Mario's Seawall Italian Restaurant

To begin, our server Jessica was outstanding. I have been a bartender and server since I was old enough to work in restaurants and she impressed me beyond words. She was extremely friendly and welcoming, she memorized our orders and got them correct down to the smallest detail, she was very fast and very personable. The food, however, was not acceptable. We were served rotten chicken, rotten mint and fruit in our drinks, and suspect cross contamination of gluten for someone with an intolerance. When we raised this point to the manager, Pam, she offered a free desert (which we declined as by this point we felt quite ill) and only made us pay for the appetizer and drinks that didn’t have rotten fruit. Both Pam and Jessica were very apologetic and listened to our complaints. Never before have I ever complained about anything at all in a restaurant as I understand things can go wrong, and I’ve been on the receiving end enough, but this was unacceptable. I have never in my life left a restaurant planning to be sick as soon as I was in private. My hope isn’t to cause Pam or Jessica any grief, but clearly the kitchen staff needs to be retrained, the bartender needs to be retrained, and everyone needs to retake their food safety certifications. Ingredients past their date or showing signs of spoilage cannot be kept in a restaurant and must be thrown away immediately.

Came to Mario’s for lunch while in the area- I will DEFINITELY be back. My boyfriend and I ordered bruschetta, lobster mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, and Caesar salad. Everything tastes so fresh and like it was made with love!! If you’re needing a good Italian fix while in Galveston this is it

The pizza quality was excellent. Great crust and you can tell the quality of the ingredients were great. Took 1 star due to the chicken parm and dessert. The noodles were seasoned better than the chicken, and the red velvet cake was not good. Staff were friendly and welcoming. That said, would definitely come back for the pizza if nothing else.

The food selection and variety of drinks were excellent. There’s something on the menu for every palate, including kids. The atmosphere was amazing and the staff provided outstanding service. They offer a spacious indoor dining area as well as outdoor seating for a more casual vibe. The desserts were the highlight—absolutely delicious and with a wide variety to choose from. A great place to enjoy with family or friends.

My wife had the seawall pizza and I got the lobster and shrimp pizza, both were very good. I never thought seafood on a pizza would work but it did! The Mediterranean salad was delicious. Abrina gave us outstanding service. Reasonable prices and the portions are large.

Tasty food with a great view, but skip the margaritas We had brunchat Mario’s Seawall and really enjoyed the food. The Spaghetti Al Mario was flavorful and satisfying, and Mario’s Chicken was tender and well-seasoned—definitely recommend both dishes. The view by the seawall adds a nice touch to the whole experience, and the vibe of the place is fun and family-friendly. Only downside: the margaritas weren’t great—kind of watery and lacking flavor. If you go, stick to wine or something else from the bar. Overall, solid spot for Italian food with a great atmosphere!

We had a wonderful dinner at Mario’s in Galveston. It was a Saturday evening and we arrived around 6pm . A short 10 minute wait to be seated . We were sat by the window and had views of the ocean . The waiters were very friendly and came by often to check in with us . We had a salmon fettuccine, a meatball and spaghetti dish and dessert - key lime pie . We did not try the gelato but will next time we stop by! Everything was delicious and we would recommend to our friends and family The restaurant , patios and bathrooms were very clean and tidy. As we were leaving after 7 pm there were a few more families waiting to be seated outside

Excellent service today starting with the hostess Patty- professional and always friendly. She Made sure we got to our seats and were taken care of. She makes you feel like family and that is always a plus for dinning out. Service was good, food was excellent as always.

I absolutely recommend this authentic Italian cuisine. Parking is available in their own lot across the street. Sinead was helpful, knowledgeable, and funny. Arnold came over to check on us and he too was knowledgeable and helpful! The food was DEVINE! The deep dish pizza, ravioli, viva Italy, Cesar salads, gelato, sherbet, key lime, and tiramisu were all remarkable. I can't remember the last time I want to a restaurant and every single dish was exquisite. My favorite part of this family style establishment was that I was able to afford to pay my mortgage and bills after dining. It was very affordable! I LOVE THAT! The ambiance is family friendly but they do offer a bar in the front. This is my new restaurant of choice when visiting Galveston! I HIGHLY recommend it.

