local restaurant review: marino ristorante

(Los Angeles, CA).  Sometimes I get a little wrapped up with trying the new "it" restaurant or trying the best restaurant to wherever I'm going that I forget to focus on local favorites.  The restaurants that you return to for special occasions or for old favorite dishes year after year, knowing full well that they will not disappoint.  Marino's is one of those restaurants near our house.  It is a family-run restaurant with an illustrious history with old Hollywood, but what keeps people coming back is the consistently good Italian cooking and the warm service.  My husband started coming here years ago with his friends because one of his friend's dad was a regular at the restaurant, and even though his visits have not been as frequent in recent years, the proprietor (Mario Jr. who is carrying on his dad's legacy), always remembers him by name and warmly welcomes him.  It's so rare to have that type of service anymore in a city like Los Angeles.  The space is also very warm and inviting ... where you can dine for hours and not feel rushed or that the restaurant is too loud for intimate conversations.

 

This lovely restaurant is located on Melrose in the West Hollywood/Hollywood area.

Some of our favorite dishes:

• Meatball appetizer (made from the grandmother's recipe) - just simple, hearty meatballs without the need for gimmicky florishes
• Baked clam appetizer with garlicky breadcrumbs
• Lobster spaghetti (or Seafood Pasta) ... actually all the pastas are delicious!
• Chicken Vesuvio- simply prepared chicken but it keeps you coming back

(Apologies that I don't have pictures of all these dishes. The problem with ordering the same things over and over again is that I don't remember to take pictures - a mistake I will remedy in the future.)

Fried calamari - my husband loves this!

Seafood linguine special of the day - bursting with fresh seafood and tomatoes!

Hearty veal chop - perfectly prepared.

The robust wine list often changes as Mario selects the wines carefully each year.  We've gotten amazing recommendations from him throughout the years so we really trust his taste.  Truly a lovely man.

Give this place a shot and you will not be disappointed!  And let me know about your local favorites!