Marios Trattoria And Bar

I don’t write many reviews, but I felt I had to on Mario’s, formerly: Celini’s. I found this little place quite by accident in 2006. Had dinner with my friends who were visiting from N.C. and they were Italians… very particular. First he went in to look around. He said he walked around and looked at what was being served. He told me he asked someone that was eating at a table, how they were enjoying their food. They gave him the thumbs up, so we went in and ate dinner. These overly critical Italians praised every bite, as did I. Have been going there ever since. I live far away now, but I come back every 6 months or so, and if you can believe it, I always try to arrange my flight so that I’m landed in time to get over there for dinner. When I came in last Tuesday, my mouth started watering when I got into the rental car. My favorite is the Eggplant Parmigiana Margarita with a side of spaghetti with the special sauce. I might be wrong on the last word there, but you get the drift. I’ve also had the pizza and I don’t know of a place that serves a better one.
Incidentally. a comment about Erica’s comment. One bad experience should not disqualify this restaurant from your list of favorites. The owners would have made things right for you if you had mentioned it to them in a nice way. This is a family run business and it doesn’t make any sense that they would let you out of there without making you happy if they knew about it.

This food was just incredible. We drove up on a Saturday night and not many cars. Almost didn’t go in. So glad we did. Some of the best italian food I ever had. Try the meatball gigante for the appetizer.

Breakfast this morning was deeee-​licious! Service was friendly and attentive from the moment we walked in the door. Latte’s were hot and made perfectly, the Eggs Benedict was yummy although the eggs were a touch well-​done and it was made with tasty toasted Italian bread. The veggie omelette was cooked perfectly, and both were served with just-​right home fries. A nifty touch came with the table water, which was served chilled in an authentic Italian flip top lemonade bottle. I’ll go back again in a heartbeat … My new favorite among the Bayshore Drive/​SoHo restaurants!

By far the best Italian food in Tampa, with an Italian bakery next-door…Love everything about this place… Cool location… Great ambience… Attentive waitstaff… Best of all amazing food, haven’t been disappointed with anything yet and I have been here over 20 times… please understand that this place is not fine dining and is more casual… In my personal opinion still great for a date were great to bring the family. if you haven’t been here yet do yourself a favor and go check it out

I’ve been looking for a good pizza since I came to tampa and I gotta just say the truth. BAR NONE. This is authentic and done right. Fresh mozzarella, garlic, tomatoes and a crust that you can bite into not doughy and thick.
I happened to stumble on this place for coffee and had breakfast… I had a goood breakfast with outstanding service. I will be back !

I have been coming to Mario’s (formerly Cellin’s) for a decade and have never had a bad experience until trying their bfast this am. Breakfast took 45 mins to arrive and the table of 6 next to us who ordered after us received their food prior to our table of 3. The server was nice but when I asked why this happened she got flustered and completely abandoned us! Water was not refilled until asked and check and box for left overs took forever to get (had to go to baker counter to ask for those items too). Server stated that she had only been there 3 days. I understand being new at a job but this disaster falls on the mgmt. There were literally 4 other tables in total and some had been there for a while. I had to get up a total of 3 times to ask for items such as my order of doughnuts, silverware/​napkin set up and then for water and my food. There were 3 workers standing behind the bakery counter-​doing what??? Who knows, but they certainly weren’t doing what they needed to be doing.
Very disappointed-won’t be going back. Shameful because their only saving grace is that the food is pretty good and the coffee/​cappuccino were delicious.

We sat at the bar and had a few pizzas and beers, the beer list was weak but the pizza was good. The service was good and the people in the place seem to be happy to be working there. I asked if they could change the tv station to the ball game and they were happy to do it all in all a good place.

Nice neighborhood joint. Food is consistent. Have to try the gigantic meatball app it is awesome. Pizza is above average. The specials are always great.

