Mario’s Ocean Avenue

Reviews for Mario’s seem to be all over the place. All I can say is my husband and I took a visitor there 2 weeks ago on a Thursday evening. This was the first time we had gone as well. Made an early reservation the same day for 6 pm. Service and food was top notch (chicken Parmesan, mussels over linguine) and priced very fair… Large portions, delicious! Within the hour, the place was full of what seemed a lot of regulars. Our company loved his dinner said it was a great choice. I can only hope subsequent visits will be just as good as we definitely plan to return.

It took me 2 hours to get my food tonight. I had a reservation and ordered right away when a waiter came by because I knew their menu by heart by the time I was seated.
I actually felt bad for the nice waiter who was helping us. I believe the waiter was nice or at least tried to be nice. I actually even saw the waiter putting in the order right away.
My conclusion is that the management or the person organizing the service is not doing their job correctly — this restaurant is wasting good food and nice waiter, in my opinion.
NOT going back there.

7pm reservation. Got here at 6:45.
Finally seated at 8:00.
Food arrived at 9:13.
How is this acceptable? Why do they continue to overbook their tables?
I only agreed to come here because my parents made reservations without asking me.
Whatever you do. I mean, WHATEVER you do… Do NOT come here if unless it is like 3pm on a weekday.

DO NOT GO ! made reservation for large party (14) which was not ready and had to split our party up into 2 separate tables, one outside and one inside, hostess was nasty, rude and did not in any way apologize for there mess up, they were out of many menu items, and one person
In our party had chicken Marsala and had steel frm the brillow pad in it. Check came with a charge for a bottle of wine on it when we had only ordered 2 glasses ! The place is a mess only good thing was the piano player and sax was great !

DON’T GO! Although the food was very good, the service was SO bad that it offset a pleasant meal. We were told to order quickly or we wouldn’t get our food for quite a while. While we were eating our salads the rude and brusque waiter brought our food, but there was no place to put everything.
Our friends at the next table arrived at 7:00 & at 8:30 still had not been served! Reason being the same abrupt waiter neglected to put their order in!
When the owner was informed of the situation she did nothing to help.
The noise level made conversation difficult and I can’t imagine how this place stays in business!
All 12 of us said we would never return.
Meanwhile across the street is a charming restaurant serving excellent food in a lovely atmosphere with handsome waiters that smiled, took our orders correctly and served everything in a timely fashion!
That restaurant is PAESANO and the the steaks were the best we’ve ever had!

I’m rating mario’s 3 stars for several reasons…
Here’s my first experience at Mario’s:
My first visit I was there with very affluent clients who were visiting from Boston… I chose Mario’s because of several friends who raved about the food… Being that these clients enjoyed great Italian food I figured Mario’s was a good choice…
We get to the restaurant and wait to be greeted… A few mins later we are greeted and seated, now it’s a Thursday night and the restaurant is somewhat busy inside but only 2 tables outside… We order drinks which took about 7 – 10 minutes to get… And immediately order our food once drinks were dropped off… We waited for a good 30 mins before the server apologized and said the owners wife aka the manager would be over to speak to us…
She comes over and based on her demeanor you could tell right away we weren’t the first table this has happened to tonight, we begin to tell her it’s been well over 30 mins and she cuts us off and immediately tells us that they are training a new kitchen staff and that its gonna be a few more minutes and walks off…
Another 30 mins later we receive our food 1 item was wrong… but 2 mins later they brought out the right dish. (We didn’t get up and leave prior because it was raining pretty bad)
Food was good… but after waiting over an hour and the manager raving that everything was from scratch and that’s why it was taking so long I expected much more then what was delivered… and the service and attitude had already ruined The experience for us… Not the best Italian food I’ve had but also not the worst… Being frustrated and hungry We ate our food and asked for our check…
After waiting over an hour for food and spending over 2 hrs in the restaurant we assumed the manager would come back out and apologize again for the extremely Long wait (that’s what a good manager would do)… But that never happened… For the first time all night the server was very prompt and seconds later we had our bill… No apologies, no «do you want dessert or coffee» nothing just the bill… My clients and I were amazed that after all of that the manager didn’t show face…
So typically the poor service and the way the situation was handled by management would have been more then enough to deter me from ever eating there again but my girlfriend decided she wanted to give them an opportunity again the other night as she wanted to judge the food for herself …
So Here’s my second experience:
My girlfriend and I call to order take out she calls and asks what they would recommend as the house specialty while she was getting ready to leave work… The gentleman on the phone simply responds with «everything is good»… Then she asks if they have a menu on their website she could look at and he responds with «No we never got around to putting one online…» So she decides to call back as she figures out what we want…
A few moments later we decide on traditional Italian dish we were sure they would have, and a large pizza pie… We call back… Same guy answers and we ask to place an order for pick up.
The guys response was ok well were busy so what do you want? We begin to place our order and he says «oh yea no pizza were too busy for that» so a little confused but hungry so we decide to alter our order and ask to pay for it as my girlfriend was picking it up on the way home and she didn’t have money on her and he says he can’t do that… it’s gotta be paid for in person he says… So I left my house picked up the food 45 mins later… Same decent Italian food but nothing spectacular…
All I can say is that for a fairly new restaurant with decent Italian food they really do need to learn about customer service if they want to stay around… I for one will never take clients there which is a shame because as a real estate broker I meet many new people to the area on a daily basis… and love telling them about the local hotspots in the are, but I can’t in good conscience recommend a place that doesn’t provide an adequate level of customer service…
In a nut shell… I’ll never dine in house here again… I may get takeout again in the future here as my last option.

