My boyfriend, who grew up in Lexington, showed me Mario's on my first visit to Massachusetts and we always go back every time we visit. Prices are great and the food is delicious! I love love love the pizza and their sauce is magnificent. Now I only wish I lived closer!
(5)
Anthony S.
Ok so I went here yesterday with some colleagues and one of my co workers has lived in the area for years and recommended this place and said it was great! So we said, lets go and give it a shot. I first stepped in and didnt think much. Looked a bit small, but im a sucker for mom and pop, hole in the wall ish places, so I didnt mind it at all. I sat down and every immediately was attentive and friendly which is a huge plus in my book. They were not overly annoying either with coming back to the table. I checked the menue out and thought to myself how small it was. Typical subs, calzones, pizzas and typical pizza place food. I thought, well maybe its very very good then since its only a few things. We decided to get a Large Veggie Lovers Pizza. When it came to the table I started my critque. The pizza was a bit smaller then I expected a large to be and we had to share with 4 people (including me). The pizza looked great though and then tried it. I thought i was fantastic. Crisp crust, right amount of sauce and it had a different flavor then most places. The veggies on it were loaded on there and tasted all over delicious. The crust had a unique taste too which was my favorite part about it. Overall, the place has a so so ambience, amazing staff, great tasting food if you want Italian (but dont want Olive Garden or pay for North End prices), decent prices (pizza was about $18 ish plus tip), and overall good place. I will probably do a follow up critique and try this place again and give a more detailed review. Thank You! Check it out!
(4)
TennisTravels T.
Stopped for lunch after enjoying the Liberty Ride tour, Mario's hit the spot. Our party of three was shown to our seats immediately and our drink order was taken. Upon receiving our drinks, we were also given a basket of bread. My companions ordered spaghetti & meatballs and ravioli with meat sauce. I ordered the baked ziti. Ziti with a layer of crumbled meat in the middle covered with cheese and baked to a golden brown; served with marinara or meat sauce on the side. Portion sizes were large. Food tasted fabulous! I would definitely go for a return visit.
(4)
Michael S.
I had the lunch chicken parm with meat sauce and shells. This was so good! The lunch size was huge! I should have stopped half way through and taken some home but it was to good to stop. It was cheap too! $8 for lunch.
(5)
Eye Am V.
Family-friendly. Very. Small. Cramped. Affordable. NOT hoighty-toighty at all. Lil'bit grimy - but that is the territory of [again] Family Friendly. Not bad food (I happen to like Italian food) but limited chunky tomato sauce on everything. And thick cheese on everything as well. Can't go too wrong w/sauce & cheese...can you?!?!
(3)
Nate B.
Definable nothing special, but it was where I always went with friends after a half day of high school. Go for the calzones/stromboli -- enormous, low priced, and reasonably tasty.
(3)
Kristen B.
If I was rating this place only on the food, it would be a 1 star. However the service was fast and friendly and the prices are on the low side so I suppose I'll bump them up to 2 stars. Not impressed at all. I got the ravioli parmigiana with meatballs and the raviolis were probably some of the worst raviolis I've had. I could only even bring myself to eat one. My boyfriend tried one and thought they weren't even completely cooked. The sauce was extremely too watery. The meatballs were okay. Nothing to write home about. Boyfriend got spaghetti and sausage. I tried some of his since I wasn't going to eat mine. Meh. Wasn't impressed either but it was at least more edible than my ravioli. I read the reviews and I wanted to like this place, but I don't think I'll be giving it a second shot.
(2)
Corey F.
Honestly, I wasn't too excited about Mario's when I first stepped in. The place looked fine, somewhere between stereotypical American "Italian" restaurant and a pizza joint, but the menu was sparse and not especially exciting. I guess there's nothing wrong with sticking to the basics, as long as you do the basics well. So I went for the basics: pizza. And it was good. Good sauce, right ratio of sauce and cheese, tasty toppings. I was surprised to get Greek-style crust (not deep dish, but medium-thick, though I guess there's nothing inherently non-Italian about that), but I happen to prefer that to thin. I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the menu. The reason this place shines to me (and the reason I already need to review after only one visit) is the staff. Everyone was friendly and attentive as soon as we got there. Drinks were refilled promptly, servers who weren't working our table asked if we needed anything, and they all wore smiles. Craziest of all, when our pizza had a pretty minor mistake -- they left off one of the two toppings, and they caught it before the pizza even made it to the table -- they made it right to an impressive degree: not only did they quickly whip us up a pan of the missing topping to put on ourselves, but they gave us the whole large pizza for free. They wouldn't even let me compromise with them to pay for a small, or pay half, or *something*. I'm a fan of top notch devotion to customer satisfaction, so I'm a fan of Mario's.
(4)
Susan D.
What a great little neighborhood joint! My server was super sweet and had good timing. She never rushed us, but was swift in taking our orders and getting our drinks to us. I tried the eggplant parmigiana with cheese raviolis. That bubbly meat sauce with melted mozzarella cheese on top is to die for. I will definitely return with friends and get the same thing.
(4)
Dietsodafix C.
I grew up just a bit down Mass Ave in Arlington. So I been going to Mario's for years. Its a medium sized place very family friendly, cheap and tasty. You can BYOB which is awesome. My sister is vegetarian and loves the eggplant parm here better than anywhere. The staff of mostly high school & college age girls are very friendly and quick to get you anything you need. Nothing fancy, pasta pizza and salads but yummy none the less. Baked Ziti is popular, they layer it with ground beef and smother it with cheese. Take out is available too. You can order spaghetti & meatballs by the bucket to go. Its perfect for a nice cheap local night out with or without the family.
(4)
Paul C.
This place has the best "cheap" Italian food in the area. (And I mean "cheap" here in the best way possible!). This place does not have a huge menu selection, but what they have is just amazing. When I worked in Lexington I used to come here at least twice a month for lunch with my coworkers. I usually get the ravioli parmigiana or the Italian calzone (which is HUGE by the way). The chicken parm is also very good as is the lasagna. The sauce they have is very tasty. So good in fact I sometimes walk in here just to buy a quart of sauce for use at home! Please do not go to this place expecting world class service or decor. (You will be disappointed). Go here thinking this is a hole-in-the-wall place that has fast service and great inexpensive food and you will be happy. Because I know I am every time I leave here.
(5)
Cecilia L.
My friend used to rationalize ridiculous excuses to come to Lexington just to pick up a pizza here. So when she took us for the "best pizza" a couple years ago, I was expecting more than the greasy, heavy, bland pie I got. I recently went again and had the same mediocre pizza literally dripping with grease, accompanied by an unexciting buffalo chicken salad. Mario's isn't gross or anything, just the type of average that makes you think "well, I'm full now and there goes another meal of my life." Skip it in favor of the many better spots in Lexington Center.
(2)
M M.
This is our family's absolute favorite Italian restaurant. I've been coming here since my teens, and now as a mom in my 30s, my husband and I love taking our two young daughters here. Absolutely delicious food in charming Lexington Center. We love it, and in 20 years, I can honestly say every meal has been delicious!
(5)
Steve C.
Three and a half stars, really..:... Not, this was a gem. Great pasta and calzone and so inexpensive. Service with a smile.
(5)
Geo O.
Ok, right up front, I've been going to Mario's for nearly 30 years now and the place hasn't changed even though the atmosphere in Lexington has. It's the last hold-out mom-n-pop type establishment in an upscale town center, but that's what keeps people coming back. You don't go there for gourmet dishes with intricate recipes. Just go there for simple, hearty Italian dishes, smothered in red sauce and cheese, you will not be disappointed. The atmosphere is very old school: dim lighting, hardwood chairs, tacky wall murals and red/white checker tablecloths. The staff is friendly, but they can get rushed as this place tends to draw a crowd. Just follow my #1 Mario's tip: Always order the meat sauce! I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that reviewers here that say they didn't like the sauce ordered marinara on their food. The marinara is ok, but it is a little bland. The meat sauce has a lot more oomph. Their menu is short. I strongly recommend anything parmigiana (veal, chicken or eggplant) or their lasagna. Their pizza is very good, but it has a very unique crust that doesn't always click with everyone, I suggest trying it once to see which side you're on. And always check the specials on the board! Usually you can get a good combo plate. By far, my favorite place to just chill out. Highly recommended.
(5)
Sheri H.
I was in Lexington recently and, having read a review about Mario's in a local newspaper, I decided to go in for lunch. As many have already mentioned, the menu is fairly limited (pasta, veal, eggplant, and chicken parm, ravioli, lasagna, pizza, etc.) so I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs--which consisted of a big plate of spaghetti, plenty of (fresh) sauce, and 4 big meatballs. There was also endless Italian bread (which was nice and soft) and, all in all, the food reminded me of the Italian restaurants that I used to eat at as a kid (although, admittedly, with a lot less decor). But I don't look for decor for lunch, I just want to eat, and, based on my experience, this was just good, solid, well-cooked, old-school Italian food--and it only cost $6.79 (before tax, of course). My only complaint would be that the service wasn't all that great. If you are a food snob and/or are looking for ambience, you're not going to like this place. There is no herb-and-olive oil dipping sauce. And they don't offer anything in the way of the newer versions of Italian cuisine that you now see in many of the more "upscale" Italian restaurants that are opening in the area. (In fact, from what I could see, their only concession to modern restaurantism is that they offer the refillable soda.) There is nothing fancy going on here, so if you are the kind of diner who can't enjoy a meal unless it is served in an upscale environment, with plenty of "atmosphere," then don't bother with Mario's; it's not a place for yuppies. It's just a nice, small, family restaurant and while it's not the best old-school Italian-American food that I've eaten, it is still very good (and if the rest of their menu is on par with the meal that I just had there, then I will definitely want to eat there again. And again, and again. Maybe even become a semi-regular...)
(4)
Dexter F.
Solid italian place. I love the pizza, and chicken parm dinner. This is one of those places you get cravings for, even when you've moved 50miles away.
(4)
Tom F.
I love Mario's! Been going here since I was a kid and the food is as good and consistent as ever (and close to the same price!). Yes, the atmosphere is kind of bland, but I am willing to give that up for the great tasting Italian food that they serve here. The portions are generous and I really like their sauce. They serve little pieces of bread in a plastic basket with each meal that I enjoy dipping in their sauce. If you are looking for some good, inexpensive Italian food, you need to give Mario's a try. Don't be fooled by the atmosphere.
(5)
Dana Z.
Mario's is one of those places that the locals all flock to, but I'm just not a fan. It's hardcore middle-of-the-road canned sauce, too much mozzarella on everthing, bland and tasteless. In this day and age of delicious artisanal breads (or even with sesame seeds on top) and salads with flavor and variety, Mario's still holds on to that model of bland, boring squishy Italian bread and iceberg lettuce with 1/4 green tomato salads. You could go there if your kids were driving you nuts and you wanted to get out of the house (and that's who's mainly eating there...kids running wild and screeching in the place while their mommies send text messages and ignore them) . Everything is too salty, bland and just kinda nasty. And the decor is cheesy but not in a fun retro way. Lastly; the bathrooms are completely disgusting; if they cannot be bothered to keep clean bathrooms; what does that say about any of the quality concerns?
(1)
Erin M.
Went to Mario's on Sunday night with a friend. The place is tiny and humble but does not boast to be anything more than that. As others have pointed out, it has the crazy checkered tablecloths and big landscape paintings as the center of its decor. Since Mario's is a dressier version of take out pizza, this works. The restaurant holds around 60 people and was packed when we arrived around 7:00 pm. The table turnover was fairly quick but no one appeared to be rushed out. When we did get a table the waitress informed us that the dishwasher was having plumbing issues so they were using mainly paper products that night. Interesting. The use of paper, styrofoam, and utensils wrapped in plastic (napkin included!) made me feel like I was at an indoor picnic but at least Mario's and its wait staff let everyone know the situation rather than make its customers believe this was the norm. The menu is not extensive but did offer calzones which for whatever reason I have had trouble locating around the area so I ordered a broccoli and chicken one. The wait was not too long and the food came out at just the right temperature (on a real dish with a real knife thankfully). Honestly though, I expected a bit more cheese (ok, I SOME cheese) in it so I did feel a bit disappointed. It was a good calzone though but I do not see myself traveling back to Lexington for it. Apparently the lasagna is really good though so if in the area I may go for that. Overall, it's a cute little place with decent food that I caught on a weird night. Not bad, but not great. Also, the waitstaff was attentive and kind even though they were very busy. Kudos to them for that because it is a job I could never do.
(3)
Alexis J.
OMG! I am shocked... after a work function my coworker suggested we stop by Marco's for lunch before returning to the office. He said they had great eggplant parm and I agreed to go, expecting to have an average lunch break meal. Walking in Mario's looked like your typical little Italian restaurant... I was not expecting to have some of the best EPP of my life! Perfectly cooked with the right amount of cheese and flavor. The cheesy was baked and bubbling over the dish, smothered with sauce, yet the eggplant was still crispy (and not greasy). So many Italian joints make an average to bland EPP, but this was just perfect. And the tomato sauce was so rich with tomato flavor... just really tasty. As if it couldn't get any better, the whole lunch cost $7! For a huge portion of EPP and a side of pasta! Simple little family owned restaurant with friendly staff and quality food. I will definitely be back. Other bonuses... big parking lot out back and its BYOB!
(4)
Natalia O.
Yummy Italian classic dishes, simple but always hitting the mark. Good service and nice downtown location. Nice place for a low key meal.
(4)
Terry T.
I'm averaging this review as my friend gave it 1 star and I gave it 3. Basically bland italian-inspired fare. I had the special baked ziti and found it a hearty portion though somewhat bland. My friend had the chicken parm and commented that his reason for giving the place 1 star was that the service was friendly but the food was mediocre at best when given the fact that great italian food wasn't that hard to find in New England (besides the North End which is a given, there are a lot of decent italian restuarants all over). As such, despite having been back 1 more time, we'll have to leave the ranking a solid 2 stars - adequate but there are better options in the area.
(2)
Orly M.
This is bizarre. I can't believe all of the positive reviews for Mario's!!! I am seriously in shock. I guess the ugly space with ugly, uncomfortable wooden chairs and checkered tableclothes that look like they have endured decades of use are "charming" or some crap. I certainly don't think so. Growing up in the metropolis that is Lexington with its handful of restaurants, I have been dragged to Mario's many a time and I don't think I ever ate anything that resembled decent. Everything is mediocre at best. Even my FOB Israeli ass couldn't be fooled into thinking this was decent Italian food. So where do I begin? Pizza that is mushy with too much sauce, fresh from the can, and too much cheese. Bertucci's down the street may be pricy but the pizza is far superior there. The pasta is always just a little overcooked and the tomato sauce tastes like Ragu. I'm not looking to go out for pasta that I can make for 5 bucks in 10 minutes at home. I give Mario's an extra star for good lasagna and decent meatballs. Although the polpette at Bertucci's are still much, much better. Service that rivals Dick's Last Resort for the rudest service around. Neighborhood Italian? This is Lexington center! If you want neighborhood Italian, go to Arlington. If you want to be surrounded by yuppies when you eat your Ragu, come here. Whatever, you can try it for yourself, just don't say I didn't warn you.
(2)
Melissa M.
Yes, Mario, I love you and your food. I love your 1974 ambiance with the old school pepsi light decor. I love your red and white checkered tops. I like the 15 year old sweet high school kids that work here. Mario has not changed with the times, and that my friends is a good thing. Your cheese ravioli, lasagna, pizza and even bread and salad is so worth the drive from my house. If you can't decide on where to go for Italian food, go here. It's cheap too!
(5)
Jack N.
What you'll find here is some good Italian quick-food. Don't take the parents when they come into town, but if you want fast, casual, cheap, and tasty, this'll definitely get the job done. I hit Marios every 3 weeks or so - I definitely recommend any pizza and the antipasto salad. I've ventured off that course, and while impressed, always go back to the pizza. A little noisy and crowded for goups, but great for just 2 or 3. Expect kids to be present and loud - for some reason, the parents who bring their kids here have no idea how to parent.
(4)
Valerie S.
Great pizza! I've been going here for years. It gets kinda crowded and noisy with high school kids and the mozzarella sticks kinda fall apart... but otherwise? I LOVE IT
(4)
Francis C.
The food here is very solid. I got the chicken parm and it did not disapoint. It's also very reasonably priced, particularly in comparison to its neighbor Bertucci's. The only reason for the four stars is that the service was a little slow on the night I went. Nothing major, I just had to wait a little while for another water. It can also get pretty crowded around dinner-time. Overall though, it's definitely a step above your average (generic) Italian place.
(4)
Rebecca O.
