Mario’s Restaurant

We were fortunate to have the owner of 41 years serve us. You have not experienced Boston if you have not been to Mario's. Hands down best homemade Italian food. Lobster🦞 ravioli, meatballs, desserts and more were all delicious!

We had an amazing experience, and it truly is an experience. The setting is intimate and feels like you’ve been invited into their home for dinner. The service was something every restaurant should emulate. The food was delicious! We split the rolled lasagna and ravioli, and it’s the best I’ve ever had. If you are anywhere close, do your taste buds a solid and make a reservation here!!

We did not have a reservation but we’re seated within 6 minutes. The wine was delicious. We ordered Pesto Shirmp and chicken parm. Absolutely the best. Ursula, the owner, waited on us and was a hoot! Atmosphere was inviting and entertaining watching the local people interact. I recommend Mario’s 100%

Update: 6/2024 we still LOVE this place and the staff is so heart warming. It's a welcoming environment. I added my favorite lasagna and my hubby gets the chicken parm with Alfredo sauce. My husband and I went here for dinner this past Wednesday and loved it. Not only do you get authentic Italian food but the staff takes care of you like a guest in their home. A new favorite. We'll be coming back!

Absolutely delicious. The lobster ravioli was amazing. It feels like you’re walking into someones house when you enter, very homey setting. If you want Authentic Italian, come to Marios!

A quiet and homey experience!! The food here hits a chord with home made Italian. The owners are very friendly and there to serve.

Overall: Great spot for Italian food. Cozy space with nice staff and service. Food: Appetizers: We started with stuffed mushrooms and also decided to order the lobster ravioli as another appetizer. The stuffed mushrooms are really good. The "stuffed" is like a stuffing consistency, which is good. Very well seasoned and savory. One of our favorites. The lobster ravioli was good, but not out of this world. It came with 5 large size pieces. Entrees: We ordered the chicken parmigiana and chicken limone. The chicken parmigiana was very good and a large portion. My wife asked me to share it several times. It essentially became her dish. The chicken limone was good. I liked it, my wife didn't like that the chicken was fried. I thought it was good. Both entrees came with penne and sauce which were tasty and complimented the chicken entrees well. They also included a side salad. The salad was really good, but I'd ask for a touch less dressing next time. Dessert: Amazing! The tiramisu and cannoli were both incredible. The tiramisu was one of the better ones I've had (I AM from Atlanta, so take that with a grain of salt if you're from the NE and go to Italian restaurants often). The cannoli was good, the ricotta was creamy but not runny. It's very rich, but very flavorful. Drinks: We got aperol sprtiz, red sangria, and cappuccinos. All were pretty good. The cappuccino wasn't out of this world, but it's a nice touch post dessert. Service: The service was great. The staff was very friendly. They helped explain a couple of items and were attentive enough but not overbearing.

Their motto is "Closest thing to Mamma's Cooking" and all I can say is "Wish my Momma cooked half as good". This restaurant has been around for 39 years!!!! That should tell you something right there. In Boston or anywhere within a few hours drive it a quick flight? Do yourself a favor and boom a reservation at Mario's. Save the money it would cost to go to Italy and experience what I would consider the absolute best Italian dining experience! Mario's does feel like you walked into your grandma's kitchen. The family that runs it are lovely and will take amazing care of you. As you will see from my pictures we tasted quite a few dishes and none disappointed. Fresh, delicious and absolutely amazing!!! And don't forget, you have a separate stomach reserved for dessert, so put it to good use!!!!! We will be back in a couple of weeks!

Outstanding service. Welcoming. Authentic. Some might be intimidated by the location. But it's a quaint- feels like family restaurant. Street parking was challenging, but 2-hrs allowed before 6PM M-F. Bathrooms clean. Bruschetta. Lasagna & Meatballs. Fresh Italian bread. Garden Salad. 5 stars. Pistachio gelato and Cannoli desserts - 5+ stars.

This is the best Italian restaurant in Boston, full stop. The owner, Ursula, knows what you want to eat before you know what you want to eat, and the service feels like family. It's a classic red sauce restaurant, and would stick to that for the best items. The Alla Mario is the definition of how seafood pasta should be made and the gnocchi sorrentina is fantastic. The veal dishes are also very good - they don't overdry out the veal - the Alla Ursula is a personal favorite. No liquor, only beer and wine - it's pretty small and fills up quickly, so would reserve ahead of time or be willing to wait (it's worth the wait).