We went to lunch here on a weekday, on my husband’s lunch hour. The service is VERY FRIENDLY, but not the fastest. We did not make it in and out in a timely fashion for an office lunch break. And it’s not like the place was that busy. He ordered the stromboli and I ordered a salad. When the food came out, they brought a calzone… so that’s one reason why it took longer than it should have. (Though, the strombolis and calzones are pre made, so the fact it took so long for the mistaken calzone to reach our table is a little bewildering.) I ordered the basic tossed salad. For $ 7.50 I was very disappointed. One, The portion was not worth $ 7.50. And two, for basic Romain lettuce, tomatoes, olives and a few croutons, you think they can add in some provolone or mozzarella cheese or even some rolls or bread. I did ask our server to bring some rolls or bread, and he did so. The Italian bread turned out to be very nice. My husband’s Stromboli was delicious. And that in itself is a reason to return. But generally speaking, I don’t feel the need to rush back.

Best Italian in Tampa. Get the spicy meatball or stop by for breakfast. Wait staff extremely friendly and the food is unbelievable.

Great Pizza! Good bar, authentic Italian bakery with amazing breads and deserts. Pretty good house wines and good prices for the portions. This place had recently been upgraded and they aim to please.

Service has been disappointing on 2 separate occasions. First time was accused of not leaving a tip when 25% was left on a group of 8. Wine was constantly refilled but pregnant woman’s water virtually ignored. Now refused to allow me to use a groupon to order food and wine then bring home an entrée to wife who is unable to leave house for medical reasons. Food has always been good but don’t expect to be treated with dignity.

Went there on Tuesday for the first time, food was mediocre and prices high. $ 88 for dinner for 4. Felt like I walked into a cici’s pizza, very poor ambiance. Would go back just to try the pizza but would prolly do carry out. Credit card reader was attached to a smart phone, first time I’ve used one of those.

Their pizzas are really good like New York.
But I was disappointed that they were out of meat & roasted vegetable anti pastas.
The «new» restaurant renamed Cellini is much smaller.
I probably will return as their pizzas are quite good. I do hope that the next time they have available what is advertised.

Pasta Fagioli is AWESOME!!! So is the Sicilian Pizza. Just like they make it in Connecticut. Nice Job!!!

Too bad. Ordered 2 pizzas and a salad for pickup. The first, The Old Fashion, was listed as having mozzarella, fresh tomato and basil. Got it home: the basil was dried, crushed basil, ala Mccormick, dumped in piles-​not fresh as we had expected. When you bite into it, it tastes powdery and the top of the little piles were singed. The second pizza was a basic that we added toppings to. As we went down the list of toppings, they were out of the ones we wanted, so we chose others-​fine. We asked for capers, sundried tomatoes and roasted peppers. When we got home, the peppers were green bell peppers, not the red roasted we thought we were getting. I guess if you don’t want to be disappointed, you should be very specific, but at the price for «special» toppings, didn’t think this would be what they would be using. The pizza had great crust and cheese, but the quality of the toppings just doesn’t cut it. Should be said-​VERY nice and friendly staff.

Favorite Italian restaurant in Tampa. Have been searching for authentic Italian for eight years and finally found it! Owners and staff are very friendly. Incredible food and atmosphere. All our friends we have brought over to experience the restaurant have raved about their food. An absolute MUST in Tampa!

This restaurant is excellent. Best pizza in town. The Penne Romane (I add
mushrooms) is to die for. They always have wonderful specials and the tomatoes with bread as a complimentary «first course» is a nice touch. They DO NOT smother everything in red sauce as one reviewer mentioned, that is totally inaccurate. Friendly, neighborhood staff, nice ambience. One of our faves.

Just ok, salty and everything is covered in red sauce. Will only go back for the pizza and happy hour.

Much improved from Cellini’s. A bit salty if you use too much of the parmigiano reggiano cheese since it’s a saltier cheese than regular Parmesan, ask for it on the side and off the pizza as they put it on the sauce. Customer service is excellent, interesting music, food is evolving. I’m eager to see what they do with their new bakery opening soon as they’ve decided to divide up the restaurant. Try out the pesto spaghetti, it’s delicious!