Mario's
Pizza restaurant · Jamaica Plain
8 Perkins St, Boston, MA 02130
Highlights
Pizza with Portuguese flair, NY-style pies, bifana sandwiches
Pizza with Portuguese flair, NY-style pies, bifana sandwiches
"“Pizza with a Portuguese twist” is the name of the game at this reboot of a beloved spot by longtime pizzaiolo, Mario Bailote. The thin, crispy pies are perfected with less-usual toppings like pickled vegetables, spicy Portuguese sausage, and chicken doused in fiery piri piri sauce. Also on offer is a limited supply of square Sicilian pizza with a thicker, focaccia-like crust. And here, the perfect way to end your meal is with a pastel de nata — or more accurately, a few — which is a Portuguese egg custard in a flaky pastry shell." - Erika Adams, Nathan Tavares
"Opened December 21 as a takeout-focused reboot of a popular Roxbury pizzeria that closed in 2022, this small Hyde Square spot showcases hand-tossed, New York–style pies with a distinct Portuguese twist from chef-owner Mario Bailote, an Algarve native who previously worked nearly 20 years at Same Old Place. Dough ferments at least three days to produce a thinner, crunchy crust; toppings range from classic margherita with fresh mozzarella and basil to the Grego (mozzarella, feta, Kalamata olives, spinach, oregano) and meat-forward pies like the Portuguesa with imported spicy chouriço and the piri-piri chicken that combines red sauce with a complex Maçarico piri-piri. The streamlined menu focuses on pizzas, calzones (mozzarella, ricotta, parm) and three salads (mixed green, Greek, and one with imported Portuguese tuna), with unusual touches such as pickled vegetables, fig glaze over bacon, San Marzano tomato sauce, and piri-piri imported from Portugal. Bailote emphasizes careful ingredient selection—he even sampled many types of Kalamata olives to find the right balance—and finishes a single dessert offering, pastel de nata imported from the Lisbon suburbs and oven-finished in-house (often selling out). The smaller kitchen influenced the decision to focus on pizza, and customers can either build their own pie or choose from twelve curated pizzas; orders are available for pickup via the restaurant’s website or delivery through DoorDash." - Nathan Tavares
"Mario’s Pizza, known for its New York-style pizza, is opening a new location in Jamaica Plain after previously being in Roxbury." - Erika Adams
"A pizza place serving Italian with a side of Portuguese food opens in Roxbury on Monday, July 16. Co-owner Mario Bailote debuts his eponymous restaurant, Mario’s Pizzeria, with a limited menu to start, offering takeout and delivery only and rolling out more of the menu in subsequent weeks. Bailote previously spent years managing and making pizza at Same Old Place in Jamaica Plain. Now, he and his business (and life) partner Rebecca Greening are ready for their own place, which serves New York-style pizzas along with a selection of Portuguese foods, including bifana sandwiches, shrimp and cod cakes, and fried dough balls for dessert. Look out for pizzas topped with piri-piri chicken, sardine pate, prosciutto, and lots more." - Dana Hatic
"Mario’s Pizzeria, located at 197 Humboldt Ave., Boston, will offer New York-style pies for take-out and delivery. Co-owner Mario Bailote, previously of Same Old Place, is bringing his expertise to his own venture. The pizzeria will also feature Portuguese dishes like bifana sandwiches and cod cakes. The opening is targeted for July, pending fire and health inspections." - Terrence Doyle
