Mario's Restaurant

This is one of my favorite restaurants! The buffet is so fresh and delicious, and the desserts- just wow! The owners are kind, and the hospitality is amazing. Such a lovely place! It's my requsted choice for special occasions.

My friend and I enjoyed our food immensely. The stuffed mushrooms are the best that I have had in a very long time. I loved the crab stuffed shrimp and chose penne as my pasta. I asked them to add capers and it made it even better. The lemon butter sauce was so yummy, I had to ask for bread to sop up the delicious sauce. The caprese salad was just ok. My friend enjoyed her chicken dish. We both enjoyed the dessert! The owner was our server and was super sweet. I can’t wait to go again and will definitely order the stuffed mushrooms!

This place was AMAZING!!! I'm from a " foody" town and this is the best Italian food I've ever laid a lip to!! I had a party of 8 they all where happy with all their dishes as well. I had the fisherman's plate and as a FL native I'm picky on my seafood and that dish didn't disappoint! My 6 year old loved the pasta with butter sauce , and wife had the stuffed shells. All of it was outta site. Can't wait to have it again. If your in the area go! It's worth it good prices. Can't say good enough things about this place. Wife is Jersey Italian and it has her stamp of approval. Well definitely be stopping next year when we are back.

Came in for a quick bite to eat for lunch amazing authentic Italian food. The service was wonderful. Our waitress was so kind and making accommodations for my service dog. They have a wide variety of food selections, Italian, and American cuisine. Highly recommend if you have a craving for Italian food

2 hours later we finally left they brought the salads in a timely manner with a big black hair across it never once smelled good of any kind the Ranch dressing tasted rancid we left with no food at all a few bites of a spoiled salad these fires need to permanently close or find someone who cares about this place I did get 2 to go orders in the last year that was decent food but this was undoubtedly, one of the worst restaurant experiences that my family and I have ever ever ever endured, we will never be back and we don’t recommend to anyone. I did select the no wait at all for a table because our first indication that we were walking into the worst experience of our life was the fact that there was only one table there when we got there of people and they had already ate

The food is fantastic! It is run and staffed by an Italian couple who do pretty much everything, so the downside you will be here for a while. She is always so apologetic. But don’t go there expecting to be in and out. And the atmosphere is not really Italian lol. But you won’t be disappointed in the food—especially recommend chicken parm and veal piccata

Thank you to the team at Mario’s! Always wanted to go there and never had the time. Wife and I got a chance to visit.Wow, what a really superb experience. The service, the authentic Italian food and atmosphere were all excellent. They put in the time and work to make this restaurant very special. Can’t wait to go back again. Happy Birthday to me! Thanks again.

The food is good. The owner's wife is the only server. We waited 1 hour and 15 minutes for our food. They have hired more kitchen help, so maybe a little faster next time. My friends loved their lasagna and their seafood dish. My hot wings were tiny and over-cooked.... literally the size of my fork! I will go back, but will not order the hot wings again, which were a joke..

This place is amazing great did wonderful staff. Did is so good and they are true Italian restaurant!

Nice local Italian restaurant run by very friendly people, and they have a great Sunday buffet with a mixture of Italian and meat and potatoes type of fare as well

The food and service speak for itself. The outside can be deceptive. Needs a little TLC. Veal Francaise and spaghetti were shared along with generous Caesar salad. All ingredients fresh and tasty. Bought an Italian sub for later and it was delicious.

Really enjoyed eating here during my business travels. A fresh, home cooked meal made by a very sweet family! Everything had great flavor and was delicious. The buttery sauce of the Shrimp Scampi was excellent. Will remember this place during future travels!

The sauce was a little sweet for my taste but looked very authentic. Service was pretty slow. The place could use a little modernization.

Mario's offers great Italian food in the heart of NC. Family owned and they really care about providing great hospitality. Highly recommend. Large dining area and accommodates larger parties. Alba is the cherry on top; she was the nicest waitress and helped us throughout the evening. Food preparation takes a little longer but it's obviously all home-made. Thank you!

