I don’t give out this low of a review lightly. The service and atmosphere were excellent however the food was simply put bland. Of the 8 dishes we had only one had enough seasoning, the Octopus was solid. We got out for $50/head so that was a plus at least.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Bianca F.
Can't believe this place has been around for 30 years and I only recently found out about it! The Martino ladies open their doors once or twice a month. Follow them on instagram to find out when and be sure to turn on your alerts because they get booked FAST. If you don't know where to look, Mr. Martino's can be easy to miss. It's very unassuming on the outside but once you walk in, it feels like stepping into somewhere in old Europe. One of my friends said it felt like Hogwarts! It's cozy and quaint and just so inviting. Mrs. Martino cooks everything herself and you can tell. The menu is simple, but it's all delicious. It's good, wholesome home-cooked Italian food- the type of food that feels like a hug from a grandma. We ordered the mushroom and polenta, broccoli rabe, and baked ricotta with sausage for apps. For entrees we got the cheese tortellini and sausage, spinach lasagna, and pasta with zucchini and basil. We couldn't agree on what was our favorite since it was all so delicious. For dessert we got the chocolate pudding, lemon tart, genoise cake, and tiramisu. The lemon tart was the stand out here- it was so fresh and full of flavor. The chocolate pudding for me was a close second. The only one we weren't huge fans of was the tiramisu- the ladyfingers felt a bit dry and it wasn't super flavorful. Because Mrs. Martino is single-handedly cooking for the entire restaurant, this is very much a slow dining experience. We were seated at 8pm and left around 11pm so the entire meal took about 3 hours. Some people may not be okay with this, but we had a really wonderful time. The slow pace gave us time to enjoy the food, the wine, the company- it was very reminiscent of a dining out experience in Europe. I'd love to come back here if I'm lucky enough to snag another reservation.
Regina M.
First - HUGE thanks to Amazing Yelper and Former CM Gabriella W for her review, which intrigued me. I followed the Insta, turned on notifications, frantically dialed a few times and finally scored a reservation for yesterday, Sunday, at 4 PM. It just so happened to be two days after my dear Aunt's birthday, which seemed somehow to be perfect in an unplanned way. Also, my other Aunt, who joined us, dined here many years ago, attesting to this place's pedigree as old-school Italian. My dear cousin joined as well.4 PM by the way is both a) fantastic for a woman who insists she's 38 - I'm 56, so yeah, reverse that and age doesn't matter anyhow. I am mindful though that time is more precious than diamonds. B) It's their first seating, which meant no time for the kitchen to be backed up for the night. ADVICE: If you reserve at 4 PM DO NOT PANIC if at 3:50 PM the restaurant still has the security gates down. They roll them up promptly at 4. The atmosphere I swear could be a movie set. Beautiful tables, low lights, brown and beige, photographs, it could have been a dining scene from The Godfather. I felt transported to the past, completely separate from the present day in a wonderful way. Background music - Italian instrumental, traditional. The lighting IS low, and it takes a moment for your eyes to adjust. My one Aunt whipped out her cell phone flashlight to examine the menu a couple of times. Modern times. Menu was definitely old-school - I mean really old school - Italian. This place was serving broccoli rabe before it got a publicist and became hip. Starters were two arugula salads and a white bean soup. I had the soup, which was heavy on the fennel and featured both small beans and tiny pasta shells. It was nice, unexpected, clean taste. Dinner - I chose cheese tortelloni with tomato sauce and roasted italian sausage. The others had - spinach lasagna (my cousin), roasted balsamic chicken leg & thigh with veggies (one Aunt) and a special - spinach ravioli in a bell pepper sauce. All were lovely. The pastas all had thin, delicate shells, nothing chewy or sticky about them. The bell pepper sauce was really interesting, bright, sweet, not cloying, very fresh taste. Spinach lasagna - super delicate, nice balance in the spinach, not overly heavy taste, sauce complimented rather than coated. Balsamic chicken fall off the bone tender, savory. Cheese tortelloni - again complimentary sauce, not chewy at all, very delicate. Sausage had a savory taste with a good dose of fennel, not "sweet" or "hot" Italian, just the Italian sausage I had as