Mario’s Italian Restaurant
1272 N Atherton St, State College, PA, 16803
Mario’s Italian Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in State College for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in State College for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in State College for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1272 N Atherton St
State College, PA, 16803 - Phone (814) 234-4273
- Website https://www.dantesinc.com/locations/mario-luigis
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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James A.
The food was reasonable quality but the prices were vastly too high. The service was not up to par for the prices. The ambiance was "old world" in the sense that they slathered white paint on everything. The bread with my meal was tough and not remarkable. The value may be good for some, but I can skip "Nintendo's" Italian food (*ahem* I mean Mario and Luigi's).
(2)Megan K.
Simply delicious! Great Wine selection. Waite staff is knowledgeable. I always enjoy my meals there! I highly recommend!
(5)Jess G.
Food is simply ok. Service is TERRIBLE. I've been here multiple times (why I keep going back, I'll never know), and the first couple times we didn't have a problem and we had no major complaints about the food (other than that it was boring). The second time, we waited forever for our food. When we asked the server what was taking so long, she said "We try to take at least 45 mins to prepare each dish." First of all, don't try to tell me that you intentionally take longer to cook a dish. Tell me that the intricacies of the dish require extra preparation time, but don't say that you're aiming for a waiting time of 45 mins. Secondly, we had already been waiting for an hour, so that argurment doesn't even hold up in this case. Finally, after an hour and 10 minutes, the waitress decided to tell us that all the meals were ready except for one because they were out of the main ingredient... it took her that long to tell us that one of us had to reorder. She volunteered to bring out the rest of the food while that person reordered. When asked how long it would take, she replied "45 minutes" (duh... stupid question, I know). What did she want us to do: have everyone else eat their meal and wait another 45 minutes for the straggler? I don't think so. We left and got chinese food instead.
(1)Domenica R.
My teammates and I decided to come to Mario's to get some healthy food before our track meet. The waiter took 20 minutes to come back to our table to take our orders and never came back until after we got our food. I chose the lasagna. It was one layer of noodle and 80% cheese. There were also about 8 mini meatballs the size of a penny buried in the ricotta cheese. I ate all of the noodle and meatballs and was not full. I only weigh 115 lbs and could have ate twice it. I was disgusted in the amount if ricotta cheese. My other teammates who sat at a table near us waited and hour and 15 minutes until they got their food and asked the waiter if they could get it to go because we were going to be late for our team meeting. The waiter then snatched the girls plate from in front of here and said "no" and walked away. That guy ended up being the manager. The girls decided to leave the restaurant without eating after a long day of training. I will never recommend this place to anyone. The service was not professional at all.
(2)Kara B.
We were barely acknowledged at the door, treated as though we were an inconvenience by the hostess, which later I found out was one of the managers. I clearly saw here rolling her eyes when we walked in. Our waitress was very nice and did her best with what she had to work with. Our food took forever (almost and hour) which would have been ok had there been more than 3 tables in the entire restaurant. My pasta was over cooked, my vodka sauce was cold...not warm or slightly less than hot...COLD. Cold as the woman that seated us!! The waitress had offered to get the manager, she stated that she was the one who took us to our table... I shut it off there! I completely understand missing the mark on a meal here and there, I was just truly offended by the way we were treated by management. Very poor way to represent your business! Won't be back...ever!
(1)Cheryl M.
My daughter and I had a wonderful lunch here. Our server was super friendly and knowledgeable. The prices were very reasonable and the food was awesome. We will be back!
(5)Ralf S.
Haven't been here since the name change. Anniversary dinner. We shared the 10" sausage pizza. Nice flavors. The fried mozzarella was burned. The bruschetta was good, but there must've been slices of eight whole cloves of garlic in it. The bread and dip samples were mostly boring. Italian? Yes. Upper class? If it wasn't for the wine list, I'd never get that impression. Sad to say I'd rather eat at an established chain restaurant like Olive Garden, where you can count on them getting it right.
(2)Dave M.
Met up with some friends there for dinner. Atmosphere was nice and the house wine was good. Our waiter was very good. My son ordered the Seafood fra Diavlo which was excellent. The shrimp and scallops were great and the pasta was Aldabra I ordered some lobster over fettuccini. Sadly, the pasta was over cooked and was one large mush ball covered with sauce and lobster. I should have sent it back but didn't want to disrupt the rest of our party. More attention should have been paid by the chef.
(3)D K.
