Smithtown Restaurants

Mario's recently stood up to the true test for neighborhood pizzerias: a visit during the Friday evening rush. Despite the hustle and bustle of a crowded restaurant and a staff busy fulfilling pick-up and delivery orders, the food was served piping hot and delicious.

The atmosphere at this family owned and operated pizza restaurant is casual, with its stylish mahogany tables and chairs, muted colors, and 5-foot wall with stained-glass panels separating the front dining area from the to-go pizza counter. By day the restaurant caters to a lunchtime crowd from the nearby Hauppauge Industrial Park and surrounding offices and in the evening, families living in Commack and neighboring towns flock there to enjoy savory Italian dishes.

After seating ourselves at a table by the window, we received menus listing a complete array of appetizers, salads, pizzas, pasta specialties, entrees, sandwiches, and side orders. We opted for the mozzarella sticks and garlic knots for our appetizers, and were treated to oozing cheese breaded and fried to a light crisp, along with doughy knots drenched in garlic and oil and served warm.

For our main courses, we chose the penne alla Norma and chicken Parmesan. The former was served with diced eggplant with basil, garlic, and mozzarella tossed in a light plum tomato sauce. The chicken Parmesan was thick and juicy and smothered in mozzarella and marinara sauce, served over linguini. Both dishes were superbly prepared. I recommend any dish that includes the plum tomato sauce; it was the highlight of my meal.

There is literally something for everyone at Mario's. With so many menu choices, it won't be easy to decide what to order, but the odds are good that you'll be pleased with your choice.

For those that prefer to dine in the comfort of their own homes or offices, Mario's offers convenient takeout and delivery services. The pizzeria also welcomes corporate accounts and does catering for all occasions. Open seven days a week, Mario's serves lunch and dinner with complete meals ranging from $10-25 pp. This is one take-out menu that shouldn't be left out of your collection!