Wow - this place was really awful. We were there on a Thursday evening and the service was incredibly slow. We waited over 45 minutes to get our food and when it arrived, it was horrible - bland, overcooked, nothing fresh in sight. The baked ziti was a layer of overdone pasta covered with two inches of ground beef, with cheese baked on top. Gross. The calzone was the only edible item we ordered, but even it was not very good. Don't go - save your money for some place better.
(2)
Jeff B.
I almost don't want to write a review because I want to keep this little gem all to myself. But seeing how everyone else is letting the cat out of the bag, I'll stand up as a star witness (pardon the pun) and let you all know how much I revere Mario's. Bring your own wine if you like, let Mario's cooks do what they do best... make great pizza, pasta and subs. Their homemade marinara and bolognese are so good you can buy some to take home. The same goes for their Italian and creamy Italian dressings. This place is simple to say the least, but Mario's is consistently good as the first time I went there in 1996. It's clear that the owner's know what works: they only hire attractive, young, polite waitresses. In the day when you can get crummy Italian in the north end, that's the day you give a place like Mario's 5 stars. If you're looking for more than basic, good, quality, Italian American food in a bare bones setting, go waste your money at the olive garden, I'll be at Mario's, keeping the gem to myself.
(5)
J. D.
Mmmm nom nom nom..love marios! I have been eating at Mario's for years and have never had a bad experience. If you took me to a fancy restaurant I wouldn't know what to do with myself so that is probably why I feel so comfortable here. Huge servings for real cheap. I know the food isn't probably the best quality but it definitely isn't lacking in terms of taste. The last time I went with three friends during a snowy blah day when we needed good food to cheer us up. We started with an order of mozz sticks and a sausage,pepper, and onion pizza to share. Is it weird to get a pizza as an app? We all sort of thought so but wanted a slice and a meal = ) I got the chicken/ravioli parm combo with meat sauce, someone else got the eggplant parm, and two people got the chicken parm with meatsauce. The eggplant and chicken parm entrees are served with choice of shells or spaghetti. The waitress kept replacing our bread basket and seemed to adopt the Planet Fitness "judgement free zone" philosophy on how much we were consuming. We all got our simple garden salads and I don't know why but I absolutely love the creamy italian dressing here. My friends make fun of me because it is the one thing I get most excited about ..weird. All of our food was delish as always. I don't do eggplant but all my friends who ever get it swear by it. Oh and Marios is byob so you can run across the st to the small package store grab a bottle (or 3) of wine and enjoy it out of the paper pepsi cups they supply, So classy I love it! Alllll that food for under $50 and leftovers for everyone. Unbelievable. We always have to tip our waitress 30% because I am sure we are pretty loud/obnoxious because we are so happy and food drunk. I love you Mario's and always will.
(4)
Rich S.
Mario's is your basic old school Italian-American joint. It has good pizza, pasta and the chicken parm is delicious!
(4)
Elizabeth F.
I ordered a mushroom and onion pizza, and my boyfriend had the ravioli parmagiana with sausage. It was, by far, the most boring, unsatisfying food I've ever had.
(1)
Matthew A.
Local good old neighborhood Italian food like it should be. No frills but very tasty. Yelp member recommended as a BYOB restaurant. See my BYOB List for more BYOB establishments.
(5)
ChianWen T.
So much in life is just average, like the middle of a bell curve. Mario's is like that , just average. I had an Italian sub for just about $6. For that money you could get something some much better and bigger on State Street downtown Boston. I guess you really have to have an affinity for Lexington in the first place to really appreciate and love Mario's. I am just not a Lexingtonian like that.
(3)
L H.
If you take it for what it is: a small Italian place with the basics and no frills, for a GREAT price, then you would love it. It is the perfect place to stop for lunch when riding your bike on the Minuteman Trail with your kids. Just bop in, plunk down, and have a meal. Nothing fancy and at times the food can miss, but really, find what you like, and go there just for that. Not nearly as diverse as Bertucci's next door's selection (nor as long of a wait), but it doesn't pretend to be anything other than basic and filling.
(4)
Sara C.
Chicken parm was pretty decent, lots of cheese. Really big amount. The only problem I had was with the spaghetti sauce on the side. It had meat which was fine but something was definitely off. Too sweet maybe?
(3)
Sarah B.
good, cheap food and friendly, quick service. great place to go if you don't want to wait long for food (unless it's a busy time and there's a wait to be seated). they never judge me for ordering off the kids meal. it's BYOB.
(4)
Kristen F.
Very cute little Italian parlor. I liked the set up and the checkered table cloths. My family all had Italian dishes they were pleased with. I had pizza, although I tad on the greasy side, I liked it. A great spot to pop into if you're in this area
(4)
Alicia T.
Mario's is great. Nothing fancy, just a great quick lunch or dinner with the fam. The waitstaff is very friendly and the restaurant is quaint and cute. It's like a home cooked meal, not over the top with presentation or flavors, but very satisfying. Terrible pizza though...
(4)
Cee L.
The baked ziti here is heaven. The portions appear to be small at first, but once you sink your jaws into that delicious concotion you will be surprised. It's filling and even if you have leftovers it's absolutely delicious when you reheat it.
(4)
Jules M.
All I have to say is get the eggplant and chicken parm with shells. You won't be disappointed. I very seldom eat anything with red sauce but I can't resist it here.
(4)
Christine C.
I just love Mario's. The food is great and cheap. The wait staff is always friendly. The lunch specials are very good. The only drawback is that sometimes it can be very busy and if you don' have all members of your party there, you can't sit down. I go with some vegeterian friends and they love the eggplant parm (as do I) and the pizza. They offer marinara or meat sauce. And when I went there last, there were about 6 kids (all under the age of 4) who seemed to be having a good time. Very kid-friendly.
(5)
luke b.
YUMMMMMMMMMM! This place serves the quintessential Italian-American cuisine. Great tomato sauce, great parmesans(chicken, eggplant... and RAVIOLI!), great meatballs! It's classic. F*CK Vinny T's... and Maggiano's. They both blow but I suppose that goes without saying. If you have a craving for a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs this is your joint. If you wanna drink, you have to bring your own... but still... so delicious.
(5)
Susan W.
This is not great red-sauce Italian. It is serviceable and sturdy. You will not get food poisoning here. It is not wonderful. What is with people who review here, passing out four and five stars? Is the frozen tv dinner their standard meal? Decent, serviceable but uninspired Italian deserves two stars!
(2)
LEONARD D.
My wife have been eating here for over 20 years , Great sauce & even better prices. Pick up a bottle of wine at the nearby store & drink from plasic cups . Gotta love this place ! 4 stars
(4)
Sara P.
The food is fairly basic, but good and inexpensive. There are a few surprises (when you think you're ordering sausage lasagna you're ordering lasagna with a side of sausage, and the eggplant parmesian comes with meat sauce if you don't ask for it to be vegetarian -- although the wait staff will warn you about that), but overall you get what you order and it's good.
(5)
Deanna R.
I love this place! I'm not really into Italian food, but it tastes so homemade- as opposed to Bertucci's and Olive Garden. This place reminds me of my friend's mother's recipes. It's cheap, the food is always HOT, and it's a small restaurant. My friends and I started going a couple times a month because we love it so much!
(5)
Christine T.
Went here with Mom since we were in the area. We were going to go to a chain restaurant down the street but saw this little hole-in the wall type restaurant and figured what the hell. Mario's is small, but cozy. It was great on a Wednesday afternoon, we parked in the back (meter parking: 25 cents = 1 hour) we walked right in and sat ourselves. Typically you'd have to sign in and wait however long the list says but not on a weekday afternoon. Our waitress was friendly and upbeat - I wish I could remember her name. We ordered garlic bread, salads and we split a chicken/broccoli calzone (all pictured). The salads were okay - you could tell they were pre-made and they were soaked in dressing. The garlic bread was good, it could've been toasted a bit more but needless to say there wasn't any left on the plate. The calzone was delicious, a good size and beautifully cooked, also came with a side of marinara which was FRESH, that made it extra delicious. we had a ton for left overs too which I love. All in all we had a hardy meal and it was all only $23, whicih is really cheap. My only complaint is I wish the menu was bigger and I wish they had more Italian based items (this is certainly an Americanized menu)... for example I can't find a good Italian egg-roll anywhere. that would've made my day!
(4)
Scott L.
Ate here for the first time on a date. Great atmosphere despite the small size of the restaurant. Just a short wait on a Saturday night at 5:30. Attentive waitstaff, very quick response, and informative. Menu is very straight forward. Spaghetti? Check. Ravioli? Check. Veal Parm. Yup. Despite the simplistic menu, took awhile to decide. Food was terrific with hefty portions. They don't serve alcohol but you can bring your own, Mario's will even give you two paper cups. Best part of my experience was the "Pay it Forward" theme going with our waitress. Throughout her shift, patrons had been paying $5 - $10 for the next party at the table or another table. So cool. With our $5 off, the bill ended up being only $16. So, I left $5 at our table and $5 at another table. Will definitely eat here again. Highly recommended!!!
(5)
Tanya I.
Great price and the food is OK. Family atmosphere but not very clean. Great house salads.
(3)
Elizabeth M.
I've been to Mario's a few times, and I wasn't expecting mind blowing cuisine or service, but as the the two star rating says "Meh- I've had better." Not sure why it has such a following, but it looks like a place you can take your kids on the cheap, while avoiding the Burlington/Middlesex Turnpike madness. Expect to be served by a grumbling teenager. Menu is VERY limited. There's just not much to it at all. As far as the food goes.... Again, I've had better. Red sauce is pretty watery, ravioli looked like they had been frozen, it was sort of sad. I was expecting it to be some small town gem that makes a lot of its dishes from old family recipes, but it looks like it's mostly frozen stuff that gets nuked and served up. Spend the same money down the street at Neillio's and get amazing, freshly made pastas, raviolis and sauces and make it at home. More bang for your buck, that's for sure.
(2)
Amanda J.
Delicious typical hole in the wall Italian place. Not a huge selection, but everything we ordered was a large portion and very flavorful. I had the chicken parm, and the chicken was cooked perfectly. If you like simple good Italian food, you will like this place. If you are looking for complex dishes and an upscale atmosphere, it might not be for you.
(4)
Elizabeth K.
I don't want to like this place, but, I do. I've been going since I was a kid. Occasionally I still meet up there with my mom for lunch or dinner. Know why? It's cheap, easy, and yummy. It's not creative, but, it's solid. The chicken parm is always crispy and smothered in cheese. Absolutely smothered. The portions are also huge, so, it's like two meals. It's cheap. Super super cheap. Occasionally a girl needs a budget meal to fuel her fancy food addiction :) Also, it's BYOB and it's on the Minuteman Bike Trail - both perks on their own, though, I wouldn't suggest combining them.
(4)
S S.
My family likes this place. Very simple but the food is good. Prices are good as well. I love their lasagna and pastas. Will recommend to check it out for lunch.
(5)
Brian D.
Heard nothing but great things about this establishment which faded quickly upon arriving. The decor was quite outdated, the food was obviously from frozen and just all around bland. Ordered the baked ziti and it arrived like a piece if pie with overcooked ziti and with the cheese being the only thing that was baked. Cheap prices yes but I'd recommend buying the ingredients (I'm positive anyone could replicate this food and make it more flavorful). The waiter I had was the only positive aspect of this visit he was fast and very polite. I can easily say I will not be having a return visit
(1)
Greg H.
Food tastes frozen!! It sucks! Don't ever go here!!! The pizza has too much cheese and ingredients taste cheap. Maybe the sauce isn't real...
(1)
Jim S.
Cheap for a reason. Same (very ordinary) sauce on everything. Menu from an "Italian-American" restaurant of the 60's (bet there's no real Italian cook within miles of the kitchen). Food is competently cooked but very ordinary. Really out of place in Lexington with its selection of semi-upscale yuppie food places (and the obligatore set of Asians). But it serves a purpose and is always crowded for that reason.
(3)
Joanne G.
Everyone says "don't go to a italian restaurant and order spaghetti and meatballs..." seriously people??? isn't that the lock, stock and barrel of any GOOD italian restaurant? So I can't say that I *just* went to Marios - because that would be a big, fat lie - I was exposed to this mound of awesomeness last year but never reviewed it (not even sure i was a yelp'r then either) So I wanted to make sure that I went to it before I yelped about it again (not fair to have years past flavor memories, you know?) Hubbie and I went while we were driving thru Lexington to go to his workplace on the other side of I-95 - and yea, the place is wikked small and aside from the awesome oil paintings on the wall - it's like this place I waitressed at in Richmond Virginia - kinda dumpy. But don't let the looks deceive you - that's were "dumpy" stops. We were seated immediately for lunch (something that is kinda unheard of at this restaurant at dinnertime btw) and the cute, peppy and quite busy waitress came over to us right away. And you people know what she brought us right??? Yes, soft bread and butter - OH MY. Carb heaven I say We ordered the following: Mario's special baked ziti and 3 side meatballs - for me Eggplant parm over ravoli - for hubbie It was all good - I wasn't totally blown away with the baked ziti - kinda boring - but hubbie LOVED it - it's because he's a noodle fiend - seriously - it was noodles then meat then noodles then cheese - it was about 6 inches tall for goodness sake! His meal was moist and yummie - the eggplant is always my fave part of any eggplant dish - so I dug in a couple of times. It was a lot of food - so request a doggie bag - and wanna know something? skip the drinks - just have water - the drinks are super expensive - even for just lemonade.... Oh yea - I started off this yelp with my whole "spaghetti and meatball" speel - and I'm sure you are wondering why I didn't have it - well - I thought I would just rave and rave about how great it is - because really, I've only had that here before because it is so spectacular. Spaghetti is perfect, meatballs are huge and sweet and saucy..ok it's 8:09am and I want some now!!!
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Darya I.
So i have been to Marios about 10 times. I think its great but it also reminds me of Bertuccis if u know what im saying. You all probably think im crazy fr thinking this omg lol ok lets be serious. Its good it used to be our hangout for like our high school kids but honestly like i think there are better places for this. For middle age i like it but not best family hangout or dinner for couples. They have best pasta out of everything on the menu but eat anything its good.
(4)Michael R.
Great food at a Great Price! This place has that Italian restaurant feeling that you grew up with. It's a cozy place (think slim building with tables in two rows, which brings the noise level up a little). It's warm in the winter and the only down side is it is BYOB and the closest liquor store is about a ten minute walk. Definitely bring your own bottle of wine. The meal: I had the eggplant and chicken parm. It cost under $9 and I couldn't finish it. The eggplant parm was great and came with a side of pasta. I went with a friend who got the Stromboli which was equally large for a very reasonable price. This is historic Lexington at its best. Customer service was great.
(4)Brian S.
I've been to Mario's many, many times, so that alone should tell you something. I often get lunch takeout and am usually fairly well pleased. I'm a big fan of their chicken parm. Now, it's important to note, this is not the chicken parm you'd get in Italy or even the north end. This is the breaded fried heavy on the sauce and cheese american version of chicken parm, but it's so delicious I don't really care. Last time I was there I ordered a side of broccoli and it was way overcooked :(. I'll give you a pass this time Mario's, but don't let it happen again. Overall, great Italian comfort food place in the heart of Lexington. Parking can be a pain in the metered lot behind the restaurant, and the local police seem to be just itching to hand out tickets, so be careful.
(4)Sarah B.
I've been to Mario's several times, and the food is always great and the waitresses very friendly and helpful. My favorite dish is the ravioli with chicken parm - SO good, and the price is very reasonable. The portions are pretty big. The food is always tasty.
(5)Victoria T.
I used to be a regular in high school and I recently came back after not having eaten here in a few years. Pretty much nothing's changed. Marios is a very unpretentious place. Adjust your expectations to to match their prices! They definitely serve "comfort" Italian food, heavy flavors with a lot of meat and cheese. The Marios formula: Carb (ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna noodle, etc) + Lots of homemade marinara sauce + meat + lots of cheese. I'm not much of a cheese connoisseur so I have no idea what kind of cheese they use on their dishes--but it not a fancy cheese. Everything on the menu is pretty basic; if you can't make it with carb/sauce/meat/cheese, the probably don't have it. My go-to dish is the Chicken Parm with Ravioli. Lunch price ($8.99 for lunch, $10.99 at dinner for the same thing) is a steal for the portions they give! I can get 2 medium-sized meals if I don't stuff myself. (People say chipotle burritos are 2 meals, but they really aren't. This dish is ACTUALLY 2 meals worth). I've also had their pizza, calzones, and lasagna. Lasagna is your comfort lasagna: heavy on the sauce flavor and pretty simple. I'm actually a fan of their pizza and I think their calzones are solid. I don't like Bertucci's and Upper Crust's thinner, dryer crusts, so if you like those kinds of pizzas, Marios may not be for you. Their crusts are thicker but not super mushy and soaked in grease like some other pizza places. Also, some of my friends who prefer Bertucci to Marios say that Marios' marinara sauce is too sweet. I have to agree that it is a little on the sweet side, but the meat sauce is definitely less sweet. The sauces are supposed to be homemade. Whether you like sweetness in the sauce will be a matter of preference. Service is decent; no complaints. The last time I was here the waitress was super eager (some might say, overly eager/bordering on hovering) to get us water, check on how were we liking the food, and whether we wanted the check. She came over repeatedly, perhaps 7-9 times. I dont think she was rushing to get us out the door though. She was friendly and was probably trying to be attentive.
