Mario's Table Reviews

I was not in the mood for a long walk, so I did a search on restaurants close to the hotel. I found Mario's, which turned into a great dining experience. The food was as desired - fresh, great-tasting Italian food. Simple and delicious. The staff was friendly, and it was quite busy, filled with locals, so they are doing something right.

Two-fer Tuesdays at Mario's brings lots of "neighborhood people" out in every kind of weather. Great food, and wine selections.

I was in town for business, and walked across the street from my Hotel to Marios’s. What a delight. Very comfortable authentic Italian atmosphere. Many locals in the restaurant with a lot of hugging as guests came in. I had the Fish special which was fabulous. Very solid wine list. There is a modest bar, which adds nice energy, but was too noisy. Service was excellent.

Food was great! Only open for dinner. Seems many people are repeat customers. It is on the first floor of a condo building. I had seafood pasta which was very generous. Half went home!

We used to live across the street from Mario’s and made it our go to spot. For the past ten years or so we have only visited a Chicago but always made a point of dropping in for another great meal! Starting with the dining room engineer who makes certain your water glass is always full and your breadbasket never empty, the service is exquisite. A cozy friendly bar, fabulous meals (some of the recipes are unchanged from back when Mario called the place Rocco’s after his oldest son). The food is excellent! Mario has expanded the menu from the earlier days, but we still stick with the Italian favorites. North of downtown with difficult parking, Mario’s is a very worthwhile spot if you want to experience the greatness of the Chicago neighborhood eateries! We will continue to return every trip we make to Chicago. Thanks Mario!

Mario's Table is a cozy, enjoyable neighborhood cafe in the lovely Gold Coast area. We were staying at the Public Hotel, which is one block away. The atmosphere was fun and comfortable with Italian decor and a touch of tongue-in-cheek tackiness ( a TV fire, for example). The food was very good, as was the service. Mario walked around and greeted the patrons. I am very thankful for an employee who ran after me with my favorite sweater I had accidentally left behind. We will go back and we recommend it!

The staff and owner are very friendly and it has such a lovely neighborhood feel. The warm bread on the table was excellent and the food was good. My only complaint is the clams in the linguini with clam sauce were very hard and rubbery and the shrimp on the lobster ravioli were also chewy and rubbery. I've eaten here a handful of times and find that some meals are great and others, like those mentioned, are not. And some of the food is very expensive....like the grilled vegetables with calamari at $23+tax!! I do really like this place, but it has some downsides....yet I'll return on occasion.

Nice relaxed casual dining. Italian, for the large part. Lamb cutlets were perfectly done. One block from PUBLIC Chicago Hotel.

Mario's is a little out of the way, just north of the main hotel cluster, but well worth the visit. Friendly staff, homey decoration, and seemingly lots of regulars. The Palm-Cuke Salad was inventive.The Eggplant Caprese delicious. The Primavera Pizza great.

We made a reservation for Friday night after we had arrived in town...we had an appointment at the apple store before and realized we might be late and so i called Marios and they were happy i called and said they would just see me at 9:15..welll we showed up around 9:00 and they happily got our table ready and sat us. As soon as we walked in we noticed the lively dining room..the pleasant murmur of the crowd....all the smiling faces...enjoying their meals. We instantly felt at home. Plus we don't mind the casual nature...seemingly lots of locals who had frequented Marios. I think for the location, Gold Coast, this place is a gem. Any other italian place in that spot would be another Spiaggia but this place is wam homey and the prices are very good.THey feature specials nightly and all their food that we tried was excellent..from the warm bread to the caprese...the calamari...the pastas...and the swordfish. Let me not forget the pizza. The crust was a flaky wafer if you can imagine that...crispy but flaky..such an interesting texture but just so light and airy...I could eat that daily. We had the white pizza special which was proscuitto arugula with a white cheese base. So darn good. I just can't say enough. And no we didn't eat all that in one visit.. We cancelled our reservation for the next night at The Palm to return to Marios for more goodness...and will be back again..hopefully soon.

We were hoping this was going to be a neighborhood gem. It was not! Typically I know how good a restaurant is immediately by their bread. Theirs was at best cheap, stale supermarket style. I had a meatball salad, which was rather small. The salad was tasty, however meatballs were mushy and not seasoned. The chicken parmigiana was nothing like I’ve ever seen (not fair to compare with NYC yet…)-small thin sliced grilled chicken with watery sauce and cheese. Bizarre-nothing good for other members of my family. Truly a shame!

I was on a business trip to Chicago and met a friend for dinner. The food preference was Italian and this was their suggestion. We were not disappointed as the food was very good. Real home made taste and whilst the decor was simple the atmosphere was very pleasant. The place was very busy but even so the wait staff were friendly and attentive. I would recommend this place for both business and family dinner as they offer many of the entree's in two sizes to suit your individual needs. By big city standards this place is very affordable. I will return.

We stumbled on this while looking for lunch. After looking at the posted menu, we decided to return for dinner. The chicken vesuvio wad outstanding. The tiramisu was delicious, and the owner came by several times to discuss our choices and answer questions. This dinner was absolutely perfect!

The restaurant is now named "Mario's Table" but to those who have been here before, it is still the great Mario's that you have come to know. And, for those dining for the first time, you are in for a treat. My wife loves their Angel Hair Aglio Olio. She has had this dish at other restaurants but no one comes even close to Mario's. It tastes so rich and buttery with ample garlic, she is in 7th heaven eating it. Everything is great on the menu. Mario's is a local place where many people who live in the area walk to or take a short cab ride. We stumbled upon it years ago through the Concierge at the old Ambassador East hotel, and we have been coming back ever since. It is reasonably priced with great Italian food and you feel like you're a neighbor visiting your favorite hang-out.

I could not recommend this place with so many other fine places in Chicago. It's not that good and the service was average as well. First of all they were out of fried ravioli which one diner really wanted. They substituted a fried tortellini which was terrible. The veal piccata and chicken parmesan were good but nothing special. The Caesar salad was not good. If you want Italian, I'd go elsewhere.

Nestled in a building just around the corner from home is Mario's, our favorite neighborhood place. There is something to be said about a place where "everybody knows your name". The service is attentive and fast if you want a quick dinner, and leisurely if that's your preference. The food is very good ..suggest pastas or thin crust pizzas. Also delicious lake perch if it's on the special menu. Good wine selection at reasonable prices. Mario is a gracious and gregarious host! We couldn't ask for more in our favorite neighborhood spot.

Was staying at the public hotel. So we ate here since it was so close. Man what a find. The service was stellar and the food was amazing. If you are in the area it is a must try.

The cousine of this place is just amazing, we share a table for 6, and each of us order a different dish, we share and all the food I tasted was just amazing, highly recommended, is a gourmet cousine with a great price.

I recently ate at Mario’s Table and had an outstanding experience! It truly exceeded all my expectations. Our server, Luke, was attentive, courteous, and extremely helpful! He was great! We ordered the grilled calamari, margarita pizza, and shrimp scampi for our meal. Everything was delicious and perfectly cooked, with the pizza being my favorite. The atmosphere was lively and cozy. Come to Mario’s Table! You won’t regret it!

You gotta try the cheese ravioli, pepperoni, italian sausage with pepperoni. Best ever. Thanks for the great meal.

My great-nephew and gf treated me to a fabulous evening at Mario's which is very near to their home. I remember that Mario and his family had restaurants that we visited very often years ago in Brookfield. Denise, the hostess, was very personable and found time to chat even though they were packed, the waiter was attentive, Mario stopped to chat, AND the wine and food were GREAT! All in all, it was a great experience. I'm from Downers Grove, but look forward to fighting the traffic and driving down to have dinner there with A & M again. Jane F. & M again!

We stayed at the Public Chicago--which was very close to Mario's. We wandered into Mario's one night late (on a Saturday) without a reservation and Mario himself greeted and accommodated us. Further, the meal was the best in the area. We dined at all of the nearby restaurants and Mario's was the absolute best. You can pay $100 for over-done steak and drinks at one nearby restaurant or half of that at Mario's for superior service and food. Highly recommended for all staying in the area.