Disappointing experience
Food was so so, although the Apple Torte was excellent.
Service was a a disaster. Waiter kept disappearing and we had to ask twice for everything (bottle of wine, sparkling water, fresh ground pepper).
Gonna take a lot to get me back there again.

First time I went to Marios we had a bad experience with the food, but they just opened so I decided to give it another shot 10 months later. I ordered the veal Marsala and a friend ordered the pasta with Mushrooms. Although the prices are low, the food was pretty bad. The only thing good was their garlic rolls. You would think that if someone opens an Italian restaurant they would take the time and learn how to make decent Italian food.

I don’t even know where to begin here. Came to Mario’s for my bday dinner and came away sadly disappointed in what I experienced.
First came a bit of an edgy attitude by the waiter and a very gruff welcome as if we he was doing us a big favor by serving us. Then a wait of over 20 mins just for the wife and I to receive our 2 glasses of wine and almost 45 mins to get our appetizers.
Then, when my veal chop parmigiana arrived I started eating only to start pulling charred charcoal like bits out of my mouth. Peeled back the cheese and realized that the $ 40 veal chop parm was completely burnt and obviously someone instead of tossing it and putting the right product out there, decided to try to put lipstick on the pig and covering their mistake with the cheese. Waiter was apologetic and said he would send the owner. Owner starts to swing by our table, but then she diverts and wait for it… sits down at the bar for a drink! Unbelievable.
Then my son quietly summons the waiter to get some bday cake for me and tells me later he had to ask them 3 times to bring the cake.
I have no idea why I’m even giving them 2 stars because Marios basically screwed up my bday dinner. Maybe because my wife and son’s meals were OK.
Great layout for a restaurant, but lousy service, a chef that tried to hide a mistake and an owner that simply didn’t care don’t make for a great experience.
Sad

We had dinner there last night and was so disappointed. Took one hour to get our entrees. Had to remind waiter about our drink order never got requested refills of water. The four entrees came out one at a time and one was even a good 10 minutes after the first three. Eggplant rollatini was smothered in a overly spicy tomato sauce. The same exact sauce accompanied the chicken cacciatore. My advice stay away

OK, I Love Marios. Great Food, Great Attentive Service, Friendly Neighborhood Atmosphere, all with a complete lack of pretension!
It was our first visit and we had a great experience. The eggplant stack appetizer was awesome. Perfectly prepared eggplant slices (defined by me as tender but not overcooked, w just the right amount of breading) interwoven with fresh moz, basil & tomato and just the right amount of absolutely delish tomato sauce.
For our entries we had perfectly prepared gnocchi (light, well seasoned, flavorful filling) and veal parm (tender, well seasoned, great sauce). Generous portions = plenty for our dinner tonight and our lunch tomorrow. Finished off with a cannoli and an espresso. Mmmmm Mmmmm good.
We will be back!

Everything you read here is true. The food is wonderful with minor exceptions the service is good but not the best, the ambiance is nice but not stellar. My experience was as follows. Saturday night i called for a reservation the phone was answered by a very pleasant gentleman who was happy to get me in at 6:30 for 5. We arrived at 6:20 to a crowded but not full restaurant. we were greeted by the same guy that took the rese. Again he was very nice and inviting. We were seated immediately. Once we took our seats we were approached by Gary. This is where it got strange. Instead of him welcoming us and asking for a drink order he asked if we had reservations. We indicated that yes we did and he went back to the host and asked him if we had reservations. Gary came back to our table and asked what time our reservation was for and the name on it. It was really uncomfortable. We were finally offered drinks after our interrogation, a couple of wines and vodkas and a Sprite for our son. The wine list was good, not much you don’t find everywhere but it was very acceptable. The menu was very nice. Anything you could want is addressed on this menu. We tried the Rice balls and the arugula salad. The rice balls were good but could have been a little hotter. The sauce was incredible. The Salad looked incredible unfortunately it was almost inedible due the over abundance of lemon in the dressing. It was harsh. We ordered a small pizza for our son which was very good, he loved it. I would definitely go back there just for that. We ordered the canneloni, chicken franchese, calamari with linguini, and the penne with escarole, beans and shrimp. The entrees arrived in a reasonable time staggered somewhat but i would rather have them all get to the table hot than all together. Small problem, the penne arrived without shrimp. Gary said he didn’t hear the order, he ordered the shrimp and it was delivered within a few minutes. I asked for Reggiano and had to wait so long that one of our party was done with their meal before i got it. Entrees were tasty and abundant. The only issue was the lemon butter on the frachese. Again the lemon overpowered the dish and it lacked the richness of the butter. It was very bright and there was no body to the sauce. The chicken was cooked perfectly however.
There was one thing that really bothered me. I noticed Gary serving drinks to the table next to ours. Apparently there was something floating in one of the martinis he was about to deliver. Instead of having it remade he dipped a cloth napkin from his apron into the drink to remove the item and proceeded to serve the drink. It was kind of gross.
Verdict: Yes i would go back. Good food at very reasonable price. Noisy so its good for kids. Valet parking is a breeze. Try to get someone other than Gary.