Came to state college to visit my son and to take him out to a nice dinner. This place looks the part. Nice bar area nice white table cloths Even a nice hostess. That's about it. 10 minutes for our waiter to even say hello. Did not know the menu at all. Chicken parm for my son was ok. My lasagne was awful one bowl of greasy mush. My wife's seafood fradiavlo which was asked to be made with simple marinara came out supper spicy. Don't waste your money!!!!!
(1)J A.
nice place, and pretty good food for the city. When we asked for a virgin cocktail, the waitress' attitude was a very pleasing "Yes, I'll talk to the bartender and come up with something special." (This is not the attitude we see elsewhere in this town).
(4)Claude H.
I've been in more than a few Italian places, and this place is definitely in the top as far as food, staff attentiveness and just general "awesome". Made all the more when I find out from locals that it used to be called "Mario's and Lugi's", this was a fairly impulsive stop when we were craving some pasta while in State College. The Food... is incredible. Timing and presentation far above what the outside gives you the impression that you should be expecting, but a careful look at the inside MIGHT give warning. The Brick Oven, warming the room as a whole is a wonderful mood setting element. And the staff - well, they're as much a part of the experience as the seasoning, the perfectly prepared pasta and subtle sauces. The bread basket is not a simple roll, but a beautiful selection, and the dipping options - well, I could have been content and writing this without consuming a single other moral - but that would have been dangerously close to committing culinary blasphemy. The Veil Sentino - not something I would have normally ordered, but I wasn't in the mood for one of my "typical" dishes, and thank goodness I took the chance. Perfectly prepared, the tastes of the wild mushrooms, broccoli rabe and sauce just took me on a journey far away. I stole some of the wife's Spinach Gnochhi - and was almost upset that I didn't have a larger appetite and was able to order some of that to go with my meal, bu tit wasn't required. This is not a "casual" night out - but the value is there. You are not just paying for "expensive food", you are paying very much the price that is appropriate for the experience. Do not drive by Mario's. Stop in, sit down - and come prepared to spend a few hours enjoying yourself.
(5)Felicity C.
Service was great, food tasted amazing the only thing is we each got a dish and it ended up being very expensive.
(4)Robert T.
1st time visit. We were seated & after about 5 min we heard the waiter tell the people in the next booth there were only 5 minutes left before happy hour ended. That was not mentioned when we were seated. After waiting 15 minutes we were brought water so I inquired about happy hour explaining we were seated before happy hour ended. The waiter said he was new & would check with the manager. He came back & said the manger refused to give us the happy hour prices in spite of our wait. We had to get up & leave on principle. Not the type of service we expected. Never tried the food.
(1)Matt J.
Par for the course Italian joint, but they are easy the best Italian in state college. Service is very good; waitstaff is prompt, courteous, and knowledgable. But each time I've eaten here I never feel I've gotten my monies worth as most dishes are in the mid $20s even though the food is very standard. Elevate the food or lower the price.
(3)Benjy E.
Came here after PSU graduation. 8 people. 3 generations. Food was great however salad, apps, and entrees all came out at the same time. It was ridiculous. Lost two stars because of it.
(2)Cynthia H.
One of the top five meals of my life. TOTAL FOODGASM!!!! What a lovely restaurant located on Atherton in State College. Formerly Mario and Luigi's this restaurant is very upscale and classy. Pricey but very worth it their food delivers and is on point. We were seated immediately with no wait. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable of the menu. Letting us know what each sauce was as we were a bit confused as to what Bolonese and Neapolitan was. It was happy hour and we had wine and drinks. Bolla Reisling and Mini Fresh Peach Bellinis. They brought us a bread basket with three dipping sauces. Not exacty sure what the sauces were but they were tasty and made short work of. We had the crab, artichoke and cheese dip as an aperitif. It was delicious. We loved it. I ordered the Spinach Gnocchi with Marscapone Cheese Sauce and a side of three meat Meatballs. It was perfection. Scrumptious. The hubmeister had the Veal Sentino. Which was Veal with broccoli rabe, wild mushrooms in Marsala sauce over Parmesan potatoes. He thoroughly enjoyed his dish. I tasted it and it was so delicious. We will definitely be returning to Mario's again next time we are in State College. Even if its just for the delicious Tira Misu dessert. Top of the line service, food, and quality in a very enjoyable setting. I cannot rave more about Mario's.
(5)Gayle M.
Awesome! We eat there every time we are in State College! We go right after the football game to beat the crowds! Never had a bad meal! Service is great!
(5)John H.
This is not Batalli's restaurant but it is the best Italian in town. It's one of my favorite restaurant in State College.
(4)Lorene B.
