I've been coming to Mario's for over 15 years. Obviously a fan. The food is great; no frills Italian-American cuisine, but it's the service and local feeling that separates Mario's from many Italian restaurants in Chicago. Highly recommended. read more

Food and service were really good. If you are in a hurry, eat here. But they want you in and out fast. White haired female hostess was a beast. No manners and borderline rude upon entering and then said we had to leave after we were served quickly since she needed the table. Could have offered us to move to the bar area. No class. Will never return unless she is gone. Nasty and negative energy! Mario should find a more inviting employee who makes a good impression, especially as she is the first face you see. read more

I didn't know what to expect when a friend brought me here and said it was a neighborhood joint. Sure enough, it was kind of non-descript, in the lobby of a condo building. But the place was packed with locals, so I knew it would be decent. I started with the crab cakes and the house chianti. Keep the crab cakes, leave the wine! Meaning give me all your wine. It was a lovely gem of a chianti. However, I have had better crab cakes. They were just ok, but the topper was the lemony sauce...super yummy and made the dish. My friend had a salad topped with grilled chicken. She ate it all and said she gets the same thing every time, so I guess she likes it. :) I had the fish special and it was nice. Very flaky and tender fish, delicate caper sauce and sauteed veggies. they were nice enough to swap out the usual sauteed spinach for broccoli and carrots and it was great. Finished with another glass of vino and I was ready for bed! Prices were a-ok...decor a bit 80s-ish and could use some updating. Overall not bad. read more

Good food for a good price. I had the grilled and fried calamari combination appetizer and it was delicious! The fried ones were lightly fried, not too greasy and not over cooked...the grilled calamari was AMAZING. My entrée was the lobster and shrimp ravioli. The ravioli themselves and the sauce were really good, but the shrimp that were included in the sauce were a little over cooked. The tiramisu was pretty good, but I've had better at other places. They do have a very good wine selection. Variety of flavors and prices. Would definitely go again on my next trip to Chicago. read more

A definite mixed bag. Waschere on New Year's Eve. The server was amazing. The calamari appetizer is the best I have had. The gnocchi special was not great. As an Italian, I like gnocchi to be cooked perfectly. It was over cooked and the sauce was okay but not great. My boyfriend had a veal dish and he thought it was good but not amazing. The pistachio gelato was delicious. Felt their drinks are overpriced. Nice and friendly ambiance but feel entrees could be better. , read more

25 years plus for Mario here. Great ambience and wonderful food. We really enjoyed our dinner. Friendly staff. Mario is on site and genuinely appreciates his clientele. Loved it. Hope to enjoy Mario's next time in town. read more

Made a reservation & still had to wait 20 minutes for a table. Staff was friendly. Our food was not great- we ordered lasagna and shrimp dish. Food tasted ok but shrimp dish was VERY garlicky & lasagna made his stomach hurt shortly after. It is conveniently located but wish I would have traveled a little further for better food. read more

Great local family Italian restaurant in the Gold Coast. Went in with my mom, sister and nephew and we really enjoyed it! Had the vodka sauce ravioli as well as minestrone soup and a couple pizzas. The service was great, everyone is very friendly and they offer gluten free options as well which is nice. Definitely going back, I heard the sausage and peppers is great. Happy Holidays read more

Absolutely great Italian cuisine nestled in a great area. I went here on a weekday night and it was still relatively busy. I enjoyed the service and the chicken Limone. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice Italian place that's a little out of the box! read more

We walked into restaurant for bar only. Was turned away they were full. As we were walking away owner was outside and asked if we wanted to use outside seating. He immediately turned on all heaters for us. We had our own wait staff Phil who was amazing!!!! We appreciate that he went a step above to make our experience awaesome. The appetizers were amazing! read more

Always the coziest and friendly restaurant! Great food, atmosphere and staff! The best ! Ok read more

The food is good, not terrific. The appetizers are a bit on the expensive side almost the same price as the entrees. But Mario clean your bathrooms! It bothers me when the restrooms are not clean, which is a sign about the rest of the place. If you have any doubts about a restaurant, look at the restrooms. They can be shabby but not filthy. read more

Great neighborhood spot - Mario the owner is usually around. Food is fine, service is good and friendly.