a kid. We all 4 were members of the clean plate club. Dessert - one had the chocolate pudding, one had the tart, two of us had the genoese sponge with strawberry compote and cream - basically a fancy strawberry shortcake with a smooth cream vs. whipped fluffy cream. The genoese was the only slightly soft spot, the sponge was heavier than I expected, but still quite lovely. Chocolate pudding was rich and smooth. Tart was a little soft but not so much that it fell apart, clearly homemade. Plates here are modest, filling but not over-filling. This is the thing about good, particularly homemade pasta: A little goes a long way, it fills you up faster than you'd think. Service was nicely paced, unobtrusive. Expect even at the 4 PM sitting to be there for 1.5 - 2 hours. This is a leisurely meal, allowing your palate to clear and your senses to experience the food fully. Pacing was good - you do order your appetizer & entree at the same time, however they are served at perfect intervals. Servers were friendly, patient, professional and attentive without being obtrusive. Cash only, BYOB, you will drink your wine or whatever in small water glasses, which is exactly how my family had wine when I was little. Four of us spent $210 with tip. I thought wine glasses were ... strange ... if it wasn't a fancy party. Wine, beer, whatever was in the same what you'd now call "juice glass" as the water was. Last Pro tip: Free parking on
Kaitlyn Ave'Lallemant
Best little one-woman kitchen Italian restaurant on Passyunk. BYOB. Love the intimate atmosphere and delicious food. Great for date night. Maria is incredible!Open for pop ups every few weekends, keep an eye on their Instagram page! Tables go quick.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gabriella W.
Mr. Martino's is a magical place and there are not many places like this in Philadelphia. While it is not permanently open, or permanently closed, Maria and the Martino Girls currently open one or two weekends a month on a pop up basis. To stay in the loop, you'll have to follow them on Instagram and keep an eye out on their page (or set up post notifications) to see which upcoming dates they'll be open. Once they announce the dates, they post a number you can call to make a reservation over the phone. Maria manages all of this herself, so be patient. Once you've gotten yourself a table, the rest is easy. Remember that it is a BYOB and cash only. It's not far from a wine and spirits, a bottle shop, and an acme that sells beer and wine. Plan to bring anywhere from $40-70 per person, depending on how hungry you are and how generous of a tipper you'd like to be. Some of my menu favorites include the special octopus, the veal tortelloni, the chicken entree, and every single appetizer. This is a place where you can taste the love in the food. Do not expect a quick in and out type of meal. Take your time, bring lots of wine, and enjoy the atmosphere and company of good friends. Oh, and don't forget to order a lemon tart for dessert!
Nick Martino
I really wanted to like this place, based on its reputation and reviews, but was really disappointed.Went with 3 others for a 7pm dinner. The atmosphere is really cool. A small, cozy place where you’re packed in, in a good way though. That’s about where the positives ended.We ordered a soup, the broccoli rabe and the polenta as an appetizer. One of us ordered an espresso. It took about 20 minutes for the espresso and over an hour for the starters to make it out. When it got to us, we were pretty underwhelmed. Broccoli rabe was missing the taste and the polenta was great, but it was such a small portion we barely got a forkful each.It was nearly two hours before our entrees made it. VERY small portion sizes. I got the veal tortellini with Gorgonzola, I think there were 4 (admittedly oversized) tortellini. It was pretty solid but I didn’t get any of the Gorgonzola in the dish, and hardly any veal at all.One of our party ordered spaghetti with sausage sauce. They brought him penne. When he asked about it, the server told us the kitchen was backed up and that she wouldn’t be able to get spaghetti. This was kind of weird to hear, and it was made worse by the fact that it was essentially a side dish of pasta.We grabbed dessert because we were still hungry. The lemon tart was solid, as was the chocolate pudding. Got out soon after.By the time I got home, I was making a small snack. I’m not one for massive plates of pasta that a lot of cheaper Italian spots do, but I don’t want to spend an average of $50/person wait nearly two hours to eat, and still leave a restaurant hungry.I don’t think we’ll be back as there are a ton of other spots in the city.
Ellie E.