Finally tried Mario's, and I'm upset with myself for waiting so long. Having spent quite a bit of time in the Mediterranean with the Navy, it's refreshing to get the "farmhouse" experience again! Mario's is a super typical, ambiance neglected family style restaurant that you find everywhere in Southern Italy. The owners, despite the length of time spent in the US, run it just like they would back in the old country. Almost no staff, 70's and 80's decor, random music you can barely hear playing from decades old speakers...and the most authentic tasting Italian food I've had in a very long time. Everything about Mario's is utterly perfect for what it is. If you know, you know. And it is blessing they are located in Forest City NC. The lack of a broader customer base is allowing them to continue running the restaurant the way they want to, rather than watering it down to appease sheer masses. If you are in the mood for your Italian Grandma to complain you are looking too thin and to "Eat! Eat!" as she gives you two people's worth of food on a single plate...Mario's is your place!

The food is prepared to order, so be patient if you want hot freshly prepared & well seasoned. Service is great considering owners share in the food preparation & customer service. Ambiance is great with a family caring attitude. Always a welcome when we enter the restaurant.

Tutto Benne! Every now & then you discover a truly exceptional restaurant, today I found one! It's the Independence Holiday weekend & most every place is closed so I was very happy to find Mario's open. I had the beef lasagna with fried calamari & a dinner salad. My first inkling that something special was happening, the homemade Italian salad dressing, it was excellent! The portions are big, the food quality is exceptional and the prices are reasonable. My server was Alva, she was very friendly & nice and when I told her how good everything was, her face lit up in a big smile! I met Mario & told him I was going to give him a five star review, he was very pleased. I highly recommend you go out of your way to check this place out! Forest City, you have a gem in your midst! It's bellisimo!

Good food done right, Alba"s attentive service is well worth the wait, have a glass of wine and enjoy a salad.

Pulling into the parking lot, I was a bit nervous as the outside needed some TLC. But the food was outstanding and the waitress was fantastic! The pastas my family had were delicious, and the cannolis were amazing. Everyone finished everything on their plates and left happy not overstuffed. Definitely recommending to friends.

Excellent service. Family friendly. Good food, especially like Sundays when they do their buffet.

We loved Mario's Italian restaurant!!! authentic and delicious Italian food!! and what makes it even better is Alba one of the owners, she makes you feel right at home!!

It isn't the prettiest restaurant on the outside but it is definitely worth eating there. We were in the mood for Italian food and that is exactly what we got. We ordered the lasagna and linguine with white clay sauce. We were very happy with our orders. The garlic bread is Devine. The only complaint I have is for the price of the meal it should include a side salad. We will be coming there over and over again.

Made reservations for their Valentines day dinner. Wasn't told it was a buffet. We had been there once before and the food was very good, so we assumed it would be the same on Valentines day. We were wrong. No menu choices to be had, buffet only. The choices were slim and tasted like they had sat out for hours. The salmon was dry, not fresh, the chicken was very spicy, the pasta dishes were bland and dry, the ribs were very dry, the potatoes were mushy and bland, we weren't allowed to dish our own plates (it was done for us to control portions), the desserts were pretty good (peach cobbler, apple pie, chocolate cake), but the portions were incredibly small. We won't go back for the salad bar. It was terrible and overpriced. The menu dinner we had during our prior dinner was good but now I don't know if we just had a lucky night or not. We'll give them another shot, but not during a buffet.

Yummy flavorful food. I got the Rueben sandwich and it is was the BEST I've ever had. Good prices and decent portions. The service is really slow but the waitress is really sweet. Knocked a star off for the outdated decor and dingy atmosphere. It had a weird moist damp quality to the air, and strong air freshener.

Absolutely amazing! Alba is so sweet she made me feel as if I was at home and not a restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, so fresh and flavorful. My favorite place to eat in the area.

The food is absolutely amazing. Especially the breadsticks & the salad. I'd like to eat there more often but honestly can't afford it even though the food is Worth the price

We wanted to try a new restaurant in our area and decided on Mario's Italian food. We are so glad we did. I had the Chicken Parmigiano with spaghetti and my husband had the Pork Chops. Both were excellent and portion sizes more than enough. The service from Alba was also excellent from the moment we walked in until we left. The salad for starters was fresh and crisp and the Italian dressing was to die for. The garlic cheese bread was also very good. We will be back soon to try more.

If you want really fast service Mario's may not be for you. If you want really good food it's worth the wait. Have a salad and a glass of wine while you wait for your entree. I've had the lasagne, the eggplant parm and the chicken parm. My husband had two other chicken dishes that he enjoyed. I'm really fussy about red sauce - I used to make my own. Mario's sauce is GOOD!! It may not be the fanciest place around but it is good and reasonably priced.

