Mario’s, one of the hottest Italian aperitivo bars and restaurants in West End, offers Brisbane a range of exciting dishes with unique twists — each complemented by a curated selection of wines and liqueurs.
Founded by veteran chef Raffaele Persichetti, the Italian aperitivo bar and restaurant offers West End interesting takes on classic dishes such as lobster lasagna, funghi calzone fritto, and scampi crudo with buffalo milk stracciatella and raspberry dust.
The restaurant can be found at the site of chef Raffaele’s old Italian restaurant, Luigi’s, which he closed down in 2020 to pursue new and innovative concepts. The product of his experimentation is the all-new Mario’s, which opened in 2020.
Prior to opening his new Italian restaurant, chef Raffaele also opened a Mexican joint in West End called “Mama Taco”, which is still bustling with orders to this day.
Given the restaurant’s ever-changing selection of dishes, degustation menus are available that come complete with matching wines, however those who wish to order à la carte are free to do so as well.
Mario’s is more than just a restaurant, however. An aperitivo bar first and foremost, their selection of alcoholic beverages offers numerous wines and liqueurs that have been curated to match the meals available in their menus.
Reviewers raved over the restaurant’s selection of alcohol, pleased with the cocktails and the wine choices in particular. The service has been described as “faultless” and “crazy good”, and the restaurant’s menu has been commended by many customers — with standout dishes such as their five-cheese gorgonzola and the venison crepe.
Mario’s Brisbane can be found at 67/69 Hardgrave Rd, West End, open Thursday to Sunday from 5:00 p.m. until late. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on meals, deals, and other special announcements concerning the restaurant.