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Mario's Ristorante Italiano
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
12440 Woodside Ave(between Cactus St & Channel Rd)
Lakeside, CA 92040
Neighborhood: Lakeside
(619) 443-2165
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9:30 pm
Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sun 10:30 am - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for Mario's Ristorante Italiano
17 reviews in English
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Review from Henry G.
Lakeside, CA
12/21/2011
Mario's, my favorite place to eat in Lakeside. Okay, Lakeside is not known for it's cuisine but this establishments is one of my favorites for Italian. The lunch buffet is a bargain. I know a lot of people think, buffet, must be lower quality food. Shame on them. The pizzas are wood fired and usually have 3 different pizzas out. Also 3-4 fresh made hot pasta dishes. Several types of salads including marinated mushrooms. Also wedges of fresh hot foccacia bread dip into your hot pasta dishes, I'm a dipper. Olive oil and balsamic also on the table for your bread. Beers on tap including a pale ale which I really like. Also wines by the glass.
The dining room is decorated with old Italian memorabilia, movie stars, baseball players, race car drivers etc. Some are authentic with autographs. There is also an outdoor patio for the warmer evenings. The kitchen is open and you can see the chefs preparing their dishes. Staff at times seem a bit bothered, they should smile more. A dinner special for two is $20.00 and enough to take home.
If you are in Lakeside near lunchtime stop by here and have a hot meal with wood fired pizza slices for about $8.00. What did you pay last time for a large Subway sandwich? Then you think to yourself, "darn, I could of had Mario's."
Help support a local business instead of the big corporate eateries. -
Review from DEE D.
San Diego, CA
1/6/2012
I've been here a couple times & seem to always have to add seasoning my food since it was very bland and tends to be very very very greasy. Yes you do get hefty portions on your plate but the food is just not tasty. I ordered the Shrimp and Crab Linguine and the Spicy Chicken Angel Hair. Maybe I should have ordered something else. Oh well...No more going back for me.
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Review from Ian C.
San Diego, CA
6/2/2011
Huge portions, friendly service, great tasting food! I have to say that I am impressed with this place. I had the baked rigatoni and she had the eggplant parmigiana, we were both more than satisfied.
Being a beer lover, I was pleased that they had pale ale and amber bock on draft. Also they have unlimited focacia bread with oil and vinegar. Don't miss this little gem, I'll be back for sure. -
Review from Kaylen K.
Stafford, VA
1/21/2010
Mario's is a small, family-style type of restaurant in the east side of Lakeside, by downtown Lakeside. It used to be a Pizza Hut back in the day.
I have been to Mario's Ristorante Italiano three times now. Once for their dinner menu, once for their lunch buffet, and once for their "Family Deal" for dinner.
Their menu boasts a wonderful assortment of Italian dishes that would please everyone. I've had a spicy penne with sausage in a rose cream sauce, and that was wonderful. Their antipasto salad is PERFECT, loaded with meats and cheeses and has a great dressing.
The lunch buffet is both delicious and affordable. For under $8.00, they offer pizza, pasta, salad, breads and meats. Everything on the buffet was amazing. The "Family Deal" was inexpensive and delicious. I wasn't really crazy about one of the items in the deal, but I can't remember which one.
I noticed a lot of people were eating pizza, so perhaps next time I go I'll get a pizza too. I have had a great experience each time I have been to Mario's and would definitely go back. -
Review from Alex S.
Lakeside, CA
11/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
I love this little gem in Lakeside! We are now big fans!! I agree that this restaurant has a family feel to it and I couldn't be happier. I'll be ordering the pasta diablo forever...forgive me but I may have the name a little wrong. The service is great which is always a plus!
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Review from Brian C.
Lakeside, CA
11/21/2010
Ive been to Mario's a few times and always had a good experience. Mario's is a small family run restaurant. It's is a little pricey but you definitely get what you pay for the portions are huge. They also have a lot of autographed sports and entertainment items that you can wander around a look at while you are waiting for your order to if they are not busy. If your in Lakeside and looking for a good Italian restaurant then Mario's is your place.
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Review from Jim B.
Lakeside, CA
10/17/2010
Nice family owned feel here. All of the pasta's are tasty and big portions for a great price. There is often a "feast for 2" special that includes a big antipasta salad, cheese pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, ravioli and 2 big meatballs. The wife and I eat it for 2-3 days for $21.00! Good food and a great deal! Stick with the pasta's, the pizza is just OK.
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Review from Deborah H.
San Diego, CA
2/14/2011
Our family has been going to Mario's for a number of years now - ever since a neighbor recommended it. We used to go pretty regularly, but usually ordered take-out, since the waitresses are not very friendly.
The food is flavorful, and the portions are usually generous. Unfortunately, two of our last four take-out orders had meat sauce all over the raviolis, which we had to wash off in the sink. The pasta still smelled like meat afterwards, which was pretty gross. The other noticeable difference was the reduced portions of bread that started coming with the meal. But oh well, we didn't really need the extra calories anyway.