Mario's Table is a hidden gem. I dine here often and always bring visitors here. Food is mostly Italian but they also serve a great burger. Everything on the menu is fabulous. Since I live in the neighborhood, I am lucky to receive coupons. Don't miss this place while visiting Chicago.

Excellent food and service. If you like Italian food you will be very happy here. They offer half portions of most dishes and also have whole wheat pasta.

Local neighborhood Italian restaurant, with excellent, friendly service and great food. Mario’s table has a nice drink menu, and a good variety of food. Small, cozy restaurant is casual and can get a bit load at times. Good for families and couples. Just off of Rush Street, Great prices! Excellent Food!!

It was crowded so we thought that was a good indicator and we were correct! The food was excellent; it was cozy and in the neighborhood. A great find! Try the calamari!

I was amazed to find so many great restaurants close to our hotel (Claridge House). Maybe all the restaurants in Chicago are this good! Mario's turned out to be the quintessential Italian restaurant, with perfectly done pasta, marvelous appetizers, great salads, and unresistable desserts. Though we had a hard time choosing from the menu options, we each to a marvelous treat in our choices, and did a good job of sharing bites. Got a taste for Italian? Mario's is the place!

Ate here two nights in a row. Veal piccata then veal saltimbucca. Both delicious, but what really made them special was served on a bed of angel hair pasta, which allowed you to sop up the scrumptious sauces. Neither was heavy. Just light and flavorful. Fresh bread with olive oil. Good wine list, great neighborhood atmosphere, and attentive service. Good prices too. Hidden gem. Don’t be put off by the hotel entrance.

48 hours before the Chicago Marathon, we were looking for an Italian affordable restaurant for carb-loading meal. Check the Iphone apps for review and price and here we are at Mario's. The place was not packed for a Friday and we were able to get our table with a last minute reservation. I was going for the pasta dish but went with the Shrimp Scampi served over angel hair.. Big mistake.. The order was small and certainly not for carb-loading. It was a simple and plain dish. I re-ordered this time an Angel hair marinana which was quickly served to my satisfaction but the angel hair was soaking in the marinana sauce.. Sauce is one thing but the pasta texture is something else.. So it was a big disappointment especially after reading the reviews. I

I went there on a Tuesday (Two for Tuesday wine special) and the place was packed. The staff was extremely nice and I was able to meet the manager who set up a table for me. I was there by myself due to business but the staff and the manager came around and made small talk with me. The food was absolutely delicious and the wine was superb. An extensive wine list and food menu. I will definitely go back!

We were just in Italy for a week and OMG, the food is to die for. We went to Chicago to visit family and had to dine at Mario's Table as we have been here several times prior. It is as close to Italy as you can get with the family always on hand to sit you, ask how the food was and to make sure your experience is amazing. Love their calamari (combo- sautéed and fried) and thin crust pizzas to start. You can't go wrong with the chicken parm (grilled), homemade pastas and desserts. Wine list is very reasonable, most bottles around $60. Service is excellent. There is outdoor seating, however the charm is eating indoors. Nice full-service bar if you want to come early and enjoy a cocktail. Make reservations in advance for the weekends. Overall, amazing Italian restaurant with authentic food and decent prices.

We live about two blocks from this restaurant and often walk out to eat in the neighborhood but had not dropped by here because a couple people we know had told us it wasn't all that good. Recently we sent some visiting relatives here with their friends and they enjoyed it, so when we had visitors and it was a cold miserable night we decided to eat here and save steps in the cold and snow. It was an excellent choice. The place is warm and cozy and not excessively noisy. We really hate noisy restaurants that make it hard for us to talk. The service was good and the owner dropped by midway to great the group. I had veal piccata which is a favorite dish and it was beautifully prepared. I have had several mediocre meals at Italian restaurants in Chicago and so it was lovely to have a dish that didn't cheat with canned sauces but prepared it in the authentic manner. One other person in our group ordered the same dish and we both lapped up every bit of the sauce -- with bread or I even used the spaghetti spoon to get the last bit. We will definitely put this restaurant on our list for those nights we want to run out and grab dinner; Tuesdays they have a two glasses of wine for the price of one deal. Good food. Good service. Good restaurant.

First class Italian restaurant, good menu and specials board. Food and service very good. Staff very pleasant and helpful. Have no hesitation in recommending this establishment.

I am shocked by the positive reviews of this dive. Tables and chairs and booths are cheap as can be. Atmosphere is schlock. Food even worse. I ordered the pasta with various vegetables and prosciutto in white sauce for $18. Seriously - that prosciutto was tough cut-up cubes of ham that you see in an omelet bar - I could not even chew them. And forget the Hamburger for $11 - you get a pre-formed burger just like the ones at Burger King. Thing is, this restaurant is EXPENSIVE for the low quality food they serve. Go elsewhere in the area like Carmines - at least you get good value for your hard earned $$. Service sucked too. I would not return or recommend this place.

The calamari is the best that we've ever had. Restaurant filled up very quickly with people of all ages. Mario seemed to know most of them! Made to feel right at home. Exceptional service. Wish we had room for dessert. Very fair prices. (I think parking may be an issue. We walked.)

My wife and I ate at Mario's Table and we both were impressed with the food and especially with Mario. It's great that he takes the time to talk to his customers.

Try anything with the marsala sauce--it is delicious! The portabello mushroom with spinach is wonderful, my husband enjoyed the eggplant Parmesan, and they have several flavors of delicious gelato. The background music was a playlist of our favorites, all the best classics from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The service with Melissa was great too.

Skip the chains and go to Mario's but you'll need reservations, or you can sit at the bar. We returned to Mario's not to be disappointed. EVERYTHING was wonderful and sooo delicious. We felt like we were back in Italy. Amy, our server, gave outstanding and friendly service. She even brought us serving utensils (without us asking) so that we could share each other entrees! Wine was excellent. It's like going to a neighborhood restaurant. Most people walk here. We walked because we weren't too sure about parking, but looks like Hotel Indigo nearby has a parking lot. Also there are a lots a few blocks south of Division and you can walk over. On the street parking, if you're really lucky. The best, best, BEST is the calamari combo appetizer. The only downside is that we were too full for dessert. Ciao!

We are renting in the Old Town area for a few months. Mario’s has become one of our favorite restaurants in Chicago. We go once a week, and in some weeks, we have even gone twice. And there are a lot of great restaurants in Chicago! It is friendly, with good service and a neighborhood feel. The prices are reasonable. The chef is a master with veal piccata, but we also enjoy chicken Milanese and other veal dishes. The pizzas are very popular. Try it, you’ll like it!

My wife and I were staying in Chicago for anaversery and this place across from the hotel. To our surprise it was 2 for Tuesday on glasses of wine. Wife finished with a chocolate gelato. You have to love the Gold Coast.

This is a neighbourhood gem. Hidden in an appartement building, Mario’s Table will offer you Italian comfort food. The staff is friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is calm and you don’t feel like you have to shout to hold a conversation. You will not be disappointed with anything on their menu and that’s a promise. Great value for your money. Enjoy!

We met up with friends and family here for a super Italian dinner. Mario is visible and very engaging. The service was fabulous! Each of our dinners was delicious. Our server recommended a wonderful Malbec to compliment all of our dinners. Waiting for another person in our party, we ordered the fried and grilled calamari. WOW! is all I can say.... highly recommend. I had the veal with capellini that was tender, tasty short of embarrassing everyone at the table, I could have licked the plate! Everyone else had standard Italian specialities that each enjoyed, pasta and meatballs, chicken parmesan, grilled white fish and a wonderful large house salad. We decided to share 1 dessert, the chocolate cake, too full but the server said we were not to pass up.... we should have ordered 5! The entire meal was outstanding, the service was outstanding. Reservations were made on Open Table. Thank you Mario!

For those of you travelling from out of town, come to Mario's Table and experience how Gold Coast locals dine. The pizza has a thin crust (surprise: most deep dish is consumed by tourists). The pastas are delicious and wholesome. The wine list is accessible and tasty. Waiters are friendly, and Mario is a friendly guy who you can expect to see chatting with his guests and regular patrons. You too may want to come here night after night.