(4)Martin A.
First time at Mario's and I loved it. They have nice size portions at a very good price. The staff was friendly and service was fast. Don't forget to stop at the liquor store on the way as they have no liquor on the premises but you can bring your own.
(5)Adam L.
Haven't had good inexpensive Italian restaurant in a while! If theres one word that i can describe this restaurant it would be home style Italian! I had to drive 30 mins out here just to try this restaurant! I enjoyed this place a lot. I was recommended the chicken parm! The amount flavoring and cheese in this chicken parm was excellent. It came out in two separate bowl with the chicken in one and the noodles in another! I can't tell you how much I thought this parm was one of the best i've had in a while. Everything you look for in an italian restaurant. Good Cheese, great portion, and the meal cooked at perfection. It was a great blend of home style cooking with high quality ingredients. Must check out this place yourself!
(4)Eric G.
Neat little Italian place near the battle green in Lexington. Great atmosphere and the service was excellent. Our server was very engaging and friendly.
(4)June O.
Great classic Italian American dishes that always hit the spot. Plus, their prices are fantastic!!! My fiancé and I can eat out here for $20. It's BYOB, so you can save money on booze!! Really kid friendly and the marinara sauce is great. I love their lasagna!!
(5)Jeff D.
This is a somewhat limited review as I only go here for lunch and almost always get a grilled chicken salad. The bang for the buck is great. You get a good sized salad with a healthy portion of chicken for 2/3rds what it will cost you at Panera across the street. I've also had a meatball sub there and it was very good. Pretty much everything you'd expect from an Italian joint. Big, meaty meatballs, good sauce and some melted provolone to make sure it's a messy, delicious treat.
(3)Sarah B.
Oh Mario's, how we love thee! When I mention Mario's to my husband, I swear he starts salivating! I'd venture to say it's the best place to go for cheap, delicious Italian comfort food outside of the North End or Nonni's kitchen (If you are lucky enough to have a Nonni). It's a hidden gem. The service is consistently great and the food has never disappointed us. Of note, the baked ziti is different than most Italian places I've experienced as it is similar to the Greek Pastitsio. However it is amazing! Give Mario's a try!
(5)Christine J.
Good family styled Italian food, can be crowded at rush hour meal times. Service was avg. not a must go.
(3)Mike L.
Yes, you have had better Italian food. But you don't come to Mario's because you expect a Michelin star level food, but you come to Mario's because it's a nice inexpensive option with generous portions in your neighborhood. One of my favorite options for take out here is the pasta bucket. It's a "Half Gallon Bucket of Spaghetti or Shells with Sauce, 12 Meatballs and Bread" for about 15 dollars. It's an extremely hefty amount of food for a good price. The pizza here isn't anything to write home about, but it's very solid (though sauce can be a bit runny sometimes).
(3)Jessica W.
Mario's is a classic and an all time favorite. I've seen some reviews from people who don't like the look of the restaurant, but I love it! It's a low key environment , and that it hasn't changed since I was a kid, and I hope it never does! The quality of the food is great, they have THE BEST sauce, all of the dishes here are delicious, from the pizza to the baked ziti, to the salad and bread, you must try Mario's.
(5)Sarah F.
Pretty much exactly what we expected in a neighborhood Italian place. Red-checked tablecloths, all the standard American Italian menu items. The waitresses knew basically everyone in the place, adorable. Friendly, fast service and the prices are fabulous. The bread they bring to your table was supermarket quality, pretty boring French bread. The mozzarella sticks were definitely frozen, which we probably should have expected. They were cooked well, so all fine. The chicken Parmesan was tender and delicious with LOTS of cheese... really everything you're looking for in a red-checked-tablecloth Italian place in a small town. When we walked in there was a (short) wait to be seated, and no one greeted us or told us that we were supposed to write our OWN names on the list until we flagged a waitress down several minutes later. No real harm done, but for non-locals it would be nice to have a sign or something saying that.
(3)Roxanne B.
Great food for price. Nice gravy! Tasty veal parm. Baked ziti was good since I never tried before it went for it we brought our own soda water and beer. $50 for 4 with tip- such a deal. Lots of regulars. Wait was their an early bird special for the elderly? Nice friendly patrons!
(4)David L.
A solid three stars. I enjoy Mario's because I walk in that door with managed expectations - in other words, I don't expect meals or dishes that are served up in The North End, nor do I expect stellar customer service. What I do know is that Mario's has bargain basement prices and large portions, which should be a clear giveaway on the overall quality of the food. I really don't mind if their pastas are frozen...as long as the person in the kitchen can thaw the pasta, boil the pasta, and serve it on a dish with meat sauce we're square. Ditto with their lasagna. Il Casale is moving in next door, so I'm sure the owners of Mario's aren't so thrilled. But they shouldn't be too worried, if history is any guide. In true "Survivor" fashion, Mario's outwitted and outlasted the Evil Empire Vinny T's, which was located in Vine Brook Tavern's current space. And I will be clear - Il Casale is no Vinny T's. In more retailer terms, if Il Casale is the Gap (or Gap-owned premium brand Banana Republic), then Mario's would be Old Navy. Mario's value/bargain basement prices and lower end products and services simply cater to a more price conscious demographic. And if there is another economic draw down/recession - which is inevitable should one subscribe to market cycles - the silver lining is that all of us will most likely trade down to less expensive offerings. Hang in there Mario's...Outwit, Outlast, Outplay.
(3)Wendi X.
First of all this place is inexpensive limited menu restaurant. With that said it serves it purpose on all levels for everyone with today's finical entanglements. However, this place could use a new sprucing up, from the table cloths, floor, decor, new menu's, etc... The food is good over all. I have eaten here a lot on all different times from lunch, dinner, in between those times and after those times and have had various things. As the saying goes dont knock it until you try it.
(4)Courtney C.
I have been going here since I was little. All my family goes here, and I got all my friends hooked as well. The food is great and you cant beat their prices. The chicken parm and shells with meat sauce (you have to get the meat sauce) and their salads are amazing. The staff is always so nice and most of them remember us whenever we go. I drive about 25 min for both dine-in and for take out. It is worth the drive! Been to many parties that they have catered as well. Cant recommend it enough!
(5)Benjamin E.
What a great little place right in the center of Lexington. It's right off the bike path so for people like me who like to go on weekend rides, this place makes the perfect place to stop in for lunch. The decor is very simple but the food is anything but plain. Loads of hot cheese and a delicious meat sauce. There is no alcohol served here, but it is BYOB so if you want to bring a bottle of wine or a few beers to have with your meal, it is perfectly fine.
(4)Gray W.
Great local family Italian restaurant. The ziti is a favorite!
(4)Joie S.
It makes me sad to see all of the negative reviews for Mario's. I have been going there for my whole life and my family and I love it! We lived in the neighborhood when I was a kid but we moved and now drive a half hour to Mario's a few times a year. The decor is charming, I love that nothing ever changes and that when I go there I'm flooded with family memories. It's small but it's cozy and parking is easy in parking lot behind the restaurant. The food is not what you will get in Boston's North End or Providence's Federal Hill. It's not fancy Italian but it is delicious and affordable, my favorite combination. As a kid, I always got the ravioli and it tastes exactly the same now as it did then. I usually order the lasagna now and it is huge, cheap and some of the best lasagna I have ever had. We always order trays of both the baked ziti and the lasagna for holidays and it's always a big hit. I don't have anything negative to say about Mario's. If you are looking for an upscale, expensive, authentic Italian restaurant, this place isn't for you. If you are looking for a charming restaurant with pretty delicious food that is incredibly affordable, you should check it out.
(5)J C.
Had the lasagna, topped with marinara meat sauce, and a fried chicken cutlet on the side, topped with marinara and parmesan cheese. The marinara was something special here. It was sweeter than I expected with your typical tangy tomato, so I wonder if they mixed in some honey or something. Regardless, I liked that variation. The lasagna and chicken were standard and cooked correctly. No complaints. The value for food here is great. I got two meals out of a $13 (pre-tip) entree.
(4)Ram K.
The pizza is fresh and made with real ingredients rather than using those frozen toppings. The crust is awesome. We had the vegetarian pizza which was great. I dont like actual when they put actual tomato without removing the flesh as it starts making the pizza mushy. The place is not clean. It is a typical hole in the wall on the better side but not an upscale classy place. Calzone, Pizza are great. Lunch should be good here. I hope
(4)Kellie W.
A friend told me a few times how delicious this place was. I love Italian food, and I've had a lot of real traditional homemade Italian food. I can't explain how disgusting this was. Dominos or papa ginos is better I swear! It's so hard to screw up pasta but they did it. I had ravioli, thinking it's going to be yummy. It was gummy barely warm and the sauce was bland as bland can be. I was hoping it would be as good as my friend said. Shocked and grossed out it was definitely FROZEN! That's all I have to say! I'm not mean, it was bad. Save your $.
(1)Chris G.
Very good value for the price. Not the best Italian food you will ever eat but definitely good and portion size is extremely generous. Definitely prefer the meat sauce over the marinara. Every meal I have had on the menu is enjoyable and warming. Perfect place for a good and enjoyable family meal, good for takeout as well.
(4)Damon H.
Bleccccchh! We tried Mario's not too long after moving to lexington. I can't imagine how they're still in business unless just through unsuspecting tourists. Freezerburned ingredients and canned sauce over poorly cooked pasta. My son was 9 at the time he tried their chicken parm. He looked at me and said, "Daddy, I can make better sauce than this." I know he's right.
(2)L J.
It's true the menu is very limited, but seriously GTFO with these negative reviews. When you calculate the fact that this place is extremely affordable, and you consider that it's BYOB, you should be giving this place the 3 or more stars it deserves. Some people will give it a 5 star review because it's down-to-earth. Other people will give it a 2 star review because they're pissed some ingredients are frozen. You do realize all restaurants have freezers, right? Jesus. The vibe of this place is simple, seemingly catering to the 70-year-old Italian couples and locals who've been coming here for years. So lighten up, Yelpers, check out the menu before you go if you think that's going to take away from the experience.
(4)John P.
My family went to Mario's sat night after a short wait we enjoyed the eggplant chicken pram with shells dinner it was very tasty and plenty of it would come back again when in the area
(5)Toodles K.
The negative reviews for this fine Italian establishment are flukes. Friends took me here for lunch. They had been there many times and had nothing but positive things to say about it. They said it was inexpensive Italian food. If you want Italian food from the North End then go there. The place was clean and our waitress was a doll. There were three of us and we shared what we ordered. There was a small pizza with sausage and mushrooms on it. There was chicken and eggplant parmesan. I ordered the lasagna with meat sauce and a side of two sweet sausages. There was a generous portion of lasagna. Totally fresh. Nothing tasted previously frozen nor microwaved. The pizza's crust was heavenly: not too thick, not too thin. The chicken and eggplant parm was flavorful and totally yum. Lastly, the tomato sauce they used in the dishes tasted different and fresh in each dish. Not an easy feat. I would definitely come back here anytime.
(5)Steve J.
My life is complete. I came all the way from Los Angeles for their baked Ziti. It is amazing. The best in the country. Mekelia was the best thanks for making the evening special.
(5)Susan L.
I could definitely do this meal at home with cheap frozen ravioli. But I wouldn't. The pasta was thick, obviously mass-produced, though the sauce was OK. If you want a cheap meal, and you have no taste buds, this place is OK. Decor, out of date, and the floor looked grimy. Would not return.
(1)Kate C.
Mario's is one of my favorite restaurants. Huge, delicious portions for around $8. I always get the stuffed mushrooms to start, a house salad with creamy italian dressing, and the eggplant parm with spaghetti and meat sauce. This meal is incredible and feeds me for days (I am eating leftovers as I type this!). And the fun part is, it's BYOB. Mario's is such a laid back restaurant, that you don't need to get dressed up to go to, but you can if you want! Lexington is also adorable -- you can go for a walk before or after your meal, catch a discounted movie at the Lexington Flick on Wednesdays, or visit one of the many ice cream / FroYo places after your meal. I have been going here for years, and will be coming back for many more. I highly recommend Mario's!
(5)Olivia M.
Such a great value! I wish there were more restaurants like this. I got the Chicken Parm which had a side of spaghetti, both of which were great and in large quantity. The food isn't fancy or adventurous but it's exactly what you would want in comfort food.
(5)Marcus T.
Save yourself the trip. Call dominos. Pizza tasted like cardboard. Pasta was watery drizzle. Service was hilarious.
(1)Christine T.
Went here with Mom since we were in the area. We were going to go to a chain restaurant down the street but saw this little hole-in the wall type restaurant and figured what the hell. Mario's is small, but cozy. It was great on a Wednesday afternoon, we parked in the back (meter parking: 25 cents = 1 hour) we walked right in and sat ourselves. Typically you'd have to sign in and wait however long the list says but not on a weekday afternoon. Our waitress was friendly and upbeat - I wish I could remember her name. We ordered garlic bread, salads and we split a chicken/broccoli calzone (all pictured). The salads were okay - you could tell they were pre-made and they were soaked in dressing. The garlic bread was good, it could've been toasted a bit more but needless to say there wasn't any left on the plate. The calzone was delicious, a good size and beautifully cooked, also came with a side of marinara which was FRESH, that made it extra delicious. we had a ton for left overs too which I love. All in all we had a hardy meal and it was all only $23, whicih is really cheap. My only complaint is I wish the menu was bigger and I wish they had more Italian based items (this is certainly an Americanized menu)... for example I can't find a good Italian egg-roll anywhere. that would've made my day!
(4)Scott L.
Ate here for the first time on a date. Great atmosphere despite the small size of the restaurant. Just a short wait on a Saturday night at 5:30. Attentive waitstaff, very quick response, and informative. Menu is very straight forward. Spaghetti? Check. Ravioli? Check. Veal Parm. Yup. Despite the simplistic menu, took awhile to decide. Food was terrific with hefty portions. They don't serve alcohol but you can bring your own, Mario's will even give you two paper cups. Best part of my experience was the "Pay it Forward" theme going with our waitress. Throughout her shift, patrons had been paying $5 - $10 for the next party at the table or another table. So cool. With our $5 off, the bill ended up being only $16. So, I left $5 at our table and $5 at another table. Will definitely eat here again. Highly recommended!!!
(5)Tanya I.
Great price and the food is OK. Family atmosphere but not very clean. Great house salads.
(3)Elizabeth M.
I've been to Mario's a few times, and I wasn't expecting mind blowing cuisine or service, but as the the two star rating says "Meh- I've had better." Not sure why it has such a following, but it looks like a place you can take your kids on the cheap, while avoiding the Burlington/Middlesex Turnpike madness. Expect to be served by a grumbling teenager. Menu is VERY limited. There's just not much to it at all. As far as the food goes.... Again, I've had better. Red sauce is pretty watery, ravioli looked like they had been frozen, it was sort of sad. I was expecting it to be some small town gem that makes a lot of its dishes from old family recipes, but it looks like it's mostly frozen stuff that gets nuked and served up. Spend the same money down the street at Neillio's and get amazing, freshly made pastas, raviolis and sauces and make it at home. More bang for your buck, that's for sure.
(2)Amanda J.
Delicious typical hole in the wall Italian place. Not a huge selection, but everything we ordered was a large portion and very flavorful. I had the chicken parm, and the chicken was cooked perfectly. If you like simple good Italian food, you will like this place. If you are looking for complex dishes and an upscale atmosphere, it might not be for you.
(4)Elizabeth K.
I don't want to like this place, but, I do. I've been going since I was a kid. Occasionally I still meet up there with my mom for lunch or dinner. Know why? It's cheap, easy, and yummy. It's not creative, but, it's solid. The chicken parm is always crispy and smothered in cheese. Absolutely smothered. The portions are also huge, so, it's like two meals. It's cheap. Super super cheap. Occasionally a girl needs a budget meal to fuel her fancy food addiction :) Also, it's BYOB and it's on the Minuteman Bike Trail - both perks on their own, though, I wouldn't suggest combining them.