Great good and very friendly service. One of my favorite places to have dinner in Forest City, North Carolina.

Good food good people would definitely recommend this place for Italian food. There always friendly and courteous.

We came into the restaurant while driving back home. The server was very friendly and promptly took our order. This is a family restaurant/diner. The fettuccine was delicious with sausage, garlic, and mushrooms. Also, the ambience with Christmas trees and interior decorations made it extra Christmasy! Definitely recommend this friendly comfortable restaurant for the delicious food.

Absolute best Italian place I have been to. Ribeye steak medium rare, beef lasagna on the side, and a Cesar salad. Oh my, thank me later!

We stopped in here for dinner on our way back home from Lake Lure. The food was delicious, especially the Cheesy Garlic Bread. Even better than the food was the service we received from Alba. I believe she may be one of the nicest people over ever met in a restaurant seeing. She was attentive and conversational, but not overly so. If you're looking to try a new spot definitely go to Mario's. I'm already looking forward to the next time we are passing through Forest City.

We were looking for something else when we wanted to eat. There is no much in Forest City. I did call before I showed up, mostly because of the pandemic and I don't know who is open and what requirements. They open a little early, this was very welcoming; even though the hours stated 4pm, they opened before that. Thank you It doesn't have Italian music but at least is NOT country, thank God!! The lady, I don't know if part of the cooking department or the waitress or even the owner, I will never know; took care of us. She made fresh coffee, delicious american coffee. The service was good, and it kept our table clean, no dirty dishes piling up. About the food: The chicken was dry and tough, good seasoning though. The beef lasagna had barely any pasta, it was almost like a sloppy joe, no bread. The tomato sauce was tasty. About the eggplant parmigiana, it was nice, but I could not see it or taste the eggplant, it had so much cheese and breading, I had to dig to find my vegetable/fruit; the desserts were good and appealing. It was better than many restaurants out there... This place is for meat lovers, that want a "Italian" experience, somewhat. Ps/ They charge a convenience fee for card users ($2.95) Bring cash.

Very friendly staff. Me and my friend stopped in on trip to see the parade and lights. Staff was awesome and welcomed us upon entering. Food (Chicken Francese was awesome and quick coming out. I would highly recommend

Mario's gives a great Italian family dinner experience in a relaxed and casual setting. The owners are kind and gracious, and we've observed their commitment to giving customers a great experience.

Wonderful place to eat. Little hole in the wall. Wonderful people and wonderful atmosphere. One of the Small Town's Finest.

We picked this place because we were meeting my stepson and daughter in law and this the halfway point. As soon as we walked in I felt I was at someone's home. We were greeted by Alva and her infectious smile. The service was outstanding and the food exceptional! It was as if I had an Italian grandmother and she had prepared dinner. Everything tasted homemade, not mass produced and frozen. Well worth the trip!!

AmaZing experience! We were visiting Forest City (on Christmas Eve) and wanted something memorable. We found the right place! We met the owner, had incredibly delicious pasta with homemade sauce , garlic bread and this Italian sausage pasta that I will miss. Simple looking place but don't judge a book by its' cover.

Everything has been great at each of our visits over the years. Their food is plentiful and delicious while the service is so friendly and welcoming. Nice ambiance as well. One of our favorite places to go in the Forest City area.

This place was amazing! My grandparents and I are staying near lake lure and really wanted some Italian. We found this place on Google and decided to give it a try and it did not disappoint! The food came out quick and was amazing and very reasonably priced. The owners are very nice too. If you're in the area and want authentic Italian food stop by this place for great service and some of the best Italian I've ever had. All of our plates were cleaned!

This place is delicious. A lot of people in this area dont even know it exists and that is sad because it is very good! Stuffed clams are delicious and every pasta dish we have tried are also great. The wait is often longer than expected though, just fyi.

The absolute Best Italian food in the area. Haven't gotten a bad meal there ever.

Disappointed. Waited two hours for pasta. Granted there was an event in town so they probably had a higher than anticipated normal crowd- but surprisingly persons came in and were seated after us, got served and left. We're still waiting. Once food arrived it was poorly prepared and the protein offerings and fish portions of the dishes offered were sparse. I don't want to think the lateness and poor food offering was due to my party being POC, but what would you think? I would not go there if in the area and definitely would advise other POC to think about another option if dining in the area.