Fantastic! My daughter and I were lucky enough to get a last min reservation here. The food and drinks were wonderful! The calamari was recommended to us by our fantastic waiter, Jeff. It did not disappoint. Everything was cooked to perfection. Jeff was attentive and fun...the definition of wonderful service. Mario came around to the table twice to make sure we were enjoying everything. If you are looking for delicious food with wonderful service from great people eat here :) read more

Every time I'm here, I feel like part of the Mario's Table family. Warm and inviting in both environment and staff, both the scrumptious Italian food and cozy atmosphere give you a big hug. It's a bit of a hidden gem in the Gold Coast, nestled in the lobby of a condo building, and a real local find. Highly recommend sharing some dishes as the portions are generous. Always a treat - mangia! read more

This is old school done right. During dinner the owner stops at the table and says, hi I'm Mario is everything good? I had Linguini and clams, lot of clams and a perfectly emulsified sauce, it was delicious. Other members of my party got Chicken Parm, Eggplant Parm and Lasagna. Everyone was very satisfied with their dinner and ate way too much. The service was spot on and friendly from the hostess greeting us, to our server who patiently answered questions and made recommendations. The restaurant is small and can be tight, but everyone seems to be enjoying their meals and in a good mood (Friday night) so it makes for a good atmosphere. You can always tell a restaurant when the owner is involved and it makes such a difference. If you are in the area, try this place. read more

An unexpected find in the Gold Coast! Mario is passionate about food and it shows. Traditional Italian fare with some surprises like the past jambalaya. I am amazed and how Mario can provide such delicious food with large portions in a pricey area at such low prices. Remarkable. When we lived in the city my husband and I would dine here often, it was our favorite place to have a relaxed meal. My favorites are the meatball salad, sounds weird but it's awesome. My husband likes the Steak Vesuvio and lamb chops. You seriously cannot go wrong with any of the pastas, the shrimp scampi is tasty and garlicky but not too heavy. Small dining room but it really is a charming place. I wish I could give six stars. read more

Stopped for an early dinner with my boyfriend last night on our way to an event at the Ambassador Chicago. Mario's is an amazing little gem! It's old school Italian in all the best ways - soft lighting, great romantic music, lots of wood tones and white table cloth. Warm friendly staff. I would totally go here for a romantic dinner with my honey. And the food was truly delicious. The martinis were perfectly made. The salads crispy, delicious and flavorful. The GF pasta was perfection! I would never have known it was GF, it was that good (I had the linguini with clams - delish!) The boyfriend saw so much he liked that he couldn't decide. He asked our server for guidance and she smiled and said, "Would you like me to pick for you?" When he replied yes, away she went .... so his dinner would be a surprise. She chose the lasagna, and it looked amazing, loaded up with cheese on top and I could just smell the aroma of oregano wafting over to me. We will definitely be back! read more

I wish I could write a better review as I think the owner is wonderful! However, the food, cold on delivery, very small portions and overpriced and overcooked. I realize restaurants have had a hard time but I will never order from here again. read more

Good food. Vocally not kid/family friendly. I got kind of a weird vibe getting there early in a Friday and being asked about reservations in a nearly empty restaurant. read more

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

I have still not been back from the last time we went. The more I think about it the more I really hated our experience. Over crowded Over priced Overrated The service was terrible. I am all about neighborhood gems but this is not one of them. read more

Always enjoy a great Italian dinner here. Family run, with a casual, festive, neighborhood vibe. Really great food (the eggplant parmigiana is the best I've ever eaten). Great place to start the weekend with friends and good bottle of wine! read more

A great choice for Italian! There is a lot of variety and bonus if you are looking for many great veggie and gluten free options. We both enjoyed our meals between the angel hair pasta and primavera. I was also eyeing some of the pizzas. I will definitely be back to try them. read more

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

Eh, not going to work for me. The place sort of looks like a cross between a sports bar and the dining area of a Holiday Inn. I live in the area and had a coupon to try the food. I didn't get much for my money and found the server's recommendation to be "off" (baked cavatelli with sausage). There's not a lot of Italian in the area, true, but Mario's doesn't quite cut it. read more