Absolutely loved this restaurant. The pizza was delicious. My boys liked their spaghetti in marinara sauce and mac n cheese with penne noodles. And my daughter's plain ravioli with no sauce. I also enjoyed my lobster mac n cheese. Just be prepared that it's more bacon than lobster in it. The boys loved their Shirley temples and gelato!! Highly recommend coming just for that! The restaurant was big and clean. Also very cute with booths and tables facing the beach. Our only complaint was that our waiter forgot to give us bread and butter that I read about in the reviews but that's fine.

Wow. I had Mario's yesterday evening and I am still thinking about how pleased I was with our dinner there! I yelped it up to find the most highly rated and Mario's was on the radar. I had had enough of tacos and chicken and fries for the kids... I wanted seafood or Italian which I generally don't crave. Mario's exceeded my expectations. The Chicken Picatta was amazing. The chicken was tender, the noodles were perfectly cooked, the SAUCE.. oh gosh, I was so delighted. My husband had blackened chicken Alfredo and my kids the chicken Alfredo along with side Caesar salad. We were all so happy! The baguette with butter and complimentary gelato for the kids were nice extras. We don't know that we'll ever come to Galveston again but if we do, Mario's might need a couple visits!!!!

We had lunch and the food was perfect. The mozzarella sticks were cooked correctly and very steingy cheese served with warm red sauce. We ordered a large pepperoni pie. The first bite of my slice took me back to my childhood in NYC! The sauce excellente, the dough excellente. A grade of 10 on the pie! The service and ambience was great as well. I spoke to the two pizza makers, very nice guys!

I had a great Italian margarita and nonna's meatballs in the bar tonight. All was delicious! It was three big meatballs covered with a fantastic Marinara and bread...I could only finish one. I loved my margarita. It was just perfect and perfectly strong too. The bartender was a very nice friendly girl named Jessica (at least that is what my receipt says). Thank you for a great meal in Galveston!

The food here was delicious! The staff is very friendly. The Italian food here seems really authentic. The pizza is amazing. A lot of seafood options. Desserts are good too.

Had the calamari and four seasons pizza and it was delicious! Our server, Miss Savannah was amazing, ask for her table every time. Best service on the island.

We ate at Mario's on a Friday evening. Choose to sit on the patio and enjoy the view of the water. I had the seafood salad which was stacked with shrimp, crawfish and crab. The salad mix was a bit disappointing, lots of iceberg lettuce which isn't my favorite.

Now this is my favorite Italian-American place on the island! Their menu is creative (try the Italian nachos!) and their gelato is sublime. I got the fettuccine this time and it hit all the spots of homey, creamy, and hearty. My sister had the baked lobster Mac and cheese and I kept stealing bites - it was that good! The service was friendly and willing to take photos of our group, which we appreciated. Prices are a bit on the higher end (like $20-30 for an entree) and it feels touristy and more commercial inside, but it's right off the Seawall so it attracts beachgoers. But overall the food is delicious and this is my go-to Italian American place in town!

Had a bit of an odd experience here. Went around the holidays so maybe they were short staffed or something, but had a long wait for food, even just for wine. But the staff were nice and the food was overall good. I had the redfish with pasta which had a ton of flavor, so maybe just went on a bit of an off night

Had food delivered from Mario's the other day and it was very good. We had the arugula / prosciutto pizza, the lasagna which was the biggest hit, and some desserts. Everyone was very happy with the meal and it was super convenient. Definitely do it again soon

First time here and the pizza was a nice choice. We ordered the seafood dip as an appetizer. It wasn't too bad, very creamy and cheesy. We sat outside and our server was a young guy who provided exceptional service but we forgot to get his name. Our bill was $69 which included gratuity and 2 drinks. Not bad for a Monday afternoon.