It's a convenience when you live only two blocks from a spiffy Italian restaurant. Call for takeout. Stop in after work for a drink or dinner. Or if you're just not in a mood to make your own, take a short walk to Mario's Table and enjoy Italian food at its best. Located at 21 West Goethe Street, at Dearborn, in the Gold Coast neighborhood, across the street from the Claridge House Hotel, Mario's is a favorite among locals. Open from 4:30 to 10:30 Monday through Saturday, it features a small bar and relaxed atmosphere and a menu that puts a smile on your face. I started with a bowl of the house's signature tortellini jambalaya and a Caesar salad with Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, croutons and Caesar dressing. What next? Traditional spaghetti and meatballs with meat sauce? Or Lake Perch, breaded and deep fried with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach? Or Veal Saltimbocca with prosciutto, sage and white wine served over angel hair pasta with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach? I opted for the veal, which is becoming a rarity on more and more menus. For dessert, home-made tiramisu is a must. It's a great feeling to have a four-star restaurant in the neighborhood.

We had dinner here at prime time on Saturday night. The place was packed with locals and families. We shared a garden salad, crisp and fresh with an excellent red wine vinaigrette dressing. My wife tried ravioli with vodka sauce, and I had the eggplant Parmesan. Both came with ample portions and the red sauce on the eggplant tasted slow cooked and made on site. The Parmesan was high quality and paired perfectly. Desserts were lemon sorbet and a caramel gelato that we were surprised to learn were not made on site because both were rich and flavorful. If you're looking for a quiet romantic dinner, pass Mario's up, but if you want substantial, good and solid southern Italian food in a casual neighborhood atmosphere this is the place.

My mum and I had such a lovely evening at Mario’s Table restaurant. We were staying in the close by Ambassador hotel and came across Mario’s for dinner. We were greeted by John Coe and Keira in the outside dining area. They delivered great service and were really friendly and helpful with suggestions for our 48 hours in Chicago. Along with the manager Melissa they looked after us and the other customers dining outside really well that evening. The food was beautiful! Both very hungry we went for pizza and shared a salad. The base was so thin and crispy with lots of toppings. One of the nicest pizzas I’d had. A fellow diner, treated us to her favourite cocktail to welcome us to Chicago. We would like to thank you all if you read this :) The whole experience of dining at Mario’s was so memorable with fantastic food. Only sad we didn’t have enough time to come back for another meal during our stay.

The food was good and the waiter did a nice job. There were a lot of choices on the menu and there were 6 TV's to watch the Cubs win.

when i am in the city i try to make a stop here (two for Tuesdays for wine) is a great night this visit i had the buratta with figs, then moved onto my old standby 1/2 order of the lemon chicken with works out very well great friendly staff, good flavorful food and a nice easy atmosphere...... great place for a warm cozy meal.....

If you've lived in a neighborhood for more than 30 years, as we have, sometimes you take a restaurant for granted. How many times have we walked past Mario's Table? How many times have we stopped for dinner? Located at 21 West Goethe Street, at the corner of Goethe and Dearborn, in the Gold Coast neighborhood, owner Mario Stefanini's pride and joy has been a neighborhood favorite for years. Open from 4 to 10:30 Monday through Saturday, Mario's Table offers a host of creative and delicious Italian dishes from a kitchen noted for homestyle cooking. And Stefanini always is on hand to greet customers and see to their every need. For starters, my wife and I had minestrone, French onion soup au gratin, bruschetta with chopped tomatoes, onion, basil and balsamic vinaigrette over crostini and classic Caesar salad with grilled chicken. For entrees, we couldn't resist Mario's signature veal dishes--Veal Saltimbocca with prosciutto, sausage and white wine served over angel hair pasta and Veal Marsala with sauteed medallions, lots of mushrooms and the house's marsala wine sauce served over angel hair pasta. With garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach. For dessert, it was an easy choice. How can you turn down house-made tiramisu? At Mario's, nobody goes home disappointed.

We stayed at the Indigo Hotel across the street from Mario's on a short trip to Chicaho with our 8 & 9 year old granddaughters. The restaurant was great - I booked on Open Table, the servers were attentive, pleasant, very nice to answer a couple local knowledge questions. We had the chicken Limone - excellent - and the chicken Vesuvius- very good- and the girls ordered off the kids menu and were very happy. Loved it. Mario even came by the table to say hello!

The italian sausage and peppers is a great way to start the meal sharing this dish along with the warm bread and olive oil & cheese. The tenderloin with peas and potatoes was grande. The veal was devino! The atmosphere was fun and easy-going. This restaurant is fun at the bar or a table. Not fancy; just a great Italian meal. Be sure to make a reservation on the weekend.

Always a neighborhood favorite! Enjoy their soft shell crab in season, fresh fish dishes and Italian cuisine.

Overall, the ambience was enjoyable - kind of a boisterous italian feel. Plenty of crowd noise, laughter, and clinking glassware and dinnerware. Although I had made reservations, and other tables were available, we were seated at a small 2top in a corner by a service door. I suspect this was because I had a 13 year old with me. We started with an app order of garlic parmesan bread. it was slow to arrive and was overwhelmingly raw garlic. The parm was at least in part canned parmesan. Our main courses were good...spaghetti with meatballs and a tortellini jambalaya, which featured a spicy mix of chicken, sausage and shrimp over cheese tortellini. Both of us enjoyed our main courses. I also had a decent wine with the meal. Our waiter was decently attentive, and did check on our long time app a couple times for us.

The short-story: We have been many times, and yet when we sat down in a somewhat empty restaurant, the server giving the free water and bread basically berated us, saying we were bad parents and we need to do a better job looking after our 14 month old. Gobsmacked to say the least. When we complained to management... nothing. And we expect absolutely nothing to happen because even the owner, Mario, has made passive aggressive comments more than once about having our son with us.  The long(er) story Firstly, I should mention that we live near to Mario's Table and hoped to make it our regular spot. Especially through the Pandemic to help local restaurants. It was never bad, but there was always this underlying feeling that children are not welcome. I tried to give the benefit of the doubt that it is "family friendly" (as said specifically by them) and maybe when it's busy, they would just prefer no children. But this sealed the deal.  Secondly, we are aware a 14 month old in a high-chair can leave a mess. We absolutely do our best to clean it up. And yes, there may be remains but nothing a dustpan and brush can't solve in less than a minute (and that would be slow).  If you have children, don't go. If you enjoy great service, don't go (even though we have enjoyed some of our interaction with the staff). If you want to feel you're wanted by a restaurant, don't go. Otherwise, it's OK Italian. 

On a recent trip to Chicago, we ate here not once, but twice. We did not want to drive anywhere bc parking is such a hassle. This was a stone's throw from our hotel. Our party of three all had different things each visit, and we were all very satisfied. My first entrée was the grilled vegetables and I opted for the lightly fried calamari. Both were excellent--the veggies were very firm, but great flavor and the calamari was lightly breaded and fried--excellent! My second visit I had the chicken limone w squash. The sauce was very much like a piccata, but so light and rich--delicious! We were all very satisfied--too bad we didn't have room for dessert. Maybe next time. The service was excellent on both visits--our second visit was on a Saturday nite. The place filled up nicely, but things moved right along.

First of all I should tell you we've walked past this restaurant many times and kept saying we should try it, but never did. Then tonight we did and said - WOW what have we been missing! It was a Tuesday so wines were priced two for one! That was good, but we began with Martinis - which were well done, delicious, and reasonably priced. With that we had the Calamari Combo (fried & chargrilled), which was excellent - a real treat. Well prepared, not greasy, and the chargrilled version was succulent. For our mains we had lasagna and lamb chops - both were fantastic & accompanied by two glasses of (remember it was Tuesday) 1/2 priced chiantis. Plus we ordered a side Caesar salad. All the food - including the salad were great proportions. Over and above all this we had a wonderful hostess who not only gave us a great table, but came by to check on us later. The owner took the time to introduce himself (Mario of course), and an excellent, attentive server (Bill) was very helpful. Bottom line THIS is our new local Italian restaurant for sure. We loved it. Great food, awesome service, and reasonable prices! Oh btw the place was packed, so go on Open Table for reservations - you won't be disappointed!

