Hot Mama’s for lunch. Big Mario’s for 3 AM survival. We’re giving today’s debut of Big Mario’s NY Style Pizza at 1009 E Pike outsized attention because we’re thinking it’s probably going to be a big deal. The list of backers is huge. They boast that the slices are even bigger. And the media release includes these key ingredients:
Guests can enjoy pizzas whole and by the slice with a full bar, cold beer and a walk-up pizza window. We also have a full cocktail lounge and a GREAT jukebox.
Add in some of the latest hours on the Hill for finding sustenance (Sun-Wed: 11a-2a, Th-Sa: 11a-4a) and you gotta think Big Mario is going to be as popular at night as Mama is during the day.
As we noted, it’s a busy July for new food stuff on the Hill. Here’s the rookie roster. Jimmy’s on Broadway — in the Silver Cloud Inn — also has its grand opening today.
Here’s the media release from Dave Meinert who is also gearing up, of course, for next week’s Capitol Hill Block Party.
BIG MARIO’S NEW YORK STYLE PIZZERIA
New York “A’Pizza” Opening today next door to Caffe Vita in Capitol Hill’s Pike/Pine Corridor
In the winter of 1964, Mario Vellotti emigrated from Naples, Italy to live and work on Mulberry Street in New York City. Mario made his early living tossing pizza and cooking in some of New York’s most notorious kitchens, including Angelo’s and Casa Bella on Mulberry Street, followed by Nanni Al Valletto on 59th Street.
Mario later joined his brother and uncle in the family business, opening their world-famous pizzerias in all five of New York’s Burroughs, including Sal’s on Broome Street, Bensonhurst’s J & V and the original Patricia’s in the Bronx.
Now, Mario with Susan Robb (you may remember WORLD pizza and 2nd Ave Pizza), and local friends Mike McConnell, Jason Lajeunesse and David Meinert, are opening Big Mario’s New York Style Pizzeria. The goal is simple: provide the most authentic New York style pizza at a price the neighborhood can afford.
Big Mario’s is opening at 1009 E Pike, in a former auto garage next door to Caffé Vita. Guests can enjoy pizzas whole and by the slice with a full bar, cold beer and a walk-up pizza window. We also have a full cocktail lounge and a GREAT jukebox.
Open 7 days a week for lunch, dinner, and LATE NIGHT. Hours are Sunday through Wednesday from 11am – 2am and Thursday through Saturday from 11am – 4am.
Who’s been to Mario’s yet? Give us the deets. Awesome, average, or garbage? What kind of prices are we working with?
They did a great job with the interior of the place. Feels like it’s been there for decades (in an overall good way).
I just had a slice of veggie pizza and it was good but pretty ordinary. The size of the slice didn’t seem much different than other joints around town. I don’t recall what the prices are like at Hot Mama’s, but I prefer their pizza to Mario’s from my little experience.
I went there last night and had a slice of veggie (with pesto sauce, tomatoes, arugula); my boyfriend had a slice of pepperoni and we shared a plain cheese slice (with 1 beer and a soda, total was $20 incl tip). His pepperoni was really greasy and overall the pizza was nothing special. Honestly, Pagliacci is better. The decor is cool, very Cap Hill hipster which I think is a fun part of living in the neighborhood. I think they’re going to do a bang up business given their location and the fact that you can get a slice from the window – but I wouldn’t go there for the pizza.
I thought the pizza was better than Hot Mamas and Pagliacci.