Family feel diner experience I want to come back to dine outdoors during Sunday brunch one day We got lobster ravioli, viva Italy both with meatballs. Food looked so good we also decided to get pizza to go. Went with the four seasons plus bbq chicken. Service from everyone was amazing. Felt very welcomed here. Arnold was our server and he was very professional and attentative. Could tell he has had years of experience.

Was craving Italian and decided on Mario's Seawall Italian Restaurant...nice location where you can see the ocean while dining. I met Gabriel outside and he walked me in and volunteered to be my server for the evening. Gabriel went over the menu and shared some recommendations with me and left to get me a beer and some water. I decided on the Arancini for an appetizer and the Spaghetti a la Mario's with a side of Mama's Chicken Pastina Soup. The Arancini were very good, crispy outside, the rice filling was creamy, and the sauce was a solid companion to the dish. Who can argue with a soup named Mama's? This is one of those soups that represents the epitome of "comfort" food...great flavors, nice chunks of veggies and chicken, and a smooth broth. The spaghetti is a meat sauce with a meatball and sausage in a deep bowl. The spaghetti was al dente and the sauce thick and rich with more than enough sauce for a couple of bowls of pasta. I liked the sausage but wish they were grilled...there's something about grilled sausage with pasta. The meatball was a bit bland and needed seasoning so salt, pepper, and parmesan helped. While I didn't really have the room I saw the cake/pie display on the way in and ordered the Key Lime Pie and didn't regret a single bite...it was delicious. Overall great food, a beautiful facility, and the service from Gabriel along with my interaction with the rest of the staff was excellent.

What a brilliant restaurant this is! Was absolutely delicious, and there are a lot of options for someone like me who cannot eat wheat. The service was so friendly and attentive. The dining room was not too crowded and the view of the bay and ocean!

Great pizza restaurant! It's a sit-down spot towards the end of the Seawall, and has a casual feel. The pizza and desserts were delicious. Great view of the beach from anywhere in the restaurant or patio. They have gluten-free pizza as well, which is rare and important for us!

Great service and good food. Not the best Italian I've ever had but good for the Island. Italian cake and gelato was amazing! Best part of our meal. I'll definitely return.

My family flew in from all over for a trip to celebrate my dad's retirement. We wanted to host a nice dinner one of the nights and contacted Mario's. I spoke with Lauren almost 2 months out from our trip and she arranged an entire menu for us to have family style dinner within our budget. She gave recommendations and we didn't have to do any work! She stayed in touch leading up to our trip and called me the morning of to confirm everything and said everything would be ready for our party of 16 once we arrive. We arrived to the restaurant (great views of the water!) and the staff was awesome! Everything was already prepared, nobody had to order anything or worry about anything with a party so large. Ozolo (not sure if spelled right) was an amazing server! The whole experience was awesome. Highly recommend if you have a large group and want to host a nice dinner. The food was AMAZING! Our crew especially loved the bruschetta and chicken parm with fettuccine. Thank you Lauren & crew!

We went to Mario's previously when wanting something other than seafood during our stay in Galveston. Their pizza and pasta options were incredible and fresh! The staff were wonderful and service was quick. The ambiance also had an authentic feel, which was a nice change from the expected scenery from most restaurants on the seawall. They had various options, from the usual Italian staples, to others which included seafood with an Italian flare. We have actually gone to Mario's various occasions, so this review is past due. If you're looking for something a little different, and a great go to while on the island, I highly recommend Mario's!

