We were traveling through Massachusetts with an evening stop in Boston. Checked Yelp and Trip Advisor for some recommendations. I prefer family owned over corporate restaurants. I saw the reviews; photos and menu from Mario's and knew I had to try it. Fortunately, we showed up and got a table before the dinner rush. I wanted to try everything on the menu because the ambiance hits you in the face with "fresh made". Settled on the arancini appetizer. It was outstanding, only made better by the light and fresh bit of marinara it is served with. I went with the lobster ravioli in vodka sauce. I couldn't imagine a ravioli more fresh and delicious. The special that night was lasagna served with meatballs. I asked for a meatball on the side and I can't come up with an adjective to describe how wonderful it was. It really made me regret not having an Italian grandmother. Ursula and her entire team were polite, friendly and everything they served was incredible. In summary - try Mario's anytime you're in the Boston area. read more

Authentic neighborhood Italian restaurant. The food was very good and was homemade in style. You could probably get more elaborate dishes at a more expensive restaurant, but the food kept in style with the neighborhood restaurant feel. The staff was very friendly and checked on us to see that we enjoyed the food. The interior was a little dated, but it kept that old time Italian-American feel. read more

delicious pasta-- we had shrimp scampi, spaghetti and meatballs, gnocchi. all delicious. broccoli rabe and calamari appetizers also great. very kind, friendly and attentive service. we'll definitely be back! read more

Poor service Below average food Not sure how it gets this star rating I would not recomm Sorry , was really looking forward to a cozy , homey place . 2 servers seemed irritated read more

Delicious food and incredibly friendly and kind staff! We had the chicken parm, shrimp scampi, and gnocchi. Loved it all!

I was in town on business and this hidden gem was the highlight of my trip. The food was amazing and the company was even better. Ursula and team made you feel like family. We chatted and laughed and had a great time. read more

I hadn't dined here since the pandemic began. We were regulars but do not do inside dining. On a whim, I called to inquire whether they had many reservations that evening and if not could we come. Ursula promised she was enforcing social distancing and she absolutely held to the standards. The food was splendid. Arancini appetizer, special entree lasagna with meatballs, chicken limone and tiramisu. All tasted terrific and it felt nice to enjoy wine and a home-cooked meal without feeling we undertook a severe risk. I must say that I don't encourage everyone to dine inside during the pandemic but even if you don't want to them opt for takeout. Oh, they'll always customize your dish too. read more

This is our favorite Italian restaurant in Boston. Its the real deal with authentic Italian food thats getting harder to find..Great service. My favorites is the lobster ravioli. read more

Mario's restaurant is the real deal, a homey atmosphere, nice music and a very cool wait staff, Ursula the owner, Barbara the waitress who's been there many years, Anthony Ursula's son who's at the front line make u feel like family. The food never fails.Me and my wife have been coming here for years. Our favorite is the Chicken and veal with sautéed veggies. We've also had the veal Ursula which is very popular. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. You can check out the menu on their website. If you're out of town this is the place to go read more

Don't miss this one, its amazing! The Lasagna with meatballs, Bolognese, Lobster ravioli, Delicious! The staff was also a highlight! Made staying in an airport hotel seem like a good idea as long as we can eat dinner here. Highly recommend. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! If you are looking for an authentic Italian meal and experience in Boston, this is it. We had the sausage appetizer, I had the gluten free seafood pasta (that red sauce!), my husband the veal parm, our meals both came with salads (that dressing!!) and we had a chocolate and an original cannoli for dessert (not GF but the best cannolis we've ever had!!) with cappuccino. So the food was amazing, and the family that runs it provides the best service - glasses always filled, attentive to anything you might ask for, great recommendations on the menu. We had a great time talking with them and the other locals eating there - everyone is family there. We've been eating in the West End the past couple of days and I would tell you that the food and service at Mario's puts those "higher end" restaurants to shame. We will be back! read more

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Found this place on Yelp. The food was amazing...arancini, gnocchi and chicken/eggplant parm. Cozy atmosphere with beautiful original brick walls. Great service from warm and friendly people who are proud of their great food. Felt like we were welcomed to their kitchen at their home. Will definitely return. read more

