Mario's Italian Cafe image

Mario's Italian Cafe

Restaurant Pizza restaurant Italian restaurant Catering service Pizzatakeaway Catering food and drink supplies

One of the Top rated Catering services in Palm Desert


Address

78152 Varner Rd, Palm Desert, CA 92211

Website

www.mariositaliancafes.com

Contact

(760) 345-8900

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (548 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 9 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 9 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 9 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 9 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 8 PM
  • Monday: 10 AM to 9 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: service (12) good (11) salad (10) pizza (9) Italian (7) great (7) time (7) nice (6) staff (6) delicious (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Steven R. 1 year ago on Google
    Very nice restaurant with the Vienna atmosphere. The staff is very efficient and gracious and friendly. As soon As I walked through the door I was promptly seated, provided a menu and my drink order was taken. I had the anti-pasta salad which was loaded with the anti-pasta stuff. There are Italian dressing tops off and it’s very zesty. I had spaghetti with Italian sausage. They offer two sizes large and small. I went for the large figure and I could take at least half of it home. The noodles were cooked to just about perfection the Italian sausage was a little over cooked but still very good. The one thing I would be critical of is their marinara sauce. It’s very flat and may be a little watery. It could really use some spicy with garlic, Italian seasonings and etc. When I’m in the area again I would definitely revisit this place
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 md s. 7 months ago on Google
    Excellent service and cuisine. The food was served hot, promptly, and deliciously. I didn't think the food needed any additional seasoning because everything was so perfectly seasoned.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dennis K. 8 months ago on Google
    Ordered a meatball sub and the wife had a turkey and cheese, absolutely delicious. Our new go-to for casual Italian dinning. Having worked in a few, you can smell a great pizza joint. And this is one of them.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Lance Y. 8 months ago on Google
    Take out. Pizza was ok. Very thick dough and light topping. I'll have to ask if they make a NY thin crust. Key lime pie was very average and very small piece. Sorry, but I'll be back. Was friendly staff and nice looking place. Was very quick as well.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brandi O. 1 year ago on Google
    Good food, good prices, friendly staff.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kerri R. 1 year ago on Google
    This was my first visit to Mario’s on Varner. Or, any Mario’s for that matter. I had a large Chicken Caesar Salad. It was very good. My husband had the dinner special Lasagna. It was excellent! The proportions were very good sized, especially the salad and the wine! The service was okay. Nothing special. We got what we needed but was a little slow considering it wasn’t a very busy night. I would recommend this restaurant. They had a nice variety of Italian food. But s lot of red sauce items. I would like to try the pizza. It seemed to be very popular.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Maria S. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful little piece of Italy without the long flight. Food was good... but... there is always a but. I asked for onions on the side, and had to returned the antipasto because it had them all over... and then my pizza had them as additional topping 😞. A Hawaiian pizza with onions???

  • 5/5 Gutierrez 1 year ago on Google
    Love this place, regardless what location in the desert. Food, service, and famous full glass of wine is what I think about when sharing my experience. My recommendations are chicken marsala and chicken piccata. Also the antipasto salad. Cheers!

  • 5/5 Michelle C. 1 year ago on Google
    We went to Mario's to try something different. So happy we did. Harlan sets a standard for all host that will be hard to beat. Pasta was perfection. And the restaurant had a very nice atmosphere. Overall, I recommend and will go back! Thank you for a wonderful lunch!

  • 3/5 Daniel B. 1 year ago on Google
    Went with 11 people. The service was very friendly but it took 50 minutes to get our food. The portions were very large but the food was over cooked and over seasoned with garlic and salt. Not a very authentic or complex flavor but "tasty". Everyone in general enjoyed their meal. I would probably not eat here again.

  • 5/5 Alysta G. 1 year ago on Google
    Great food and service. The food came out quickly, hot, and delicious. Everything was seasoned well I didn't feel the need to add anything extra to the food. The garlic bread was too good, I would get two baskets next time. They had a good variety of drinks to enjoy and they had quick and friendly service. This is a great place to go to and go back to.