(4)S S.
My family likes this place. Very simple but the food is good. Prices are good as well. I love their lasagna and pastas. Will recommend to check it out for lunch.
(5)Brian D.
Heard nothing but great things about this establishment which faded quickly upon arriving. The decor was quite outdated, the food was obviously from frozen and just all around bland. Ordered the baked ziti and it arrived like a piece if pie with overcooked ziti and with the cheese being the only thing that was baked. Cheap prices yes but I'd recommend buying the ingredients (I'm positive anyone could replicate this food and make it more flavorful). The waiter I had was the only positive aspect of this visit he was fast and very polite. I can easily say I will not be having a return visit
(1)Greg H.
Food tastes frozen!! It sucks! Don't ever go here!!! The pizza has too much cheese and ingredients taste cheap. Maybe the sauce isn't real...
(1)Jim S.
Cheap for a reason. Same (very ordinary) sauce on everything. Menu from an "Italian-American" restaurant of the 60's (bet there's no real Italian cook within miles of the kitchen). Food is competently cooked but very ordinary. Really out of place in Lexington with its selection of semi-upscale yuppie food places (and the obligatore set of Asians). But it serves a purpose and is always crowded for that reason.
(3)Amanda L.
I. LOVE. MARIOS. I went here almost everyday for awhile with my boyfriend of 15 years ago. Not because he was cheap, but because I love this place so much. This is the kind of place you can't find for love or money in LA. Just plain old regular Italian, nothing fancy, nothing foodie-rific, just GOOD. They gave me anchovies in my little salad, and that makes me happy. They gave me sauce on the side and that makes me happy. They have those cute little serving bowls for broiling the lasagna and that makes me happy. I'm crying on the inside because I can't go to Mario's tonight. I love Mario's.
(4)Joanne G.
Everyone says "don't go to a italian restaurant and order spaghetti and meatballs..." seriously people??? isn't that the lock, stock and barrel of any GOOD italian restaurant? So I can't say that I *just* went to Marios - because that would be a big, fat lie - I was exposed to this mound of awesomeness last year but never reviewed it (not even sure i was a yelp'r then either) So I wanted to make sure that I went to it before I yelped about it again (not fair to have years past flavor memories, you know?) Hubbie and I went while we were driving thru Lexington to go to his workplace on the other side of I-95 - and yea, the place is wikked small and aside from the awesome oil paintings on the wall - it's like this place I waitressed at in Richmond Virginia - kinda dumpy. But don't let the looks deceive you - that's were "dumpy" stops. We were seated immediately for lunch (something that is kinda unheard of at this restaurant at dinnertime btw) and the cute, peppy and quite busy waitress came over to us right away. And you people know what she brought us right??? Yes, soft bread and butter - OH MY. Carb heaven I say We ordered the following: Mario's special baked ziti and 3 side meatballs - for me Eggplant parm over ravoli - for hubbie It was all good - I wasn't totally blown away with the baked ziti - kinda boring - but hubbie LOVED it - it's because he's a noodle fiend - seriously - it was noodles then meat then noodles then cheese - it was about 6 inches tall for goodness sake! His meal was moist and yummie - the eggplant is always my fave part of any eggplant dish - so I dug in a couple of times. It was a lot of food - so request a doggie bag - and wanna know something? skip the drinks - just have water - the drinks are super expensive - even for just lemonade.... Oh yea - I started off this yelp with my whole "spaghetti and meatball" speel - and I'm sure you are wondering why I didn't have it - well - I thought I would just rave and rave about how great it is - because really, I've only had that here before because it is so spectacular. Spaghetti is perfect, meatballs are huge and sweet and saucy..ok it's 8:09am and I want some now!!!
(5)David K.
The baked ziti was wonderful!
(5)K G.
Mario's is a small, family friendly Italian place. In my opinion, the menu is very small and there is nothing unusual on it. The decor is kind of dull and seating is crowded, and very loud...not ideal for a special date or anything... However, for the price and to bring the kids to have a nice time...just relaxing in the most casual way, this place just about nails it. The food was well cooked...they had a chicken / eggplant parm special going and plenty of bread that we kept coming. I prefer the meat sauce over the regular marinara. The waitstaff was fast, friendly and seemed to really care about doing a good job...even though it was overrun with people with a 30 min wait the night we went. Will be back again.
(4)Stephen C.
Reasonable food, reasonable service. If you're looking for a nice fancy italian restaurant, probably not where you'd want to go. But otherwise probably your go to place for simple and tasty italian dishes (like pasta and marinara, chicken/eggplant parm, etc). Their food is pretty good and they give nice hearty serving sizes.
(3)Kate B.
I have been a huge fan of Mario's Italian Restaurant since I was a kid. The wait time can be a little long as there are not many tables. The bathroom is all the way down in the basement and the tables are a little cramped. The decor is also a little tacky with checkered table cloths and Italian landscape paintings. Other than that I love this place! The food is delicious. It is definitely Americanized-Italian but a big step up from Olive Garden. The bread is decent, warm and soft. I adore the chicken parmesan. It might be a bit salty for some people's taste but I like salty. It also comes with pasta with marinara sauce. The spaghetti and meatballs are also quite delicious and so is the broccoli and chicken calzone. It makes my mouth water just to think about. The portion sizes are good, usually too much for me to eat in one sitting so I take some home. The prices are pretty good too, nothing is more than $11. They also sell their yummy marinara and meat sauce by the quart and meatballs, buckets of spaghetti, and lasagna trays for parties. If you are fortunate enough to live in Lexington or are just passing through, I suggest giving Mario's a try.
(5)Katie S.
Its cheap, but you can taste the cheapness. Service is alright, nothing special. I only went there because it was right near my school, I no longer go.
(3)Vanessa M.
The meatballs are tasty, and huge. I would buy just them, and I have. The lasagna is gooey with a baked layer of cheese on the top, and the chicken parm is more than enough for the price. The bread's a bit eh, but add butter and you'll be fine.
(3)El S.
If you like the taste of frozen Lean Cuisine Lasagna but want more calories without the hassle of microwaving then Mario's is for you! This place has been around for over 30 years, I think and I can't understand why. This is Italian food for Irish townies.
(1)Jasper F.
For some strange reason this place seems to think if you order chicken cutlet they can serve you processed chicken fingers and you won't notice! I was SHOCKED to receive three chicken fingers with my ravioli in place of the chicken cutlet I had ordered. When I asked about it I was told that is what they serve for chicken cutlet! I then asked to have meatballs instead and was presented with three rubbery and clearly frozen (not home made) meatballs. I just don't see what people like about this place.
(1)Tara M.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the "I love Mario's" FB group. I spent my entire childhood waiting for those times when my mother would be too tired to cook and our family would go to Mario's for dinner. In those pre-Bertucci days the wait could be over an hour. It was totally worth it. I wouldn't quite call Mario's an Italian restaurant. It's an Italian American restaurant. There's nothing delicate or rustic about it. You get red and white checkered table cloths, faux Italian paintings on the wall, and red plastic baskets of bread. Still, the food is very good and you will not find an ounce of pretense here. Love the eggplant parmesan subs. Love the pizza. Tastes like home.
(5)Rich K.
I agree with other reviewers that this restaurant provides good Italian food at a reasonable value. However, the interior is very ordinary and a little cramped. I thought the service was really quite good. Nothing too special about this place.
(3)Dizzy W.
Great place for lunch - nothing fancy but basic Italian food cooked with care. It's a bring your own wine, it gets busy in the evening and it's a first come first served place. Kids are welcome and you know they're getting good food rather than the pre-cooked frozen stuff from the big chain fast food outlets.
(3)Min Y.
Not a fancy place but adequate for group outings..
(3)Anthony S.
Ok so I went here yesterday with some colleagues and one of my co workers has lived in the area for years and recommended this place and said it was great! So we said, lets go and give it a shot. I first stepped in and didnt think much. Looked a bit small, but im a sucker for mom and pop, hole in the wall ish places, so I didnt mind it at all. I sat down and every immediately was attentive and friendly which is a huge plus in my book. They were not overly annoying either with coming back to the table. I checked the menue out and thought to myself how small it was. Typical subs, calzones, pizzas and typical pizza place food. I thought, well maybe its very very good then since its only a few things. We decided to get a Large Veggie Lovers Pizza. When it came to the table I started my critque. The pizza was a bit smaller then I expected a large to be and we had to share with 4 people (including me). The pizza looked great though and then tried it. I thought i was fantastic. Crisp crust, right amount of sauce and it had a different flavor then most places. The veggies on it were loaded on there and tasted all over delicious. The crust had a unique taste too which was my favorite part about it. Overall, the place has a so so ambience, amazing staff, great tasting food if you want Italian (but dont want Olive Garden or pay for North End prices), decent prices (pizza was about $18 ish plus tip), and overall good place. I will probably do a follow up critique and try this place again and give a more detailed review. Thank You! Check it out!
(4)TennisTravels T.
Stopped for lunch after enjoying the Liberty Ride tour, Mario's hit the spot. Our party of three was shown to our seats immediately and our drink order was taken. Upon receiving our drinks, we were also given a basket of bread. My companions ordered spaghetti & meatballs and ravioli with meat sauce. I ordered the baked ziti. Ziti with a layer of crumbled meat in the middle covered with cheese and baked to a golden brown; served with marinara or meat sauce on the side. Portion sizes were large. Food tasted fabulous! I would definitely go for a return visit.
(4)Michael S.
I had the lunch chicken parm with meat sauce and shells. This was so good! The lunch size was huge! I should have stopped half way through and taken some home but it was to good to stop. It was cheap too! $8 for lunch.
(5)Eye Am V.
Family-friendly. Very. Small. Cramped. Affordable. NOT hoighty-toighty at all. Lil'bit grimy - but that is the territory of [again] Family Friendly. Not bad food (I happen to like Italian food) but limited chunky tomato sauce on everything. And thick cheese on everything as well. Can't go too wrong w/sauce & cheese...can you?!?!
(3)Kristen B.
If I was rating this place only on the food, it would be a 1 star. However the service was fast and friendly and the prices are on the low side so I suppose I'll bump them up to 2 stars. Not impressed at all. I got the ravioli parmigiana with meatballs and the raviolis were probably some of the worst raviolis I've had. I could only even bring myself to eat one. My boyfriend tried one and thought they weren't even completely cooked. The sauce was extremely too watery. The meatballs were okay. Nothing to write home about. Boyfriend got spaghetti and sausage. I tried some of his since I wasn't going to eat mine. Meh. Wasn't impressed either but it was at least more edible than my ravioli. I read the reviews and I wanted to like this place, but I don't think I'll be giving it a second shot.
(2)Cecilia L.
My friend used to rationalize ridiculous excuses to come to Lexington just to pick up a pizza here. So when she took us for the "best pizza" a couple years ago, I was expecting more than the greasy, heavy, bland pie I got. I recently went again and had the same mediocre pizza literally dripping with grease, accompanied by an unexciting buffalo chicken salad. Mario's isn't gross or anything, just the type of average that makes you think "well, I'm full now and there goes another meal of my life." Skip it in favor of the many better spots in Lexington Center.
(2)M M.
This is our family's absolute favorite Italian restaurant. I've been coming here since my teens, and now as a mom in my 30s, my husband and I love taking our two young daughters here. Absolutely delicious food in charming Lexington Center. We love it, and in 20 years, I can honestly say every meal has been delicious!
(5)Corey F.
Honestly, I wasn't too excited about Mario's when I first stepped in. The place looked fine, somewhere between stereotypical American "Italian" restaurant and a pizza joint, but the menu was sparse and not especially exciting. I guess there's nothing wrong with sticking to the basics, as long as you do the basics well. So I went for the basics: pizza. And it was good. Good sauce, right ratio of sauce and cheese, tasty toppings. I was surprised to get Greek-style crust (not deep dish, but medium-thick, though I guess there's nothing inherently non-Italian about that), but I happen to prefer that to thin. I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the menu. The reason this place shines to me (and the reason I already need to review after only one visit) is the staff. Everyone was friendly and attentive as soon as we got there. Drinks were refilled promptly, servers who weren't working our table asked if we needed anything, and they all wore smiles. Craziest of all, when our pizza had a pretty minor mistake -- they left off one of the two toppings, and they caught it before the pizza even made it to the table -- they made it right to an impressive degree: not only did they quickly whip us up a pan of the missing topping to put on ourselves, but they gave us the whole large pizza for free. They wouldn't even let me compromise with them to pay for a small, or pay half, or *something*. I'm a fan of top notch devotion to customer satisfaction, so I'm a fan of Mario's.
(4)Susan D.
What a great little neighborhood joint! My server was super sweet and had good timing. She never rushed us, but was swift in taking our orders and getting our drinks to us. I tried the eggplant parmigiana with cheese raviolis. That bubbly meat sauce with melted mozzarella cheese on top is to die for. I will definitely return with friends and get the same thing.
(4)Dietsodafix C.
I grew up just a bit down Mass Ave in Arlington. So I been going to Mario's for years. Its a medium sized place very family friendly, cheap and tasty. You can BYOB which is awesome. My sister is vegetarian and loves the eggplant parm here better than anywhere. The staff of mostly high school & college age girls are very friendly and quick to get you anything you need. Nothing fancy, pasta pizza and salads but yummy none the less. Baked Ziti is popular, they layer it with ground beef and smother it with cheese. Take out is available too. You can order spaghetti & meatballs by the bucket to go. Its perfect for a nice cheap local night out with or without the family.
(4)Paul C.
This place has the best "cheap" Italian food in the area. (And I mean "cheap" here in the best way possible!). This place does not have a huge menu selection, but what they have is just amazing. When I worked in Lexington I used to come here at least twice a month for lunch with my coworkers. I usually get the ravioli parmigiana or the Italian calzone (which is HUGE by the way). The chicken parm is also very good as is the lasagna. The sauce they have is very tasty. So good in fact I sometimes walk in here just to buy a quart of sauce for use at home! Please do not go to this place expecting world class service or decor. (You will be disappointed). Go here thinking this is a hole-in-the-wall place that has fast service and great inexpensive food and you will be happy. Because I know I am every time I leave here.
(5)Sheri H.
I was in Lexington recently and, having read a review about Mario's in a local newspaper, I decided to go in for lunch. As many have already mentioned, the menu is fairly limited (pasta, veal, eggplant, and chicken parm, ravioli, lasagna, pizza, etc.) so I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs--which consisted of a big plate of spaghetti, plenty of (fresh) sauce, and 4 big meatballs. There was also endless Italian bread (which was nice and soft) and, all in all, the food reminded me of the Italian restaurants that I used to eat at as a kid (although, admittedly, with a lot less decor). But I don't look for decor for lunch, I just want to eat, and, based on my experience, this was just good, solid, well-cooked, old-school Italian food--and it only cost $6.79 (before tax, of course). My only complaint would be that the service wasn't all that great. If you are a food snob and/or are looking for ambience, you're not going to like this place. There is no herb-and-olive oil dipping sauce. And they don't offer anything in the way of the newer versions of Italian cuisine that you now see in many of the more "upscale" Italian restaurants that are opening in the area. (In fact, from what I could see, their only concession to modern restaurantism is that they offer the refillable soda.) There is nothing fancy going on here, so if you are the kind of diner who can't enjoy a meal unless it is served in an upscale environment, with plenty of "atmosphere," then don't bother with Mario's; it's not a place for yuppies. It's just a nice, small, family restaurant and while it's not the best old-school Italian-American food that I've eaten, it is still very good (and if the rest of their menu is on par with the meal that I just had there, then I will definitely want to eat there again. And again, and again. Maybe even become a semi-regular...)
(4)Dexter F.
Solid italian place. I love the pizza, and chicken parm dinner. This is one of those places you get cravings for, even when you've moved 50miles away.
(4)Joel O.
This place would be better if it wasn't for the sauce. There's just something about it that doesn't sit well with me. Maybe it's too sweet, maybe it's just too red... IDK. I even think they use the same sauce on both pasta and pizza. Both the garden salad and chicken parm (minus the sauce) are OK but there are better ways to waste some calories. My family loves this place. It's a shame that everytime they want to eat here I can't help but think that I'd rather eat at any of the other restaurants nearby.
(2)Meghan O.
I absolutely love this restaurant! My boyfriend, who grew up in Lexington, showed me Mario's on my first visit to Massachusetts and we always go back every time we visit. Prices are great and the food is delicious! I love love love the pizza and their sauce is magnificent. Now I only wish I lived closer!
(5)Steve C.
Three and a half stars, really..:... Not, this was a gem. Great pasta and calzone and so inexpensive. Service with a smile.
