Marino Restaurant

09/24/08

Overall exceptional experience

by alon_raphael

Having been a server for many years, I recognize a professional when I come across one. Some of the best service I have had at any restaurant. Food was very good as well.

03/13/08

Great pizza anywhere

by razman

I have been ordering the pizza with sausage & mushrooms for a couple of years. I order it from the take-out which is right next door to the restaurant. It is by far the best pizza in LA. I have tasted them all from Spago to Mozza and I rather have a Marino's pizza. The owners/staff are always very warm & friendly. When I read the comments from the reviewer who gave Marino's 1 star I just had to put in my 2 cents. Can't imagine that happening.

08/08/07

5 stars?

by foodieusername

We arrived at 7:30 on a Tuesday night, sans reservation. Only a few tables were occupied, and the owner seated us good-naturedly. Bread and butter were brought promptly. There were only two red wines on the list below $40. I asked our waiter about a wine listed as both Zin and rose. Our waiter seemed as confused by that as I, so I asked to see the bottle. The owner heard ?rose? and appeared with one just as the waiter brought what turned out to be a white zinfandel. I asked the waiter for the other sub-$40 wine, a Terrabianca Chianti, which, at $36, is an excellent value. The waiter brought the chianti promptly, but the owner, evidently heard me say ?Zinfandel,? and appeared at the same time with a Zin not on the list. I said the Chianti would be fine, which seemed to upset him. He didn?t speak to us again for the rest of the evening, although he chatted with the other tables. He did, however, loudly call our waiter an obscenity a few minutes later. My friend had clams with linguine, I ordered the special wild mushroom risotto. We split a Caesar salad. The salad came immediately, however it was a full 30 minutes before our entrees appeared. We barely had a taste before the waiter asked how everything was. My friend said fine. I was noncommittal--my plate gave off an unpleasant odor, like mildew, and had an off taste. He left and didn?t come near our table again for an hour. It only took two more bites to decide my entree was seriously off. The clams in my friend?s linguine were good, but the pasta tasted of burnt garlic. About fifty minutes later, the bus boy asked if we were done. We said we were, and he took my full plate without comment. Ten minutes later the waiter appeared, asking if we wanted coffee. We said, no, just the check. I told him I couldn?t eat my meal, and he said it would be taken care of. It wasn?t?it remained on the check, and no one at any time asked why I hadn?t eaten my entree. I can?t remember a more unpleasant dining experience.

• Pros: Easy self parking.
• Cons: Eccentric owner/manager. Inexperienced staff. Few medium-priced wines.

07/02/07

Better with Aged?

by justbeinghonest

If our reservation was made for earlier than 9:30pm, our experience may have been better.

When we arrived, we were greeted and seated by Mr. Marino (Sr.), but would never be acknowledged again by him for the rest of our stay. Now normally, I wouldn't think twice about this sort of matter. What made his absence at our table strange is that he spent ample time chatting with the other three parties there. The other diners were in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, I couldn't help but notice.

Our first server rattled off the nightly specials to us in a thick, non-italian accent without once looking us in the eye. When we informed our server that we do not drink alcohol, he gave us a quick blank stare, and suggested an italian sparkling water. We never saw that waiter again. A few minutes later, a busboy (?) shyly took our order.

The Lasagna Al Forno was near perfection...mild marinara, smooth ricotta, high-grade mozzarella, sumptuous noodles. The problem was that I had to remove seven tiny bones from the ground beef. I couldn't bring myself to send it back because by the time our food was served, it was obvious that the entire staff was anxiously closing up even though it was only a few minutes after 10:00pm. My husband's Costolette Di Maiale Ripiene (stuffed pork chops) was a let-down. To be brief, the dish was served lukewarm, and the pork was a bit tough. A bigger shame was the mashed potatoes that tasted suspiciously like instant potato flakes.

As we ate, we clearly heard the clamoring sounds of closing...even the recorded music was turned off and the lights were ridiculously dimmed during our last bites. Our second waiter seemed relieved to hear that we weren't staying for coffee and dessert. We may have had to lock up after ourselves if we had.

Again, as mentioned, our experience would have been a more positive one if our reservation was earlier, or if we were wine drinkers, or maybe even perhaps if we were older, but should that matter?

• Pros: quiet, authentic italian entrees
• Cons: not ideal for late diners

Old-fashioned ambience and charming service complement traditional Italian fare.

by Contributor

In Short
While the majority of diners at this family-run Italian eatery are well-heeled industry types, casual is the accepted dress code. Kitschy paintings crowd the walls of the mauve-colored main dining room, which is bathed in a flattering soft lights. With an extensive menu and up to a dozen nightly specials, the choices are plenty, like baby artichoke appetizers with bubbling mozzarella, and a New York steak sautéed with hot peppers, red wine and tomatoes.

09/14/06

Our Favorite LA Spot

by b_demarco

I found this place by accident on my birthday four years ago. After going there twice and seeing the hospitality of the Marino family, I decided to make a point of becoming a regular. I love being greeted at the door with a kiss from Mario Jr and table visits from Mario Sr. We go to Marino's for all our special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. We also take out of town guests there. My husband even proposed right outside the restaurant and we celebrated with a very private romantic dinner in the back room.

The food is great, the wine is wonderful and the service and attention is incredible. I haven't had a meal I didn't like. I think my favorite meal is the Four Course Dinner Special. They require four people minimum and the whole table has to order it so someone isn't left waiting for food while everyone else is eating. If you are looking for a relaxed meal try this.

• Pros: Ambience, Service, Hospitality and of Course Food and Wine - Romantic or Casual
• Cons: None

07/04/05

Nice Quiet Dinner

by targeteer2k

I choose this restaurant based on the reviews in this profile and was not disappointed. When we arrived we were greeted with friendly smiles and promptly seated. For Dinner i had the Chicken Parmesan which came with a small mix of veggies; it was very good and happily finished my plate. My Date had the Meat Lasagna which is served alone; I had a few bites and it was delicious. The Staff at Marino's is very friendly and never gave the feeling of being hovered. The restaurant is very small and recommend reservations.

• Pros: Service, Atmosphere

07/30/03

For a GREAT MEAL!

by ayaseen

A perfect place for an intimate evening. The lamb seared with sweet and hot peppers is spectacular and the Tira Misu is perhaps the best in LA. Try the antipasta salad, you won't be disappointed.

• Pros: intimate and romantic, Awesome food, great service
• Cons: can't find one

11/15/02

MAMA MIA

by artsygirl

This is a great place....wonderful family-owned restaurant. The food is magnifico!

10/12/02

Great Dining Experience

by juan90038

I practically live steps away from this restaurant and don't frequent it as much as I should. The food, the decor, the service have always been top notch. All the dishes I've had are good. The spinach salad is amazing and the ravioli or the risotto gets my vote.

You won't be disappointed; this is a great date place, quiet enough to have a conversation without the stuffiness.

• Pros: Food, Service