What a treasure this place is!! I love those tiny holes in the wall that turn into a gem. This place checks all the boxes. Gregarious staff, great menu with reasonable prices. My entree was veal Parmesan with a layer of spinach . Sooo yummy. Hubby had Lasagna special with meatballs. Not a morsel left on his plate. Be sure to save room for dessert. Their tiramisu was the bomb!! Be sure to check this place out in East Boston!

Homemade pasta is here! The wait is worth it. Probably the best lobster ravioli I've ever had. It was only four pieces of ravioli but it was big with big chunks of lobster inside. Delicious.

I swear this was the most delicious Italian food I have ever had! Was visiting Boston over the weekend and luckily decided to dine at Mario's and eat some of the best food in the city. The service was great, very friendly and helpful for deciding what to order! I ordered the Burrata which was yummy and came w fluffy sesame bread. Our meal included a complementary side salad which was a nice touch. But the star of the show was the Lobster Ravioli which honestly changed my life. SO delicious, I have never had sauce like that before and it was probably the best food I had my entire trip! I don't know how it was so good! I will definitely be back the next time I find myself in Boston!

This reminds me of a small mom and pop resturant. Not dressy but the min we walked in we felt like family. The food was delicious. We had calamari, lasagne and lobster ravioli and everything was great! We will definitely go back when we are in town again.

Stopped in on 8/18/25 for dinner after our flight from BOS to PSP was canceled and looking at reviews on Yelp. This is the quintessential Italian-American restaurant serving food common to many Italians on the East Coast of the US. We shared a fettuccine with shrimp and the most delicious pesto sauce I've had in a long time. (Bonus! It is traditional and not made with cream as is served in many restaurants.) Also shared a veal parmiagiana with eggplant, and served with a side of penne and red sauce. Equally as delicious. Almost as important as the food was the welcoming and kind nature of Ursula and her staff working the front of the house. It's not often I find restaurant owners working in their own places but love it when I do because it adds to the places charm and success. She seemed to know most of the guests and even some of their favorites. It was like being invited to someone's house fir dinner. Their menu includes a selection of pastas, chicken, and veal dishes. Mario's is a simple place with delicious food and a super welcoming owner and staff. Next time were spending the night in East Boston were going back to Mario's.

Super cute mom and pop spot, delicious food, quaint atmosphere. Made us feel like family. Service was family friendly and my toddler ate almost the entire pasta a la vodka.

Friend down to earth staff and the food... traveled from Maine specifically to have this amazing food again!!

For 4 1/2 stars I expected a bit better ...walked right in on a Sat nite. Many open tables...very utilitarian atmosphere. Could make the place a lil more homey. Bare brick walls. The metal chairs on tile floor was like nails on a chalkboard. Waiter was very pleasant and efficient. Eggplant app and Burrata were very good. . Chic Parm was plentiful and tasty Same with chic limone The veal scallopine with shrimp and mussels was flavorful ...I gots the p Homemade pasta with red sauce and it was one of the freshest I've had. The fresh filled cannoli rivals the North End. The tiramisu was a lil mushy. Overall not a bad take. The North End still rules

We had a reservation for four adults and two kids, meeting family staying at the airport. It's about a half hour walk through the park from the airport Hilton, which was a big selling point! My sister asked if there was a kids' menu. There was not - BUT when the server got to the kids, he asked them great questions like "Do you want that to come with red sauce? Just plain, sounds great. Do you want butter on the pasta instead?" that showed he had experience with small people and their needs. (Ask for Antonio - he took such good care of us!) We had multiple substitutions, changes, and questions based on everyone's needs. ("Can this be made vegetarian?" "Can I have the appetizer as my entree?" "Can everything come out at the same time?") The server was incredibly knowledgeable, and if they couldn't accommodate, immediately suggested a great alternative. Everything came out perfectly, from the apps to the specials to the drinks. DEFINITELY get the arancini! It was great service, and not too many people, even on a Friday night. Surprisingly reasonable, too. We'll be back!

Staff very welcoming and polite. Food was good, cozy clean comfortable place. I had pizza and my sis had the lamb kabobs.

