Share your photos of Maria's Italian Cafe. Upload now.
Categories: Carry Out & Take Out, Pizza, Food Manufacturers & Processors, Restaurants, Italian Restaurants
The ambiance is very retro pizzeria where everybody knows your name kind of place. Warm and inviting, like a mom and pop place should be.
Our reservation was for 6:00 and we were seated within 5 minutes of getting in the door. I'm certain that a reservation any later would have resulted in a delay - most of the unseated tables were being saved for large party reservations. There was alot of chatter, but it's only because the guests are having a good time. The highlight of our meal was the Lambrusco and house salad which started off our meal - both were exceptional. The pizza with a variety of toppings was beautiful, the pepperoni was great, but the flavor overall was average. The no-meat marinara, ordered extra spicey, was still bland; the waitress was kind enough to comp the 50 cent extra spicy charge. We won't be driving across town again for the pizza and pasta, but we'll definately give it another try since I hear their steak and lobster are the best. At least I'll get another round of that salad and wine I loved.
I have no idea what Marias the last person was at, but it wasn't the one on Cunningham St. The waitress staff has is one of the more outgoing staff's in the Rockford market. The food is always hot and they have some of the best steak in the U.S. not to mention call ahead for their lobster. The Lobster is some of the best I have ever had being outside of the East Coast. The last guy probably likes eating at McDonalds and expects a 30 second window of food delivery. The fact you have to wait a little bit is part of the atmosphere, so sit down have a drink and relax. Go to Chili’s if you want to be treated like a no body. Can you name another restaurant in Rockford IL the president of the United States came too, while he was in office? I did not think so. People go there to converse and have a good time I am sorry if you really had that bad of an experience. Your 1 in Million.
If you want a bad experience in a restaurant, eat at Maria's. The reservation was for 6:30, got seated at ten to eight. The staff is not friendly, especially the hostess. It is so loud, a conversation is possible, if you like yelling at one another. The dining room is cramped, and the food is just ok....a major disappointment. Would not recommend to anyone. I tried it, and will never go back. There are so many other places where the people are friendly, a conversation is possible, and the food is excellent.
Comments (1)
Reservations take 2-3 hours, maybe more. The staff and hostess are unfreindly and uncoroperative when asking how much longer will it be to be seated after waiting 1 hour. They said not long. Waiting another 1 1/2 hour and asking how much longer, they said not long. We then left after waiting over 2 1/2 hours waiting for a 5:00 reservation.