Food here is straight forward - but hits the mark for "mainstream" Italian. You come here for the buzz, the sense of inclusion and being part of a bigger family. The food does not disappoint - but hard to call it ground breaking either. Mario himself prowls the floor bringing genuine good cheer. We will be back... can't wait to scrape our way in here on a snowy night.

Mario’s has a good menu, lots of variety and great wine list. Mario comes around to each table to make sure you are all happy with your food and drink. Great ambience. Would go back again any time!

Family met here for dinner. Perfect location across the street from my hotel the Claridge House! Very comfortable neighborhood vibe! The food was great, and the service was great! Lots of menu selection and enjoyed it very much.

I just returned to the Indigo Hotel about a week ago, and saw the Mario's Table sign just across and down the street from my hotel. I had been there a year or so before and remembered that I had a good meal there the year before and decided to return. Accompanied by a friend from work we went to Mario's and were very pleased. She had a large portion of Caesar salad, and I opted for the Baked Cavatelli and Italian Sausage which was quite good. It needed a bit more pasta sauce and that was brought to me instantly. The restaurant is small and one gets the sense that people in the neighborhood use Mario's as a go to place.

Very nice neighborhood spot for classic Italian at medium prices. Mario himself is usually on the spot supervising service and customer satisfaction.

A perfect Italian neighborhood restaurant! You can walk right in - reservations optional - any night and have an enjoyable meal. Appetizers are good. Salads are excellent. Huge variety of entrees (get the soft shell crab when in season). Desserts are great - especially the gelato.

This is a delightful neighborhood eatery. There's no muss no fuss here. Excellent Italian food at a very reasonable price. The service was excellent.

If you’re in Chicago and are in the mood for a great atmosphere with a wonderful staff, look no further. Mario’s Table is the place to go. Casual yet incredible service. Staff is excellent and very helpful with suggestions. Food won’t disappoint. You will leave pleased and the price is right.

TERRIBLE experience at this restaurant. We took our daughter here for her first birthday and we were yelled at by the owner because she dropped spaghetti on the floor (which we fully intended to clean up). The owner told us that one year-olds keep their food on the table at his restaurant and then called the busboy over to pack up our remaining food to go. Thank you to the couple next to us who were so shocked and angered that they insisted on picking up our check (totally sweet and unnecessary). If you are looking for good Italian, there are much better restaurants nearby. Try Topo Gigio or Orso's on Wells in Old Town for much better food and a much better experience.

If you are looking to experience the real gold coast neighborhood, then make a reservation to eat at Mario's. It is the neighborhood hot spot. Great Italian food, great service, family friendly, reasonably priced and a wonderfully intimate setting. A hidden gem that only the "regulars" and "locals" know about.

If you like to eat where locales goal for delicious Italian Mario’s is the place! We are Keto diners and finding places willing to make small adjustments and Mario’s does it with ease! Our waitress immediately offered to ease our concerns by saying “substitution s are easily accommodated”. We ate: Veal piccata we substituted caper for pine nuts and caper for peas! It was outstanding! Egg plant Caprese was just the appetizer/ salad dish we needed with just the right amount of of balsamic and fresh arugula! Wow! A side of sausage baked with a Mario Parmesan top! This hit all our basis for the meal to split! Perfect dinner perfect prices great cocktails and wine made this an exceptional dining experience.. One our home time favs

Cool spot that you can tell has a great local following. The food was very disappointing- some of the worst meatballs as one example. Great bartender.

Came here as it was across the hotel from the hotel we were at and it was late and we really needed some food. I was pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. Good service, good food and yes I would recommend to travelers in the neighborhood to try this place. I had the lobster shrimp ravioli which actually OK not great. Probably would not order again. But my son had the pizza and it was very good. I think next time I would ask what is popular for pasta and stick to that. But for the location it was good.

This place exceeded my expectations! It’s exactly what you need it to be, if you want a casual meal it can be that. The atmosphere tailors to that by not being too fancy for a nice casual dinner but there’s music and dim lights that can tailor to a little fancier date night setting. The night I ate here there were both couples and much larger tables. The only downside is that the venue can get a little loud at times. The service was exceptional, I set reservations on the evening before the Chicago Marathon and was nervous with all the runners “carbing up” but was pleasantly surprised. Our waiter was very attentive and the food came out shockingly fast in order to accommodate the high flow of people. And on top of all of this the food, too was amazing! I got the cheese and spinach ravioli and my friend got cavatelli with sausage, both were exceptional. We even met Mario himself who stopped by to make sure the food was ok. Overall a well run and tasty restaurant, would highly recommend.

My husband and I live close by and hadn't been to Mario's in a long time. We ordered items for pick up. The pizzas were small and tasted average. My husband was disappointed. $10 for a very small caprese salad? I've ordered many caprese sandwiches at other restaurants for less money. The only item we were satisfied with was the fried calamari, but we were given no marinara sauce. I will try Mario's again, get the calamari and try some different items.

Within walking distance (across the street) from the PUBLIC Hotel. We stopped in for a drink and a quick bite to eat before going out. The dinning area fills up fast on weekends. Very friendly staff and good food. Good drinks too!

My fiance' and I are regular diners, at Mario's Table. We are there at least once a week. The pastas, pizzas, and chicken vessuvio are wonderful. Very good wine list (two for one wine, every Tuesday). Homemade Italian desserts, just like momma makes... Also, Mario, the owner, is almost always there, to greet us, with a smile. Love this fabulous neighborhood gem!

Service--incredible! The food--truly wonderful. I had a primavera pizza and a palm-cake salad. The pizza was fantastic--and had the thinnest crust I have ever seen (and I love thin crust on pizza). The salad was good, full of hearts of palm. Don't miss two for Tuesday--two glasses of wine for the price of one! It came highly recommended by someone who lives in the neighborhood--and she didn't steer me wrong.

We went to a late showing at 8, and figured we would like a quick dinner afterwards. Mario's did not disappoint at all. We had the premavera pizza and a bottle of Zinfendel. Our food, service and hospitality from the staff, including Mario himself was over the top. I would definitely come to this establishment again when in town.

Visited this place with a friend who goes every time she's in town. I had the Mahi Mahi with risotto and asparagus. The food was wonderful and fresh. Had a great Pinot, wonderful but small wine selection. The server was great and the owner came around to talk to us. When we raves about the food, he sent the chef out and we spoke with him for a while as well. I was super impressed and cannot wait to visit again. If you're around the area, this place is a must visit!

The food is very good and price not bad. We had quick service on a Tuesday around 6. If you go later it gets very crowded . The only negative as others have mentioned it gets noisy and it is hard to talk , but other places do as well. Mario the owner goes table to table, nice touch. Who does that these days. It is one of our favorites and walking distant from our daughters condo.

My husband and I ate here after an afternoon of strolling around the Old Town and Gold Coast area. The food was excellent and the selection was very appealing. I would highly recommend the flat bread pizzas. The restaurant was very clean and the service very good. My only recommendation is to call ahead if you are eating at peak times as the dining area is not terribly large. Definitely would recommend or stop in again if we were in the area.

There were 12 of us at dinner on a Saturday night, and both the service and food could not have been better. There are so many big, Italian resturants in Chicago, but I'd walk past them all to eat at Mario's. Mario himself is there each night to be sure things run smoothly. And whether your tastes run to pizza, pastas, or fish, they are all perfectly prepared to order. Don't miss their specials on the board, and when you're offered "two or one" (unless you're starving or planning tomorrow's dinner) one is a perfectly sized dinner.

Mario's was recently relaunched as "Mario's Table", opening up the eyes of the local younger clientele to their delicious, unpretentious Italian cooking. We went with a group on a Monday night. When we arrived around 6PM the place was empty, but by time we left every table was full. Mario served us family-style just like he would have guests in his own home. Once we were all seated he said gave us a preview of what we'd start with and said to the waiter "let's get them some wine". It was quite an experience. The lightly-breaded chicken with lemon and capers was juicy and flavorful. We also had a bow-tie pasta dish in a cream sauce with prosciutto and peas. Sounds (and looked) uneventful, but it was surprisingly delicious. Sausage and peppers taste like homemade only better. I only wish there was more of it all to be had! We ended with their house-made tiramisu...again give me more! If I lived in the area Mario's would be my go-to spot.

