Marino Ristorante is deeply rooted in the idea of doing all things the right way. Today the family owned restaurant, is giving its welcoming by Mario, Jr. and mom, Maria.
The room is simple. A wall of glass, softened by out of door planters full of ficus, faces the famous Melrose Avenue. The soft colored walls, starched white linen cloths, the silver sugar caddy and votive holders and subdued oil paintings all come together to create its appeal.
And then there is the food. Ciro, Mario and Sal were the first of the handful of chefs who are out daily in the early morning markets personally selecting the ingredients for the menu and seeking out the most interesting and pristine items for the specials.
Placing yourselves in Mario’s hands for the tasting menus proves to be a wise decision. Also known for his knowledge of wines Mario will recommend the menu and wines to best meet your dining expectations. The Marino wine list has been repeatedly an award winner by Wine Spectator.
"Marino is consistently fabulous -- every dish I've ever had there is delicious and to be savored; the service pleasant and engaging. Friendly staff and magnificent food: Truly a great restaurant."
Dined on 5/15/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"Marino is so inviting. Food is wonderful and specials are worth getting. Owner/Host Marino goes out of his way to make sure you are happy in his restaurant. This is how a restaurant should be"
Dined on 5/07/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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"It was my first time at Marino's-I can't believe I took this long to go there-and it was a great evening. I went with friends and we all enjoyed it. First of all, the food was delicious. I had the papardelle with bolognese sauce and I think is the best I have had in Los Angeles. We also had the sea bass, so fresh! and cook very simply but to perfection. We ended with the tiramisu(that one was just ok). The service is impecable-very attentive without being intrusive. Mario and Maria, as well as the whole staff, made us feel at home. What a treat! It is very hard these days to find a restaurant in Los Angeles where the food and service are excellent and you can talk, not shout, and hear your friends. Well, this is it.I will go back!"
Dined on 04/27/2013
2007
Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion
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"Have driven past this place for 20 years and this was our first visit to Marino. The host warmly welcomed us and walked us over to the bar for a signature Old Fashioned as our table was getting prepared. The 2 drinks set us back $26 which I thought was odd for a restaurant billed as a great value elsewhere. The dining room is small and elegant, with terrific lighting highlighted by a murano chandelier in the bar area. I had the pappardelle with ragu starter and the halibut special, and my dining partner had the grilled calamari and the veal piccata. All were fantastic. Standouts were the starters. The fresh al dente pasta and the perfectly cooked and seasoned calamari were among the best in their class in recent memory. Go!"
Dined on 04/27/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"We just love coming back to this restaurant but are probably biased because we can walk there. The tables always seem to be filled with regulars like us. It has a friendly, family atmosphere. Mario is a gracious host. The main dining room is very comfortable and beautiful. Great wine, pasta, and arugula salad. Classic Italian restaurant."
Dined on 04/17/2013
2009
Special Features: good for groups, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, romantic
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"Smaller restaurant and very friendly owners. The food was amazing as we had the caprese with prosciutto di parma, mushroom risotto, linguini with clams, veal piccata, and ricotta cheesecake. I would definitely recommend the caprese, mushroom risotto, and veal piccata. We went with a blackboard eats coupon so that took care of the moderate to high prices. This was a great restaurant and will be coming back."
Dined on 04/20/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"The food was excellent, the staff was attentive, courteous and knowledgeable, and the setting is warm and formal but not stuffy. Would definitely return again."
Dined on 03/20/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"The food and service here are superb, and it's comfortable and quiet enough to actually have a conversation. Mario and his staff are so accommodating; they will make you just about anything you want. Really great, traditional Italian food exquisitely prepared. Have had some extraordinary meals here and strongly recommend it as one of the very best ristorantes in the entire city."
Dined on 04/05/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic
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"Overall the food and service was very good. I would recommend this restaurant to all my friends. Our waiter was excellent and the owner was very gracious. We will definitely return our next trip to LA."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic
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"Chicken Vesuvio (off menu) - chunks of chicken in a spicy sauce, is a real treat. Fresh fish is always perfectly cooked. Not over priced and low noise level makes it a great choice for a business lunch."
Dined on 04/03/2013
2004
Special Features: neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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"This neighborhood restaurant has all the elements of a well-run establishment. Greeted immediately upon arrival and graciously seated in a timely manner by the host. Service is attentive, well-paced, and definitely not intrusive. The waiter did not introduce himself as our server. The menu offers a wide-range of Italian dishes. It's all delicious. The food arrived hot to the table (as it should be). Wine list could be more adventurous in the white category and perhaps have one or two choices of dry rose. Prices are high for the amount of food that is on the plate. A champagne glass of Prosecco is $12 and that's too expensive. Knock it down to $7 and I'll be happy. Overall, this a wonderful family-owned restuarant and I'm coming back!"
Dined on 03/22/2013
2004
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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"Enjoyable dinner at Marino. We had a nice server, helped with food choices we ended up selecting. Seemed like a very long time before we got our first course of salad and soup, not sure if there was not much help in the kitchen since we noticed that food took awhile arriving at the other tables too. After the slow arrival of the first course things went much quicker. My husband enjoyed his lamb chops and enjoyed my linguine with clams in white sauce. Next we decided to go for the dessert, my husband had the spumoni and I had the panna cotta, we both agreed the panna cotta was the better dessert. Overall we enjoyed the food and would come back again to try other entrees at Marino."
