Mario’s Restaurant — Restaurant in Boston

I live half way across the country and have only spent the time reviewing one other spot in Florida. This is the only other place I have put the time into writing about to this extent...

It is rare to step into a.restaurant and feel an authentic, yet quaint experience the moment you walk in.

I met Ursula and her son-in-law, Joe. Both were so welcoming and displayed the perfect example of hospitality and took care of every need as if we were the only people there. I instantly felt like a regular and through a short conversation they knew exactly what we should order. Their recommendations were spot on. I noticed right away they had a relationship with their customers I haven't seen since I was a child. It was charming to watch.

Regarding the food, it sounds cliche, but you could tell it was made with love and a sincere quality a white table cloth/white glove "Italian" restaurant can't replicate - regardless of price. Speaking of price, the prices were completely reasonable and we happily would have paid much more for the same food.

We started with the Arancini (pictured) and a bottle of Chianti. I could have had three of them (the Arancini, not the chianti) and would have been satisfied. Also, it's a little thing, but the bread and olive oil were fantastic. It was hard not to eat it all knowing we had a meal coming.

We were so enamored with the main course, we didn't take pictures and enjoyed the dining experience. We ended up following Ursula's recommendation of the Veal Parmesan and Alla Lisa. I don't know how they made the Alla Lisa taste the way it did, but now I need to recreate it and will fail miserably. The Veal Parmesan lives up to Ursula's description and was perfect. Their side of pasta with the signature tomato sauce was bright, fresh and it was evident they never cut corners with the ingredients they use. Also, make sure you have the cannolis (pictured with a cream limoncello)! They don't advertise them, because that's all they would sell and have to shut the restaurant down to keep up with the demand.

This place is totally recommended and you don't have to think twice about going here. I will be back as the whole experience is something I will never forget. We're just happy we found it and chose to go there on a hunch. The entire dining experience will be hard to beat. It was the perfect intimate date spot and one of those unique places I would put on our personal national map of a rare breed of dining experiences you can't replicate. I would chalk it up to Ursula's 38 years of family restaurant experience. Take advantage of it and...

I struggle because all restaurants do not exist for the same reason. Some seek "fine dining", then fail, and receive my 2 or a 3 star notation for their lack of success in the race they chose, but were ill-equipped, to run.

Others pose as authentic this-or-that, and dumb it down for the masses. See some of my reviews for "Thai" joints where advertised "5" level pepper heat hovers somewhere in the low 2's, or where "chicken breast" is touted as somehow superior to the fatty thigh.

Mario's is not in that game. It isn't posing. It's just waiting there on the corner like a new friend when you come to the neighborhood. It's the mom-(literally, Ursula) and-pop neighborhood restaurant for locals and occasional visitors to a somewhat un-touristy East Boston. Some gentrification is underway, but the area around Mario's remains largely untouched by the ravages of new money and IKEA.

Now, to the restaurant. Ursula and her able assistant greeted us quickly and friendly, and we were immediately seated. The wine list is quite good for its range; a $32 Malbec was very good, as was a $7 last glass of Chianti. My daughter's Bolognese was a true rendition of what Marcela Hazan teaches us to make: just enough fat, just enough roughness, not too much tomato, and white wine simmered in. The Bolognese was accompanied by perfect handmade pappardelle. My wife's veal with seafood and vegetables was quite good as well: nothing was skimped and everything, including tender green lip mussels and succulent clams and shrimp, were spot on. My shrimp scampi was wonderful - 8 large shrimp, salty like the sea, and handmade linguine in a perfect lemon garlic broth.

You can't miss the tiramisu. Do save a bit of room for dessert, please?

And if they have burrata, dive right in.

Ursula said it best as she turned away a couple before closing. "I'm so sorry, I've run out of food. I cook everything fresh every day, and I've just run out." If she can't do it right, she just won't let her standards down.

What could be improved upon? The bread could be a little crustier, a little fresher. The butter could be not in the little packets. But maybe you should just use olive oil, instead, as the bread is suited better to a soak than a spread. That's what I'll do next time, because I'm coming...

Don’t listen to the reviews saying the place is too expensive, I’ve seen prices twice as bad for frozen seafood and pre-cooked deli meats in Brookline and Brighton alone. One of the reviews by a guy named Joseph actually had the audacity to complain about the veal being “razor-thin.”……uh, yeah Joseph, because Italians pound out their veal to be tender just like a German would with schnitzel. That means they’re doing it RIGHT and whatever you’re eating in Providence and Deerfield Beach FL is second-rate. Some of the worst Italian food I’ve eaten here is IN the North End. It’s just that most people here are tourists or college kids who are too dumb to know what they’re getting.

I was born in New Jersey to a family of mostly Italian heritage. I lived in other states for awhile but moved here to Boston when my fiancé got an exciting job offer. I have had several mediocre Italian meals in the area the past two years, but Mario’s changed everything for me. This place reminds me so much of the old-school family operated places we’d eat at in Jersey, with all of the best parts of Italian home-cooking. The menu is the epitome of perfectly executed, unpretentious classics. There are no stupid trendy frills, garnishes or gimmicks to the dishes, just simple, nostalgic meals that ALWAYS come out correctly. They give you warm Italian bread and house salads with your meal, and there’s a fantastic wine selection. I highly recommend their Veal Parmigiana and Arancini. It has become one of my favorite places in the city and I now make it a point to come about once a month. They only take reservations by phone so be sure to call them a few days ahead of time if you intend to show up on a...