I was a little worried going to this spot during Covid. Most restaurants have a very limited menu which sucks when you arrive expecting what you see online and its not even close to the same. Walking in to this restaurant we were greeted by a very nice man who told us to sit wherever made us comfortable. I noticed on the menu they had everything i saw previously online which was great for a change. A woman came by a minute later who we found out is the owner and she treated us like we were her own family. Very nice and genuine person. We normally do not do appetizers but the way she was explaining the specials of the house we decided to try it. Everything was great, the meatball was 10/10 but the best thing we ate was actually the Tiramisu. GodBless Ursula and her staff on such a great establishment. I WILL BE BACK TO MARIO'S. read more

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Little hidden gem near the airport. Felt like I was walking into someone's home. Small, cozy, friendly, and the food was delicious. My wife and I decided to wait for traffic to die down and grab dinner somewhere near Logan. We found this great little place. We shared the ARANCINI appetizer (risotto rice ball stuffed with Bolognese sauce and mozzarella cheese). I had the POLLO ALLA URSULA (chicken parmigiana with a layer of eggplant) and my wife had one of the daily specials; mushroom ravioli with peas in a cream sauce. It was all delicious, served quickly with a smile and fresh bread. read more

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Absolutely amazing! I have been there just a few times over the last several years. Every time it has been spectacular. This past Saturday night my wife, daughter, and I visited. We didn't have a reservation but they were able to accommodate us [NOTE: definitely make reservations!] The service was terrific, and the food was absolutely amazing. The Arancini appetizer was SO fabulous. I have been thinking about it all day. And the house special veal parm with a layer of eggplant -- mind blowing! I have traveled the Northeast (and Italy) seeking the best veal parm. This is undoubtedly it. So good. My wife has another Veal special that was phenomenal (albeit not as good as mine). This is one of the true treasures still surviving in Boston. Well worth the visit. I hope we can keep them around. read more

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Spent the night nearby at the Courtyard. The van took us there and then back. Dinner was just like being part of the family Sunday dinner at my Italian in-laws in New Jersey. Would go back in a heartbeat . Oh yeah, the food was really good , too! read more

From someone who eats out often at many upscale restaurants in Boston Proper and beyond--Mario's Restaurant is a standout hidden gem. The atmosphere is small but welcoming and homely. The vibes are synonymous with a grandmothers' kitchen filled with family and friends. The food was out of this world phenomenal--I mean every single thing I ate was delicious. The antipasto, Gamberi, Arancini and Funghi Ripeni were all better than average and well worth the modest cost. The absolute star of the show was the Alla Ursula (Ursula, a lovely Grandma figure, whom this dish is named after, was a larger-than-life presence greeting customers with genuine affection and appreciation) was absolutely incredible--the veal was thinly breaded, properly beaten, and perfectly coated in sauce and cheese--on top of a nice portion of eggplant which was equally delicious. The Alla Ursula is the only 9.9/10 I have ever given in my life--it was perfect. Perfect portion, perfect combination of ingredients, perfect taste and perfect value at a very modest $25.00. The big kicker on my visits was my expectations were low because we were with a group of 22 people, and the restaurants other tables were all full as well. For such a small place I did not expect the best--but I was blown away. The service, the food and the price blew me away. I will be back. Mario's of East Boston gets an A Davis 5 Star recommendation and I will put my name on this review. read more

We stumbled upon this little gem of a place because we initially were trying to go to another Italian restaurant nearby (won't name names) which doesn't take reservations and had a 1 hour wait!! We checked our phones to find something nearby and found Marios a short walk away with good reviews on Yelp - yay! So off we went. It is truly one of those little Mom and Pop neighborhood places where everyone knows your name. A good sign as we were entering the restaurant - a gentleman and his mother were leaving and highly recommended the food - they said they came by almost once every week. I asked the lady what her favorite dish was and she said everything's great. The interior as some of the photos show, takes you back in time a bit! The owner/chef Ursula was very nice and friendly. The other lady was also very nice. For appetizers we had - Burrata which was really nice and the melanzane (eggplant) which was good too. Entrees were - Veal Alla Ursula, Chicken Alla Ursula, Lobster ravioli, Lobster with linguine. All were really good. The alla ursula dishes are basically breaded meat and eggplant covered with marinara sauce. It was a lot of food especially after the bread and appetizers. Oh and every dish came with a side salad. The non-pasta dishes came with a side of pasta and sauce! For dessert we shared Tiramisu and gelato which was amazing!! Wow - I was so full and I had almost half my entree leftover!! Was glad to take home for lunch the next day lol. Ursula was super friendly, chatting us up, and I think she could tell we were not "from the area" regulars. She probably knows everyone that frequents this place! We stayed pretty much till the restaurant closed and as were all leaving outside, we saw her husband Mario drive up, and also chatted with him. Cute couple!! Would definitely recommend this homey place for good Italian food!!! read more