Absolute perfection. BYOB and pure joy. Mr. Martino's is an institution. It's been in business for 30 years, in an industry that often has rapid turnover. Every. Single. Item on the menu is the most perfect creation of its kind. The White Bean Soup, Octopus Soup, Roasted Red Pepper Ravioli, Veal Tortellini and Scallop Risotto are just A FEW of my favorites. For dessert, she makes a brilliant Tiramisu with lady fingers made from scratch. The Lemon Tart is also amazing. Half of the experience of Mr. Martino's is slipping inside the door and allowing time to suspend while you're there. EVERY ITEM is made from scratch and with that being said, if you're a newbie who has always wanted to visit, bring your patience and plenty of wine cause a minimum visit is 2-3 hours. This is an experience, not just dinner, so wear your patience pants, get boozy and dine in one of the few places in this world where time literally stops when you're here. There is no better place to be than in the company of those around you.
Lori O.
Absolute perfection. BYOB and pure joy. Mr. Martino's is an institution. It's been in business for 30 years, in an industry that often has rapid turnover. Every. Single. Item on the menu is the most perfect creation of its kind. The White Bean Soup, Octopus Soup, Roasted Red Pepper Ravioli, Veal Tortellini and Scallop Risotto are just A FEW of my favorites. For dessert, she makes a brilliant Tiramisu with lady fingers made from scratch. The Lemon Tart is also amazing. Half of the experience of Mr. Martino's is slipping inside the door and allowing time to suspend while you're there. EVERY ITEM is made from scratch and with that being said, if you're a newbie who has always wanted to visit, bring your patience and plenty of wine cause a minimum visit is 2-3 hours. This is an experience, not just dinner, so wear your patience pants, get boozy and dine in one of the few places in this world where time literally stops when you're here. There is no better place to be than in the company of those around you.
Sarah Irving
The absolute best service I've ever had in a restaurant! "The Martino Girls" are kind, attentive, thoughtful, and the food is really amazing. Thank you ladies for a wonderful night out, we can't wait to come back for your next pop-up!
Gregory M.
Food is amazing and the staff have continued to make it feel like home every time you return!
This spot is so freaking cute. So Picture this: the Martinis are a slightly older lovely couple with a home that has a large open area next to the kitchen that the put a bar and 13 tables into. Mr. Martino loves meeting people and walks through the space engaging with any couple interested (if you can't already tell, perfect date spot!!! Do it. It's so hot rn - mugato) Mrs. Martino is a craftswoman and her craft is cooking. The meals are a unique and heartfelt story from appetizers to desert. For once I agree with the elitists (Will H) in terms of how he describes the food. I suppose it was what I expected from a homestyle Italian place, thus maintaining my 5-star review. Also don't expect to get your food at the pace you are expecting from philly. This is at a true Italian pace (slow af) because as I said above Mrs. Martino is solo back there adding tender love and affection to your mushroom ravioli and octopus!
Dante V.
This spot is so freaking cute. So Picture this: the Martinis are a slightly older lovely couple with a home that has a large open area next to the kitchen that the put a bar and 13 tables into. Mr. Martino loves meeting people and walks through the space engaging with any couple interested (if you can't already tell, perfect date spot!!! Do it. It's so hot rn - mugato)Mrs. Martino is a craftswoman and her craft is cooking. The meals are a unique and heartfelt story from appetizers to desert. For once I agree with the elitists (Will H) in terms of how he describes the food. I suppose it was what I expected from a homestyle Italian place, thus maintaining my 5-star review. Also don't expect to get your food at the pace you are expecting from philly. This is at a true Italian pace (slow af) because as I said above Mrs. Martino is solo back there adding tender love and affection to your mushroom ravioli and octopus!
brandi pergament
This is one of the most unique places ever. ?????
Deniz Beser
Phenomenal, genuine service, delicious food.
Liz F.
My family and I went for my father's birthday. Mr. Martino's is an old style BYOB, family run Italian restaurant. We arrived at 7:00 and ordered an appetizer and meal around 7:15. Appetizers hit the table about 20 minutes later and main course got there around 8:30. It takes a while for the food to come out because the chef is cooking for a restaurant full of people on six burners, but it's worth the wait! While the chef was in the back, her husband was working FOH, and he was very pleasant and efficient. Would highly recommend the mushrooms and polenta in the red wine sauce and the white bean soup! The bread is also delicious! Be patient for the food!
