Mario’s is okay. There’s also a Marino’s in Alexandria, on Route 1 across from the Target/Best Buy/Potomac Yard. I think they’re related.

My experience is that the steak and cheese is a pretty solid offering, the pizza got a thick, bready crust and is a little uneven, but decent and inexpensive.

quote:

Originally posted by rebeltruce

Scorereader,

Found the thread…..the post I was speaking of is the seventh in the thread.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21545

thanks for the link.

Scorereader,

Found the thread…..the post I was speaking of is the seventh in the thread.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21545

The pyro in me.

quote:

Originally posted by divefl

oooo, miniburgers at matchstick. With a holiday, it might be a manageable wait.

Matchbox

Scorereader,

Yes, Mario’s is on Wilson very close to the Clarendon Metro.

No way to compare The Italian Store to Mario’s….apples and oranges so to speak.

Trust me though, Mario’s is well worth a visit…..tell Lefty (the sub maker) I said hello! Joe is the pizza guy, and he is a real hoot to talk to. Joe and Lefty have been working the counter at Mario’s for well over 40 years!

The Steak and Cheese at Mario’s is unlike any you’ll find. There is another thread here on Roadfood, that I describe Mario’s pizza and subs in great detail….I just have gumption today to look for it and attach a link…..

quote:

Originally posted by hep2thejive

Mario’s is ok. It has a lot of character… I might be mixing it up with another place but I think I was there once and the counterman was handling orders for maybe 15 customers without writing a single thing down.

IMHO, the subs at the Italian Store are much better. I think I may go get one now sometime this weekend…hmm, Capri or Roma.

The pizza at Mario’s is unique. I might give that a shot this week as well.

Hep

I’m not sure where "Mario’s" is located. I did a quick google search and found a Mario’s Pizza at 3222 Wilson BLVD, near the clarendon metro. Is that the one?

(I’m assuming the Mario’s in SE DC is NOT the one)

Mario’s is ok. It has a lot of character… I might be mixing it up with another place but I think I was there once and the counterman was handling orders for maybe 15 customers without writing a single thing down.

IMHO, the subs at the Italian Store are much better. I think I may go get one now sometime this weekend…hmm, Capri or Roma.

The pizza at Mario’s is unique. I might give that a shot this week as well.

Hep

Mario’s?
Haven’t heard of it, and hence, haven’t tried it. If it’s on par with Italian Store, I’d love to know about it!

(you can live in this city forever, and still you learn about more great places to eat! who was that knumbnut that called DC the "culinary wasteland?")

My fault, I forgot about the Clarendon stop!

Now all things considered I would rather grab a Mario’s Ham, Steak and Cheese, and maybe a slice w/pepperoni then have a Italian Store sub.

Course living in the area allows me to frequent both places at will…..but it would be a tough decision if I had to choose between the two, I would probably do both!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Pigiron

quote:

Originally posted by Scorereader

PS I think it’s funny that you’re coming to DC this weekend (11/11-11/12) and I’m heading to East Rutherford on the 10th for work, but will be in NYC 11/11-11/12.

We could have done an apartment swap! (My wife will still be home, but she doesn’t take up too much space).

East Rutherford is a wasteland, but (as I’m sure you’ve researched) there’s about a million great spots to eat in North Jersey. If I had to guess, I would say that you’re planning on hitting Rutt’s Hut. Correct?

sorry I didn’t respond sooner. Actually, I was working at Giants Stadium. I went from my hotel to the stadium and straight back to hotel. I got food from the hotel restaurant that day and the food that was provided for me at Giants Stadium. The next day, we went to visit Brooklyn.

quote:

Originally posted by Pigiron

quote:

Originally posted by rebeltruce

The Italian Store is great, but you won’t get there on the Metro, you’ll have to cab it from the closest Metro stop. Probably one of the Arlington or falls Church stops would be best.

Are we talking about the same place? From my research, The Italian Store appears to be a little over a half-mile from the Clarendon stop on the Orange line. I would lose my membership card to the Native New Yorker society if I took a cab for such a short distance! Seriously, I walk farther than that just to get to the subway from my apartment every day.

Exit Clarendon, cross Wilson Bv and walk down N. Highland. At Lee Hwy, look to your left across Lee Hwy and you’ll see a CVS and Giant Food anchored strip center. The Italian Store is between them. Please give my best to the Tramonte family.

The elevation change on this 1.8 mile round-trip can’t be more than 80′ and the neighborhood is extremely "safe": those modest colonial homes along the way go for $1,000,000+ these crazy days!

PS I think it’s funny that you’re coming to DC this weekend (11/11-11/12) and I’m heading to East Rutherford on the 10th for work, but will be in NYC 11/11-11/12.

quote:

Originally posted by Pigiron

quote:

Originally posted by rebeltruce

The Italian Store is great, but you won’t get there on the Metro, you’ll have to cab it from the closest Metro stop. Probably one of the Arlington or falls Church stops would be best.

Are we talking about the same place? From my research, The Italian Store appears to be a little over a half-mile from the Clarendon stop on the Orange line. I would lose my membership card to the Native New Yorker society if I took a cab for such a short distance! Seriously, I walk farther than that just to get to the subway from my apartment every day.

nope, you have it right. It’s about .8 mile. An easy walk for any Native New Yorker (or current DC resident who relies strictly on the metro for transportation around town). There may be some hills involved, but my .9 miles walk to and from the metro everyday is all uphill one way, and downhill the otherway. It all evens out.