  • 5/5 Nick A. 1 year ago on Google
    We ordered for 12 people and it was delicious. The Mario pizza was fantastic. We also ordered pepperoni and sausage and mush/onion. We had salad and spaghetti as well. Great service, fast and we picked up 30 minutes from time of order. We all loved it from 16 years old to 83 years. Must visit or take out. Our first time ever

  • 5/5 Jennifer H. 1 year ago on Google
    Server was good. Food at Mario's NEVER really disappoints! We walked in later -after 8- and were seated with courtesy *no eye rolls, and staff was great! The only reason that it wasn't a 5 star review is because our server offered another table dessert and didn't suggest it for ours. While we couldn't have eaten another bite we probably would have taken a to go cannoli.... Mario's Cannoli's are THE 👌 Best!

  • 5/5 Regenia M. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow… what a wonderful experience. The food is delicious and generous. Service impeccable our waiter Harlan made us feel like we were dining with family. His service was over the top. He gave great recommendations for each of us. He really knows the food served here.. How it’s prepared, with what ingredients from flavors to texture. Amazing!!! Suggested appetizers to start with once he had our drink orders. From there he spoke about his personal favorites, by the time we made up our mind’s he was back with or beverages. Shortly after that we all received our appetizers. His timing on food delivery is impeccable. Checked on us just enough to keep us happy. Never had to flag him down as he was such the professional. We look forward to dining here often and highly recommend this place to everyone we know. Thank you Harlan we truly appreciate you. We will be back often. Great food and service highly recommended. You won’t leave hungry. Sincerely Gina and the gang.

  • 5/5 Ken P. 1 year ago on Google
    Very nice place with a great atmosphere. They serve the typical red sauce Italian food - - pasta, pizza, sandwiches, salads. Beautiful dining room. Great staff. Delicious food. Great ambiance. Plenty of parking. Easy in and out of parking lot. Freeway adjacent.

  • 5/5 Kimberly C. 1 year ago on Google
    I was in such a hurry to grab lunch. I ordered one of the lunch specials, which was two slices of fresh piping hot pepperoni pizza and a yummy side salad. They went above and beyond to expedite my order and pack it up with care and class for me to take to go because I had limited amount of time to eat. So appreciative of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. Great customer service. Can't wait to eat more.

  • 1/5 Dustin D. 1 year ago on Google
    Cheesecake had mold on it and didn't notice until about 3 bites in. Hoping i don't get sick. They refunded me. Still can't believe they gave me that.

  • 5/5 Michael L. 1 year ago on Google
    We were doing a house tour in Sun City and stumbled upon Marios. Everyone in our party had a different item and everyone was very satisfied. If we buy a house in Sun City, Marios will become a regular restaurant for us.

  • 5/5 Michael “Mikey” C. 1 year ago on Google
    OMG.. in my opinion.. this IS the spot.. service is impeccable.. portion sizes are unbelievably generous! And prices per plate are very reasonable considering for what your served.. im telling you.. you'll be full before he main course..lol.. So lunch for 2 .. we started with (taking advantage of Sun City - Happy Hour 3pm-5pm daily) 6$ calamari & sauté mushrooms. Our meal order consisted of an Antipasto salad (small) ..loaded.. and we shared a meatball sandwich 🥪 (so delicious!) And topped it all off with a piece of New York cheese cake ( I really shouldn't have but it was worth it!) Total cost out the door was $58.51 + the tip. Definitely coming back!

  • 5/5 Cathy B. 1 year ago on Google
    Mario's at Varner and Washington now has a fantastic Happy Hour from 3-5 every day. With , $4,$5 or $6 options there is something for all!! The full menu ,of course is also available but the happy hour menu is awesome for those with a lighter appetite & who are out to enjoy the daily company of their friend's, with a drink and a bite to eat:) People in our group had pizza slices, Caesar salad, house salad, zucchini sticks - NO complaints - everything was , hot, delicious & the staff was super fun!!

  • 5/5 Jarred E. 2 years ago on Google
    This is a great family owned place. Staff is super nice, food is very good, and the prices are good too. We always enjoy every time we dine here.

  • 5/5 Andrea M. 2 years ago on Google
    All of Mario's restaurants are 1st class! The food is plenty and above good. You have to have salad with their creamy garlic dressing. The girls and guys serving are so sweet and respectful. We come 65 miles to eat there if that tells you anything!

  • 4/5 Jerry L. 1 year ago on Google
    The service was excellent and the Cesar salad was great especially the dressing. The pizza was a little disappointing, the crust was done to perfection but all the cheeses and fresh vegetables needed more time to cook. Not sure how to address this problem.


Call (760) 345-8900 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Happy hour food
    • ✓️ Happy hour drinks
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery

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