I'm with Deepa J. on the great location since this place is super close to where my boyfriend lives. Even though it always seems busy, we were able to get a seat during prime time without any wait. The boyfriend wanted a hearty meal so he ordered the chicken parmesan, which came out well-cooked and flavorful. My baked cavatelli tasted homemade (literally! we make this all the time, so I was a little let down that it tasted so similar) but the sausages on top were delicious and something I definitely don't have at home. We dug into the bread at the beginning (hot, toasty on the outside and fluffy on the inside) so we did have quite a lot of leftovers for lunch the next day. They do make a good tiramisu and it comes as a generous square-shaped portion. However, I wouldn't recommend the coffee. We probably should have gone across the street to 3rd Coast for that instead. Anyway, I thought it was nice that Mario made the rounds and stopped by each table to ask how everyone's meal was going. He even waited patiently as one lady (a regular?) pulled out her wallet and started walking him through a whole bunch of family photos. Now that's something I don't see everyday. read more

Amazing restaurant!! Great service and delicious food. It's the perfect casual Italian dining in Chicago!

Is it weird that the best part of the meal was the bread that I was eating dipped in my cheese and olive oil? I had the burger, it was meh. I think it actually made me a little sick. The "fries" weren't really fries. They were in between wedges and and fries. However, they were SOOO oily and really really soggy. To be fair, i could've ordered wrong...my friend liked her lobster and shrimp pasta, but I didn't try it b/c I wasn't in the pasta mood. I don't think I'd go here to eat again, but wouldn't be opposed to stepping in for a drink. read more

Less than average tasting, over priced, Italian food. I wish it were better. I really do. Very nice neighborhood feel. Friendly and accommodating. Good service. Attentive owner. The place is often busy. (? It must be me ?) This time I ordered pasta with seafood. Pasta was wet ( not drained ) and over cooked and tasteless. Seafood quality (mussels,clams,shrimp)was average. Red sauce flavor was less than average, likey due to the abundance of water from the noodles. An Italian restaurant should have much better pasta. Previous visits resulted in a meal with too much garlic and meat meal that was dry and over cooked. I'm sorry to say that after this 3rd and final visit, due to the prices/value/quality, I won't be back. read more

Enjoyed our meal and service. Pizza and Eggplant Parmesan was terrific. Mario is a super nice guy who stops by and checks in on you before and after dinner. May be busy on weekend evenings, so get reservations. read more

Like others, I've been to this restaurant several times because of its location, and it is clearly beloved by its neighborhood regulars. The food is utterly average, unimaginative and tastes unfinished. On a recent visit, the antipasto salad was a bowl of lettuce and peppers with a few slices of salami and provolone draped around the sides. The soft shell crabs were simply deep-fried with no real seasoning. The sausage and potatoes in the giambotta were dry and bland. There are dozens of far-better Italian restaurants in Chicago that are a better value. Unless you live in the highrise it sits beneath or live across the street, as my friends do, I can't imagine why anyone would make a special trip here. read more

I just moved to the Gold Coast area and when I saw I was moving right by a "casual Italian" joint I got so excited....until I saw the prices. My mom and I ended up ordering takeout to make it more cost effective and wanting to support a neighborhood spot and the food was average. Definitely nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about. I know inflation is crazy right now, but everything on the menu could easily be $3-$6 cheaper. I would only go back if someone made a reservation here. read more

I've passed Mario's many times but never eaten here until this week. The food was great. Linguine with chopped clams, wine and garlic tasted great, though I prefer whole clams in the shell. My wife's salmon was cooked perfectly. A giant piece of very good tiramisu was tasty conclusion to dinner. A very neighborhoody, casual place with many Italian standards and choices for everyone. Mario, the owner was working the crowd in shorts on a hot Chicago night. read more

Food was decent. Typical American Italian cuisine. Atmosphere=pleasant. A bit over priced for the food, portions and service. Service was okay, owner was much better than the server! Unfortunately, server did not review any of the menu, provide recommendations, nor did she review the daily specials. Luckily there was a specials board behind me that I could take a glimpse at. Don't worry, had to also ask about the wine special of 2-for-1. Why have a special if you are not going to tell guests about it? Overall, okay experience. Bus boys were on top of it. Save your money. read more

I live in the neighborhood and have passed by this place so many times. I finally decided to check it out last Friday night. The Blackhawks were playing that night but I'm not a hockey fan and just wanted a laid back night with my girlfriend. I figured a cozy Italian restaurant would be a safe bet. Unfortunately, they have TV's in every corner of the room and all of them had the hockey game on full blast. That's fine in the bar area but do you really need to have TV's around the room? Other than that, the food was pretty good and Mario does walk around and shake everyone's hand which is a nice touch. The calamari app was one of the better one's I've had. The veal saltimbocca was pretty par for the course. The servers were a bit abrupt with us but I think that was on account of the fact that they were about to close up. As soon as I took my last bite, they swiped my plate and handed us the check. If you want a casual Italian place with a great atmosphere, you're better off going to Orso's just a few blocks away. Sorry Mario! read more