Don't be put off by the unprepossessing dining room. This neighbourhood place serves delicious and hearty food, and offers amazing service. I had the spaghetti and meatballs, which was terrific, and my husband had what he described as the finest prosciutto and arugula (rocket) pizza that he has ever eaten. We were too full to try pudding, but the giant wedges of tiramisu looked tempting. Mario's also has a very nice wine list and a knowledgeable barman. It's located in a condo building, so only stays open until 10.30pm, or we would have settled in for the evening.

This is a very friendly place for the mature set. Sports on the bar TV. Two for one wine on Tuesday night.

This a neighborhood gem in the heart of the Gold Coast neighborhood in Chicago. They have half portions of most entrees and the food is excellent. Great service, too.

After reading reviews looking for a restaurant in the area, we tried a few other places (only to be told we’d have to wait an hour) before we “settled” for Mario’s. “Settling” couldn’t be further from the truth. Our server Drew was excellent. The food was superb (try the chicken marsala). We absolutely enjoyed our evening here and were disappointed we couldn’t return (our trip was too short).

I wanted to love this place but there were a few things that threw off my impression. The staff is very courteous and rapid; our server however was really not warm or personable. The calamari combo was yummy as was the eggplant caprese (this was on the small side and shareable as an appetizer). However the $25 tilapia special underwhelmed, my $17 glass of the super tuscan was decent but I've had better (chose this one with the waiter recommendation) and the really big one - I like a cappuccino and Frangelico after a nice Italian meal. My cappuccino was not frothy when served and I asked about the Frangelico - it had been added to my coffee. Sorry - this is a big no. This should be served on the side so you can add or sip - whichever is your preference. No restaurant ever ever has served it in this fashion. It's worth a visit and I would try it again but would suggest trying the more traditional Italian dishes.

This restaurant has been in this location for 20 years, you may have walked past it many times, but do yourself a favor and stop in to dine with them....great Italian food, and the owner (Mario) is an outstanding host!! It's a small space, so it's a cozy dining experience. Definitely make a reservation for the busier nights, and the Tuesday night wine special cannot be beaten!!! If you're in the Gold Coast, this place should be your restaurant of choice.

Great neighbourhood restaurant with excellent service and fine food. Nice to see half sized meals for the people without large appetites. A must visit if in downtown area.

I'm been eating at Mario's Table for 15 years. The food is fantastic, and atmosphere so cozy. Mario always visits each table to see how you are enjoying your meal. So sweet!

Was in town on business and met a couple of workmates here. Good food and good services. The decor is a bit standard but food and service trumps all.

It was cold and the desk guy at the Public Hotel was recommending some Rush street chain joints. Ho-hum. A block away, we saw the sign for Mario's and I urged the family to humor me and check it out. It was cozy, personable and oh-so old school. (Including the fireplace on the TV!) We didn't hesitate and I'm glad we didn't. Above all, my 18 year old daughter got to see how a real family oriented restaurant was/is run. The food was OK but almost beside the point….

My first time here was a recommendation from the Ambassador hotel staff. My pizza and experience were amazing. I'm happy I following their advice for a margarita style pizza

I almost hate to let everyone in on the secret of Mario’s It is our favorite Friday night spot and Mario is always there to be sure the food and service are top notch Foods are perfectly prepared and served hot. I love their caprese salad and ravioli. Save room for their desserts....

We stopped for dinner early on a Saturday evening without reservations and though almost full the restaurant was able to accommodate us. I had a boneless chicken dish that was very tasty and was served at just the right temperature (hot but not too hot). The restaurant is casual & comfortable and the service was perfect.

We came here as it is nearby to the Ambassador hotel where we were staying. Our server was Keira and she was very pleasant and helpful. We both ordered the pasta special which was tortellini in a cream sauce with mushrooms and ground walnuts. It was absolutely delicious. I can honestly say one of the tastiest pasta dishes I have had. I had home made tiramisu for dessert and this was delicious and a big portion. The restaurant has a great ambiance and I would highly recommend it.

Although we live right around the corner, we will most definitely not be coming back to this restaurant after our unpleasant experience last night. As a special treat, we brought our kids in for dinner last night to celebrate my son's last day of preschool. Despite the fact that the restaurant touts itself as a neighborhood family friendly restaurant, Mario made it abundantly clear to us that our kids were not welcome. As is typical for small children, my 10-month old daughter (who is still learning how to feed herself) dropped some of her food on the floor, and my 2.5 year old son started to get squirmy towards the end of the meal. So, naturally, we asked for the check, left a very generous tip, and had our food boxed up so that we wouldn't disrupt other patrons in the restaurant. Although we were clearly in the process of trying to make an exit, Mario came over and literally scolded us for bringing our kids. When he looked down and saw that my 10-month old daughter had dropped food on the floor (heaven forbid!), his exact words were "We can't have this. This isn't Chuckie Cheese. I have to have my staff clean this up now". My husband told him not to worry, we most certainly would not be coming back. Nor will any of our friends or families at my son's nearby preschool (Oh yes, Mario, I will be sure to spread the word!) Out of all of our dining experiences at other restaurants in the neighborhood (Pump Room, Carmine's, Tavern on Rush, Gibson's, LuxBar), never before has anyone ever gone out of their way to try and humiliate us the way that Mario did last night, within earshot of the entire restaurant and staff. Truly unprofessional.

We were introduced to Mario’s by a local neighbor. It is wonderfully friendly with great service. We had Eggplant Parmigiana, the best ever! Finished off with Sue’s Apple pie ala mode. Will be back

..........A perfect neighborhood restaurant. Charming waitresses, warm atmosphere and food worthy of Auntie Miraella's praise. You cannot miss this one..............

We dined at Mario's Saturday night, when we were looking for something easy, but with activity. This was our third visit over the last several months and like in the past, the food was good, as were the drinks. It was noteworthy that most of the tables seemed to be going with martinis or other cocktails and I can personally attest to the quality of the Old Fashion. A good, lively crowd in general. We had different chicken dishes and both were excellent. Mario's menu has a lot of alternatives, beyond pasta and pizza and we have never had anything we didn't think was top notch.

This is a friendly, comfortable place with great food. I had a seafood dish that was wonderful and my kids had the lamb chops which they really enjoyed. Very reasonable prices for great food.

Tired from travelling for nearly 10 hours, we were hungry and didn't want to venture far from our hotel. We took a stroll and came upon Mario's. What a find! A nice relaxed atmosphere, it appeared busy when we entered but our waitress accommodated us with a table for 2 straight away. A full vegetarian section on the menu was my first observation. So much to chose from, but I went for an old reliable Margherita pizza and my wife went for the meatball salad. We both tried the seasonal ale which was on draft. The service was excellent with a breadbasket put in front of us a few minutes after we sat down. We nibbled away on that whilst waiting for our mains. Preferring wine with my main course, I ordered a glass of the pinot noir from their excellent wine list, it's hard to chose one! It was possibly the best glass of red wine I have had in a long time. The food was excellent, if I was to return I would try something from the vegetarian, it's great to see so many options on offer. Judging from how busy it was getting by the time we were leaving, it's a popular place and I can see why.

Make sure to get the red wine devoted to Ray Zanarini. He was a very popular regular there. The service here is impeccable. We loved our food so much. We also were touched to meet Bob, who sat next to our table. He gave each of us charms, and, in turn, I gave him an Easter Egg with a charm and a Hamilton. Love your place!

Close to the Claridge House, a quick easy walk. The food was amazing as was the service. We sat on the patio and people watched. I had shrimp scampi and finished my meal with a port… crossed the street and was to my hotel. Gold Coast is such a great relaxing area.