First ask for Gary! He wrote the book on restaurant customer service. He us attentive, has great suggestions, knows his menu, and is awesome.
Arancini was a delicious surprise for an appetizer;-), share an order.
Next came Mario’s gorgonzola salad … it was a huge serving, so fresh and wonderful.
Gary carefully paced the food prep so each dish was cleared before the next was served. To me this is important because I came out to enjoy a great meal, not gobble it down. Gary made dinner enjoyable.
Now the best part, a homemade Chicken Scarapiello. We shared it since it was such a generous serving (saving room for dessert) and savored every bite. WOW — what a meal, what a restaurant! Treat yourself tonight!

This is the best Italian food in Palm Beach County and I don’t say that lightly. Better than Amici, Bice, Belagio and every other high price Italian eatery that opens a can of marinara sauce and calls it Italian. Ahhhh Mario’s– the sauce was outstanding. It tasted like the chef just squeezed fresh plum tomatoes and added fresh herbs. The pasta is made fresh every morning. We have been here three times and the food has been consistently excellent. The eggplant parmigiana is to die for. Ditto the salmon. We had a dish i never had tried — Aricini which is a fried rice ball. Amazing!!! At different times, we have sampled the chicken, veal, and vegetarian dishes. They are all incredible. I don’t know how to say this enough. If you plan on ordering a salad before the meal, make sure there are at least three people eating with you or plan to take most of it home. Ditto all the entrees. There is sooooooooooooo much food and the prices are incredibly low. Not $ 25,00 for spaghetti with a canned tomato sauce like you get in all the so-​called Italian eateries on the island of Palm Beach or West Palm for that matter. PLEASE just go and try for yourself. I am a very picky restaurant reviewer but I can honestly say there is nothing about Marios that I can list as a con. I hope that this restaurant will survive the low season because I would be crushed if it closed.

Mario’s was recommended by a friend. My wife and I tried it and loved it! We give it 5 stars, enough said on that. Food and staff are amazing.

Amazing food! Rafael the bartender made some out if this world wine suggestions. Chef Henry is a maestro in the kitchen, very well trained staff and excellent execution. We came a foodie friends suggestion, We will definitely be back!

Must be worst restaurant in Florida. Waiter Gary is world’s worst. How is he still working there. Food is not even average. Salad not cold, wilted lettuce, warm plate. You got to be kidding. Do not under any circumstances eat at this establishment. Better option is across the street at Paesano. Much superior.

Awesome place! Great location right on Ocean Avenue and very cool building with a lot of charm inside. Really nice outdoor bar and lots of outdoor seating. Very laid back place to chill, but it also has a nice feel to it.
It’s great because the food is excellent and the service is outstanding, but it doesn’t have a stuffy feel to it, like a lot of Italian restaurants are trying to do these days. I’d say it’s found a great sweet spot between having outstanding quality and being much nicer than your typical pizzeria, but not being snooty or stuffy at all like many «trattorias» (loosely translates to overpriced hipster joint). This place has a very comfortable and laid back atmosphere to enjoy great service and a great meal.
They have all types of Italian classics from Chicken Parm (which is what I had — outstanding by the way!), Lasagna, Pizza, and Eggplant Parm, to more upscale dishes on their specials like Veal Chops and Soft Shell Crab.
Prices were very reasonable also. Will definitely be back!

Delicious. The bartender is a super friendly and knowledgeable guy who has served us both times we dined here. The food is incredible. The pasta is made fresh from recipes of the owners mother. It’s just great and we are super happy to recommend Marios to everyone!

Man I really wanted to like Mario’s Ocean Avenue restaurant. Keep in mind I ate at the restaurant when the had only been open for 7 weeks so some of the criticism can be merely growing pains. We were a party of 4 who got seated fairly quickly during the dinner rush wish surprised me. Giuseppe was our waiter and he was great. Then we asked to move to a more comfortable table and requested Giuseppe stay as our server an that’s when the confusion started. Make a long story short, they changed our server 3 times which made it obvious the didn’t have clue what was going on. The service left a lot to be desired through out the entire meal.
We all ordered a couple different pizzas and they were all pretty much tasteless. Make sure you read the menu carefully as many of the pizzas are made with no sauce. The crust was crispy, tasty, and well made but there was no real taste to pull in the taste buds. We even requested extra garlic to be put on the pies but drowning them in salt and grated cheese was the only way to make them taste good enough to eat. I’ll give them a second chance and hopefully they got all the kinks worked out.
The restaurant does not have it’s own parking lot but does provide valet. Weekends tend to get busy during prime dinner ours. They have a full bar outside which is nice if you’re looking to hang out in the nice weather for a couple drinks.