Haven't been to Mario's in a while. Went last night and as always the food was excellent. Being Italian from the north and I love to cook we have found Mario's to be by far the best in Rutherfordton County. The family offers a very congenial friendly atmosphere and great food. I would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for authentic Italian.

This restaurant is family owned and AMAZING!!!! Authentic Italian food. The food is excellent!!! If you have a long wait don't let that frustrate you - it is very much well worth it - and the reason why the wait could be long is because it's not fast food... each meal is made fresh. Everyone there (the employees/owners) are very kind & down to earth, they are super friendly and treat you like family. If you dine in here you can count on receiving delicious food, excellent service, and someone being grateful for your business.

Great food every time. Mario and Alba are the nicest people as well. Definitely recommend you give it a try.

Quaint little restaurant. Menu is varied and entrees were delicious. Service was extremely slow. They obviously did not have enough cooks in their kitchen to prepare meals for approximately 14 tables of customers. We waited an hour and a half from when our order was taken to when it was served. The same wait time for other customers as well. No one complained about their wait. So if you have time to sit and chat with your party, you will be happy to enjoy a tasty Italian dinner.

Great ! So much to choose from and friendly service! They definitely know how to make you feel at home, I highly recommend Mario's!

I am on a business trip and found this adorable restaurant. I come from an Italian family and am very picky about my Italian food. Alva was adorable, the place was like being at my family' s home, and the food was tremendous. I actually decided to order lunch for the next day. My husband is coming for a visit soon, and I already have taking him to this place on our list of things to do!

My husband and I stopped there today for a late lunch and we were not disappointed. Alba was absolutely amazing. So friendly, polite and attentive. The food was excellent and very generous portions. We will definitely be repeat customers.

First time back in about 8 years. Is it fine dining? No. Does it have Italian charm? No. Is it romantic? No. Plexiglass over vinyl tablecloth on tables? Yes. Best service? No. Very amateurish. We started with wine and the stuffed clam appetizer, 3 small for $6.99. Good flavor but clams were rubbery and I actually spit out in a mangled mess. Ok, enough of the bad. My wife ordered the Veal Parmesan with angel hair pasta. ($19.99)Very good flavor, marinara sauce was excellent and not drowning the dish. Cheese was not overbearing and veal was tender. Pasta was cooked perfectly. I ordered the Veal Sorrentino, ($20.99)Veal topped with prosciutto and eggplant over angel hair pasta . The only thing I didn't like is the Veal is sautéed and served with a brown gravy. Never seen it done this way!! The pasta had marinara and tasted much better. Again pasta cooked perfectly, eggplant and Veal were good, just that brown gravy was just not for me. For dessert we ordered the cannoli($4.99). Cooked to PERFECTION!! Filling was superb and served on a plate with whip cream, a tad of chocolate syrup and a fresh strawberry. For me, the highlight of the night! I asked about the brown gravy and they said , if I want to order same dish with marinara instead, the would make it that way for me. Don't expect to impress a date with a romantic dining experience, but it is pretty good Italian food. ( coming from an Italian)

We ate here for the first time this week and had the BEST Italian food ever! Best home made dressing, and I'm not a fan of Italian dressing, best lasagna. We'll be back!

Good italian at a good price right here in metropolitan Forest City. Forget about Don's Italian on 74A in Spindale, they don't serve alcohol thanks to pressure from the Word Of Faith cult (rumor). Mario's is fresh to order with lots of flavor. Service by Ms Alba was outstanding and very accommodating. Lots of seating, could use some renovating but not dirty.

OUTSTANDING FOOD! OUTSTANDING SERVICE! Found this place using Yelp while in the area. Called & was greeted by a very sweet lady that clearly thought highly of the food & atmosphere. So glad we decided to go back the next day for lunch! Sometimes you don't have to have a mega buffet to have a good buffet. These folks have figured that out & presented us with a delightful selection of delicious food Can't wait to come back!!

We came here around 8 on a week night, it was not too busy. The food was good, cheese bread was super yummy. Hubby got a good Italian sub, kids had spaghetti with meatballs and it was good, I had the chicken marsala which the chicken was excellent, the noodles just ok.

This is my favorite restaurant in all of Rutherford County. I am a food snob and have never ate one bad thing here.