First the Ambiance is very warm and friendly. We were welcomed by our server that has been here 41 years. The service was exceptional! And the food is amazing. The lasagna with meatballs was delicious. I will wholeheartedly recommend this place for dinner any Monday through Saturday, 3 pm to 9 pm.

Visiting from Atlanta and was looking for a dinner spot. Stumbled across this place online and decided to give it a try. This was the best Italian food we have ever had. I don't even have any pictures because we ate the food so fast and cleaned our plates! The people were very nice as well.

What a great neighborhood spot! The calamari was fresh and tasty! Prices were reasonable and the portions were great! The bolognese, chicken a la Ursula and lasagna special were phenomenal. Highly recommend checking this place out, great service, great food, and a great time. Don't miss out on dessert!

It is exactly what it says it is, it doesn't pretend to be anything else, and it does what it's supposed to do perfectly. We were hoping to find an authentic family-run neighborhood Italian eatery that serves old-school Italian-American classics, and that's exactly what this is. The food was terrific. Again, we stuck to the classics: chicken parm, fettuccine Alfredo, ravioli with meatballs, and the calamari and bruschetta apps, and everything was great. Food came out quickly, it was paced well, portion sizes were great, and everyone enjoyed it. My wife and daughter also got a cannoli and a tiramisu, which they raved about. As a nice surprise, all of the entrées came with a large, crisp, fresh side salad with a nice vinaigrette. Couldn't have asked for more. And even more amazing was that the by-the-glass Chianti was legit good. (And I think my second pour was like 14 ounces.) This was all in a cozy, brick-walled dining room with a super friendly and helpful staff. Seriously, they must have checked on us 10 times during our meal to make sure everything was OK. And this comes at a price that's comparable to your local godawful Italian chain restaurant. So if you're in the neighborhood or staying near the airport, I'd highly recommend this place.

Amazing! Our last dinner after a week in Boston. Hands down, the best food & service we've had. Small, family owned friendly ambiance. And their tiramisu is the best we've ever had. Highly recommended!!

I am in the area for business and just wanted a home style pasta and meatballs. Nothing fancy nothing over priced. Just good old school Italian food and I found it in this little gem of Mario's. The bread was perfect crusty and soft Inside. Even the simple house salad was just right. They have some nice items on the menu but I got their bolognese with pappardelle pasta and two meatballs and I got exactly what I craved. Home style Italian supper. It's not a fancy place. The waitresses were wonderfully pleasant and feel like family and it was just a great dinner. Go there. Thank me later. Oh I didn't post a picture. Because well 1. It's pasta the way mom served it and 2. I ate it too fast Mangia!!!

Holy smokes!!! WHAT A GEM I found in East Boston. Mario's is a little bit of heaven. I went because of the previous Yelp reviews. From now on I will go because of Ursula, Barbara and the amazing food. The sign on the wall says, "The closest thing to momma's cooking." They sure got that right. Not only was I able to order off menu, but food was exceptional. The thing I loved most was the atmosphere and old school love that you could just feel. It was like I got invited to a family gathering at Auntie Ursula's house. Good people all engaging in conversation. Sharing about life and showing care for each other. No talking about all the things that separate us. Just some people who've know each other for years taking some time to yap it up and get to know this stranger from Los Angeles (me). I can't say it enough. If you are near Logan Airport, drive 6 minutes away and go to Mario's. You won't regret it. If you are ready to treat yourself, order my off menu dish which is now called "The Earl". See the pic below. Please support local small businesses like Mario's. They are what's right in the world.

Fantastic food. Great service. Tasty desserts. Perfect ambiance. My absolute favorite is the Veal Alla Ursula. Served of course, by Ursula herself. Been to Italian restaurants in the North End many times, and always enjoyed their fine Italian dishes. But Mario's beats them all.

We were so lucky to discover this cozy family joint. They accommodated our larger party and didn't rush us through dinner. Amazing home style Italian dishes and the tiramisu was the best I have had in a long time. Truly a hidden gem. We will be back the next time we visit Boston.