I don’t give out this low of a review lightly. The service and atmosphere were excellent however the food was simply put bland. Of the 8 dishes we had only one had enough seasoning, the Octopus was solid. We got out for $50/head so that was a plus at least.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Can't believe this place has been around for 30 years and I only recently found out about it! The Martino ladies open their doors once or twice a month. Follow them on instagram to find out when and be sure to turn on your alerts because they get booked FAST. If you don't know where to look, Mr. Martino's can be easy to miss. It's very unassuming on the outside but once you walk in, it feels like stepping into somewhere in old Europe. One of my friends said it felt like Hogwarts! It's cozy and quaint and just so inviting. Mrs. Martino cooks everything herself and you can tell. The menu is simple, but it's all delicious. It's good, wholesome home-cooked Italian food- the type of food that feels like a hug from a grandma. We ordered the mushroom and polenta, broccoli rabe, and baked ricotta with sausage for apps. For entrees we got the cheese tortellini and sausage, spinach lasagna, and pasta with zucchini and basil. We couldn't agree on what was our favorite since it was all so delicious. For dessert we got the chocolate pudding, lemon tart, genoise cake, and tiramisu. The lemon tart was the stand out here- it was so fresh and full of flavor. The chocolate pudding for me was a close second. The only one we weren't huge fans of was the tiramisu- the ladyfingers felt a bit dry and it wasn't super flavorful. Because Mrs. Martino is single-handedly cooking for the entire restaurant, this is very much a slow dining experience. We were seated at 8pm and left around 11pm so the entire meal took about 3 hours. Some people may not be okay with this, but we had a really wonderful time. The slow pace gave us time to enjoy the food, the wine, the company- it was very reminiscent of a dining out experience in Europe. I'd love to come back here if I'm lucky enough to snag another reservation.
First - HUGE thanks to Amazing Yelper and Former CM Gabriella W for her review, which intrigued me. I followed the Insta, turned on notifications, frantically dialed a few times and finally scored a reservation for yesterday, Sunday, at 4 PM. It just so happened to be two days after my dear Aunt's birthday, which seemed somehow to be perfect in an unplanned way. Also, my other Aunt, who joined us, dined here many years ago, attesting to this place's pedigree as old-school Italian. My dear cousin joined as well.4 PM by the way is both a) fantastic for a woman who insists she's 38 - I'm 56, so yeah, reverse that and age doesn't matter anyhow. I am mindful though that time is more precious than diamonds. B) It's their first seating, which meant no time for the kitchen to be backed up for the night. ADVICE: If you reserve at 4 PM DO NOT PANIC if at 3:50 PM the restaurant still has the security gates down. They roll them up promptly at 4. The atmosphere I swear could be a movie set. Beautiful tables, low lights, brown and beige, photographs, it could have been a dining scene from The Godfather. I felt transported to the past, completely separate from the present day in a wonderful way. Background music - Italian instrumental, traditional. The lighting IS low, and it takes a moment for your eyes to adjust. My one Aunt whipped out her cell phone flashlight to examine the menu a couple of times. Modern times. Menu was definitely old-school - I mean really old school - Italian. This place was serving broccoli rabe before it got a publicist and became hip. Starters were two arugula salads and a white bean soup. I had the soup, which was heavy on the fennel and featured both small beans and tiny pasta shells. It was nice, unexpected, clean taste. Dinner - I chose cheese tortelloni with tomato sauce and roasted italian sausage. The others had - spinach lasagna (my cousin), roasted balsamic chicken leg & thigh with veggies (one Aunt) and a special - spinach ravioli in a bell pepper sauce. All were lovely. The pastas all had thin, delicate shells, nothing chewy or sticky about them. The bell pepper sauce was really interesting, bright, sweet, not cloying, very fresh taste. Spinach lasagna - super delicate, nice balance in the spinach, not overly heavy taste, sauce complimented rather than coated. Balsamic chicken fall off the bone tender, savory. Cheese tortelloni - again complimentary sauce, not chewy at all, very delicate. Sausage had a savory taste with a good dose of fennel, not "sweet" or "hot" Italian, just the Italian