In State College on business and was pleasantly surprised! Margharita Pizza...hand tossed, thin crust and perfect. Will definitely visit again. Finished with Creme Brulee, also very good. Service was outstanding.
(4)Nolan Z.
I feel like maybe this restaurant should be on an episode of Kitchen Disasters. For starters, the section in which we were seated had a dank, musty smell, almost exactly like your grandma's basement. The place clearly had suffered some water damage, as there was a tarp hanging from a portion of the ceiling, but they probably shouldn't be seating patrons in that section until it is repaired. Next, the service and atmosphere, as have been mentioned in other reviews, left much to be desired. Service was slow and our server inattentive, even though there was adequate wait staff the entire time we were there. The servers were not rude or deliberately neglectful, but the service experience was still poor. The decor was drab and dated, and didn't seem to be well maintained. Even the base of our bread basket had dust on it! Finally, our food was passable at best. The restaurant brings out complementary bread with a trio of dips: white bean, eggplant, and olive oil. The bread was unremarkable and the olive oil was not flavorful. We both ordered lasagna with side salads: our salads had pieces of bad lettuce (beyond wilted -- more like black, slimy and decomposing) and the "lasagna" bore only the vaguest resemblance to actual lasagna. What Mario's presents as lasagna is actually more akin to a giant ravioli -- a pasta "pocket" overflowing cheese and a few tiny meatballs, doused in sauce. The flavor wasn't bad, but it was not what either of us expected when we ordered it. Maybe we came on an off night; maybe we ordered the wrong entrees; who knows? But if I am ever in State College again, I will find another place to dine.
(1)Alanna B.
This was a very nice Italian restaurant. I thoroughly enjoyed the food and the price was right for the quality, atmosphere, and service. My favorite time to eat here was in the fall during their Mushroom Festival. So many special dishes, and the flavors were great! Homemade pasta, and good desserts as well. I ate here many times, and I have never been disappointed with any service or dish served. Family atmosphere. Takes reservations. Good for parties or special occassions, however, you can wear jeans here too.
(4)Theresa M.
I took my son and daughter to Mario's on Atherton on PSU' s family weekend . My son ordered the lobster tagliatelle and loved it. My daughter ordered the chicken Alfredo and really enjoyed it. I was daring and ordered the pumpkin ravioli off the seasonal menu. To my delight they were sweet! I did not care for the pesto sauce so much though. To sum it up. We all had a great meal !
(3)Erin F.
My fiance and I first came here on our second date. It's been three years and we're still coming back so obviously we like the place. The food is good, the staff are pleasant, and the restaurant is unpretentious. They're a little frazzled when dealing with a packed restaurant but we still enjoyed our Valentine's Day dinner.
(4)Michael W.
Stopped on by here one weekend for lunch with some friends. I had a little trouble finding this spot with the directions given on Yelp, and I somehow managed to miss the large "Mario's" sign. They do have a parking lot behind Mario's, but I somehow parked in the hotel lot. Mario & Luigi's somehow lost Luigi. Maybe they were fighting over Princess Peach or Bowser took him hostage. Nonetheless, the staff said that nothing has changed and it's business as usual. The restaurant itself was pretty empty for lunch on a Sunday. There was only one waitress managing the whole floor, so business was a little slow. It took the waitress about 10-15 minutes to actually come by our table and ask what we wanted to drink. We started off with the calamari, and I ordered the eggplant parmesan. The calamari was HORRIBLE. It was soft, small (size), and the portion was a little on the light side. For what they charge, I honestly expected a little more. The eggplant parmesan wasn't as bad. Although it was on the bland side, It did have some taste to it. What killed it was the service, and the mediocre food. If the service was improved, then I'd give this place a 3-star review. But, I'm still not sure that I'd come back again.
(2)Sean O.
Came in for lunch and the place was near completely empty minus the wait staff. The inside of the restaurant is actually quite decorative and nice. Our food was very good and the service was fair. Definitely a place I plan on coming back to, perhaps when there's a bit more of a crowd.
(3)Jeff S.
Second visit, first review. Food at our table was just OK. House salad consisted of mixed greens with a house dressing. Greens seemed old, dressing was rather flavorless. Ordered short ribs in red wine sauce. Braising liquid was on the plate with fat floating on it, not very appetizing. (Probably should not have ordered short ribs in an italian restaurant!) Ribs were served over risotto. Due to the large amount of braising liquid, the risotto was not very appetizing, more like rice floating in broth, not very tasty. The others in the party ordered pasta dishes. All said their dinners were OK, nothing special. Service was pleasant and adequate.
