Mario the Baker — Restaurant in Stamford

In the last five years or so I’ve noticed the quality of several restaurants going downhill pretty quickly. I’m assuming it is related to staff issues/cost cutting, but it has been particularly noticeable as of late and there are very few places that have not faltered in providing quality food for your hard earned dollars. Mario’s is hands down one of those places and probably the most consistent restaurant I’ve ever enjoyed. The food is always ready promptly, always delicious, and where as I’ve noticed many locations price-gouging customers for food and service of reduced quality - Mario’s on the other hand, has somehow managed to maintain their quality and prices throughout what have been very difficult times for a lot of us myself included. I wish Mario’s was the standard for what a restaurant should be, but then again I would just end up putting weight on if that were the case...

Full disclosure: I have had a few items off the menu such as the pizza and eggplant parm, but 99 percent of the time I go for the chicken parm on a wedge. I can’t say exactly how many for sure, but I must have had some variation of this meal at maybe 50-100 different locations, mostly up and down the east coast... Again, Mario’s is the best - hands down.

I have also provided a photo as evidence...

STAY AWAY!!! If I could give 0 stars I would. I placed the order on grubhub. An avocado salad and an angel hair pasta with meatballs. The delivery came but instead of pasta with meatballs I got a fettuccini alfredo with garlic bread. I called to explain that the wrong order was delivered. The worker who I spoke to said to hold because he wanted to ask his boss what to do. A woman came on the phone and asked me if I still wanted to pasta and meatballs. As I was hungry I said yes. She said she would have to check into it and call me back. I waited 50 mins but never got a call. I finally called back and explained all this again to the worker who put me on hold. he came back and said I am sorry we are too busy and all we can do if refund your money. I am in disbelief that a business would think this was ok. I can't eat a refund. I am left hungry as my original order was placed 2 hours ago. I understand mistakes happen but what business owner this its ok to not want to remedy the mistake and instead leaves the customer hungry? Save yourself - These people do not care about you...

The usual disclaimer up front: I'm reviewing entirely on my own impetus, with no incentives of any kind. Also, I typically only review places I really like, and Mario the Baker definitely makes the cut.

Stopped in on the return leg of a short road trip entirely by chance — we overshot the place we were going to go and dove into MtB's parking lot because it was there.

What a great find! Don't let the relaxed atmosphere fool you. This place knows good food.

Both my hubs and I had the pasta special, a hearty Bolognese with mushrooms served over lovely wide noodles (which tasted like fresh pasta, not dried, but I didn't think to ask). The sauce was beautiful — a lovely melange of perfectly-balanced flavors, commented by a sprinkling of ricotta.

Portions were generous. I had eaten almost nothing all day, so I finished mine, but under normal circumstances I probably would've taken half home.

Overall, really great food, friendly service, and a relaxed family atmosphere make Mario the Baker well...