(5)Erin M.
Went to Mario's on Sunday night with a friend. The place is tiny and humble but does not boast to be anything more than that. As others have pointed out, it has the crazy checkered tablecloths and big landscape paintings as the center of its decor. Since Mario's is a dressier version of take out pizza, this works. The restaurant holds around 60 people and was packed when we arrived around 7:00 pm. The table turnover was fairly quick but no one appeared to be rushed out. When we did get a table the waitress informed us that the dishwasher was having plumbing issues so they were using mainly paper products that night. Interesting. The use of paper, styrofoam, and utensils wrapped in plastic (napkin included!) made me feel like I was at an indoor picnic but at least Mario's and its wait staff let everyone know the situation rather than make its customers believe this was the norm. The menu is not extensive but did offer calzones which for whatever reason I have had trouble locating around the area so I ordered a broccoli and chicken one. The wait was not too long and the food came out at just the right temperature (on a real dish with a real knife thankfully). Honestly though, I expected a bit more cheese (ok, I SOME cheese) in it so I did feel a bit disappointed. It was a good calzone though but I do not see myself traveling back to Lexington for it. Apparently the lasagna is really good though so if in the area I may go for that. Overall, it's a cute little place with decent food that I caught on a weird night. Not bad, but not great. Also, the waitstaff was attentive and kind even though they were very busy. Kudos to them for that because it is a job I could never do.
(3)Alexis J.
OMG! I am shocked... after a work function my coworker suggested we stop by Marco's for lunch before returning to the office. He said they had great eggplant parm and I agreed to go, expecting to have an average lunch break meal. Walking in Mario's looked like your typical little Italian restaurant... I was not expecting to have some of the best EPP of my life! Perfectly cooked with the right amount of cheese and flavor. The cheesy was baked and bubbling over the dish, smothered with sauce, yet the eggplant was still crispy (and not greasy). So many Italian joints make an average to bland EPP, but this was just perfect. And the tomato sauce was so rich with tomato flavor... just really tasty. As if it couldn't get any better, the whole lunch cost $7! For a huge portion of EPP and a side of pasta! Simple little family owned restaurant with friendly staff and quality food. I will definitely be back. Other bonuses... big parking lot out back and its BYOB!
(4)Natalia O.
Yummy Italian classic dishes, simple but always hitting the mark. Good service and nice downtown location. Nice place for a low key meal.
(4)Terry T.
I'm averaging this review as my friend gave it 1 star and I gave it 3. Basically bland italian-inspired fare. I had the special baked ziti and found it a hearty portion though somewhat bland. My friend had the chicken parm and commented that his reason for giving the place 1 star was that the service was friendly but the food was mediocre at best when given the fact that great italian food wasn't that hard to find in New England (besides the North End which is a given, there are a lot of decent italian restuarants all over). As such, despite having been back 1 more time, we'll have to leave the ranking a solid 2 stars - adequate but there are better options in the area.
(2)Geo O.
Ok, right up front, I've been going to Mario's for nearly 30 years now and the place hasn't changed even though the atmosphere in Lexington has. It's the last hold-out mom-n-pop type establishment in an upscale town center, but that's what keeps people coming back. You don't go there for gourmet dishes with intricate recipes. Just go there for simple, hearty Italian dishes, smothered in red sauce and cheese, you will not be disappointed. The atmosphere is very old school: dim lighting, hardwood chairs, tacky wall murals and red/white checker tablecloths. The staff is friendly, but they can get rushed as this place tends to draw a crowd. Just follow my #1 Mario's tip: Always order the meat sauce! I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that reviewers here that say they didn't like the sauce ordered marinara on their food. The marinara is ok, but it is a little bland. The meat sauce has a lot more oomph. Their menu is short. I strongly recommend anything parmigiana (veal, chicken or eggplant) or their lasagna. Their pizza is very good, but it has a very unique crust that doesn't always click with everyone, I suggest trying it once to see which side you're on. And always check the specials on the board! Usually you can get a good combo plate. By far, my favorite place to just chill out. Highly recommended.
(5)Orly M.
This is bizarre. I can't believe all of the positive reviews for Mario's!!! I am seriously in shock. I guess the ugly space with ugly, uncomfortable wooden chairs and checkered tableclothes that look like they have endured decades of use are "charming" or some crap. I certainly don't think so. Growing up in the metropolis that is Lexington with its handful of restaurants, I have been dragged to Mario's many a time and I don't think I ever ate anything that resembled decent. Everything is mediocre at best. Even my FOB Israeli ass couldn't be fooled into thinking this was decent Italian food. So where do I begin? Pizza that is mushy with too much sauce, fresh from the can, and too much cheese. Bertucci's down the street may be pricy but the pizza is far superior there. The pasta is always just a little overcooked and the tomato sauce tastes like Ragu. I'm not looking to go out for pasta that I can make for 5 bucks in 10 minutes at home. I give Mario's an extra star for good lasagna and decent meatballs. Although the polpette at Bertucci's are still much, much better. Service that rivals Dick's Last Resort for the rudest service around. Neighborhood Italian? This is Lexington center! If you want neighborhood Italian, go to Arlington. If you want to be surrounded by yuppies when you eat your Ragu, come here. Whatever, you can try it for yourself, just don't say I didn't warn you.
(2)Melissa M.
Yes, Mario, I love you and your food. I love your 1974 ambiance with the old school pepsi light decor. I love your red and white checkered tops. I like the 15 year old sweet high school kids that work here. Mario has not changed with the times, and that my friends is a good thing. Your cheese ravioli, lasagna, pizza and even bread and salad is so worth the drive from my house. If you can't decide on where to go for Italian food, go here. It's cheap too!
(5)Jack N.
What you'll find here is some good Italian quick-food. Don't take the parents when they come into town, but if you want fast, casual, cheap, and tasty, this'll definitely get the job done. I hit Marios every 3 weeks or so - I definitely recommend any pizza and the antipasto salad. I've ventured off that course, and while impressed, always go back to the pizza. A little noisy and crowded for goups, but great for just 2 or 3. Expect kids to be present and loud - for some reason, the parents who bring their kids here have no idea how to parent.
(4)Valerie S.
Great pizza! I've been going here for years. It gets kinda crowded and noisy with high school kids and the mozzarella sticks kinda fall apart... but otherwise? I LOVE IT
(4)Francis C.
The food here is very solid. I got the chicken parm and it did not disapoint. It's also very reasonably priced, particularly in comparison to its neighbor Bertucci's. The only reason for the four stars is that the service was a little slow on the night I went. Nothing major, I just had to wait a little while for another water. It can also get pretty crowded around dinner-time. Overall though, it's definitely a step above your average (generic) Italian place.
(4)Tom F.
I love Mario's! Been going here since I was a kid and the food is as good and consistent as ever (and close to the same price!). Yes, the atmosphere is kind of bland, but I am willing to give that up for the great tasting Italian food that they serve here. The portions are generous and I really like their sauce. They serve little pieces of bread in a plastic basket with each meal that I enjoy dipping in their sauce. If you are looking for some good, inexpensive Italian food, you need to give Mario's a try. Don't be fooled by the atmosphere.
(5)Dana Z.
Mario's is one of those places that the locals all flock to, but I'm just not a fan. It's hardcore middle-of-the-road canned sauce, too much mozzarella on everthing, bland and tasteless. In this day and age of delicious artisanal breads (or even with sesame seeds on top) and salads with flavor and variety, Mario's still holds on to that model of bland, boring squishy Italian bread and iceberg lettuce with 1/4 green tomato salads. You could go there if your kids were driving you nuts and you wanted to get out of the house (and that's who's mainly eating there...kids running wild and screeching in the place while their mommies send text messages and ignore them) . Everything is too salty, bland and just kinda nasty. And the decor is cheesy but not in a fun retro way. Lastly; the bathrooms are completely disgusting; if they cannot be bothered to keep clean bathrooms; what does that say about any of the quality concerns?
(1)Nate B.
Definable nothing special, but it was where I always went with friends after a half day of high school. Go for the calzones/stromboli -- enormous, low priced, and reasonably tasty.
(3)Rebecca O.
Wow - this place was really awful. We were there on a Thursday evening and the service was incredibly slow. We waited over 45 minutes to get our food and when it arrived, it was horrible - bland, overcooked, nothing fresh in sight. The baked ziti was a layer of overdone pasta covered with two inches of ground beef, with cheese baked on top. Gross. The calzone was the only edible item we ordered, but even it was not very good. Don't go - save your money for some place better.
(2)Jeff B.
I almost don't want to write a review because I want to keep this little gem all to myself. But seeing how everyone else is letting the cat out of the bag, I'll stand up as a star witness (pardon the pun) and let you all know how much I revere Mario's. Bring your own wine if you like, let Mario's cooks do what they do best... make great pizza, pasta and subs. Their homemade marinara and bolognese are so good you can buy some to take home. The same goes for their Italian and creamy Italian dressings. This place is simple to say the least, but Mario's is consistently good as the first time I went there in 1996. It's clear that the owner's know what works: they only hire attractive, young, polite waitresses. In the day when you can get crummy Italian in the north end, that's the day you give a place like Mario's 5 stars. If you're looking for more than basic, good, quality, Italian American food in a bare bones setting, go waste your money at the olive garden, I'll be at Mario's, keeping the gem to myself.
(5)J. D.
Mmmm nom nom nom..love marios! I have been eating at Mario's for years and have never had a bad experience. If you took me to a fancy restaurant I wouldn't know what to do with myself so that is probably why I feel so comfortable here. Huge servings for real cheap. I know the food isn't probably the best quality but it definitely isn't lacking in terms of taste. The last time I went with three friends during a snowy blah day when we needed good food to cheer us up. We started with an order of mozz sticks and a sausage,pepper, and onion pizza to share. Is it weird to get a pizza as an app? We all sort of thought so but wanted a slice and a meal = ) I got the chicken/ravioli parm combo with meat sauce, someone else got the eggplant parm, and two people got the chicken parm with meatsauce. The eggplant and chicken parm entrees are served with choice of shells or spaghetti. The waitress kept replacing our bread basket and seemed to adopt the Planet Fitness "judgement free zone" philosophy on how much we were consuming. We all got our simple garden salads and I don't know why but I absolutely love the creamy italian dressing here. My friends make fun of me because it is the one thing I get most excited about ..weird. All of our food was delish as always. I don't do eggplant but all my friends who ever get it swear by it. Oh and Marios is byob so you can run across the st to the small package store grab a bottle (or 3) of wine and enjoy it out of the paper pepsi cups they supply, So classy I love it! Alllll that food for under $50 and leftovers for everyone. Unbelievable. We always have to tip our waitress 30% because I am sure we are pretty loud/obnoxious because we are so happy and food drunk. I love you Mario's and always will.
(4)Rich S.
Mario's is your basic old school Italian-American joint. It has good pizza, pasta and the chicken parm is delicious!
(4)Elizabeth F.
I ordered a mushroom and onion pizza, and my boyfriend had the ravioli parmagiana with sausage. It was, by far, the most boring, unsatisfying food I've ever had.
(1)Matthew A.
Local good old neighborhood Italian food like it should be. No frills but very tasty. Yelp member recommended as a BYOB restaurant. See my BYOB List for more BYOB establishments.
(5)ChianWen T.
So much in life is just average, like the middle of a bell curve. Mario's is like that , just average. I had an Italian sub for just about $6. For that money you could get something some much better and bigger on State Street downtown Boston. I guess you really have to have an affinity for Lexington in the first place to really appreciate and love Mario's. I am just not a Lexingtonian like that.
(3)L H.
If you take it for what it is: a small Italian place with the basics and no frills, for a GREAT price, then you would love it. It is the perfect place to stop for lunch when riding your bike on the Minuteman Trail with your kids. Just bop in, plunk down, and have a meal. Nothing fancy and at times the food can miss, but really, find what you like, and go there just for that. Not nearly as diverse as Bertucci's next door's selection (nor as long of a wait), but it doesn't pretend to be anything other than basic and filling.
(4)Sara C.
Chicken parm was pretty decent, lots of cheese. Really big amount. The only problem I had was with the spaghetti sauce on the side. It had meat which was fine but something was definitely off. Too sweet maybe?
(3)Sarah B.
good, cheap food and friendly, quick service. great place to go if you don't want to wait long for food (unless it's a busy time and there's a wait to be seated). they never judge me for ordering off the kids meal. it's BYOB.
(4)Kristen F.
Very cute little Italian parlor. I liked the set up and the checkered table cloths. My family all had Italian dishes they were pleased with. I had pizza, although I tad on the greasy side, I liked it. A great spot to pop into if you're in this area
(4)Alicia T.
Mario's is great. Nothing fancy, just a great quick lunch or dinner with the fam. The waitstaff is very friendly and the restaurant is quaint and cute. It's like a home cooked meal, not over the top with presentation or flavors, but very satisfying. Terrible pizza though...
(4)Cee L.
The baked ziti here is heaven. The portions appear to be small at first, but once you sink your jaws into that delicious concotion you will be surprised. It's filling and even if you have leftovers it's absolutely delicious when you reheat it.
(4)Jules M.
All I have to say is get the eggplant and chicken parm with shells. You won't be disappointed. I very seldom eat anything with red sauce but I can't resist it here.
(4)Christine C.
I just love Mario's. The food is great and cheap. The wait staff is always friendly. The lunch specials are very good. The only drawback is that sometimes it can be very busy and if you don' have all members of your party there, you can't sit down. I go with some vegeterian friends and they love the eggplant parm (as do I) and the pizza. They offer marinara or meat sauce. And when I went there last, there were about 6 kids (all under the age of 4) who seemed to be having a good time. Very kid-friendly.
(5)luke b.
YUMMMMMMMMMM! This place serves the quintessential Italian-American cuisine. Great tomato sauce, great parmesans(chicken, eggplant... and RAVIOLI!), great meatballs! It's classic. F*CK Vinny T's... and Maggiano's. They both blow but I suppose that goes without saying. If you have a craving for a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs this is your joint. If you wanna drink, you have to bring your own... but still... so delicious.
(5)Susan W.
This is not great red-sauce Italian. It is serviceable and sturdy. You will not get food poisoning here. It is not wonderful. What is with people who review here, passing out four and five stars? Is the frozen tv dinner their standard meal? Decent, serviceable but uninspired Italian deserves two stars!
(2)LEONARD D.
My wife have been eating here for over 20 years , Great sauce & even better prices. Pick up a bottle of wine at the nearby store & drink from plasic cups . Gotta love this place ! 4 stars
(4)Sara P.
The food is fairly basic, but good and inexpensive. There are a few surprises (when you think you're ordering sausage lasagna you're ordering lasagna with a side of sausage, and the eggplant parmesian comes with meat sauce if you don't ask for it to be vegetarian -- although the wait staff will warn you about that), but overall you get what you order and it's good.
(5)Deanna R.
I love this place! I'm not really into Italian food, but it tastes so homemade- as opposed to Bertucci's and Olive Garden. This place reminds me of my friend's mother's recipes. It's cheap, the food is always HOT, and it's a small restaurant. My friends and I started going a couple times a month because we love it so much!
(5)Eugene D.
Classic family joint. Informal, inexpensive, good filling food. A nice alternative to many of the other restaurants in Lexington.
(4)Michael R.
Great food at a Great Price! This place has that Italian restaurant feeling that you grew up with. It's a cozy place (think slim building with tables in two rows, which brings the noise level up a little). It's warm in the winter and the only down side is it is BYOB and the closest liquor store is about a ten minute walk. Definitely bring your own bottle of wine. The meal: I had the eggplant and chicken parm. It cost under $9 and I couldn't finish it. The eggplant parm was great and came with a side of pasta. I went with a friend who got the Stromboli which was equally large for a very reasonable price. This is historic Lexington at its best. Customer service was great.
(4)Brian S.
I've been to Mario's many, many times, so that alone should tell you something. I often get lunch takeout and am usually fairly well pleased. I'm a big fan of their chicken parm. Now, it's important to note, this is not the chicken parm you'd get in Italy or even the north end. This is the breaded fried heavy on the sauce and cheese american version of chicken parm, but it's so delicious I don't really care. Last time I was there I ordered a side of broccoli and it was way overcooked :(. I'll give you a pass this time Mario's, but don't let it happen again. Overall, great Italian comfort food place in the heart of Lexington. Parking can be a pain in the metered lot behind the restaurant, and the local police seem to be just itching to hand out tickets, so be careful.
(4)Darya I.