sausage I had as a kid. We all 4 were members of the clean plate club. Dessert - one had the chocolate pudding, one had the tart, two of us had the genoese sponge with strawberry compote and cream - basically a fancy strawberry shortcake with a smooth cream vs. whipped fluffy cream. The genoese was the only slightly soft spot, the sponge was heavier than I expected, but still quite lovely. Chocolate pudding was rich and smooth. Tart was a little soft but not so much that it fell apart, clearly homemade. Plates here are modest, filling but not over-filling. This is the thing about good, particularly homemade pasta: A little goes a long way, it fills you up faster than you'd think. Service was nicely paced, unobtrusive. Expect even at the 4 PM sitting to be there for 1.5 - 2 hours. This is a leisurely meal, allowing your palate to clear and your senses to experience the food fully. Pacing was good - you do order your appetizer & entree at the same time, however they are served at perfect intervals. Servers were friendly, patient, professional and attentive without being obtrusive. Cash only, BYOB, you will drink your wine or whatever in small water glasses, which is exactly how my family had wine when I was little. Four of us spent $210 with tip. I thought wine glasses were ... strange ... if it wasn't a fancy party. Wine, beer, whatever was in the same what you'd now call "juice glass" as the water was. Last Pro tip: Free parking on
Best little one-woman kitchen Italian restaurant on Passyunk. BYOB. Love the intimate atmosphere and delicious food. Great for date night. Maria is incredible!Open for pop ups every few weekends, keep an eye on their Instagram page! Tables go quick.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mr. Martino's is a magical place and there are not many places like this in Philadelphia. While it is not permanently open, or permanently closed, Maria and the Martino Girls currently open one or two weekends a month on a pop up basis. To stay in the loop, you'll have to follow them on Instagram and keep an eye out on their page (or set up post notifications) to see which upcoming dates they'll be open. Once they announce the dates, they post a number you can call to make a reservation over the phone. Maria manages all of this herself, so be patient. Once you've gotten yourself a table, the rest is easy. Remember that it is a BYOB and cash only. It's not far from a wine and spirits, a bottle shop, and an acme that sells beer and wine. Plan to bring anywhere from $40-70 per person, depending on how hungry you are and how generous of a tipper you'd like to be. Some of my menu favorites include the special octopus, the veal tortelloni, the chicken entree, and every single appetizer. This is a place where you can taste the love in the food. Do not expect a quick in and out type of meal. Take your time, bring lots of wine, and enjoy the atmosphere and company of good friends. Oh, and don't forget to order a lemon tart for dessert!
I really wanted to like this place, based on its reputation and reviews, but was really disappointed.Went with 3 others for a 7pm dinner. The atmosphere is really cool. A small, cozy place where you’re packed in, in a good way though. That’s about where the positives ended.We ordered a soup, the broccoli rabe and the polenta as an appetizer. One of us ordered an espresso. It took about 20 minutes for the espresso and over an hour for the starters to make it out. When it got to us, we were pretty underwhelmed. Broccoli rabe was missing the taste and the polenta was great, but it was such a small portion we barely got a forkful each.It was nearly two hours before our entrees made it. VERY small portion sizes. I got the veal tortellini with Gorgonzola, I think there were 4 (admittedly oversized) tortellini. It was pretty solid but I didn’t get any of the Gorgonzola in the dish, and hardly any veal at all.One of our party ordered spaghetti with sausage sauce. They brought him penne. When he asked about it, the server told us the kitchen was backed up and that she wouldn’t be able to get spaghetti. This was kind of weird to hear, and it was made worse by the fact that it was essentially a side dish of pasta.We grabbed dessert because we were still hungry. The lemon tart was solid, as was the chocolate pudding. Got out soon after.By the time I got home, I was making a small snack. I’m not one for massive plates of pasta that a lot of cheaper Italian spots do, but I don’t want to spend an average of $50/person wait nearly two hours to eat, and still leave a restaurant hungry.I don’t think we’ll be back as there are a ton of other spots in the city.