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Yesterday was the 1st time we ate there, but it definitely won't be our last! The food was outstanding, and the service was as well. Their gravy (sauce) was the best we ever had, simple but wonderful. The veal was cooked perfectly and so tender. We spoke with two other couples while dining, and they were amazed by the food as well. Prices are very reasonable. It's a must try! read more

Vitelli ala Ursula was amazing...perfect place thickness to both the veal and eggplant, delicious sauce and plenty of cheese...side of homemade fusilli put this dish over the top. We had the burrata and aranccini appetizers which were out of this world...by far the best arrancini I ever had... I would recommend Mario's to anyone. read more

Let's start at the end - the tiramisu is incredible! Pair it with port or limoncello, it is light, packed with flavor and just glorious! Small, family run long time anchor of East Boston. We go here every time we can get to this part of Boston. The service is incredible and friendly, the food is exceptional and the prices are very fair. The standard menu is so delicious but every night there are different specials, which are always amazing. We highly recommend Mario's! read more

If you pass this place by,you'll have made a big mistake. Unbelievably fresh food and a very Homie vibe. The service is 5 star!! read more

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Last meal of our vacation and it was amazing! Service was tremendous; perfect balance of authentic friendliness and attentiveness. Started with the caprese salad and arancini. Both were delicious and the arancini introduced us to their fabulous red sauce: simple yet rich in flavor. For dinner we had chicken parm, gnocchi and chicken vegetale. Everything was great. Don't come to Boston often but definitely a place I would revisit in a heartbeat. read more

Excellent service and food, chicken or veal limone is the best, great all around place!

This place is a gem. Everything was delicious. Definitely recommend the arancini and you can sub gnocchi as your pasta which I was excited about to try a few different things! It has a very family feel it. I will be back! read more

6'5 male takes on MASSIVE lasagna and stuffed shells. Holy cow! These carbs rocked my world. I went with my buddies from college, one of them recommended this place as a local favorite. No lies were told. Not only could I spot most of the Lexington population in the joint, yapping about the revolution and such, but I also ascended to an astral plane after my first bite. I felt like I was chomping down on some of my nonna's homemade cuisine and that honestly brought a tear to my eye. She recently passed away and it was just so lovely - gosh I'm tearing up as I write this - so lovely to be able to feel her presence so far from the hills of Sicily. I used one of their complimentary napkins to wipe the tears from my cheeks as I finished an entire loaf of garlic bread. What can I say!? I'm a hungry (6'5) guy! After finishing my third pink lemonade (those go down with the shells like BUTTAH) , I made my way to the bathroom which is down the stairs in the very back of the restaurant. I felt like I was one of the team on my journey back there as one of the employees nodded at me. I loved the electric air in this place, it made me feel good. Such a nice feeling to have after such a long, hard winter. Will be returning, may even bring a lady-friend. read more

Excellent hole in the wall ~ mom and pop ~ lobster ravioli and chicken parm are all excellent!

