Mezza Luna Italian Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Marietta

Mezza Luna is one of the best kept secrets in Marietta. We moved to the burbs from the city about a year ago and discovered this hidden gem about a week ago. We went the night before our wedding festivities kicked off and we liked it so much that the minute our last guest left for the weekend, we went back to Mezza Luna.

Tonight we had 2 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine, the lobster bisque soup of the day, the tuna tartare app special, lasagna, and the lobster/ scallop ravioli special.

First the soup- there were huge chunks of lobster in every bite. It was without question the best lobster bisque that me or my husband have ever had.

The tartare was excellent- sliced very thin with a perfect proportion of balsamic glaze, arugula, and capers to the fish.

The lasagna was excellent. We were in Italy about 2 years ago and this was hands down the closest that we've found to true Italian cuisine. It was super rich and saucy and delicious.

The best part of this whole dinner was the lobster and scallop ravioli. I used to live in Maine and I've eaten a lot of lobster in my day. This was probably the best lobster I've ever eaten in a prepared dish. The scallops were juicy but crisp on the edges. The ravioli was stuffed with all the treats: shrimp, lobster, ricotta, and topped with this amazing cream sauce. We though $60 for an entree was a lot but after trying it, I doubt we'd ever hesitate to get it again if it's on the menu.

Kim recommended that we try a new wine that was super affordable. It was incredibly good. She also helped with our menu selections and even introduced us to another server so that if we're back next week (likely) we are in good hands no matter what.

Lastly, the restaurant is in a strip mall. Nothing about it screams "authentic, incredible food." We ate outside in a very nice area that they've set up with bistro lights for ambiance. It's not a typical "fancy restaurant" vibe, but the food is so good and the prices are so right that you get past it, especially when you look at the effort that's gone into making it a wonderful spot.

The only reason I won't go out of my way to recommend this place to everyone I know is because the restaurant is small and I don't want to have to wait for a seat! I LOVE...

EDIT: August 2023 When I walked in I wasn't sure I was in the right place! The restaurant has been remodeled and it looks FABULOUS!! The extensive list of wines by the glass means everyone can find the perfect wine for their taste buds to pair with their mains and their starters. I am ecstatic to see my favorite Italian dish is on the menu: Gorgonzola Gnocchi! I haven't seen this on a menu since I was in Milan. If you like Gorgonzola or blue cheeses, you will find this a Heavenly dish! If gh gnocchi isn't your favorite, they will substitute several pasta types (penne, fettuccine, etc) for the gnocchi. Again, if you like Gorgonzola, you MUST try this at Mezza Luna!

Although I have passed by Mezza Luna several times, I seem to always forget it is there when deciding where to eat! Not tonight! I came very early (5:05pm) to order a meal to take away and enjoy a nice Malbec while waiting for it. Prior to looking at the menu, I asked the manager if there happened to be a Gorgonzola sauced pasta or gnocchi, but they did not have this as a special for the evening. Surprisingly, the manager(?), Kevin, overheard this and proceeded to have the chef make this dish for me! It was delicious. I also tried the carbonara and there was the perfect balance of egg and pepper: the two standout flavors in a great carbonara dish. For good measure I also placed an order of fettuccine with Alfredo sauce. While I prefer my Alfredo a tad bit more viscous, I certainly cannot say anything bad about the flavor! It was very apparent (in a good sense) that the fettuccine was made in house. I'm also not a fan of focaccia -- well, actually, I am not a fan of focaccia except for the way it is served at Mezza Luna--goodbye dry, crusty and hard from edges to middle focaccia! I don't know what they do to their focaccia, but it is heavenly! If you haven't been able to gather from my review, I give a FULL FIVE STARS!! Great Food; Cozy Atmosphere; Superb Service; and even clean facilities. This is a great place for couples, first dates, singles and even families with children over 4/5 yrs. I only wish I had not waited so long to try this...

When I’ve needed an eggplant parmigiana fix, takeout from Mezza Luna has been my go-to for a while, and it’s always hit the spot. Recently though we’ve actually stopped and started dining in and really experiencing this family run restaurant and what a treat! First off, they offer much more than my beloved eggplant parm... who’da thunk? My daughter adores the bolognese and some of the nightly specials have been crazy delicious.

Just recently they put in a pizza oven and they are working on perfecting pizza their dough and recipes, so the word is that very soon, pizza and calzone will be on the menu!

I was was lucky tonight as they had dough made, so I was able to have the most delicious ricotta, pesto, garlic, & spinach pizza. I can’t wait until they offer pizza and calzones as part of their menu.

Then another thing I found out by actually going in and sitting down was the desserts. OMG!!! I’m not a huge sweets person, and I don’t know what prompted me originally to order the cheesecake, but let me tell you, it is the BOMB!!! It is seriously the best, creamiest, richest, New York style cheesecake I have had in years! Sometimes I stop in and sit at the bar just to chat and have a slice of cheesecake! The cheesecake, just like all the other desserts are made fresh in-house. I’m super tempted to try some of the other desserts but I’m telling you, the cheesecake is sooooo wonderful I want it all the time.

Speaking of wonderful, and homemade, the limoncello and orangecello are beyond amazing and a must try.

I enjoy family run places and tonight it was quiet in the restaurant. It was nice meeting and chatting with the owner, who makes the cheesecake, and the son who makes the limoncello & orangecello, and come to find out, the chef who made my delicious pizza was born and lived right near me up in Massachusetts and his brother sat near me and he also enjoyed a pizza tonight. Nice people, good conversation, great food, & drinks. Check...