Food was deliscioso. Waiters prompt and friendly, kids loved picking out their gelato

We can definitely recommend the pizza! I can also recommend the Spaghetti Mario which has the meat sauce + meatball +sausage. Really good. However, I cannot recommend the chicken piccata. I was expecting the classic (sheer) lemon sauce, but this one was thick like gravy. i also cannot recommend the tiramisu, as it was mostly cake & not what I expected. That said, the staff is warm, charming & makes us want to come back.

Overall good Italian food for the island and reliable! Good for large groups as well.

The best gnocchi I have ever had hands down. due to dietary restrictions I was unable to enjoy the dish as it is offered on the menu, my wonderful waitress made me aware that I could order it with any of the sauces on the menu since everything is made in house. I opted to have my gnocchi with garlic butter topped with a blackened salmon. This concoction at an Italian restaurant I know but now you do too ...you're welcome!

I can't speak to the service or ambiance, as we got it to go, though our order arrived exactly as described. They use Grub Hub for deliveries. My family got the mozzarella sticks, ravioli with meat sauce, lasagna pizza, and lobster ravioli. The cheese ravioli was your basic fair, fine for kids. We were all underwhelmed by the mozzarella sticks too, which were piping hot but just kinda meh. That lobster ravioli though? So good! There was a good amount of lobster in each bite, the creamy tomato sauce was the perfect complement, and the seafood seemed pretty fresh--not fishy at all. The lasagna pizza was a treat: super rich but complex. The ricotta was dense, the meats worked well, and all the toppings blended well together to create a really unique pizza. I wouldn't say kids would necessarily like it, but all the adults were big fans. Prices seemed fair for a tourist town and delivery.

Last night was the first time I sat in the actual restaurant and I decided to forgo my normal pizza and salad for something off the menu!! Well folks, if you're hungry and you want a delicious meal I can't recommend this place anymore than saying run don't walk! Not to mention the welcome home feel from the hostess and the service from the staff! The salad is exactly as advertised fresh and the dressing is light and well it's named citrus for a reason. What a great way to ready the palate!! The chicken Francese ....... I am not a food snob or critic of any sort but we have all watched a fair number of cooking shows to know what to look for. The chicken was cooked perfectly married with pasta and green beans in lemon sauce that I had to put into a Togo container or else be rolled out! I just couldn't stop eating. The portion would fill the hungriest of you all. If I could give 6 stars!! For just the welcome and the feel of the place I would. Thanks Mario's you can tell you guys really care!! If y'all are headed to Galveston and you're hungry you would be doing yourself a disservice by not stopping in. Let me shut up before I write a book on the desserts!!

We started with the mozerella sticks. They came out right away before our drinks. Sadly, they were cold. The waitress brought another one, but it wasn't much better. We ordered the dish with lasagna, alfredo and chicken parm. The lasagna is made with big hunks of sausage, which I did not care for. The chicken parm was hard and overcooked, the alfredo was just ok. The kids had a pizza which was fine. We won't be back.

On vacation in Galveston for a few days, we stopped in for lunch after a hotel guest walked by with their food and we smelled it. It was absolutely worth the visit. This is the only Italian restaurant that I've found that makes lasagna with a béchamel sauce instead of ricotta and it was awesome. All the food we had was on point and the waiter (didn't get his name) and manager were great! We will definitely go back any time we are in Galveston.

Born and raised in Galveston, Mario's was a huge part of my youth. I recall using some of my allowance to order from here when both my parents had to work nights. Its lunch buffet had fried chicken good enough to rival those of Popeyes and Jollibee. The eatery did for Italian cuisine on the island what Happy Buddha did for Chinese. I don't remember the last time I swooped by here until today, but it surely has been ages. I had a long overdue reunion with The Joey, which is a Chicago-style deep dish pizza. No longer do I need to ask my relatives in America's third-largest city to get me frozen, ready to bake pies from Lou Malnati's because I can score a fresh, piping hot one from my old stomping grounds. So what if Chicagoans don't consider it legit? For me, it's a rocking party for my tastebuds and stomach. I was able to sit at the bar since I was solo, which saved me from a likely ten to 15-minute wait for a table. The staff behind it was really generous and attentive. Don't you hate how you forget to get people's names, especially when they take awesome care of you?