So i have been to Marios about 10 times. I think its great but it also reminds me of Bertuccis if u know what im saying. You all probably think im crazy fr thinking this omg lol ok lets be serious. Its good it used to be our hangout for like our high school kids but honestly like i think there are better places for this. For middle age i like it but not best family hangout or dinner for couples. They have best pasta out of everything on the menu but eat anything its good.
(4)Sarah B.
I've been to Mario's several times, and the food is always great and the waitresses very friendly and helpful. My favorite dish is the ravioli with chicken parm - SO good, and the price is very reasonable. The portions are pretty big. The food is always tasty.
(5)Victoria T.
I used to be a regular in high school and I recently came back after not having eaten here in a few years. Pretty much nothing's changed. Marios is a very unpretentious place. Adjust your expectations to to match their prices! They definitely serve "comfort" Italian food, heavy flavors with a lot of meat and cheese. The Marios formula: Carb (ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna noodle, etc) + Lots of homemade marinara sauce + meat + lots of cheese. I'm not much of a cheese connoisseur so I have no idea what kind of cheese they use on their dishes--but it not a fancy cheese. Everything on the menu is pretty basic; if you can't make it with carb/sauce/meat/cheese, the probably don't have it. My go-to dish is the Chicken Parm with Ravioli. Lunch price ($8.99 for lunch, $10.99 at dinner for the same thing) is a steal for the portions they give! I can get 2 medium-sized meals if I don't stuff myself. (People say chipotle burritos are 2 meals, but they really aren't. This dish is ACTUALLY 2 meals worth). I've also had their pizza, calzones, and lasagna. Lasagna is your comfort lasagna: heavy on the sauce flavor and pretty simple. I'm actually a fan of their pizza and I think their calzones are solid. I don't like Bertucci's and Upper Crust's thinner, dryer crusts, so if you like those kinds of pizzas, Marios may not be for you. Their crusts are thicker but not super mushy and soaked in grease like some other pizza places. Also, some of my friends who prefer Bertucci to Marios say that Marios' marinara sauce is too sweet. I have to agree that it is a little on the sweet side, but the meat sauce is definitely less sweet. The sauces are supposed to be homemade. Whether you like sweetness in the sauce will be a matter of preference. Service is decent; no complaints. The last time I was here the waitress was super eager (some might say, overly eager/bordering on hovering) to get us water, check on how were we liking the food, and whether we wanted the check. She came over repeatedly, perhaps 7-9 times. I dont think she was rushing to get us out the door though. She was friendly and was probably trying to be attentive.
(4)Martin A.
First time at Mario's and I loved it. They have nice size portions at a very good price. The staff was friendly and service was fast. Don't forget to stop at the liquor store on the way as they have no liquor on the premises but you can bring your own.
(5)Adam L.
Haven't had good inexpensive Italian restaurant in a while! If theres one word that i can describe this restaurant it would be home style Italian! I had to drive 30 mins out here just to try this restaurant! I enjoyed this place a lot. I was recommended the chicken parm! The amount flavoring and cheese in this chicken parm was excellent. It came out in two separate bowl with the chicken in one and the noodles in another! I can't tell you how much I thought this parm was one of the best i've had in a while. Everything you look for in an italian restaurant. Good Cheese, great portion, and the meal cooked at perfection. It was a great blend of home style cooking with high quality ingredients. Must check out this place yourself!
(4)Eric G.
Neat little Italian place near the battle green in Lexington. Great atmosphere and the service was excellent. Our server was very engaging and friendly.
(4)June O.
Great classic Italian American dishes that always hit the spot. Plus, their prices are fantastic!!! My fiancé and I can eat out here for $20. It's BYOB, so you can save money on booze!! Really kid friendly and the marinara sauce is great. I love their lasagna!!
(5)Jeff D.
This is a somewhat limited review as I only go here for lunch and almost always get a grilled chicken salad. The bang for the buck is great. You get a good sized salad with a healthy portion of chicken for 2/3rds what it will cost you at Panera across the street. I've also had a meatball sub there and it was very good. Pretty much everything you'd expect from an Italian joint. Big, meaty meatballs, good sauce and some melted provolone to make sure it's a messy, delicious treat.
(3)Sarah B.
Oh Mario's, how we love thee! When I mention Mario's to my husband, I swear he starts salivating! I'd venture to say it's the best place to go for cheap, delicious Italian comfort food outside of the North End or Nonni's kitchen (If you are lucky enough to have a Nonni). It's a hidden gem. The service is consistently great and the food has never disappointed us. Of note, the baked ziti is different than most Italian places I've experienced as it is similar to the Greek Pastitsio. However it is amazing! Give Mario's a try!
(5)Christine J.
Good family styled Italian food, can be crowded at rush hour meal times. Service was avg. not a must go.
(3)Mike L.
Yes, you have had better Italian food. But you don't come to Mario's because you expect a Michelin star level food, but you come to Mario's because it's a nice inexpensive option with generous portions in your neighborhood. One of my favorite options for take out here is the pasta bucket. It's a "Half Gallon Bucket of Spaghetti or Shells with Sauce, 12 Meatballs and Bread" for about 15 dollars. It's an extremely hefty amount of food for a good price. The pizza here isn't anything to write home about, but it's very solid (though sauce can be a bit runny sometimes).
(3)Jessica W.
Mario's is a classic and an all time favorite. I've seen some reviews from people who don't like the look of the restaurant, but I love it! It's a low key environment , and that it hasn't changed since I was a kid, and I hope it never does! The quality of the food is great, they have THE BEST sauce, all of the dishes here are delicious, from the pizza to the baked ziti, to the salad and bread, you must try Mario's.
(5)Sarah F.
Pretty much exactly what we expected in a neighborhood Italian place. Red-checked tablecloths, all the standard American Italian menu items. The waitresses knew basically everyone in the place, adorable. Friendly, fast service and the prices are fabulous. The bread they bring to your table was supermarket quality, pretty boring French bread. The mozzarella sticks were definitely frozen, which we probably should have expected. They were cooked well, so all fine. The chicken Parmesan was tender and delicious with LOTS of cheese... really everything you're looking for in a red-checked-tablecloth Italian place in a small town. When we walked in there was a (short) wait to be seated, and no one greeted us or told us that we were supposed to write our OWN names on the list until we flagged a waitress down several minutes later. No real harm done, but for non-locals it would be nice to have a sign or something saying that.
(3)Roxanne B.
Great food for price. Nice gravy! Tasty veal parm. Baked ziti was good since I never tried before it went for it we brought our own soda water and beer. $50 for 4 with tip- such a deal. Lots of regulars. Wait was their an early bird special for the elderly? Nice friendly patrons!
(4)David L.
A solid three stars. I enjoy Mario's because I walk in that door with managed expectations - in other words, I don't expect meals or dishes that are served up in The North End, nor do I expect stellar customer service. What I do know is that Mario's has bargain basement prices and large portions, which should be a clear giveaway on the overall quality of the food. I really don't mind if their pastas are frozen...as long as the person in the kitchen can thaw the pasta, boil the pasta, and serve it on a dish with meat sauce we're square. Ditto with their lasagna. Il Casale is moving in next door, so I'm sure the owners of Mario's aren't so thrilled. But they shouldn't be too worried, if history is any guide. In true "Survivor" fashion, Mario's outwitted and outlasted the Evil Empire Vinny T's, which was located in Vine Brook Tavern's current space. And I will be clear - Il Casale is no Vinny T's. In more retailer terms, if Il Casale is the Gap (or Gap-owned premium brand Banana Republic), then Mario's would be Old Navy. Mario's value/bargain basement prices and lower end products and services simply cater to a more price conscious demographic. And if there is another economic draw down/recession - which is inevitable should one subscribe to market cycles - the silver lining is that all of us will most likely trade down to less expensive offerings. Hang in there Mario's...Outwit, Outlast, Outplay.
(3)Wendi X.
First of all this place is inexpensive limited menu restaurant. With that said it serves it purpose on all levels for everyone with today's finical entanglements. However, this place could use a new sprucing up, from the table cloths, floor, decor, new menu's, etc... The food is good over all. I have eaten here a lot on all different times from lunch, dinner, in between those times and after those times and have had various things. As the saying goes dont knock it until you try it.
(4)Courtney C.
I have been going here since I was little. All my family goes here, and I got all my friends hooked as well. The food is great and you cant beat their prices. The chicken parm and shells with meat sauce (you have to get the meat sauce) and their salads are amazing. The staff is always so nice and most of them remember us whenever we go. I drive about 25 min for both dine-in and for take out. It is worth the drive! Been to many parties that they have catered as well. Cant recommend it enough!
(5)Benjamin E.
What a great little place right in the center of Lexington. It's right off the bike path so for people like me who like to go on weekend rides, this place makes the perfect place to stop in for lunch. The decor is very simple but the food is anything but plain. Loads of hot cheese and a delicious meat sauce. There is no alcohol served here, but it is BYOB so if you want to bring a bottle of wine or a few beers to have with your meal, it is perfectly fine.
(4)Gray W.
Great local family Italian restaurant. The ziti is a favorite!
(4)Joie S.
It makes me sad to see all of the negative reviews for Mario's. I have been going there for my whole life and my family and I love it! We lived in the neighborhood when I was a kid but we moved and now drive a half hour to Mario's a few times a year. The decor is charming, I love that nothing ever changes and that when I go there I'm flooded with family memories. It's small but it's cozy and parking is easy in parking lot behind the restaurant. The food is not what you will get in Boston's North End or Providence's Federal Hill. It's not fancy Italian but it is delicious and affordable, my favorite combination. As a kid, I always got the ravioli and it tastes exactly the same now as it did then. I usually order the lasagna now and it is huge, cheap and some of the best lasagna I have ever had. We always order trays of both the baked ziti and the lasagna for holidays and it's always a big hit. I don't have anything negative to say about Mario's. If you are looking for an upscale, expensive, authentic Italian restaurant, this place isn't for you. If you are looking for a charming restaurant with pretty delicious food that is incredibly affordable, you should check it out.
(5)J C.
Had the lasagna, topped with marinara meat sauce, and a fried chicken cutlet on the side, topped with marinara and parmesan cheese. The marinara was something special here. It was sweeter than I expected with your typical tangy tomato, so I wonder if they mixed in some honey or something. Regardless, I liked that variation. The lasagna and chicken were standard and cooked correctly. No complaints. The value for food here is great. I got two meals out of a $13 (pre-tip) entree.
(4)Ram K.
The pizza is fresh and made with real ingredients rather than using those frozen toppings. The crust is awesome. We had the vegetarian pizza which was great. I dont like actual when they put actual tomato without removing the flesh as it starts making the pizza mushy. The place is not clean. It is a typical hole in the wall on the better side but not an upscale classy place. Calzone, Pizza are great. Lunch should be good here. I hope
(4)Kellie W.
A friend told me a few times how delicious this place was. I love Italian food, and I've had a lot of real traditional homemade Italian food. I can't explain how disgusting this was. Dominos or papa ginos is better I swear! It's so hard to screw up pasta but they did it. I had ravioli, thinking it's going to be yummy. It was gummy barely warm and the sauce was bland as bland can be. I was hoping it would be as good as my friend said. Shocked and grossed out it was definitely FROZEN! That's all I have to say! I'm not mean, it was bad. Save your $.
(1)Chris G.
Very good value for the price. Not the best Italian food you will ever eat but definitely good and portion size is extremely generous. Definitely prefer the meat sauce over the marinara. Every meal I have had on the menu is enjoyable and warming. Perfect place for a good and enjoyable family meal, good for takeout as well.
(4)Damon H.
Bleccccchh! We tried Mario's not too long after moving to lexington. I can't imagine how they're still in business unless just through unsuspecting tourists. Freezerburned ingredients and canned sauce over poorly cooked pasta. My son was 9 at the time he tried their chicken parm. He looked at me and said, "Daddy, I can make better sauce than this." I know he's right.
(2)L J.
It's true the menu is very limited, but seriously GTFO with these negative reviews. When you calculate the fact that this place is extremely affordable, and you consider that it's BYOB, you should be giving this place the 3 or more stars it deserves. Some people will give it a 5 star review because it's down-to-earth. Other people will give it a 2 star review because they're pissed some ingredients are frozen. You do realize all restaurants have freezers, right? Jesus. The vibe of this place is simple, seemingly catering to the 70-year-old Italian couples and locals who've been coming here for years. So lighten up, Yelpers, check out the menu before you go if you think that's going to take away from the experience.
(4)John P.
My family went to Mario's sat night after a short wait we enjoyed the eggplant chicken pram with shells dinner it was very tasty and plenty of it would come back again when in the area
(5)Toodles K.
The negative reviews for this fine Italian establishment are flukes. Friends took me here for lunch. They had been there many times and had nothing but positive things to say about it. They said it was inexpensive Italian food. If you want Italian food from the North End then go there. The place was clean and our waitress was a doll. There were three of us and we shared what we ordered. There was a small pizza with sausage and mushrooms on it. There was chicken and eggplant parmesan. I ordered the lasagna with meat sauce and a side of two sweet sausages. There was a generous portion of lasagna. Totally fresh. Nothing tasted previously frozen nor microwaved. The pizza's crust was heavenly: not too thick, not too thin. The chicken and eggplant parm was flavorful and totally yum. Lastly, the tomato sauce they used in the dishes tasted different and fresh in each dish. Not an easy feat. I would definitely come back here anytime.
(5)Steve J.
My life is complete. I came all the way from Los Angeles for their baked Ziti. It is amazing. The best in the country. Mekelia was the best thanks for making the evening special.
(5)Susan L.
I could definitely do this meal at home with cheap frozen ravioli. But I wouldn't. The pasta was thick, obviously mass-produced, though the sauce was OK. If you want a cheap meal, and you have no taste buds, this place is OK. Decor, out of date, and the floor looked grimy. Would not return.
(1)Kate C.
Mario's is one of my favorite restaurants. Huge, delicious portions for around $8. I always get the stuffed mushrooms to start, a house salad with creamy italian dressing, and the eggplant parm with spaghetti and meat sauce. This meal is incredible and feeds me for days (I am eating leftovers as I type this!). And the fun part is, it's BYOB. Mario's is such a laid back restaurant, that you don't need to get dressed up to go to, but you can if you want! Lexington is also adorable -- you can go for a walk before or after your meal, catch a discounted movie at the Lexington Flick on Wednesdays, or visit one of the many ice cream / FroYo places after your meal. I have been going here for years, and will be coming back for many more. I highly recommend Mario's!
(5)Olivia M.
Such a great value! I wish there were more restaurants like this. I got the Chicken Parm which had a side of spaghetti, both of which were great and in large quantity. The food isn't fancy or adventurous but it's exactly what you would want in comfort food.
(5)Marcus T.
Save yourself the trip. Call dominos. Pizza tasted like cardboard. Pasta was watery drizzle. Service was hilarious.
(1)David K.
The baked ziti was wonderful!
(5)K G.
Mario's is a small, family friendly Italian place. In my opinion, the menu is very small and there is nothing unusual on it. The decor is kind of dull and seating is crowded, and very loud...not ideal for a special date or anything... However, for the price and to bring the kids to have a nice time...just relaxing in the most casual way, this place just about nails it. The food was well cooked...they had a chicken / eggplant parm special going and plenty of bread that we kept coming. I prefer the meat sauce over the regular marinara. The waitstaff was fast, friendly and seemed to really care about doing a good job...even though it was overrun with people with a 30 min wait the night we went. Will be back again.
(4)Amanda L.
I. LOVE. MARIOS. I went here almost everyday for awhile with my boyfriend of 15 years ago. Not because he was cheap, but because I love this place so much. This is the kind of place you can't find for love or money in LA. Just plain old regular Italian, nothing fancy, nothing foodie-rific, just GOOD. They gave me anchovies in my little salad, and that makes me happy. They gave me sauce on the side and that makes me happy. They have those cute little serving bowls for broiling the lasagna and that makes me happy. I'm crying on the inside because I can't go to Mario's tonight. I love Mario's.
(4)Stephen C.
Reasonable food, reasonable service. If you're looking for a nice fancy italian restaurant, probably not where you'd want to go. But otherwise probably your go to place for simple and tasty italian dishes (like pasta and marinara, chicken/eggplant parm, etc). Their food is pretty good and they give nice hearty serving sizes.
(3)Kate B.
I have been a huge fan of Mario's Italian Restaurant since I was a kid. The wait time can be a little long as there are not many tables. The bathroom is all the way down in the basement and the tables are a little cramped. The decor is also a little tacky with checkered table cloths and Italian landscape paintings. Other than that I love this place! The food is delicious. It is definitely Americanized-Italian but a big step up from Olive Garden. The bread is decent, warm and soft. I adore the chicken parmesan. It might be a bit salty for some people's taste but I like salty. It also comes with pasta with marinara sauce. The spaghetti and meatballs are also quite delicious and so is the broccoli and chicken calzone. It makes my mouth water just to think about. The portion sizes are good, usually too much for me to eat in one sitting so I take some home. The prices are pretty good too, nothing is more than $11. They also sell their yummy marinara and meat sauce by the quart and meatballs, buckets of spaghetti, and lasagna trays for parties. If you are fortunate enough to live in Lexington or are just passing through, I suggest giving Mario's a try.