Visiting East Boston area this past weekend , I knew that I wanted to grab some e take out at Mario's Restaurant. Excellent Italian like your mom would make. Quaint and very simple dining room and I love the atmosphere even though I got take out this time. We ordered ALLA LISA $22 grilled chicken topped with sautéed artichoke hearts, broccoli, mushroom, zucchini CHICKEN VEGETALE $22 chicken cutlets topped with sautéed peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini, onion And BROCCOLI RABE $14 sautéed in olive and garlic The food was amazing. Reasonably priced as both dinners came with penne & sauce and a house salad. With amazing Italian bread too. Both chicken dishes had pounded thin chicken breast with tons of vegetables in each dish. The pasta and sauce was great too. And a solid garden salad with house Italian hit the spot. The ONLY reason I gave 4 Stars is the broccoli rabe was a little stringy and wasn't cooked with oil out personal preference. Parking is tough on the weekends but definitely worth the trip you won't regret eating like MAMa used to make. See you soon Mario's!

A treasure. We stay at Logan Embassy Suites the night before our flight home to Seattle. Mario's is a gem, and less than a half-mile walk from the hotel. Family-run, with fantastic service and traditional southern Italian food. The food is very fresh and reasonably priced. I never gad rolled-up lasagna before, but it is very smart. The bruschetta was delicious, and the bread crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. This type of neighborhood restaurant is getting hard to find. We will definitely return every year.

Mario's is a mom & pop restaurant just 5 minutes away from the airport~~it was highly recommended by a friend who's an Italian local (apparently #1 on TripAdvisor too). My mom and I started off strong with some of the best Italian food in Boston and we agreed everything was sooo good! The Vitello & Pesce Alla Ursula, Lobster & Crab Stuffed Ravioli Alla Vodka, fried calamari, and shrimp scampi were absolutely amazing all around :) The calamari was lightly fried with a wonderful marinara sauce, lobster ravioli had real, chunky lobster, shrimp scampi was my second fav dish bc of its homemade garlic bread drenched in their amazing lemon buttery sauce, and the Vitelli & Pesce Alla Ursula was probably my mom's favorite, with sautéed seafood, vegetables, and veal. With the freezing cold weather outside, ambiance felt cozy and nice. Service was warm with an Italian passion. We ordered too much that we had leftovers, and no room for dessert sadly. Their lemon sorbet looked amazing though. Bookmarking for next time!

Lovely local small family place. Good was like momma's table. Friendly service and prompt. Good find.

delicious pasta-- we had shrimp scampi, spaghetti and meatballs, gnocchi. all delicious. broccoli rabe and calamari appetizers also great. very kind, friendly and attentive service. we'll definitely be back!

What a really nice find in east Boston. This family owned Italian restaurant is tucked in a busy Chelsea neighborhood and definitely will be on my repeat list for the area. Well worth the visit. GRAZIE to the great staff who made me feel like family and so nice. I don't give but a few 5 stars but this place deserves 10.

I'm not Italian, but I really felt this was the "closest thing to mama's cooking." I have never felt so welcomed and loved in a restaurant. The staff are incredible and something about being called "sweetie" really makes me feel comfort. The fettuccine alla Sophia was *chefs kissed* this place is a hidden gem & away from the hustle and bustle of the north end. There's enough space to have dinner with a party of 6- I just recommend to call in advance

Authentic neighborhood Italian restaurant. The food was very good and was homemade in style. You could probably get more elaborate dishes at a more expensive restaurant, but the food kept in style with the neighborhood restaurant feel. The staff was very friendly and checked on us to see that we enjoyed the food. The interior was a little dated, but it kept that old time Italian-American feel.

Delicious food and incredibly friendly and kind staff! We had the chicken parm, shrimp scampi, and gnocchi. Loved it all!

You can't visit Boston without going for great Italian. Saturday nights mean crowds in the North End so finding this hidden gem in Chelsea. Family run, this was like walking into Nonna's kitchen. And what a meal! We opted for an appetizer of Italian sausage with cherry peppers. The sausage arrived sliced and perfectly grilled and was a phenomenal yet simple opening volley for our meal. Our entrees were varied and included Chicken Ursula (our waitress and hostess was Ursula and it's clear she knows food), Veal Limone and Fettuccine Alfredo. They were preceded by a house salad resplendent with an Italian vinaigrette which appeared to be crafted in house and half a loaf of the lightest Italian bread. Bread refills came quickly when staff realized our boy was a bread maniac. Chicken Ursula was chicken cutlet layered with eggplant and nestled in a homemade marinara, the veal limone was piled high on top of penne drenched in a lemon butter sauce and the fettuccine was so good it was gone before a picture could be taken. Portions are huge! Despite feeling full, we could not pass up dessert. Again home made. I had the magnificent lemon mascarpone cake and a cannoli as well. The cake was perfection, cake light and full of flavor. Go!