The staff were amazing and attentive. The food was fresh and delightful. My wife and I shared the calamari, machos and seafood mixed grill pasta. We will definitely be back.

Pizza was excellent. Pasta portions were small and extremely over priced for size, taste, and flavor.

Lovely place! When we walked in, restaurant was very clean and we were sat right away. Our server was super nice and friendly. We got cheese sticks and garlic bread for an appetizer and it came out amazing! We were also given complimentary bread and butter. Their strawberry lemonade is the best I've ever had! I got the viva Italy, which came with Alfredo, ravioli, and Parmesan chicken. Super good! My spouse got the joey pizza, he said it was very good and full with flavor. If you're in Galveston, this is a perfect date night spot!

The food was amazing! I would recommend the viva Italy! Loved the atmosphere. We were able to sit and look out at the ocean. Service was so great, very professional! Best Italian restaurant in Galveston.

Went here twice while on vacation in Galveston, food, service and drinks were amazing each time. Everyone is friendly, happy to be there they greet you warmly get drinks and food out fast. The atmosphere is amazing with a beautiful view of the ocean. I'm not italian fan but they just have merged italian and seafood in such a beautiful and tasty way. 10/10 would recommend.

This place was good! I was in town for business and stopped in to pick up my carry out order. I ordered the cheesy garlic bread and shrimp Alfredo. Both were just okay. What I really liked about this place was the staff. They were so kind and made small talk with me as I waited for my order. They even remembered my name as I left the restaurant. That's something I'm not used to at home so that really made my experience great for me! I'd definitely go back and sit down next time I have time. I'd also like to try the gelato they have on display towards the front of the restaurant. Would recommend!

Ordered 2 pizzas and both were amazing. Fresh ingredients. Had the hand tossed and thin crust. Preferred the thin crust. Will order again.

This is THE Italian place to go in Galveston, TX! The restaurant wasn't too loud, however we went at about 5:30ish in the evening in a Thursday. We were able to sit by a window that had a view of the beach. We were completely satisfied with our food and the Tiramisu is something you should try! Yum! The service was great too! They took care of us and made sure our drinks were always full.

AMAZING! We had bunch here. Arriving around 10:30AM. I'm not a big breakfast person, but there are so many choices even I found plenty to eat. Mario's has a huge selection of traditional Italian choices, but then they have Italian seafood choices. And prices are very reasonable. Everyone, hostess, manager and waitress were delightful. We had a window table with a great view. Restaurant is clean and you can tell the family takes pride in their restaurant. Great experience!

Pizza to go - one of our favorite family traditions before we reach the sand. Makes for great leftovers at the beach. Gelato is great too! The atmosphere is great for dinner. 20+ years of enjoying this place

I've eaten here once many years ago and returned earlier this week. I know this is a popular Italian eatery in Galveston prominently located on the east end of Seawall Blvd. It has its own parking lot across the street that is big enough to handle most nights business. Mario's has an outdoor uncovered patio courtyard in front along with indoor seating offering nice views of the Gulf and a small full service bar area. After reviewing the menu for dinner it was decided to try some pasta and some pizza. The pie ordered was The Buccaneer 12" seafood hand tossed pizza for $21 and the Viva Italy (a house specialty) trio of lasagna, chicken parmesan and fettuccine alfredo for $20. The food arrived about 15 minutes later. They don't provide complimentary bread here. First the bad. Actually the pizza wasn't bad but I had two issues with the 3 slices I had. First I thought the marinara sauce was a little weak in flavor and the pizza had a fishy aftertaste. The seafood on the pizza were shrimp and crawfish. I thought the amount of content was adequate but with the weak marinara and fishy aftertaste I probably wouldn't order it again. Second the good. The pasta trio was quite good. I thought all 3 were tasty. The lasagna was thick and beefy, the alfredo sauce creamy and smooth and the chicken parmesan had more robust marinara and cheese on top of the bird meat. I would order that dish again. Finally the table service was prompt and professional. The pasta was a 4 but I think the pizza was less than a 3. What bothered me was the fishy aftertaste and fortunately no one got sick afterward. Mario's might be a 4 restaurant but I have to give it a 3 overall however I would be glad to return and maybe even try another pizza or pasta for sure.

