Marioochi’s Pizzeria On The Square — Restaurant in Sparta

I have read a few responses to bad reviews on here and now the poor attitude from the front of the house makes sense. It trickles from the top. With that being said, I have owned my own customer service business for 12 years so the excuse of people don’t understand the complexities of running a business falls flat for me.

We came here with a party of 6 and happily waited for 40 mins. It was a Saturday and they don’t take reservations, at least that is what their website says. We have been here a lot and it’s usually worth the wait.

We saw many tables come and go but we assumed we needed the table for 8 since the others were set for 4. Once the 8 top opened up we saw a new party of 6 come in and just be seated. When we asked the hostess what happened they said they can only seat you at the table that has the number of guests you have, which is odd because the tables are 4, 5, and 8. When we asked why they sat that table to a party of 6, they said it’s a party of 10. I do not believe this to be true. As we still stayed after this fiasco and no others for that table showed up. After we asked what was going on, we were met with attitude from the now 2 hostesses. With that I just said nope I’m not staying and giving my money to this establishment. When I left I said you need to learn how to communicate on which they replied in a sarcastic manor to have a good night. My husband then asked for their names and they again responded rudely and he went to speak to the manager. She did not apologize for the incident and was crass about it.

After reflecting back I felt like we were not welcomed in from the beginning. At the time I chalked it up to just being busy but the staff was just off putting from the get go. Add in the managers attitude about it and I’m happy taking my big Italian, big tipping family...

We really wanted this to live up to the hype, but for us it was a bust.

First the positives - Our two bartenders were fabulous. Their energy was infectious and their knowledge of the menu and wines made for great interactions. The fact that they could be this friendly while pulled for every phone call and takeout orders is a testament to their professionalism. If we choose to try Marioochi's again it will only be to sit at the bar and maybe try an appetizer.

Opportunities -

We ordered a pizza and their new meatball sub. While the flavor of the pizza was okay, the center was not cooked but the edges were burnt. As I looked around, it seemed that every pizza was the same. It had to be eaten with a knife and fork because there was not enough structure to eat it with your hands.

2 The meatball sub lacked salt and most of it was cold. While the cheese was melted on top, it was melted on top of a cold meatball and sauce. The bartender told me, "you're not the first to say this," and then she went to the manager who seemingly looked pissed off as she learned against the wall with her arms crossed, scrutinizing her wait staff. She was miserable and made me miserable, and she ignored the bartenders words about my meal.

We ordered the mini cannoli's that were presented on a plate covered in chocolate sauce. Not the cannoli, the plate. So, when picking them up to eat, your fingers are covered in chocolate and all that's left on the place is a waste of sauce. It was the oddest plating of cannoli's I've ever seen.

Suffice it to say, we were disappointed in the quality of the meal. I usually do write a negative review until I have given a location a second or even third chance, but at these prices, and with the managers standoff attitude, I do not see...

If the pizza were a play, then the dough is the star and the toppings are incredible supporting actors, which leads to an amazing and memorable performance. It's a night at the theater, not plopping down on the couch and channel surfing.

The dough is anything but doughy. It's light, just the right thickness and being in what is apparently a very hot wood-fired oven results in light, crisp outside (without needing to be burnt or singed) and the perfect amount of airiness inside.

The toppings (had the Big Cheese and the Meat Me) were the best that I've had outside of an old, family-owned Italian delicatessen. With the crust as the main support, the toppings didn't overwhelm, but rather coupled with the crust into an amazing combination.

We were advised that while tonight's pizzas were sauce-free, they plan on offering sauced version seasonally (I am guessing based on the availability of fresh produce that meets their apparently stellar standards). I look forward to trying some with such a sauce, but to be completely honest, each bite without did not leave me feeling as if anything was lacking. The cheese(s) in the Big Cheese were complex and yet each hit its own note and the meats in the Meat Me were each uniquely flavorful and so for both, my tastebuds were rolling from one flavor to another as I chewed.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience and my wife and I are already looking forward to our next visit and the...