A great family run restaurant. Good food , and excellent service always! My favorite.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! If you are looking for an authentic Italian meal and experience in Boston, this is it. We had the sausage appetizer, I had the gluten free seafood pasta (that red sauce!), my husband the veal parm, our meals both came with salads (that dressing!!) and we had a chocolate and an original cannoli for dessert (not GF but the best cannolis we've ever had!!) with cappuccino. So the food was amazing, and the family that runs it provides the best service - glasses always filled, attentive to anything you might ask for, great recommendations on the menu. We had a great time talking with them and the other locals eating there - everyone is family there. We've been eating in the West End the past couple of days and I would tell you that the food and service at Mario's puts those "higher end" restaurants to shame. We will be back!

I was in town on business and this hidden gem was the highlight of my trip. The food was amazing and the company was even better. Ursula and team made you feel like family. We chatted and laughed and had a great time.

Mario's restaurant is the real deal, a homey atmosphere, nice music and a very cool wait staff, Ursula the owner, Barbara the waitress who's been there many years, Anthony Ursula's son who's at the front line make u feel like family. The food never fails.Me and my wife have been coming here for years. Our favorite is the Chicken and veal with sautéed veggies. We've also had the veal Ursula which is very popular. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. You can check out the menu on their website. If you're out of town this is the place to go

YOU MUST GO HERE! By far one of the best meals I've had ever, Italian food notwithstanding, and an amazing and intimate dining experience as well. My company had a leadership meeting here and we left so full & happy that sadly there was no room for dessert at the end! The atmosphere is like you're at an Italian friend's house and their grandmother is back in the kitchen making her own recipes. Dining area is small and cozy but that adds to the charm - and you may drive right past it as the exterior decor is somewhat simple and nondescript. We had a flurry of cold and warm appetizers and ate every last olive. Charcuterie board, risotto cakes, calamari, tomatoes with mozzarella...I could have eaten these for the main course. The crown glory was my veal topped with eggplant. I had no idea this even existed and while I was seriously full halfway through dinner, I literally forced myself to finish the entire plate! It was perfect, and explains why when I have subpar Italian food, I tend to sound critical. It's just that it's not too difficult to get the basics right but where other restaurants easily miss, Mario's delivers over the top quality and flavor. The wait staff talks to you like you're family and this made for a very intimate and cozy dining experience. I can't wait to come back here on my next Boston trip! If you're considering one the established neighborhoods for Italian food, do yourself a favor and come here first. You'll be amazed and I promise you'll leave extremely happy!

Poor service Below average food Not sure how it gets this star rating I would not recomm Sorry , was really looking forward to a cozy , homey place . 2 servers seemed irritated

Tucked away out near the airport, a quick Uber ride from inner Boston! A Mom and Pop small restaurant with fabulous food and service! We saw it listed as # 1 on trip advisor and called for a reservation for that night. She said yes, I will fit you in! We were treated very well and had a DELICIOUS Italian dinner! Strongly recommend!

From someone who eats out often at many upscale restaurants in Boston Proper and beyond--Mario's Restaurant is a standout hidden gem. The atmosphere is small but welcoming and homely. The vibes are synonymous with a grandmothers' kitchen filled with family and friends. The food was out of this world phenomenal--I mean every single thing I ate was delicious. The antipasto, Gamberi, Arancini and Funghi Ripeni were all better than average and well worth the modest cost. The absolute star of the show was the Alla Ursula (Ursula, a lovely Grandma figure, whom this dish is named after, was a larger-than-life presence greeting customers with genuine affection and appreciation) was absolutely incredible--the veal was thinly breaded, properly beaten, and perfectly coated in sauce and cheese--on top of a nice portion of eggplant which was equally delicious. The Alla Ursula is the only 9.9/10 I have ever given in my life--it was perfect. Perfect portion, perfect combination of ingredients, perfect taste and perfect value at a very modest $25.00. The big kicker on my visits was my expectations were low because we were with a group of 22 people, and the restaurants other tables were all full as well. For such a small place I did not expect the best--but I was blown away. The service, the food and the price blew me away. I will be back. Mario's of East Boston gets an A Davis 5 Star recommendation and I will put my name on this review.