A hidden gem. So happy to have found this place tucked away right around the corner from me. Their bread is crack and the vodka ravioli is always gone in 60 seconds. Mario's is definitely cheat meal heaven. read more

Mario's is a great restaurant in the Gold Coast area. It's pretty small, but it is very warm and inviting. Parking sucks around here, but that's for every place in this area. There is meter parking nearby, but plan on making a few circles before finding a spot. You may even need to park a few blocks over. I'm assuming that the main group of customers here live in the area. The food is very tasty. Prices are on par with restaurants for this area. Actually, I think for the semi-fancy date night vibe they got going, it's actually priced pretty reasonable. Service is awesome-the waiters are very friendly and are very good at getting what you need. The bartenders rock too-I would highly recommend ordering a drink (or two) while you eat. I think this is a great spot to take a date or even sit at the bar with some friends. Stop by for some pasta, dessert, and/or drinks and I think you'll like it! read more

My boyfriend had passed by so much that he was curious about trying it out with me and his mom. We were able to make same day reservations and then move to another table to add another person. We started with the toasted ravioli that were just ok. My boyfriends cavatelli and sausage was diappointing kind of bland. My seafood diavolo was pretty decent. The best thing was probably the tiramisu. The prices were probably average with other Italian restaurants. The staff was nice. At the end of the day, I've just had better Italian food at other restaurants in the city. read more

We had a really delicious meal here last night. We were staying across the street at Public and wandered in here to see if we could find some tasty Italian food. At first, this place has the appearance of a chain diner, other than being very romantically lit with low lighting. Once you get into your booth and sit down to look at the menu, the place transforms into an old school Italian restaurant, just the sort you were looking for. We ordered baked ravioli for an appetizer and cleaned the plate. The bread looked very ordinary until we tried it and then ate the entire basket. My wife ordered the quattro formaggi pizza and it was outstanding. I ordered a half order of the Veal Parmesan and was stunned by the gigantic size of what came to my table. It was absolutely delicious with bake-melted cheese all over the top. I wanted to try a meatball in their meat sauce, so I asked the server if they could bring me one. She came back with a little bowl of meat sauce and a meat ball in the middle as if it was a perfectly normal request. It too, was fabulous. The only thing I was disappointed with was the fairly limited wine list. There just wasn't much to choose from. At best, maybe 1-2 selections from each varietal. We settled on a Mark West pinot noir at $32, where just a few blocks away, it is sold at Jewel for $10.99. I've frequently seen bottles sold in restaurants for 2x retail but this was much steeper than that. Overall, we really enjoyed our dinner here and definitely satisfied our craving for yummy Italian. As others have noted, Mario actually walks the room and engages in conversation with each of his guests to make sure they are satisfied with their experience. This is a nice personal touch that you just don't get anymore these days. read more

I only have good things to say about this little neighborhood gem. I stopped by for dinner and had a wonderful experience. I tried the seafood diavola, which was absolutely delicious. It was a generous portion with a variety of seafood and the sauce had a nice kick to it. Also, they substitute whole-wheat or gluten-free pasta at no additional charge. The tiramisu for dessert is perfect for sharing and a great way to finish off your meal! read more

Mario's Table - Seafood diavola with whole wheat pasta - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After a weekend of running around the city, we weren't too excited about trying to find yet another place to eat, and Mario's was across from our hotel. The bread and oil were great. I got Veal Parmesan, gf got the scallops - both were really good. The other meals at our table looked really good too and received good feedback even though I didn't try them. Place is really nice, and Mario came to our table to welcome us, which I thought was a nice touch. He spent the our entire visit out on the floor visiting with his guests and hanging what with appear to be regulars. This guy is all about hospitality. Our server was very friendly and did a nice job. My gf was treating so I didn't see the bill and I don't want to- but when I glanced at the prices, I can't say it's out of line with any other Italian place and they nailed it on every level. Don't let it's unassuming exterior (I was unclear where the entrance was and if you blink you might miss this place) or the fact that it's a little off the beaten path scare you off- this place is worth a stop. read more