This weekend, my husband ordered as always - with marinara sauce, and then asked to confirm that there was no meat sauce before he left the restaurant. Upon taking the foot out at home, there was marinara on the eggplant parm and the raviolis, but on the spaghetti was meat sauce - again. Had to throw the whole container out. My salad was missing a few of the key ingredients and the dressing - instead of being on the side - was on the lettuce, making it soggy and runny by the time it got home. And then, as if to add insult to injury, there were two pieces of bread for our three full meals.
As a member of the River Park, who has worked side-by-side with these guys on catered events, I feel like they have dropped the ball in the restaurant. We've been recommended to another italian restaurant in Santee, and although the drive is a little further, it may be well worth the switch. -
Review from Misty M.
Lakeside, CA
2/20/2009
Mario's is fantastic Italian food.
So glad they are here in my neighborhood. -
Review from kendall y.
Sacramento, CA
7/4/2009
Great food and service!
I often come visit my parents in Lakeside and lament that there is no good food around. Last night we tried Mario's and I think we've found our new go-to place for a nice dinner out! I had the rigatoni with sausage, onions, and a slightly pink sauce. Delicious! Can't wait to eat the left overs for lunch! My dad got the lasagna and it was also very good.
Our server was very nice and attentive. And the foccacia with olive oil and balsamic was a great way to start the meal.
Minimal wine list, though, in case that matters. -
Review from Wendy C.
Santee, CA
7/30/2011
Unexpected Italian in lakeside...good service and good food.
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Review from Jennifer G.
San Diego, CA
8/21/2010
The service here was ok at best. There were long waits for drink refills and the place was pretty empty.
As for the food, my boyfriend had the tortellini in meat sauce. The pasta was ok but the sauce tasted like it came straight out of a can. I had the chicken picatta, it was not bad however the menu said nothing at all about mushrooms and the dish was COVERED in them. I really wouldnt mind if they had been cooked properly, but they were just soggy and tasteless. The basil thrown on top looked as if it had been cut about 2 days ago!!! Also it was extremely lemony, more than any other picatta I have had. The pizza was ok, but very salty. Also just because you put a ton of cheese on something does not make it ok. It was a little heavy on the cheese and because of this the pizza was very soggy. bleh... I would not eat here again. -
Review from Mike T.
Lakeside, CA
5/28/2008
I could eat there every day! Mario's has the greatest Focacia bread ever.I have never been disappointed anytime. You can't beat the lunch buffet at Mario's. The price is great and the selection is awesome. The place is clean and the New York and Italian memorabilia make good conversation topics. Try the outdoor tables (weather permitting) for an excellent evening meal. Plus the service is great - they really take care of you! Hard to believe that such a great bistro can be found in Lakeside. BUONO APPETITO!
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Review from mary s.
Lakeside, CA
3/11/2010
Fun, delicious, comfortable, inexpensive, comfy & pleasant and skilled staff. I want to go right now--YUM! Been here once, gotta go back. I went two years ago & forgot what I ate, but I know I tried some yummy pizza & good wine & I think pasta.
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Review from jason b.
Lakeside, CA
7/25/2009
I've been frequenting this establishment for about 5 years. I always loved their meatball sandwiches and the rigatoni. But I never knew they had a lunch buffet. I work in the East County area, so I saw the sign and tried it. Very good. Simple, maybe 4 or 5 entree's with bread salad and fruit, but all quality, not typical buffet food. Give it a try if you're in the area.
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Review from JL M.
La Mesa, CA
5/21/2009
All I need to say is EXCELLENT!!!!! My sister took me here as it is one of their family's favorite restaurant. Never knew it was even there in Lakeside. I'm counting down the days until I can go again as I just could not stop eating the food no matter how full I was. I split a full order of the Rigatoni Fra Diavolo and there was plenty to split with leftovers. My sister got the spinach salad and states it is the best spinach salad she has ever had. I could have been fine with just the wine and the excellent bread too!
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Review from Billy l.
El Cajon, CA
11/21/2010
I took my family there on a Sunday night. It was perfect there was no wait. We were seated right away. They have a small beer and wine bar and from the tables you can see into the kitchen. They have a brick oven that they make the pizzas and great foccacia. We ordered the speacial for two it came with antipasta salad, pizza, lazania,cheese filled ravioli, spegetti and two large meat balls. All of it was delicious and very authentic. All the pasta was made there and the foccacia was with parmasian cheese and herbs, great to dip into basalmic and oil. The best part of the meal was getting the check to my surprise the bill came to $28.00 and that was with two beers. What a bargain!!!! You could not even cook this meal for this price.. incredible meal and we have a lot of left overs. Did I mention that the portions are great size, and the waitress Emily was very sweet and nice to our kids. We will be back Mario's, don't change a thing .. Well done.