Absolute perfection. BYOB and pure joy. Mr. Martino's is an institution. It's been in business for 30 years, in an industry that often has rapid turnover. Every. Single. Item on the menu is the most perfect creation of its kind. The White Bean Soup, Octopus Soup, Roasted Red Pepper Ravioli, Veal Tortellini and Scallop Risotto are just A FEW of my favorites. For dessert, she makes a brilliant Tiramisu with lady fingers made from scratch. The Lemon Tart is also amazing. Half of the experience of Mr. Martino's is slipping inside the door and allowing time to suspend while you're there. EVERY ITEM is made from scratch and with that being said, if you're a newbie who has always wanted to visit, bring your patience and plenty of wine cause a minimum visit is 2-3 hours. This is an experience, not just dinner, so wear your patience pants, get boozy and dine in one of the few places in this world where time literally stops when you're here. There is no better place to be than in the company of those around you.
Absolute perfection. BYOB and pure joy. Mr. Martino's is an institution. It's been in business for 30 years, in an industry that often has rapid turnover. Every. Single. Item on the menu is the most perfect creation of its kind. The White Bean Soup, Octopus Soup, Roasted Red Pepper Ravioli, Veal Tortellini and Scallop Risotto are just A FEW of my favorites. For dessert, she makes a brilliant Tiramisu with lady fingers made from scratch. The Lemon Tart is also amazing. Half of the experience of Mr. Martino's is slipping inside the door and allowing time to suspend while you're there. EVERY ITEM is made from scratch and with that being said, if you're a newbie who has always wanted to visit, bring your patience and plenty of wine cause a minimum visit is 2-3 hours. This is an experience, not just dinner, so wear your patience pants, get boozy and dine in one of the few places in this world where time literally stops when you're here. There is no better place to be than in the company of those around you.
The absolute best service I've ever had in a restaurant! "The Martino Girls" are kind, attentive, thoughtful, and the food is really amazing. Thank you ladies for a wonderful night out, we can't wait to come back for your next pop-up!
Food is amazing and the staff have continued to make it feel like home every time you return!
Restaurantji Recommends
This spot is so freaking cute. So Picture this: the Martinis are a slightly older lovely couple with a home that has a large open area next to the kitchen that the put a bar and 13 tables into. Mr. Martino loves meeting people and walks through the space engaging with any couple interested (if you can't already tell, perfect date spot!!! Do it. It's so hot rn - mugato) Mrs. Martino is a craftswoman and her craft is cooking. The meals are a unique and heartfelt story from appetizers to desert. For once I agree with the elitists (Will H) in terms of how he describes the food. I suppose it was what I expected from a homestyle Italian place, thus maintaining my 5-star review. Also don't expect to get your food at the pace you are expecting from philly. This is at a true Italian pace (slow af) because as I said above Mrs. Martino is solo back there adding tender love and affection to your mushroom ravioli and octopus!
This spot is so freaking cute. So Picture this: the Martinis are a slightly older lovely couple with a home that has a large open area next to the kitchen that the put a bar and 13 tables into. Mr. Martino loves meeting people and walks through the space engaging with any couple interested (if you can't already tell, perfect date spot!!! Do it. It's so hot rn - mugato)Mrs. Martino is a craftswoman and her craft is cooking. The meals are a unique and heartfelt story from appetizers to desert. For once I agree with the elitists (Will H) in terms of how he describes the food. I suppose it was what I expected from a homestyle Italian place, thus maintaining my 5-star review. Also don't expect to get your food at the pace you are expecting from philly. This is at a true Italian pace (slow af) because as I said above Mrs. Martino is solo back there adding tender love and affection to your mushroom ravioli and octopus!
This is one of the most unique places ever. ?????
Phenomenal, genuine service, delicious food.
My family and I went for my father's birthday. Mr. Martino's is an old style BYOB, family run Italian restaurant. We arrived at 7:00 and ordered an appetizer and meal around 7:15. Appetizers hit the table about 20 minutes later and main course got there around 8:30. It takes a while for the food to come out because the chef is cooking for a restaurant full of people on six burners, but it's worth the wait! While the chef was in the back, her husband was working FOH, and he was very pleasant and efficient. Would highly recommend the mushrooms and polenta in the red wine sauce and the white bean soup! The bread is also delicious! Be patient for the food!