Mere steps from The Ambassador Hotel on a rainy Chicago night, Mario’s Table was perfect. First time here. Cozy place made us feel like locals as soon as we walked in. Service was excellent, prompt and friendly. Food was delish. Burrata plate + warm bread was a yummy start. Great variety of mains, glad we asked their advice, it was all sooo good. Including a lemoncello night cap :) When leaving, a gentleman came up to us and introduced himself as Mario, thanked us for coming and hoped we enjoyed our visit. We sure did! Mario’s Table will now be on our go-to list when we visit Chicago again.

Restaurant was across the street from our hotel so went on a whim and were pleasantly surprised by the excellent food. Mussels and lasagna were great and desserts were the perfect ending to a yummy meal.

After not visiting Mario's for a couple years, we went back last night (two for one wine night) and just loved it. The food is moderately priced and so good. Mario is totally hands on and has an energetic, well trained staff. Consistent, lively and friendly. You can't go wrong!

Wandering through the near north side area (on foot in the cold and dark) we ran across Mario's Table and glad that we did. Jambolaya (sp?) and clam with wine sauce were both great....beer was fresh and mixed drink (custom) was perfect....even the table water was good. Staff was very friendly and everyone seemed to be happy to be there.

This is a great little neighborhood place, I noticed friends waving to each other and stopping to chat on their way out. Food was excellent. And staff were very good explaining their favorites.

Lovely Italian restaurant in Old Town. Excellent food, friendly and fast service, nice atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Stopped for a pre-play cocktail and appetizer. My wife and I travel regularly to Chicago and Carmine's is a reliable stop for cocktails and/or dining. Never disappoints. Staff is always courteous and friendly. Wonderful wine selection and varied dinner menu.

With no reservation, we found a table before the place got busy. Good food, good wine selection, aimiable if casual service. The owner came around at least 3 times, so he clearly has his eye on the customer experience.

Landed in Chicago for the marathon weekend needed a place for dinner and this place was perfect. The service was first rate. Food top notch. Cannot fault them. I suspect on Friday and Saturday pre marathon won’t be so easy to get a walk in but so glad I have been.

Visited Marios a couple of times while staying in Chicago at the start of our Route 66 vacation - first "met" Mario when we passed him chatting in the street to someone, he simply smiled and exchanged pleasantries (first experience in Chicago!!) who would have thought when we "wandered" into the restaurant it was his!! Everything about this place was first class - surroundings, staff, food (choice, price, presentation, portion size!!)... So much so we went back the second day - restaurant was just about to open but Mario said if we didn't mind waiting at the bar, he'd let us in no problem - how kind!! Barman who tended to us was pleasant, chatting and just generally a sound bloke. And once again another first class meal. Would defo recommend this restaurant - maybe next time we'll get one of the Moscow mule mugs eh Mario?? Harley Riders, Scotland

I've lived in neighborhood for 18 years. Been here 4-5 times and always wonder why people like the food at this place. It's bland, uninspired and over priced for the quality. I expect better in this neighborhood.

I am reluctant to give this establishment 5 stars - only because if this becomes a Tourist attraction - maybe locals won't be able to get in. But I am also sure Mario will not all ow this to happen. But if you like good comfort food, THIN crust pizza, or just a local experience - this restaurant is it.

Awesome atmosphere, great food, quick service. I ordered the tortellini Jambalaya, to which all the meats were cooked to perfection. The spicy red sauce had just enough bite to keep you wanting more. My wife ordered the ravioli with vodka sauce, it too was amazing. Highly recommended!!!

Our party of four went to a 5:00 show and had reservations for 8:00pm last Saturday night. We arrived a little early and were seated right away. The four of us order four different dishes, two chicken, one veal and the sausage dish so everyone could try a little of everything. Everything was very good, service was great and the owner did stop by the table to say hello and ask how everything was. We enjoyed ourselves and thought the price was reasonable for the location in the Gold Coast. I would recommend if you are in the neighborhood.

Mario's is a local neighborhood restaurant for us - which is great! It is Italian with a neighborhood feel. To start our you get a crispy loaf of bread with great butter. My favorite meal is the lamb chops - the smaller order is just the right size for me. The seasoning is perfect. Service is always good and Mario is typically there. Ask for a seat by the fireplace - it is never too warm there!

Just walked in because it is close to our hotel and were able to get a seat right away. The ambiance is refined and neighborly at the same time. The owner was greeting people by name & introducing tables to one another. Being St Patricks day it was surprising, in a neighborhood with no less than 4 Irish pubs close by, that the restaurant was almost full. We never felt rushed by our server. We had caesar salads as a first course. Icy cold and crisp, just the right amount of flavorful dressing and a healthy shaving of fresh parmesan over the top. Their bread was crisp on the outside soft in the center and served warm. I had a daily special, Florentine Ravioli served w a lemon caper sauce topped with sauteed spinach. Very good. My friend had the Cheese Ravioli in Vodka sauce and loved hers as well. Then came dessert. Spumoni & Canoli Yum. There was a lot of food it was light enough to satisfy our hunger and not leave us stuffed. All in all i would definetly go here again and recommend you go too.

This is a wonderful Italian restaurant where the food is succulent and the hospitality is southern. While visiting Chi Town. A fraternity brother of my husband's was kind enough to introduce us to Mario's. My husband friend knew everyone and so it was the locals who choose to dine here. This isn't a fancy place, but if you are searching for homemade pasta, and other Italian dishes.....search no further as Marios is the real deal in value and taste. Their wine list was very good. Our table sampled the Bruschetta and devoured it. Several had spaghetti, bow tie pasta, ravioli, etc. Everyone mixed and match their selections and the conclusion was delicious. We are told their Lasagna is over the top delicious, but we didn't try it. We also sampled several desserts including gelato, cannolis, and a chocolate something or other. We loved everyone of them. We will return to this jewel in The Chi Town restaurant circuit. It is in a great location and has magnificent mouthwatering options, as well as is not overpriced. Definitely family friendly and they deliver in a 4 Block radius of their location.

Very expensive and horrible. The calamari were rubbery and undercooked. $55.00 for 1 beer a Peroni $9.00, 1 glass of house wine $15.00. Horrible calamari $20.00. Bread was like they hit the Walmart clearance rack and just put some slices in it to serve. We will never return. Taco Bell would have been better.

My last vist to Marios was three years ago and I wasn't dissappointed. The food was great, the service was the best and we were given a freindly welcome. So good we ate here several times whilst we were in town. Even Mario himself came and said hello and made sure we had all we needed. "A Gentleman"

After a long day travelling from uk we managed to get a table here on Saturday night, despite being busy. We just shared a pizza and chips with a glass of wine, but it was delicious . Great service and although not cheap thoroughly worth it. My only criticism was that the choice of pizza toppings was limited but the special did the trick

This restaurant is NOT KIDS FRIENDLY at all. Don’t be fooled by the crayons, kids menu and a plastic cup with a lid. We arrived for dinner at 6:10 pm, quickly ordered our main entree and after finishing our dinner (right after receiving our bill) the owner came up to our table and hushed our 2 1/2 year old and said he had to keep it down because there were 2 guests sitting by our table (a father with his late teen or college age daughter). First of all, our son stayed seated in his high chair at all times, he was playing with his own toys and never made any sounds with his toys, the plates nor the utensils. He wasn’t squirmy. He wasn’t even watching videos on a phone nor iPad, which I think the background noise in those gadgets tend to be annoying to other people sometimes. The whole time we were there, he never made a mess with the food, never fussed and didn’t even cry. He was in a good mood and we were so proud of him for behaving so well and for eating his meal. After finishing his meal, he got excited and asked for candy (referring to the mints he saw by the entrance). He never screamed he just asked by raising his voice, but nothing louder compared to the chatter and music going on in the background. Do you think a 2 year old has a powerful voice? He wasn’t even having a tantrum... he was simply excited because we had promise him that if he ate he would get mints and he just asked for “candy” 2-3 times after finishing his plate. The people by our table never seemed to mind, they kept talking between themselves throughout the night without staring at us. But somehow, Mario the owner decided to leave a sour taste to our night by hushing our son and the telling us he had to keep it down. Mario, the bill was standing right in front of your face, we were about to leave anyways... do you really have to treat clients like that? That is rude and disrespectful. We were about to leave and you decide to make a scene over a little innocent and powerless voice that was just asking for candy? Ridiculous owner. He probably never had kids and if he did they probably didn’t even like him. If you do not believe me, please go ahead and read the other negative reviews written by families with kids and you will get a sense of what type of person Mario is (Google, Facebook, Yelp). Bottom line: I DO NOT RECOMMEND this place to anyone that has CHILDREN. MARIO, if you don’t like kids, then do not offer kid’s menus nor crayons you STUCK UP. And please, don’t be a hypocrite and start greeting families when they come in, specially if they are accompanied by their children. We don’t need you to FAKE your intentions. All you want is the $ and when you are about to cash in the bill, that is when your true colors come out. KID’S HATER.

