When you walk through the doors of Mario’s, it’s like walking back in time, visiting some familiar place, even if it is your first time there. The full-service bar greets you upon entry, generally with a warm welcome from whoever is working behind it. Not far beyond is the dining room where customers eagerly await the fine Italian delicacies, knowing they will not be disappointed with what they select from a menu that has withstood the test of time and food that continues to be homemade with Bertolini love and care.
Mario’s was established in 1977 by husband and wife Tonio Mario and Angelina Bertolini. The Bertolinis brought the spirit of Italy and its famous cuisine, along with their love and devotion with them from Pescara, Italy. After cooking in Italy and refining his skills in restaurants throughout France and Italy, Mario brought his talent to Queens in New York and then to Dubuque. This move seemed like the perfect place to raise his two daughters and enjoy a slower pace in the middle of the country. Obviously, this decision proved wise since the family still owns and operates the restaurant nearly fifty years later, as Angelina and Lidia Bertolini continue to provide Dubuque with the same authentic cuisine patrons have always loved.
Although the namesake of Mario’s has since passed on, the legacy he left behind is evident everywhere within the restaurant. Mario may not greet his customers in person, but walking over the Italian flag painted on the front stoop and seeing the quintessential charm of the intimate bar and dining room let’s customers know they have entered a special place in time.
When starting off a meal at Mario’s, diners can enjoy several Italian appetizers, such as the Antipasto, a collection of salami, tomatoes, pepperoncini, provolone, olives, roasted red peppers, celery, and prosciutto. Of course, the incredible Pizza Bread and Pizza Bread with Cheese makes a delicious start, especially when paired with the homemade tomato marinara or white sauce. Fried Calamari or Ravioli, as well as Stuffed Portabellas also start any meal off right.
Mario’s pizza is always a hit, created with Marios’s own signature dough that has remained consistent since 1977. Mario’s Superb Pizza includes “Everything in Mario’s kitchen except the anchovies,” as the menu states. Dina’s Vegetarian Pie is covered in mushrooms, onions, black olives, and green peppers, while the Original Margherita boasts the traditional colors of the Italian flag: the white- mozzarella, the green- spinach, and the red- fresh tomatoes.
To read the remainder of this premium article and other premium articles in their entirety, pick up the Julien’s Journal July 2026 issue. Single issues are available in print for free at area newsstands, or you can click here to read the entire article for free in the digital version of the magazine.
Read Julien’s Journal, CHOICES For Fifty Plus and Tri-State Home TRENDS from the Comfort of Your Home!
Click to subscribe or call 563.557.7571 to subscribe for convenient delivery to your home or business by mail.
Comment here