(2)Steve T.
Garlic lovers of the world....unite! Unbeknownst to most historians, Karl Marx was an avid fan of garlicky Italian food and revised his famous dictum after eating at M&L...a place that will literally, and metaphorically, steal your breath away. This nice, white tablecloth Italian joint kept this gumba quite happy with tasty calamari, delicious mussels in a garlicky white wine sauce (I almost slugged the waiter when he tried to remove the empty bowl...the best part is dipping your bread in the sauce), and a novel adaptation of bruchetta served with a creamy garlicky sauce. Entrees were solid. We enjoyed crab ravioli in a spicy rose sauce and lobster tagliatelle, a divine concoction made with homemade pasta and complete shelled lobster claws in a garlicky (how many times have I used this word already...is there a synonym?) wine sauce. Ignore the bourgeois reviews...M&L offers very good Italian that, while not quite a diner's paradise, will leave you pleasantly fulfilled with the aroma of garlic seeping out of your pores, as you dream of a better world, sleeping alone.
(4)Meghan C.
I have a lot of nostalgia for Mario's, formerly Mario & Luigi's. I came here every year for my birthday dinner when I was a kid because I loved drawing on the paper tablecloth with crayons and I thought it was named after the video game characters. Mario's is the definition of mediocre Italian, which normally would merit a 2-star review. But there are a few things Mario's does well that put it a step above the Olive Garden. The pasta dishes are not bad; in particular, the spinach gnocchi is excellent and I remember enjoying their pumpkin ravioli, although I haven't had it in many years. I also love their sweet-and-sour gorgonzola dressing, which they actually sell in a jar. Some things are weird. It's nice that they give you three dips with their bread (white bean, eggplant, and olive oil), but the olive oil they use is flavorless and I would trade all three options in favor of a high quality oil. Last time I was here, I asked the server for an appetizer recommendation and got the roasted garlic bruschetta, which apparently is a slice of Italian bread with alfredo sauce and roasted garlic cloves poured over it (not what I was expecting). It tastes good because drinking alfredo sauce would also taste good, but afterward you just feel a little gross for uhh...essentially drinking alfredo sauce. I don't know that any of the appetizers are that good--the caprese salad, calamari, and zucchini are all so-so. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to come to Mario's, but if you find yourself here, it's not the worst thing in the world.
(3)Jason C.
Party of 6 seated in two back to back booths. Drinks were pricey and seemed water down. Dips for bread were seen laying out. Food came out cold (Parmesan mashed potatoes) don't even know if they were comped. Unreal. And not in the good way.
(2)Bunny B.
Anyone who thinks this is Italian food needs to leave town every once in a while, and have some in a city. Even for State College, the place is a joke. I've been there maybe a couple of times during the last 10 years, for lunch and dinner, and the service was abysmal. You're better off making pasta at home.
(1)Brian B.
My single experience with M&L's: Walked in, got seated near the door to the kitchen. Saw cook smoking in said kitchen through the doors, finish it, and return to cooking. Left. Unless the chef of Fasta Ravioli is doing one of his dinners there (he did one last year), get out.
(1)Jim W.
I treat this place as a coveted "special events" place to go here in State College, as there's hardly any reasonable "fine dining" places to go. It is hands down the best "formal" Italian Restaurant in the area - by a lot - and I have not had a bad meal here. Keeping it from the fifth star? Management policies. Organized a birthday party/dinner last year, approximately 18 people. Staff was great, location ideal, everything was well prepped. What left me salty was the cake. If I brought my own, it's a $3.00 per person plate fee, or I could buy a cake from them for $88.00 to feed everyone. So by the time I added up the cost of plating fee + my cake, it was a no-brainer to order theirs. It was delicious, but I don't agree with their method.
(4)Dean F.
Three of us just had dinner at Mario's for the first time. Our food was first rate and so was the service. Ben was our waiter and did a excellent job. We hope to have him again our next visit. We had the duck breast, scallops, and shrimp alfredo. All three were prepared perfectly with the scallops being the star of our table. We will definitely return.
(5)Matthew B.
Excellent service, but the "Italian" food leaves something to be desired. I would encourage the owners to send their chefs to Italy to learn how to cook real Italian. Also, the decor has the palette of a rest home cafeteria. Italian restaurants are about passion, color, and intimacy.
(2)raquel s.