(5)Katie S.
Its cheap, but you can taste the cheapness. Service is alright, nothing special. I only went there because it was right near my school, I no longer go.
(3)Vanessa M.
The meatballs are tasty, and huge. I would buy just them, and I have. The lasagna is gooey with a baked layer of cheese on the top, and the chicken parm is more than enough for the price. The bread's a bit eh, but add butter and you'll be fine.
(3)El S.
If you like the taste of frozen Lean Cuisine Lasagna but want more calories without the hassle of microwaving then Mario's is for you! This place has been around for over 30 years, I think and I can't understand why. This is Italian food for Irish townies.
(1)Jasper F.
For some strange reason this place seems to think if you order chicken cutlet they can serve you processed chicken fingers and you won't notice! I was SHOCKED to receive three chicken fingers with my ravioli in place of the chicken cutlet I had ordered. When I asked about it I was told that is what they serve for chicken cutlet! I then asked to have meatballs instead and was presented with three rubbery and clearly frozen (not home made) meatballs. I just don't see what people like about this place.
(1)Tara M.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the "I love Mario's" FB group. I spent my entire childhood waiting for those times when my mother would be too tired to cook and our family would go to Mario's for dinner. In those pre-Bertucci days the wait could be over an hour. It was totally worth it. I wouldn't quite call Mario's an Italian restaurant. It's an Italian American restaurant. There's nothing delicate or rustic about it. You get red and white checkered table cloths, faux Italian paintings on the wall, and red plastic baskets of bread. Still, the food is very good and you will not find an ounce of pretense here. Love the eggplant parmesan subs. Love the pizza. Tastes like home.
(5)Rich K.
I agree with other reviewers that this restaurant provides good Italian food at a reasonable value. However, the interior is very ordinary and a little cramped. I thought the service was really quite good. Nothing too special about this place.
(3)Dizzy W.
Great place for lunch - nothing fancy but basic Italian food cooked with care. It's a bring your own wine, it gets busy in the evening and it's a first come first served place. Kids are welcome and you know they're getting good food rather than the pre-cooked frozen stuff from the big chain fast food outlets.
(3)Min Y.
Not a fancy place but adequate for group outings..
(3)Joel O.
This place would be better if it wasn't for the sauce. There's just something about it that doesn't sit well with me. Maybe it's too sweet, maybe it's just too red... IDK. I even think they use the same sauce on both pasta and pizza. Both the garden salad and chicken parm (minus the sauce) are OK but there are better ways to waste some calories. My family loves this place. It's a shame that everytime they want to eat here I can't help but think that I'd rather eat at any of the other restaurants nearby.
(2)Meghan O.
I absolutely love this restaurant! My boyfriend, who grew up in Lexington, showed me Mario's on my first visit to Massachusetts and we always go back every time we visit. Prices are great and the food is delicious! I love love love the pizza and their sauce is magnificent. Now I only wish I lived closer!
(5)Anthony S.
Ok so I went here yesterday with some colleagues and one of my co workers has lived in the area for years and recommended this place and said it was great! So we said, lets go and give it a shot. I first stepped in and didnt think much. Looked a bit small, but im a sucker for mom and pop, hole in the wall ish places, so I didnt mind it at all. I sat down and every immediately was attentive and friendly which is a huge plus in my book. They were not overly annoying either with coming back to the table. I checked the menue out and thought to myself how small it was. Typical subs, calzones, pizzas and typical pizza place food. I thought, well maybe its very very good then since its only a few things. We decided to get a Large Veggie Lovers Pizza. When it came to the table I started my critque. The pizza was a bit smaller then I expected a large to be and we had to share with 4 people (including me). The pizza looked great though and then tried it. I thought i was fantastic. Crisp crust, right amount of sauce and it had a different flavor then most places. The veggies on it were loaded on there and tasted all over delicious. The crust had a unique taste too which was my favorite part about it. Overall, the place has a so so ambience, amazing staff, great tasting food if you want Italian (but dont want Olive Garden or pay for North End prices), decent prices (pizza was about $18 ish plus tip), and overall good place. I will probably do a follow up critique and try this place again and give a more detailed review. Thank You! Check it out!
(4)TennisTravels T.
Stopped for lunch after enjoying the Liberty Ride tour, Mario's hit the spot. Our party of three was shown to our seats immediately and our drink order was taken. Upon receiving our drinks, we were also given a basket of bread. My companions ordered spaghetti & meatballs and ravioli with meat sauce. I ordered the baked ziti. Ziti with a layer of crumbled meat in the middle covered with cheese and baked to a golden brown; served with marinara or meat sauce on the side. Portion sizes were large. Food tasted fabulous! I would definitely go for a return visit.
(4)Michael S.
I had the lunch chicken parm with meat sauce and shells. This was so good! The lunch size was huge! I should have stopped half way through and taken some home but it was to good to stop. It was cheap too! $8 for lunch.
(5)Eye Am V.
Family-friendly. Very. Small. Cramped. Affordable. NOT hoighty-toighty at all. Lil'bit grimy - but that is the territory of [again] Family Friendly. Not bad food (I happen to like Italian food) but limited chunky tomato sauce on everything. And thick cheese on everything as well. Can't go too wrong w/sauce & cheese...can you?!?!
(3)Nate B.
Definable nothing special, but it was where I always went with friends after a half day of high school. Go for the calzones/stromboli -- enormous, low priced, and reasonably tasty.
(3)Kristen B.
If I was rating this place only on the food, it would be a 1 star. However the service was fast and friendly and the prices are on the low side so I suppose I'll bump them up to 2 stars. Not impressed at all. I got the ravioli parmigiana with meatballs and the raviolis were probably some of the worst raviolis I've had. I could only even bring myself to eat one. My boyfriend tried one and thought they weren't even completely cooked. The sauce was extremely too watery. The meatballs were okay. Nothing to write home about. Boyfriend got spaghetti and sausage. I tried some of his since I wasn't going to eat mine. Meh. Wasn't impressed either but it was at least more edible than my ravioli. I read the reviews and I wanted to like this place, but I don't think I'll be giving it a second shot.
(2)Corey F.
Honestly, I wasn't too excited about Mario's when I first stepped in. The place looked fine, somewhere between stereotypical American "Italian" restaurant and a pizza joint, but the menu was sparse and not especially exciting. I guess there's nothing wrong with sticking to the basics, as long as you do the basics well. So I went for the basics: pizza. And it was good. Good sauce, right ratio of sauce and cheese, tasty toppings. I was surprised to get Greek-style crust (not deep dish, but medium-thick, though I guess there's nothing inherently non-Italian about that), but I happen to prefer that to thin. I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the menu. The reason this place shines to me (and the reason I already need to review after only one visit) is the staff. Everyone was friendly and attentive as soon as we got there. Drinks were refilled promptly, servers who weren't working our table asked if we needed anything, and they all wore smiles. Craziest of all, when our pizza had a pretty minor mistake -- they left off one of the two toppings, and they caught it before the pizza even made it to the table -- they made it right to an impressive degree: not only did they quickly whip us up a pan of the missing topping to put on ourselves, but they gave us the whole large pizza for free. They wouldn't even let me compromise with them to pay for a small, or pay half, or *something*. I'm a fan of top notch devotion to customer satisfaction, so I'm a fan of Mario's.
(4)Susan D.
What a great little neighborhood joint! My server was super sweet and had good timing. She never rushed us, but was swift in taking our orders and getting our drinks to us. I tried the eggplant parmigiana with cheese raviolis. That bubbly meat sauce with melted mozzarella cheese on top is to die for. I will definitely return with friends and get the same thing.
(4)Dietsodafix C.
I grew up just a bit down Mass Ave in Arlington. So I been going to Mario's for years. Its a medium sized place very family friendly, cheap and tasty. You can BYOB which is awesome. My sister is vegetarian and loves the eggplant parm here better than anywhere. The staff of mostly high school & college age girls are very friendly and quick to get you anything you need. Nothing fancy, pasta pizza and salads but yummy none the less. Baked Ziti is popular, they layer it with ground beef and smother it with cheese. Take out is available too. You can order spaghetti & meatballs by the bucket to go. Its perfect for a nice cheap local night out with or without the family.
(4)Paul C.
This place has the best "cheap" Italian food in the area. (And I mean "cheap" here in the best way possible!). This place does not have a huge menu selection, but what they have is just amazing. When I worked in Lexington I used to come here at least twice a month for lunch with my coworkers. I usually get the ravioli parmigiana or the Italian calzone (which is HUGE by the way). The chicken parm is also very good as is the lasagna. The sauce they have is very tasty. So good in fact I sometimes walk in here just to buy a quart of sauce for use at home! Please do not go to this place expecting world class service or decor. (You will be disappointed). Go here thinking this is a hole-in-the-wall place that has fast service and great inexpensive food and you will be happy. Because I know I am every time I leave here.
(5)Cecilia L.
My friend used to rationalize ridiculous excuses to come to Lexington just to pick up a pizza here. So when she took us for the "best pizza" a couple years ago, I was expecting more than the greasy, heavy, bland pie I got. I recently went again and had the same mediocre pizza literally dripping with grease, accompanied by an unexciting buffalo chicken salad. Mario's isn't gross or anything, just the type of average that makes you think "well, I'm full now and there goes another meal of my life." Skip it in favor of the many better spots in Lexington Center.
(2)M M.
This is our family's absolute favorite Italian restaurant. I've been coming here since my teens, and now as a mom in my 30s, my husband and I love taking our two young daughters here. Absolutely delicious food in charming Lexington Center. We love it, and in 20 years, I can honestly say every meal has been delicious!
(5)Steve C.
Three and a half stars, really..:... Not, this was a gem. Great pasta and calzone and so inexpensive. Service with a smile.
(5)Geo O.
Ok, right up front, I've been going to Mario's for nearly 30 years now and the place hasn't changed even though the atmosphere in Lexington has. It's the last hold-out mom-n-pop type establishment in an upscale town center, but that's what keeps people coming back. You don't go there for gourmet dishes with intricate recipes. Just go there for simple, hearty Italian dishes, smothered in red sauce and cheese, you will not be disappointed. The atmosphere is very old school: dim lighting, hardwood chairs, tacky wall murals and red/white checker tablecloths. The staff is friendly, but they can get rushed as this place tends to draw a crowd. Just follow my #1 Mario's tip: Always order the meat sauce! I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that reviewers here that say they didn't like the sauce ordered marinara on their food. The marinara is ok, but it is a little bland. The meat sauce has a lot more oomph. Their menu is short. I strongly recommend anything parmigiana (veal, chicken or eggplant) or their lasagna. Their pizza is very good, but it has a very unique crust that doesn't always click with everyone, I suggest trying it once to see which side you're on. And always check the specials on the board! Usually you can get a good combo plate. By far, my favorite place to just chill out. Highly recommended.
(5)Sheri H.
I was in Lexington recently and, having read a review about Mario's in a local newspaper, I decided to go in for lunch. As many have already mentioned, the menu is fairly limited (pasta, veal, eggplant, and chicken parm, ravioli, lasagna, pizza, etc.) so I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs--which consisted of a big plate of spaghetti, plenty of (fresh) sauce, and 4 big meatballs. There was also endless Italian bread (which was nice and soft) and, all in all, the food reminded me of the Italian restaurants that I used to eat at as a kid (although, admittedly, with a lot less decor). But I don't look for decor for lunch, I just want to eat, and, based on my experience, this was just good, solid, well-cooked, old-school Italian food--and it only cost $6.79 (before tax, of course). My only complaint would be that the service wasn't all that great. If you are a food snob and/or are looking for ambience, you're not going to like this place. There is no herb-and-olive oil dipping sauce. And they don't offer anything in the way of the newer versions of Italian cuisine that you now see in many of the more "upscale" Italian restaurants that are opening in the area. (In fact, from what I could see, their only concession to modern restaurantism is that they offer the refillable soda.) There is nothing fancy going on here, so if you are the kind of diner who can't enjoy a meal unless it is served in an upscale environment, with plenty of "atmosphere," then don't bother with Mario's; it's not a place for yuppies. It's just a nice, small, family restaurant and while it's not the best old-school Italian-American food that I've eaten, it is still very good (and if the rest of their menu is on par with the meal that I just had there, then I will definitely want to eat there again. And again, and again. Maybe even become a semi-regular...)
(4)Dexter F.
Solid italian place. I love the pizza, and chicken parm dinner. This is one of those places you get cravings for, even when you've moved 50miles away.
(4)Tom F.
I love Mario's! Been going here since I was a kid and the food is as good and consistent as ever (and close to the same price!). Yes, the atmosphere is kind of bland, but I am willing to give that up for the great tasting Italian food that they serve here. The portions are generous and I really like their sauce. They serve little pieces of bread in a plastic basket with each meal that I enjoy dipping in their sauce. If you are looking for some good, inexpensive Italian food, you need to give Mario's a try. Don't be fooled by the atmosphere.
(5)Dana Z.
Mario's is one of those places that the locals all flock to, but I'm just not a fan. It's hardcore middle-of-the-road canned sauce, too much mozzarella on everthing, bland and tasteless. In this day and age of delicious artisanal breads (or even with sesame seeds on top) and salads with flavor and variety, Mario's still holds on to that model of bland, boring squishy Italian bread and iceberg lettuce with 1/4 green tomato salads. You could go there if your kids were driving you nuts and you wanted to get out of the house (and that's who's mainly eating there...kids running wild and screeching in the place while their mommies send text messages and ignore them) . Everything is too salty, bland and just kinda nasty. And the decor is cheesy but not in a fun retro way. Lastly; the bathrooms are completely disgusting; if they cannot be bothered to keep clean bathrooms; what does that say about any of the quality concerns?
(1)Erin M.
Went to Mario's on Sunday night with a friend. The place is tiny and humble but does not boast to be anything more than that. As others have pointed out, it has the crazy checkered tablecloths and big landscape paintings as the center of its decor. Since Mario's is a dressier version of take out pizza, this works. The restaurant holds around 60 people and was packed when we arrived around 7:00 pm. The table turnover was fairly quick but no one appeared to be rushed out. When we did get a table the waitress informed us that the dishwasher was having plumbing issues so they were using mainly paper products that night. Interesting. The use of paper, styrofoam, and utensils wrapped in plastic (napkin included!) made me feel like I was at an indoor picnic but at least Mario's and its wait staff let everyone know the situation rather than make its customers believe this was the norm. The menu is not extensive but did offer calzones which for whatever reason I have had trouble locating around the area so I ordered a broccoli and chicken one. The wait was not too long and the food came out at just the right temperature (on a real dish with a real knife thankfully). Honestly though, I expected a bit more cheese (ok, I SOME cheese) in it so I did feel a bit disappointed. It was a good calzone though but I do not see myself traveling back to Lexington for it. Apparently the lasagna is really good though so if in the area I may go for that. Overall, it's a cute little place with decent food that I caught on a weird night. Not bad, but not great. Also, the waitstaff was attentive and kind even though they were very busy. Kudos to them for that because it is a job I could never do.
(3)Alexis J.
OMG! I am shocked... after a work function my coworker suggested we stop by Marco's for lunch before returning to the office. He said they had great eggplant parm and I agreed to go, expecting to have an average lunch break meal. Walking in Mario's looked like your typical little Italian restaurant... I was not expecting to have some of the best EPP of my life! Perfectly cooked with the right amount of cheese and flavor. The cheesy was baked and bubbling over the dish, smothered with sauce, yet the eggplant was still crispy (and not greasy). So many Italian joints make an average to bland EPP, but this was just perfect. And the tomato sauce was so rich with tomato flavor... just really tasty. As if it couldn't get any better, the whole lunch cost $7! For a huge portion of EPP and a side of pasta! Simple little family owned restaurant with friendly staff and quality food. I will definitely be back. Other bonuses... big parking lot out back and its BYOB!
(4)Natalia O.
Yummy Italian classic dishes, simple but always hitting the mark. Good service and nice downtown location. Nice place for a low key meal.
(4)Terry T.
