This page is for comments prior to 2009 for Mario's Italian Steakhouse & Catering
Kind of pricey, but the food is really, really good. Vijay was really impressed.
Ross adds: I've been disappointed by this place - it feels like a one-step-up Olive Garden. The environment is nice-ish, but feels too commercial (a series of chains of this restaurant wouldn't be out of place at upscale malls, like eastview. I haven't been in a while, but I recall my party was uniformly disappointed by the food. For an elegant dining experience that's likely to be less expensive, I'd recommend Grana's at the Renaissance (now closed).
2006-06-10 16:14:19 Just too bland for foodies, methinks. —ChristineLeo
2006-08-04 15:39:43 Been there for wife's corporate party several times...was impressed with service. —PeteB
2006-09-12 14:38:49 Report on their 2006 Wine Spectator award celebration: $25 admission was not deterrent enough for the creepy or the catty. The goods: they did have the status wines, but you need to be gauche to fight to the top of the line at the scheduled uncorking time; 'chocolate fountain' competed for cheesiness with the fromage; live instrumental music was mostly unnoticed by the meat-marketish crowd. Could do a better job keeping the whites chilled with a gathering of this size, but, hey, at least they kept the pyramid of glasses replenished. —ChristineLeo
2006-09-18 07:12:22 I’ve only been to the Monroe Ave location for corporate events and their buffet service is not to be recommended. I have heard on occasion that the food can be good, but most comments I hear are to the contrary. The old East Ave location was always a pretty good choice for a pizza or a ‘red sauce’ pasta dish. —ZedOmega
2007-02-25 11:54:31 Very overpriced and there is lots better Italian food to be found, even at chain restaurants. I'm not quite sure how they feel like they can charge so much for meals that are only typical at best. —ClaraSibley
2007-06-21 07:55:15 ditto...way overpriced and chain-like food and service. —GilMcKay
2007-08-30 12:03:49 The food here is mediocre, it appeals to Olive Garden aficionados. Since Olive Garden makes huge $, that makes Mario smart, but his food not so great.
Also, if you are going to change the name of your restaurant Mario, then please make your signage match, it looks hokey if not.
Just an average Italian restaurant. I have never eaten at an upscale Italian restaurant, I dont think they exist. Especially if you serve Chicken French. —MrRochester
2007-09-07 18:59:07 This is, by far, the most over-priced, over-rated and horrifically unsatisfying Italian food ... ever. Sbarro's is better than what you could ever get here. Yeah, I went there. —MarcVera
2007-10-08 15:02:09 I've been to Mario's twice for corporate events and the food was terrible each time. I am a vegetarian and my most recent meal there was a large pile of white rice (mushy on the outside, crunchy on the inside) with a palm-sized amount of grilled veggies over the top. It was bland and poorly cooked. Typically, an Italian restaurant is easy for vegetarians — a pile of pasta with plain red sauce would have been so much better than crunchy, bland white rice. —FirstLast
2007-10-26 19:05:54 Not worth commenting on. Sub-mediocre pedestrian fare. —KevinFalzone
2007-10-29 01:53:37 Mario's has suffered terrible reviews on this page, and I agree that a number of menu items are dissapointing (the Caeser salad, for example, is a joke). However, before whipping out the Olive Garden comparisons, I highly recommend sampling the following: Goat Cheese Crostini, Grilled Calamari, Chicken French, Steak Dianne, and Veal Porcini. Yes, the restaurant is on the expensive side, but I've been very satisfied with these dishes in the past. Bonus item: I believe you get a free bottle of wine on take out orders over $50. —WegmansFiend
2008-01-19 18:15:18 Before going to Mario's I read the reviews here and was convinced that i would not like it. However, me and my girlfriend and out out of town friends loved this place. Food and the service was great and the price is very reasonable! I got Chicken Parm and it was awesome, left over for home as well. I filled out a survey at the end, and they send you a free meal coupon on your bday. Yes, i would say that it is similar to Olive Garden and Biaggis. I Would highly recommend going here. —DougAvery
2008-01-30 21:38:54 I had my wedding shower and rehearsal dinner at Mario's. Everyone loved the food and the staff was very attentive. One of the owners spoke to me personally to make sure everything was going as planned on each occasion. The new bar is beautiful, my husband and I will continue celebrate all our special occasions at Mario's. The prices seem comparable to the other high-end places we visit as we eat out with friends frequently. I really have nothing bad to say about the place, really enjoy it. —RochesterPhoenix
2008-02-03 16:23:35 They are a little overpriced for quality of the food; if you keep your order to just the main course the prices are not bad. As a warning: they use chicken stock in a lot of the sauces, but they will make them vegetarian if you ask request. —TimDoster
2008-06-13 15:48:06 Not only is the food magnificent, but Kurt is the best bartender in the city. Two thumbs up. —JK44
2008-10-02 20:31:01 Very tasty food, but I've noticed that they have decreased their portion size on some of their dishes lately (gnocchi for instance). I love that pasta they have sitting at the tables. Does anybody know if those things are fried? —mooster42000
2008-11-22 12:21:53 The best thing that Mario's has to offer is the Sunday brunch. It's probably the best buffet food I've ever had. The variety is just amazing. There are chefs to prepare omelets, pasta, and waffles on the spot. The dessert table is just incredible. All of the food is of top-notch quality. The mimosas are FREE! For what you get, it's really a great deal. I'm picky and hard to please, and I cannot say enough good things about their brunch. The girlfriend and I have made it our new Sunday tradition. —SavageHenry
2008-12-15 14:30:40 I have recently been here twice after winning $100 in gift certificates. The first time, we tried the brunch. I was really impressed by the selection of food available...lots of different types of meats and side dishes and tons of desserts. The food itself was pretty good, but I'm not sure I can eat enough to ever make it worth it for me to spend $20+ on brunch. It was a nice treat with the gift certificate covering the meal though! This past weekend, we went for dinner for the first time ever and it was a nice experience. Before being seated, we had drinks at the bar, and the bartender was really friendly and nice. After being seated in a comfortable booth, we were greeted right away by our server, who was also very friendly. We only ordered entrees, and were suprised at how fast they came. Both of us were very happy with our meals (I had steak, he had salmon) and left full. It was slightly expensive, and we agreed it wasn't someplace we'd eat often, but a nice place to have a special meal when you feel like splurging. —SaraChristine