We were traveling through Massachusetts with an evening stop in Boston. Checked Yelp and Trip Advisor for some recommendations. I prefer family owned over corporate restaurants. I saw the reviews; photos and menu from Mario's and knew I had to try it. Fortunately, we showed up and got a table before the dinner rush. I wanted to try everything on the menu because the ambiance hits you in the face with "fresh made". Settled on the arancini appetizer. It was outstanding, only made better by the light and fresh bit of marinara it is served with. I went with the lobster ravioli in vodka sauce. I couldn't imagine a ravioli more fresh and delicious. The special that night was lasagna served with meatballs. I asked for a meatball on the side and I can't come up with an adjective to describe how wonderful it was. It really made me regret not having an Italian grandmother. Ursula and her entire team were polite, friendly and everything they served was incredible. In summary - try Mario's anytime you're in the Boston area.

Spent the night nearby at the Courtyard. The van took us there and then back. Dinner was just like being part of the family Sunday dinner at my Italian in-laws in New Jersey. Would go back in a heartbeat . Oh yeah, the food was really good , too!

Last meal of our vacation and it was amazing! Service was tremendous; perfect balance of authentic friendliness and attentiveness. Started with the caprese salad and arancini. Both were delicious and the arancini introduced us to their fabulous red sauce: simple yet rich in flavor. For dinner we had chicken parm, gnocchi and chicken vegetale. Everything was great. Don't come to Boston often but definitely a place I would revisit in a heartbeat.

This is our favorite Italian restaurant in Boston. Its the real deal with authentic Italian food thats getting harder to find..Great service. My favorites is the lobster ravioli.

6'5 male takes on MASSIVE lasagna and stuffed shells. Holy cow! These carbs rocked my world. I went with my buddies from college, one of them recommended this place as a local favorite. No lies were told. Not only could I spot most of the Lexington population in the joint, yapping about the revolution and such, but I also ascended to an astral plane after my first bite. I felt like I was chomping down on some of my nonna's homemade cuisine and that honestly brought a tear to my eye. She recently passed away and it was just so lovely - gosh I'm tearing up as I write this - so lovely to be able to feel her presence so far from the hills of Sicily. I used one of their complimentary napkins to wipe the tears from my cheeks as I finished an entire loaf of garlic bread. What can I say!? I'm a hungry (6'5) guy! After finishing my third pink lemonade (those go down with the shells like BUTTAH) , I made my way to the bathroom which is down the stairs in the very back of the restaurant. I felt like I was one of the team on my journey back there as one of the employees nodded at me. I loved the electric air in this place, it made me feel good. Such a nice feeling to have after such a long, hard winter. Will be returning, may even bring a lady-friend.

Don't miss this one, its amazing! The Lasagna with meatballs, Bolognese, Lobster ravioli, Delicious! The staff was also a highlight! Made staying in an airport hotel seem like a good idea as long as we can eat dinner here. Highly recommend.

Excellent hole in the wall ~ mom and pop ~ lobster ravioli and chicken parm are all excellent!

Found this place on Yelp. The food was amazing...arancini, gnocchi and chicken/eggplant parm. Cozy atmosphere with beautiful original brick walls. Great service from warm and friendly people who are proud of their great food. Felt like we were welcomed to their kitchen at their home. Will definitely return.

I buddy and I were in the area and came across Mario's ". We both ordered the "special" lasagna and meatballs which was exceptional. iGreat service! I will definitely visit Mario's next time I am in the area!

Little hidden gem near the airport. Felt like I was walking into someone's home. Small, cozy, friendly, and the food was delicious. My wife and I decided to wait for traffic to die down and grab dinner somewhere near Logan. We found this great little place. We shared the ARANCINI appetizer (risotto rice ball stuffed with Bolognese sauce and mozzarella cheese). I had the POLLO ALLA URSULA (chicken parmigiana with a layer of eggplant) and my wife had one of the daily specials; mushroom ravioli with peas in a cream sauce. It was all delicious, served quickly with a smile and fresh bread.