In response to Greg the manager's comment, yes, this was Mario's on the Seawall. Italian food was mediocre and I guess I am comparing the inside of your restaurant with Willie G's and Fisherman's Wharf - which are wonderful - and I feel that your restaurant could use some updating in regard to tables, flooring and chairs. (Even some nice tablecloths would help?) Maybe I am expecting too much. The service was fine.

First time here and pizza was amazing. Had Mario's Seawall Special (thin & crispy) and was cooked to perfection. Bruce our server was great. He was busy and had large tables with us and still did great. Will definitely come back to try other foods.

We'd gone here pre Covid and we're disappointed twice but decided to try them again. I'm so glad we did. I spoke with Gail, the general manager for 4 years who shared hhand was shared her fAvorites dishes with me. I was seated at a table by the window and ordered a garden salad and the red snapper special. Peter was my waiter and was absolute perfection; non intrusive, allowing me to have a relaxing late lunch, but with great conversation afterwards. The salad was cold, crisp and fresh and the snapper was delicious! Lightly l pan seared, served on angel hair pasta with a lemon sauce, capers and artichokes, garnished with tomatoes. IT was a big portion and I took half home! I'll be back with the husband for pizza!

The food is very authentic and the service is beyond friendly and amazing the pizzeria it's family orientated.

Yes! Yes! Yes!! This place is so yummy!! Service was great and the ambiance was lovely with open windows to see the beach across the way. i didn't get a picture of the Gelato but it was one of the absolute best ever.

After a day of fishing came here for dinner with Family. Used the "join the waitlist" function on Yelp while we walked over there. Got seated pretty quickly and the waitress and her trainee took our drink orders. After the beverages arrived we ordered salads and our entrees, we were starving so the free bread that was offered sounded wonderful. Then we waited and waited some more. Finally the entrees arrived, no salads and no bread. Waitress apologized said they were out of bread. she quickly brought our salads and too them if the bill. Salads were a bit warm, the Lobster Ravioli was ok, not very lobster tasting, but good. The Penne del Sol was drowning in pasta water, hubby liked his Redfish, but the Pizza was by far the best tasting. Kiddos for some tasty gelato for dessert. All in all not bad, not great, just your typical Mom and Pop Italian place.

The food and service was wonderful. Just wish the manager would make it just a little warmer. Most customers kept their jackets on.

Good food and atmosphere. This experience rescued an otherwise crappy weekend. Next time I am in Galveston I will be back.

Came here as many restaurants were packed for lonestar rally. The ambiance was laid back, beautiful, decorative, and welcoming. The staff quickly greeted us and sat us. Our server Peter, was very timely, communicative, and accommodating. We really appreciated that he asked about dietary restrictions, preferences, and even made some personal recommendations. We had: - Pizza half chicken fajita, half macaroni and cheese: 5/5 delicious and flavorful - Paesano platter: 5/5 perfect amount of cheesy garlic bread, mozzarella, and toasted ravioli. Was pleasantly surprised as it was our first time having roasted ravioli. Also tried the crab claws with lemon butter sauce with this. Absolutely divine! - Seafood fettuccine Alfredo: 5/5 Even for those who aren't huge on seafood. - Viva Italy: 5/5 Generous and shareable portions of different pastas for those who couldn't decide on which they want.

Wonderful food! Perfect for family dinner. When you are in Galveston and if you love original Italian food, check this place out!