An essential must-try in the Boston area. Fresh and authentic Italian food with incredible service. 100/10

LOVE, LOVE, L O V E this place! The food is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Very Italian and very authentic. Ursula is a SWEETHEART, Barbara is WONDERFUL and Anthony is AWESOME! I only wish I lived in Boston so I could visit this hidden gem more often! I may have to move to Boston for this! Such a home-y atmosphere and did I mention the food is DELICIOUS? Party of 4 and we had calamari app, caprese salad app, veal parm, lasagna to DIE FOR(!) chicken parm, lamb chop special, and penne al la vodka and all plates were FINISHED! Nothing left on any plate! Mario's is SO GOOD! You have got to try it!!! Thank you Ursula, Barbara, and Anthony! Will see you again on our next trip to Boston!! :) read more

I buddy and I were in the area and came across Mario's ". We both ordered the "special" lasagna and meatballs which was exceptional. iGreat service! I will definitely visit Mario's next time I am in the area! read more

I don't write many reviews but had to post for this amazing family Italian restaurant right by the airport. Amazing warm atmosphere and service and food was delicious! Ate here with my sister the night before an early flight and it was exactly the low-key but special meal we were looking for. Get the seafood pasta (alla Mario)! read more

Incredible Italian food. The restaurant is a cozy sit down atmosphere and the servers were very helpful and friendly. For food we got the bolognese and the shrimp scampi, both of which were to die for. Definitely don't skip out on the cannoli at the end. They are filled to order and it speaks for itself! read more

The food was absolutely delicious and everyone working was super nice. The restaurant felt super homey and welcoming - very hole-in-the-wall, momma's Italian cooking feel. I had the chicken parmigiana and it was fantastic. My dad ordered their lasagna special and said it was super good. Our group also ordered the bruschetta appetizer and it was amazing. Would absolutely go back. We even ordered some cannolis for the road (to classic and two chocolate) and they were delicious. Service was a little slow but that's to be expected at dinner time. read more

It was like having dinner at your own home, good old fashion home cooked meals and very good food and service. I would go back in a heartbeat read more

DISAPPOINTED to say the LEAST. I called for a reservation for a party of 6. The lady (Ursula) asked me if I was calling the right place. Now I know why. For a Saturday night, they had 6 open tables out of 16. My husband had the special of the night which was lasagna & 2 meatballs. 1 meatball was BLACK from being burnt & his lasagna was crunchy. I had bolognese, which was NOT red. I've never had bolognese not tomato based. Another had chicken & eggplant parm & the eggplant was raw. The food had NO TASTE & not a hint of garlic. One had fusilli, which came over a dish of water. I'll NEVER understand how this restaurant stays in business, serving food like this! read more

Amazing Italian food! Can't remember the last time I had food that good! Ursula, who's been there for 30+ years, was super welcoming. The restaurant is small, and immaculately clean! I 100% recommend giving Mario's a try. You will not be disappointed. read more

Mario's Restaurant - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I don't think I've ever left a 1 star review, and this is not about the food, because I didn't get any. It was about 3:30 in the afternoon - I was tasked with getting food for 6 people to go. I saw all of the good reviews for this place but wanted to go in, take my time with a glass of wine, & look at the menu so I could figure out the best things for everyone. After much hassle driving & parking, I walk in - there is not a soul in the place & two women who worked there sitting at a table. One asked if she could help me & I told her I'd like to sit down with a glass of wine, look at the menu & order food to go. She said she could not serve me a glass of wine unless I was eating there. Now I could totally understand this if the place was busy, but there was no one in there! So she just lost a bunch of business because she wouldn't give me a glass of wine. Who knows - maybe she didn't need my several hundreds of dollars worth of business. I found a nearby place that was happy to accommodate! read more

best chicken parm I've had in a long time! service was so quick and friendly. I'm happy I get to call this place a local favorite!

Get one of the specials. We had tagliatelle bolognese and shrimp fusilli. This is one of maybe 2 places in the country that I have been to that actually tastes like true Italian cuisine. And that includes the north end! All with amazing, friendly service. Ursala is so kind and we've just been back after years to find her and her food are still such a wonderful experience. read more

Food was fantastic! Salad was delicious and more than enough for two people. The server was warm friendly and very helpful with problem solving dinner choice because of dietary restrictions. Portions were phenomenal. My choice, Veal Lisa, was scrumptious. My husband's dinner, Ravioli with meatball had a nice balance of meatballs to raviolis. He couldn't have been any happier with his choice. Our after dinner decaf cappuccino was amazing. The atmosphere is exactly what we were looking for in dining out. Think Nonna's kitchen and how she would welcome you home for Sunday dinner. read more