Dined on 03/21/2013
2012
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"The service was AWFUL! We had to ask our server for the menu 3 or 4 times, finally a nice older lady brought us one. Our server was bringing a tray with two beer bottles on it to the table next to us, the bottles toppled over and sprayed me with beer. No one came over with a cloth to wipe up, I had to do it with my napkin, no one offered to pay to dry clean my pashmina, absolutely no attention whatsoever. I had a glass of wine at the bar while waiting for my friend to arrive and I had to ask the waiter 3 times for my card which I left up at the bar. He never brought it back with the bill so I tracked him down up at the bar and he finally ran my bill and gave it back to me. I told the owner but he didn't seem too fussed."
Dined on 03/20/2013
2008
Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list
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"Marino is very under-rated. Food is outstanding for when you want traditional italian. easy to get a reservation and reasonable prices. Try this as an alternative to Angelini or Osteria Mozza."
Dined on 03/15/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic
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"waited 50min for entree while no one even came by the address us was totally unacceptable. Not even a word or action of apology. Simply said, "It's coming, we're so busy tonight." when asked what happened to our food. Even when our food arrived to our table, the veal was dry and overcooked while the pasta was dry and hard, as if it's been sitting out for a long time. DEFINITELY NOT going back nor would I recommend this place."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2007
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"When we arrived for our reservation, we didn't expect a brass band, but we were surprised we were totally ignored. We shuffled our feet in the foyer for about ten minutes and then took a seat at the bar, where we were ignored yet again. After sitting without service for 15 minutes we decided to bolt. But our way out we were told our table was ready.
The food was very good, but this restaurant could not properly serve us because it was so terribly understaffed. BTW we are in our fifties and we were one of the younger couples in the room."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2010
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"Truly spectacular food. Most complex, enjoyable and subtle mix of flavor of any Italian cuisine I've ever had. Every single time I've been to Marino, the food is consistently outstanding. Fabulous!"
Dined on 03/02/2013
2007
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"We have been here a few times and each time we leave we wonder why we don't come more often. Phenomenal food with a personal touch. One of the hidden gems of the Los Angeles food scene."
Dined on 03/11/2013
2011
Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"love Marino it has a wonderful old-world quality, the service is gracious and the food really good. When we go with friends who live in Hancock Park and go there frequently, they are greeted like old friends which is so lovely. We noticed that this was true of several diners who came in. It seems like the place people keep coming back to...that's a good sign"
Dined on 02/23/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem
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"After the friendly valet, we felt welcome from the moment we stepped into this place with a warm greeting from the host. The ambiance was like a local neighborhood restaurant that showed a lot of care and attention to the atmosphere, the service, and the FOOD! Whether seated at a table to accomodate 2, 4, or a larger group, or a comfortable booth, the feeling was cozy, intimate, and like being at a favorite family spot that you keep returning to. We loved the food and can't wait to go back to try more items on the menu! Highly recommend this place to your friends and they will be glad you did."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"I live across the street and haven't been in awhile. Great service (very improved) and the food was wonderful. I had the Marino salad, steak Gilda, white chocolate ice cream. All wonderful. Went with a friend and it was her first time. She loved it as well. Used a Blackboard Eats coupon and tipped on full amount but forgot and we each paid $30 for tip instead of $15. Oh well. It was great"
Dined on 03/02/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"This was a find. I've always passed this restaurant, but not until I got a 30% coupon from Blackboard Eats that I thought I would try it. When we walked in the maitre'de greeted us very warmly and the waiter was friendly and knew about the menu. He didn't try to rush us which I really appreciate. The food was delicious. It was an overall wonderful experience. I definitely would come back with more friends."
Dined on 02/27/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"If you want a warm reception, high quality ingredients, and traditional (ie, no foams, no harissa, no plate of olive oil for dipping bread) but highest quality italian cooking, you could not do better. We have lived in Italy and cook "italian" at home almost every night. And we avoid most LA italian restaurants as a result, since our own cooking is usually superior. This restaurant is a rarity in LA, in the same family for over 50 years. Wines could be better priced, but the list is exceptional."
Dined on 02/20/2013
2003
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion
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"They seemed a bit short handed on Valentine's day, and we were placed in the second, back room which on one hand is more quiet but doesn't have the ambience of the large main room. We love Marino because it's in the neighborhood but it was a little off on this occasion. I ordered the special Branzino and the branzino on the regular menu is delicious, and better. We'll go back when it's less crowded."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2009
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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"Great restaurant! Incredibly friendly staff that are warm and welcoming. As we walked into the restaurant we were immediately welcomed with a handshake and a warm smile. Great service throughout our meal. The food was incredible! Highly recommend!"
Dined on 02/02/2013
2011
Special Features: notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"Had not been there in years and had forgotten just how good it is. Among the best five Italian restaurants in LA, and I should know : I went to cooking school in Tuscany."
Dined on 01/31/2013
2001
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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