Met up with friends that live in Chicago while we were visiting. Had seen this hotel while walking around. The Maurice’s has not dined there but were game to try it. It was good all the way around, service, ambiance, wine selection and food. We never felt rushed but well tended to. All 6 of us ordered different things and we were all very pleased.

Mario himself greets you at the door with and engaging smile. This restaurant has everything that you would want, great atmosphere, fun bar with attentive bar tender (Drew) interesting clientele and authentic Italian cuisine. You will not be disappointed especially in the eggplant parmesan and the grilled calamari! Don't forget the toasted garlic bread, it will ward off even the hungriest of Vampires or a bad date! One of the most popular evenings is Two for Tuesday, half price wine night. ENJOY!!

We have been coming to Mario's for years and are never disappointed. Very friendly atmosphere and Mario is usually there to come around and greet you and see how your dinner is. The pasta is very good and the sauces are just right. A variety of Italian dishes from lasagna, spaghetti, veal and lamb to pizza. The pizza is thin crust and very light but full of flavor. You really can't go wrong here.

Just across from the hotel, we enjoyed a great Italian meal that was served very nicely, hot and quick. The waiters suggestion of grilled Calamari was right on. The entrees were fine and the gelato fruity and tasty.

This small restaurant is conveniently located across from hotel Indigo and in a warm neighborhood. We did have to wait for a table but it was worth it! The pizza was thin crust. Dante's Choice had generous amounts of very tasty sausage and pepperoni on top of a flavorful sauce. They offer gluten-free crust and it was the best I have every had! They also offer other menu items with gluten-free options. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful with additional information about menu choices/items. Very good value for city dining.

We recently stayed in Chicago for a week. This restaurant will be one of the reasons we are going back for a month in June. We went two times in three days as it was across the street from our hotel. Service was personal and friendly. The owner is utterly charming and more than attentive to your needs. The food was outstanding and I completely obliterated my diet with the pasta, the soups, and four loaves of hot bread with Pommace olive oil. My husband said the calamari fritti were prepared just the way his mother did. We will 1) definitely go back and 2) warn the owner when we are coming back. What a friendly neighborhood place and what wonderful food. Penelope

Wonderful food, service and atmosphere. Cozy but not noisy. Dishes were outstanding and the server and owner were attentive, treating us like friends from the neighborhood. Bonus was an awesome wine selection!

We made reservations for 10 on a Saturday night. We were packed into a table that should have seated about 6. The manager apologized but he probably should have sent over a free appetizer. Other than being too crowded, the food was good. I had the ravioli.

This is a neighborhood gem that our friend took us to. It is good Italian served hot and quickly. For this return visit we tried the Minestrone soup to start, split the two breast version of Lemon Chicken and finished with the melt in your mouth Tiramisu desert. It was two for one wine night which came as an added bonus. The only distraction was the loud noise which made conversation difficult. The owner has tried putting an acoustic ceiling, but people really enjoy themselves and the food here.

We had a take out pizza from Mario's. It was thin crust, proper Italian style pizza. The topping was very tasty. I would go on to say that it was one of the best pizzas I have ever eaten. We tried to go back for dinner in the restaurant but they close on Sunday nights. The staff at Mario's looked after me very well whilst I was waiting for our pizza, providing two glasses of ice water and keeping me informed of the kitchen's progress. The restaurant was busy and had a good buzz about it. Intend to return when we come back to Chicago.

Form whatever reason, TripAdvisor will not allow this to be listed as it listed on it's signage and on the website. Flexibility aside, you will find Mario's to be a wonderful big city restaurant with a neighborhood feel. I eat veal piccata everywhere I can and Mario's was the best I have ever tasted by far -- beats the hell out of Rome, Venice and Florence. My wife and I had to make a quick trip to Chicago and we found a great hotel and stumbled on this restaurant across the street. My wife felt like saying in so I went out alone. On Friday night in a big city, you don't expect to be welcomed with open arms as a single. I had a couple of glasses of wine at the bar while waiting for an opening that came in about 45 minutes. Service was superior. I was reminded what really good service is all about. I told my server that I would like to take an order of Angel Hair Pasta with garlic and Parmesan when I left. It was right on time and my wife thought it was the best she had ever tasted. Great ambiance, superior food and thoughtful pricing. Loved it.

The good: - Italian done right The bad: Not good for conversation The Scoop - Great service, nice throwback atmosphere. This is a traditional Italian restaurant with some nuances that update it. The portions are not over sized like "Rosebuds" for example, but about right for a normal appetite. Prices are comfortable for the portion. Chicken and Veal both good. The Chicken Parm was far more cheese than chicken. I am guessing there was about 5 ounces of meat. It seemed hard to find but the dish was delicious. Chicken Marsala was missing something. Maybe salt which was easy to fix. Despite the comments above the dishes were prepared wonderfully. A friend had lasagna and it appeared to be hearty. Wait staff is attentive. The noise level is pretty high making it tough to talk. Make reservations. It seems to be a hang out for the locals as well as visitors.

Our family ate at Mario's table for a nice pasta dinner before a road race in the city. The food was fabulous, and the service was excellent!

This is a small, very cordial 26 table restaurant. The menu is wonderful; food is wonderful, moderately priced and the service is excellent. The restaurant is managed by its owner who goes out of his way to ensure that each of his guests have a good restaurant experience. The menu is primarily Italian and Sicilian. Because the service and kitchen is so efficient, you never have to wait overly long for your meal to arrive. Servers are well-trained, waiters seem to have been there for years and even the assistant waiters have worked there for a very long time. This is a stable restaurant which deserves the many awards it has garnered. The food is magnificent and if you like pasta with olive oil and garlic, you will be in heaven.

Strollers are not allowed in. There is a yellow sign in marker on the door. You will not be allowed in the door if you have a stroller...even if it folds thin and weighs less than your 1 year old. I would have had ZERO problems with this policy and would have gladly planned ahead but I didn’t see this policy on TripAdvisor, Mario’s website or OpenTable. They could have easily posted this policy on any of those sites.

Excellent food. Great atmosphere . Will definitely visit again! Service was great. Very friendly owners!

Busy Sat. night, but we got there early enough that we were sat without reservations. Within a half hour, the place was packed. Had an amazing plate of grilled calamari, and a wonderful house salad. Mario greeted every table, and asked everyone how there meal was. The waitress was wonderful, and the atmosphere was nice, but not too fussy. Definitely an older crowd. We were the only family there with children.

Went for an early dinner after driving all day. Food was fine. Service was good enough. Feels like a "regulars place" when you want basic predictable food and service.

My daughters and I very much enjoyed our dinner at Mario's table. Service is attentive. The food is delicious. We will come back again!

Mario's Table has been here for over 25 years (had a different name originally). It is a block from my residence. It is easy to walk over for dinner with or without a reservation and be seated. The variety and quality of the food is very good. I find something different to get every time I go. I took a large party of friends from all over the United States and all 16 found something they loved. The gelato is out of this world and love the seasonal soft shell crab. Service is usually good.

We spotted Mario's sign from our hotel (Hotel Indigo) across the street and decided to give it a try. It was very busy and they sat us without a reservation. The wait staff were friendly and helpful. The drinks were well done and the food excellent. While we were sharing a Canoli for dessert, Mario, himself stopped by the table to check in on our experience.....and that just doesn't happen in restaurants these days.!! The ambiance is warm and relaxing and the neighborhood is one worth spending some time in just walking around. Gotta Go, Gotta Go, Gotta Go to Mario's !