I'm averaging this review as my friend gave it 1 star and I gave it 3. Basically bland italian-inspired fare. I had the special baked ziti and found it a hearty portion though somewhat bland. My friend had the chicken parm and commented that his reason for giving the place 1 star was that the service was friendly but the food was mediocre at best when given the fact that great italian food wasn't that hard to find in New England (besides the North End which is a given, there are a lot of decent italian restuarants all over). As such, despite having been back 1 more time, we'll have to leave the ranking a solid 2 stars - adequate but there are better options in the area.
(2)Orly M.
This is bizarre. I can't believe all of the positive reviews for Mario's!!! I am seriously in shock. I guess the ugly space with ugly, uncomfortable wooden chairs and checkered tableclothes that look like they have endured decades of use are "charming" or some crap. I certainly don't think so. Growing up in the metropolis that is Lexington with its handful of restaurants, I have been dragged to Mario's many a time and I don't think I ever ate anything that resembled decent. Everything is mediocre at best. Even my FOB Israeli ass couldn't be fooled into thinking this was decent Italian food. So where do I begin? Pizza that is mushy with too much sauce, fresh from the can, and too much cheese. Bertucci's down the street may be pricy but the pizza is far superior there. The pasta is always just a little overcooked and the tomato sauce tastes like Ragu. I'm not looking to go out for pasta that I can make for 5 bucks in 10 minutes at home. I give Mario's an extra star for good lasagna and decent meatballs. Although the polpette at Bertucci's are still much, much better. Service that rivals Dick's Last Resort for the rudest service around. Neighborhood Italian? This is Lexington center! If you want neighborhood Italian, go to Arlington. If you want to be surrounded by yuppies when you eat your Ragu, come here. Whatever, you can try it for yourself, just don't say I didn't warn you.
(2)Melissa M.
Yes, Mario, I love you and your food. I love your 1974 ambiance with the old school pepsi light decor. I love your red and white checkered tops. I like the 15 year old sweet high school kids that work here. Mario has not changed with the times, and that my friends is a good thing. Your cheese ravioli, lasagna, pizza and even bread and salad is so worth the drive from my house. If you can't decide on where to go for Italian food, go here. It's cheap too!
(5)Jack N.
What you'll find here is some good Italian quick-food. Don't take the parents when they come into town, but if you want fast, casual, cheap, and tasty, this'll definitely get the job done. I hit Marios every 3 weeks or so - I definitely recommend any pizza and the antipasto salad. I've ventured off that course, and while impressed, always go back to the pizza. A little noisy and crowded for goups, but great for just 2 or 3. Expect kids to be present and loud - for some reason, the parents who bring their kids here have no idea how to parent.
(4)Valerie S.
Great pizza! I've been going here for years. It gets kinda crowded and noisy with high school kids and the mozzarella sticks kinda fall apart... but otherwise? I LOVE IT
(4)Francis C.
The food here is very solid. I got the chicken parm and it did not disapoint. It's also very reasonably priced, particularly in comparison to its neighbor Bertucci's. The only reason for the four stars is that the service was a little slow on the night I went. Nothing major, I just had to wait a little while for another water. It can also get pretty crowded around dinner-time. Overall though, it's definitely a step above your average (generic) Italian place.
(4)Rebecca O.
Wow - this place was really awful. We were there on a Thursday evening and the service was incredibly slow. We waited over 45 minutes to get our food and when it arrived, it was horrible - bland, overcooked, nothing fresh in sight. The baked ziti was a layer of overdone pasta covered with two inches of ground beef, with cheese baked on top. Gross. The calzone was the only edible item we ordered, but even it was not very good. Don't go - save your money for some place better.
(2)Jeff B.
I almost don't want to write a review because I want to keep this little gem all to myself. But seeing how everyone else is letting the cat out of the bag, I'll stand up as a star witness (pardon the pun) and let you all know how much I revere Mario's. Bring your own wine if you like, let Mario's cooks do what they do best... make great pizza, pasta and subs. Their homemade marinara and bolognese are so good you can buy some to take home. The same goes for their Italian and creamy Italian dressings. This place is simple to say the least, but Mario's is consistently good as the first time I went there in 1996. It's clear that the owner's know what works: they only hire attractive, young, polite waitresses. In the day when you can get crummy Italian in the north end, that's the day you give a place like Mario's 5 stars. If you're looking for more than basic, good, quality, Italian American food in a bare bones setting, go waste your money at the olive garden, I'll be at Mario's, keeping the gem to myself.
(5)J. D.
Mmmm nom nom nom..love marios! I have been eating at Mario's for years and have never had a bad experience. If you took me to a fancy restaurant I wouldn't know what to do with myself so that is probably why I feel so comfortable here. Huge servings for real cheap. I know the food isn't probably the best quality but it definitely isn't lacking in terms of taste. The last time I went with three friends during a snowy blah day when we needed good food to cheer us up. We started with an order of mozz sticks and a sausage,pepper, and onion pizza to share. Is it weird to get a pizza as an app? We all sort of thought so but wanted a slice and a meal = ) I got the chicken/ravioli parm combo with meat sauce, someone else got the eggplant parm, and two people got the chicken parm with meatsauce. The eggplant and chicken parm entrees are served with choice of shells or spaghetti. The waitress kept replacing our bread basket and seemed to adopt the Planet Fitness "judgement free zone" philosophy on how much we were consuming. We all got our simple garden salads and I don't know why but I absolutely love the creamy italian dressing here. My friends make fun of me because it is the one thing I get most excited about ..weird. All of our food was delish as always. I don't do eggplant but all my friends who ever get it swear by it. Oh and Marios is byob so you can run across the st to the small package store grab a bottle (or 3) of wine and enjoy it out of the paper pepsi cups they supply, So classy I love it! Alllll that food for under $50 and leftovers for everyone. Unbelievable. We always have to tip our waitress 30% because I am sure we are pretty loud/obnoxious because we are so happy and food drunk. I love you Mario's and always will.
(4)Rich S.
Mario's is your basic old school Italian-American joint. It has good pizza, pasta and the chicken parm is delicious!
(4)Elizabeth F.
I ordered a mushroom and onion pizza, and my boyfriend had the ravioli parmagiana with sausage. It was, by far, the most boring, unsatisfying food I've ever had.
(1)Matthew A.
Local good old neighborhood Italian food like it should be. No frills but very tasty. Yelp member recommended as a BYOB restaurant. See my BYOB List for more BYOB establishments.
(5)ChianWen T.
So much in life is just average, like the middle of a bell curve. Mario's is like that , just average. I had an Italian sub for just about $6. For that money you could get something some much better and bigger on State Street downtown Boston. I guess you really have to have an affinity for Lexington in the first place to really appreciate and love Mario's. I am just not a Lexingtonian like that.
(3)L H.
If you take it for what it is: a small Italian place with the basics and no frills, for a GREAT price, then you would love it. It is the perfect place to stop for lunch when riding your bike on the Minuteman Trail with your kids. Just bop in, plunk down, and have a meal. Nothing fancy and at times the food can miss, but really, find what you like, and go there just for that. Not nearly as diverse as Bertucci's next door's selection (nor as long of a wait), but it doesn't pretend to be anything other than basic and filling.
(4)Sara C.
Chicken parm was pretty decent, lots of cheese. Really big amount. The only problem I had was with the spaghetti sauce on the side. It had meat which was fine but something was definitely off. Too sweet maybe?
(3)Sarah B.
good, cheap food and friendly, quick service. great place to go if you don't want to wait long for food (unless it's a busy time and there's a wait to be seated). they never judge me for ordering off the kids meal. it's BYOB.
(4)Kristen F.
Very cute little Italian parlor. I liked the set up and the checkered table cloths. My family all had Italian dishes they were pleased with. I had pizza, although I tad on the greasy side, I liked it. A great spot to pop into if you're in this area
(4)Alicia T.
Mario's is great. Nothing fancy, just a great quick lunch or dinner with the fam. The waitstaff is very friendly and the restaurant is quaint and cute. It's like a home cooked meal, not over the top with presentation or flavors, but very satisfying. Terrible pizza though...
(4)Cee L.
The baked ziti here is heaven. The portions appear to be small at first, but once you sink your jaws into that delicious concotion you will be surprised. It's filling and even if you have leftovers it's absolutely delicious when you reheat it.
(4)Jules M.
All I have to say is get the eggplant and chicken parm with shells. You won't be disappointed. I very seldom eat anything with red sauce but I can't resist it here.
(4)Christine C.
I just love Mario's. The food is great and cheap. The wait staff is always friendly. The lunch specials are very good. The only drawback is that sometimes it can be very busy and if you don' have all members of your party there, you can't sit down. I go with some vegeterian friends and they love the eggplant parm (as do I) and the pizza. They offer marinara or meat sauce. And when I went there last, there were about 6 kids (all under the age of 4) who seemed to be having a good time. Very kid-friendly.
(5)luke b.
YUMMMMMMMMMM! This place serves the quintessential Italian-American cuisine. Great tomato sauce, great parmesans(chicken, eggplant... and RAVIOLI!), great meatballs! It's classic. F*CK Vinny T's... and Maggiano's. They both blow but I suppose that goes without saying. If you have a craving for a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs this is your joint. If you wanna drink, you have to bring your own... but still... so delicious.
(5)Susan W.
This is not great red-sauce Italian. It is serviceable and sturdy. You will not get food poisoning here. It is not wonderful. What is with people who review here, passing out four and five stars? Is the frozen tv dinner their standard meal? Decent, serviceable but uninspired Italian deserves two stars!
(2)LEONARD D.
My wife have been eating here for over 20 years , Great sauce & even better prices. Pick up a bottle of wine at the nearby store & drink from plasic cups . Gotta love this place ! 4 stars
(4)Sara P.
The food is fairly basic, but good and inexpensive. There are a few surprises (when you think you're ordering sausage lasagna you're ordering lasagna with a side of sausage, and the eggplant parmesian comes with meat sauce if you don't ask for it to be vegetarian -- although the wait staff will warn you about that), but overall you get what you order and it's good.
(5)Deanna R.
I love this place! I'm not really into Italian food, but it tastes so homemade- as opposed to Bertucci's and Olive Garden. This place reminds me of my friend's mother's recipes. It's cheap, the food is always HOT, and it's a small restaurant. My friends and I started going a couple times a month because we love it so much!
(5)Christine T.
Went here with Mom since we were in the area. We were going to go to a chain restaurant down the street but saw this little hole-in the wall type restaurant and figured what the hell. Mario's is small, but cozy. It was great on a Wednesday afternoon, we parked in the back (meter parking: 25 cents = 1 hour) we walked right in and sat ourselves. Typically you'd have to sign in and wait however long the list says but not on a weekday afternoon. Our waitress was friendly and upbeat - I wish I could remember her name. We ordered garlic bread, salads and we split a chicken/broccoli calzone (all pictured). The salads were okay - you could tell they were pre-made and they were soaked in dressing. The garlic bread was good, it could've been toasted a bit more but needless to say there wasn't any left on the plate. The calzone was delicious, a good size and beautifully cooked, also came with a side of marinara which was FRESH, that made it extra delicious. we had a ton for left overs too which I love. All in all we had a hardy meal and it was all only $23, whicih is really cheap. My only complaint is I wish the menu was bigger and I wish they had more Italian based items (this is certainly an Americanized menu)... for example I can't find a good Italian egg-roll anywhere. that would've made my day!
(4)Scott L.
Ate here for the first time on a date. Great atmosphere despite the small size of the restaurant. Just a short wait on a Saturday night at 5:30. Attentive waitstaff, very quick response, and informative. Menu is very straight forward. Spaghetti? Check. Ravioli? Check. Veal Parm. Yup. Despite the simplistic menu, took awhile to decide. Food was terrific with hefty portions. They don't serve alcohol but you can bring your own, Mario's will even give you two paper cups. Best part of my experience was the "Pay it Forward" theme going with our waitress. Throughout her shift, patrons had been paying $5 - $10 for the next party at the table or another table. So cool. With our $5 off, the bill ended up being only $16. So, I left $5 at our table and $5 at another table. Will definitely eat here again. Highly recommended!!!
(5)Tanya I.
Great price and the food is OK. Family atmosphere but not very clean. Great house salads.
(3)Elizabeth M.
I've been to Mario's a few times, and I wasn't expecting mind blowing cuisine or service, but as the the two star rating says "Meh- I've had better." Not sure why it has such a following, but it looks like a place you can take your kids on the cheap, while avoiding the Burlington/Middlesex Turnpike madness. Expect to be served by a grumbling teenager. Menu is VERY limited. There's just not much to it at all. As far as the food goes.... Again, I've had better. Red sauce is pretty watery, ravioli looked like they had been frozen, it was sort of sad. I was expecting it to be some small town gem that makes a lot of its dishes from old family recipes, but it looks like it's mostly frozen stuff that gets nuked and served up. Spend the same money down the street at Neillio's and get amazing, freshly made pastas, raviolis and sauces and make it at home. More bang for your buck, that's for sure.
(2)Amanda J.
Delicious typical hole in the wall Italian place. Not a huge selection, but everything we ordered was a large portion and very flavorful. I had the chicken parm, and the chicken was cooked perfectly. If you like simple good Italian food, you will like this place. If you are looking for complex dishes and an upscale atmosphere, it might not be for you.
(4)Elizabeth K.
I don't want to like this place, but, I do. I've been going since I was a kid. Occasionally I still meet up there with my mom for lunch or dinner. Know why? It's cheap, easy, and yummy. It's not creative, but, it's solid. The chicken parm is always crispy and smothered in cheese. Absolutely smothered. The portions are also huge, so, it's like two meals. It's cheap. Super super cheap. Occasionally a girl needs a budget meal to fuel her fancy food addiction :) Also, it's BYOB and it's on the Minuteman Bike Trail - both perks on their own, though, I wouldn't suggest combining them.
(4)S S.
My family likes this place. Very simple but the food is good. Prices are good as well. I love their lasagna and pastas. Will recommend to check it out for lunch.
(5)Brian D.
Heard nothing but great things about this establishment which faded quickly upon arriving. The decor was quite outdated, the food was obviously from frozen and just all around bland. Ordered the baked ziti and it arrived like a piece if pie with overcooked ziti and with the cheese being the only thing that was baked. Cheap prices yes but I'd recommend buying the ingredients (I'm positive anyone could replicate this food and make it more flavorful). The waiter I had was the only positive aspect of this visit he was fast and very polite. I can easily say I will not be having a return visit
(1)Greg H.
Food tastes frozen!! It sucks! Don't ever go here!!! The pizza has too much cheese and ingredients taste cheap. Maybe the sauce isn't real...
(1)Jim S.
Cheap for a reason. Same (very ordinary) sauce on everything. Menu from an "Italian-American" restaurant of the 60's (bet there's no real Italian cook within miles of the kitchen). Food is competently cooked but very ordinary. Really out of place in Lexington with its selection of semi-upscale yuppie food places (and the obligatore set of Asians). But it serves a purpose and is always crowded for that reason.
(3)Joanne G.
Everyone says "don't go to a italian restaurant and order spaghetti and meatballs..." seriously people??? isn't that the lock, stock and barrel of any GOOD italian restaurant? So I can't say that I *just* went to Marios - because that would be a big, fat lie - I was exposed to this mound of awesomeness last year but never reviewed it (not even sure i was a yelp'r then either) So I wanted to make sure that I went to it before I yelped about it again (not fair to have years past flavor memories, you know?) Hubbie and I went while we were driving thru Lexington to go to his workplace on the other side of I-95 - and yea, the place is wikked small and aside from the awesome oil paintings on the wall - it's like this place I waitressed at in Richmond Virginia - kinda dumpy. But don't let the looks deceive you - that's were "dumpy" stops. We were seated immediately for lunch (something that is kinda unheard of at this restaurant at dinnertime btw) and the cute, peppy and quite busy waitress came over to us right away. And you people know what she brought us right??? Yes, soft bread and butter - OH MY. Carb heaven I say We ordered the following: Mario's special baked ziti and 3 side meatballs - for me Eggplant parm over ravoli - for hubbie It was all good - I wasn't totally blown away with the baked ziti - kinda boring - but hubbie LOVED it - it's because he's a noodle fiend - seriously - it was noodles then meat then noodles then cheese - it was about 6 inches tall for goodness sake! His meal was moist and yummie - the eggplant is always my fave part of any eggplant dish - so I dug in a couple of times. It was a lot of food - so request a doggie bag - and wanna know something? skip the drinks - just have water - the drinks are super expensive - even for just lemonade.... Oh yea - I started off this yelp with my whole "spaghetti and meatball" speel - and I'm sure you are wondering why I didn't have it - well - I thought I would just rave and rave about how great it is - because really, I've only had that here before because it is so spectacular. Spaghetti is perfect, meatballs are huge and sweet and saucy..ok it's 8:09am and I want some now!!!
(5)