I've eaten here a few times and honestly the best service I've ever had didn't come when I was with my mother a few times, or with a single date-- Oddly enough, it came when I was in a group that went out to eat before a Frat formal. But after a few months waiting tables in State College, I too have learned that undergrads are by far the best tippers. Upon arrival, the smell of garlic and olive oil welcomes you in and prepares you for a nice meal in State College. Sometimes the side pasta is overcooked, sometimes it is not. Sometimes the 20 clove chicken is better than others. The sauce is always delicious. The takeout is not nearly as good as sitting in. They don't work well with dairy allergies as cheese is obviously pervasive, but there is always spaghetti and tomato sauce, which is still pretty good.
(4)Drew E.
Our experience at Marios was mediocre. We loved the cheesecake and the calamari but, my pesto pasta was quite bland. The service was slow but, it was probably because the staff is mostly students and it was their spring break when we went. I think I would like to try Marios again sometime.
(3)Bill H.
My wife and I stopped for lunch and we enjoyed the experience. We ordered soup and a large salad. Both were excellent. The homemade bread was hot and fresh and the service was prompt and friendly. I was a little surprised and concerned that we were the only diners in the restaurant. Based on our experience we would return.
(4)Philip O.
We're visitors from out of town. Ate dinner here and was impressed by the quality of the food and drinks. Our attendant Cody was knowledgable and his recommendations for both food and wine were spot on. There are restraunts with a fancier veneer and name, but this is an ITALIAN restraunt!
(5)Mathew H.
Horrible service. It took 15 minutes for the bartender to acknowledge we were there. I was so frustrated I left without even trying the food. Don't waste your money on this place
(1)Mary R.
We were surprised to be seated before we could even really study the draft handles. Server came over and took our drink orders, then asked for our order. I was not ready yet. Salads came out and were very good served with fresh baked artisan breads. Bread is accompanied with dipping - I didn't care for the dips, except for good old olive oil. Pasta came 25 minutes later..........very good pasta! Al dente....Couple just before us sent back a bottle of Cab Sav - Italian Cab Sav. - not Calif.....they were used to the in your face tannins - wish they would have given me the bottle! I really like S. American and Italian Cabs...
(4)Marissa B.
Went here for dinner. I ordered chicken Parmesan it was the best chicken Parmesan ever! Highly recommend! Will definitely go there again!!
(5)Carolyn M.
I worked here while I was a student at Penn State and try to eat here anytime I'm in town. There are so many things about Mario's I loved then, and continue to love today... Their service model hasn't changed much... Which is great. We were served by, most likely, the manager as it was just opening. We were given bread with olive oil and garlic butter... I glutened myself just for the focaccia rolls. Good God! They know how to keep a good thing going! Seriously, I haven't eaten this since 2003 and it tasted just as amazing! The service was impeccable... I had the chicken Marsala... Which is the recipe I make today. Delicious! My kiddo had the buttered noodles and chicken... Kudos to you! She's quite picky! My Mother had her usual... Eggplant parmigiana ... Which she still swears is the best. I even purchased two jars of vodka sauce to fly back to WA with me and a bottle of the Gorgonzola for my mom... Love the food, love the service!
(5)Minna R.
I look forward to fall so I can go to Mario's (yeah, they changed the name? they have a new sign and menu covers but the choices are the same as before) for the pumpkin ravioli! I LOVE pumpkin. Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie...but especially pumpkin ravioli! We went last week, and we were both really excited for dinner. My fiance doesn't even like squash, and he was excited for the "pumrav" (as we call it). That's how good it is! Or should I say was? Something about it this time was... different. It was still good, but it wasn't the same. It was sweeter, less nutty in flavor. There used to be larger pieces of walnut that added dimension, as the crunch offset the softness of the pumpkin. Now, though, it seems like the walnuts are all ground up or something. I didn't mind too much, because as I said I'm a pumpkin fanatic and I also love sugary foods, so the sweetness didn't bother me. My fiance was much more disappointed; he doesn't have a sweet tooth. Bottom line, it's still good but somehow it has lost a bit of its luster. Please, please change it back! Other than that we had a good experience. We grumbled a little at our bill, mostly because the side salads cost extra but our waitress made it sound like they were included. Small issue though, when your pasta costs $16/plate. And if the recipe could magically transform back to the old one, I would have no complaints at all!
(4)Cj M.
Get there around opening, no wait and service for 4 took only 20 minutes. Food was good, and waitstaff was pretty friendly and relaxed, although the whole restaurant was kinda quiet, music wouldve been a good addition
(3)Al G.
Needs a manager. Didn't get enough sauce on my Alfredo.asked and got additional along with an additional charge of $3. Asked to talk to the manager, was told he or she wasn't around. Highly unprofessional even for a college town
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