You know you're in for an entertaining evening when owner Mario Stefanini greets you at the door with a big smile and a strong handshake and a very engaging personality. Mario's Table is so convenient to our home--we live on North Dearborn and Mario's is located at the corner of Goethe and Dearborn across the street from the Three Arts Club--that we sometimes forget it is there. It is one of the most popular restaurants on the Gold Coast, intimate and comfortable with a cozy bar. But even Mario's smile couldn't mask a bad meal--if there ever was one. There are so many delicious Italian items on the menu that we rarely order the same thing twice over a course of two or three months. It's a lot of fun just to sample this and that and something else. For example, we love the bruschetta, chopped tomatoes, onions, basil and balsamic vinaigrette over crostini, but we also partake in other appetizers such as roasted vegetable minestrone, calamari, toasted ravioli, chicken strips and fries and parmesan garlic bread. The Classic Caesar salad is a keeper. Fish? You won't be disappointed with grilled salmon or lobster ravioli or shrimp scampi. Veal? How many restaurants offer Veal Saltimbocca, Veal Piccatta, Veal Marsala and Veal Parmesan? Pasta? My favorite is spaghetti and meatballs. My wife prefers the five-cheese lasagna or Bow Tie Pasta with prosciutto or Baked Cavatelli with sausage. Chicken? Boneless Chicken Vesuvio or Traditional Chicken Parmesan or Chicken Limone or Chicken Marsala or Mario's signature Chicken Milanese? Steak lovers will appreciate the 12-ounce prime New York strip or Mario's 6-ounce Pub Burger or Rocco's Steak Vesuvio or Lamb Chops Oregenato. Dessert? Try the home-made tiramisu or fresh-made cannoli or Sue's hot apple pie or lemon sorbet or spumoni. Now we know why Mario is always smiling. He doesn't have anything to be crumpy about.

Came here for an early dinner, and was not disappointed. Food was fresh and had a good variety. Was on a time crunch and had to be somewhere by a certain time and wait staff were very accommodating.

Friends reccomend we go to Mario's for dinner. Tucked away in Lincoln Park. The only thing I found wrong was we didn't find this restaurant a long time ago. From the time you walk in till you leave Everything was great. We will become regulars because there were so many good things on the menu I want to try them all.

Bustling (especially during the holidays) with good, consistent Italian dishes - always plenty of food moderately priced with two sizes for each dish. Wines by the glass are on the pricey side but at least there's a good selection. The highlight is having the owner on hand to make sure things are happening...and to shake your hand on your way out. Cozy atmosphere-we lucked out and got a great booth. Cute votives, linen napkins - all good.

This place was a find for two West Coast tourists. Our hotel was nearby so we tried it as it looked appealing. It was far more than that. My wife’s first comment was “I love this place”! And, that was due to the excellent, very friendly staff who treated you like you were a regular — which most everyone else in the place was. We both wished that this was our neighborhood Italian restaurant. The food was perfect for both of us and everything that others had looked just as good. Try anything! I think you will enjoy whatever you choose. Service was very prompt and at tentative. Inside the atmosphere is casual business Italian. Upon leaving, a gentleman came up to us and introduced himself to us as Mario, thanking us for coming and hoping we enjoyed our meal. Nice touch. Really liked the fact that he stood out wearing coral colored Bermuda shorts with a turquoise top. Gutty but a real fun, welcoming look!

We wanted an Italian Restaurant within walking distance of our hotel. Mario’s Table fit the bill! Our waiter Jeff was excellent! He made wonderful suggestions about the menu & wine choices. We had a delicious dinner & a very enjoyable dinner. My husband had the mussels in wine sauce & I had the chicken piccata! Are it all! We belong to the clean plate club :) So happy we had dinner here!!

So we wanted to have a low key dinner celebration on our anniversary so we chose our favorite neighborhood restaurant! Mario's is an excellent, friendly, wonderful neighborhood restaurant. On Tuesday BTW wines are 2 for the price of 1! We had the sausage & peppers, caprese salad, veal Parmesan, and veal Marsala and to top it off Peppermint ice cream. Plentiful portions, great service and good martinis and chianti! The place was packed and folks were having fun. Mario stopped over to welcome us and it was as if we were at a big family party. Great visit - check it out.

Good atmosphere, service and friendly owner. Appetizers were excellent - toasted ravioli, calamari, and bruschetta! I loved the spiciness of my main course (seafood diavola) but it was a bit salty.

A real neighborhood restaurant. I was in town for a conference, and this was the closest place to me hotel. The food was great. During my meal, I observed a few things. 1. The bartender brought a slice of birthday cake (unrequested) to the couple next to me because he knew it was their birthday. 2. The owner circulated the room and asked everyone how their meal was going. Not too many places do things like things like this nowadays. You should give it a shot.

The food here is great. The restaurant can be very noisy though. Also, while we were very pleased with our meal, there is not a lot to distinguish Mario's from many other Italian restaurants.

While visiting a friend who lives on the Gold Coast, we came here on the first night of my visit. Very friendly staff and Mario, himself, came to check on us. Try the palm cuke salad--so fresh and tangy--enough to share, and please do, because you'll want to have room for your entree! She had the 5 cheese lasagna, extremely relish...I had the grilled portabella mushroom and the flavors absolutely exploded--fabulous...definitely recommend.

We were in town for a conference and were staying at the Indigo hotel right across the street. Upon arriving, without reservations, we were greeted warmly and told that we would have a table right away. Aftger being seated, great service with the server. She was great and fun. Selected a Malbec from Argentina, Diseno. It was great! Then Mario the owner waswaling around making sure that everybody was satisfied. I selected the chargrilled calamari as a starter, along with the Portabella mushroom (vegetarian). Both were extremely well prepared and very tasty. I ended up with the chocolate cake, a great way to finish a dinner! All in all a very pleasant surprise!

We came on a Saturday night and I spotted the owner Mario sitting at the bar as we walked in - he then was circulating through the restaurant, talking to customers. A somewhat boisterous, jolly Italian restaurant with a neighborhood vibe ( yes, people keep mentioning that, but it's true - feels like you're among locals here). Food is excellent with big portions so come hungry.

Good good, friendly, neighborhood atmosphere, good waitstaff, priced well. Would definitely recommend for casual dining spot.

I didn't have a booking but that wasn't a problem. A delightful ambience with an excellent menu and a great range of wine by the glass. Highly recommended....

This restaurant is less than one block from our house and in the middle of a blizzard we will walk 3 times as far to dine because we refuse to eat at Marios. It's so bad the pizza taste like they opened a can of tomatoe paste and smeared the average crust. It wasn't even edible. We would LOVE it if they had better food and would eat there every week because it's so close. If the ower/manager read this PLEASE work on your food! We eat farther down the block across from them at Edwardos Enoteca but it's more pizza and a limited menus - small place, but a nice outdoor for summer months - fyi. Marios could be great....but it's not! Go to Picollo Sogno (or PS Due) or Coco Pazzo - both have excellent Italian food.

While in town for a conference, went to Mario's late on a Tuesday. The food was great, it was Two for Tuesday with wine (2 for 1 by the glass), and best of all they had the Cardinal game on the tv in the bar. We met Mario on the way out, and he was very active working the dining room and interacting with the customers. The place was full late on a Tuesday, and it is no mystery why!

Mainly locals eat there but the food is wonderful. The service is okay. They try very hard to please you. Mario is there walking around in his shorts over seeing the place. Great food

All I have to say is Eggplant Parm!! Oh, Also 2 for Tuesday vino!! Great atmosphere off the beaten trail, Local hang out. Haven't had a bad meal. With all the restaurants in Chicago, still my go to restaurant!

I really enjoyed this restaurant, the service was top notch. Nice size portions, and everything was tasty and fresh!

This restaurant is only open for dinner but many people like it so much that they order take out from there. I was the beneficiary of that one other evening. It is an Italian pizzeria. If you like Italian, I would recommend it. Well priced, feel happy food. Owner that visits the tables because he cares. Good service , OK wine list. Daily specials are worth looking at. I am happy to recommend it.