Gary a.
Yelp
Although Mario's is a fair distance from us, we were so pleased with our last visit (see prior review) that we decided to make the 45-mile drive for Valentine's Day. We made reservations and arrived promptly, expecting another great dining experience.
However, after being seated, we were handed a special Valentine's menu with an extremely limited selection. It was a prix fixe menu, and as a vegetarian, I quickly realized there was nothing I could eat. When I expressed my concern to the waiter, he brought out a separate vegetarian Valentine's menu--but unlike the main menu, which at least offered a few choices, this one had no options at all. You took what was offered, like it or not.
Hoping for some flexibility, I asked if I could simply substitute pecorino for Parmigiano cheese or have my egg cooked instead of served runny. The answer? Absolutely not. No substitutions. No exceptions.
Now, if you've read my previous review, you know I come from a family of restaurateurs. Beyond serving exceptional food crafted by top-tier chefs, we always put the customer first, going out of our way to ensure their experience was memorable. Not at Mario's. Apparently, their chef is a prima donna, unwilling to accommodate even the simplest requests. Fine dining is meant to be an experience--one that showcases a chef's creativity and versatility, not their rigid ego. Instead, the message here was clear: "Eat what I serve, or go elsewhere."
When I learned the chef was from Northern Italy--just like my family--I asked if I could speak with him. You'd think I had requested an audience with the Pope. We could see that our waiter, Mike, felt bad, but his hands were tied. The best he could do was offer us a slice of bread to go with our drinks. So, we finished our drinks and left.
Already in Riverside, we decided to find another restaurant--and stumbled upon a hidden gem, a pizza spot called UPC, which turned out to be fantastic. (Check out our review under Jonny B for details.)
To conclude, I will never step foot in Mario's again. There are countless incredible chefs who not only create world-class dishes but also understand that hospitality is just as important as the food itself. No one is indispensable. The best restaurants evolve, adapt, and thrive by delighting their customers--something Mario's, and its self-absorbed chef, clearly failed to grasp.