The Dish

Mario's is serving up authentic Italian cuisine

by lauren baugh

If you have not been to Mario’s Meat Market and Deli, you might think, “Hmmm. Is this like a smaller version of the Publix Deli?”

The answer is NO! I have been to Mario’s many times in my life. Although I am not even 1% Italian, I can tell this is a legit, real deal, Italian meat market and deli. Michael-Anthony Pica, one of our LCBA board members and committee member of our LCBA Foundation Golf Tournament, once told me Mario’s is his family’s delicatessen. It was clear I needed to revisit this spot with Michael-Anthony and get to know the place on another level. So, we arranged to do just that! We meet at Mario’s, and when the front door glides open, we are greeted with the most wonderful smell of freshly baked Italian Bread, among many other tantalizing scents. I see beautiful fresh produce, walls of amazing cheese selections and case after case of fresh, scratch-made Italian items. There are also aisles of specialty items. It is truly a cook’s dream! I am amazed at the sheer volume of products in the store. Most of them are fresh and scratch-made in the cases. Friendly faces are ready to get me anything I could possibly want. Mario’s Owners, Michael and Vincent, are the sons of Mario. They treat each employee as if they are family members, and it shows. Each employee clearly cares about the place, the customers and the products. Back to the smells. I am intrigued by the sauce, and I want to try it. What better way is there to try it than with the meatballs? Michael-Anthony knows everyone here, so he and I sit in the back trying a variety of delicious items. The employees start bringing us dishes, and I know I will leave stuffed.

“The Godfather” is a cold hero featuring prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers and olive oil. I’m told the bread is freshly made, so I am super excited. I have no idea what I am about to eat, but it does not stop me from taking a bite of the hero. The fresh mozzarella, the fresh bread, the freshly roasted red peppers and the imported prosciutto - It is out of this world!

The plate also has a fun, cold salad on it. It looks like rice, and I wonder what it tastes like. I discover it is not rice; it’s orzo, with olive oil, fresh basil, red pepper flakes, red onion and feta cheese. This combination is so fresh tasting that it can complement any dish or be the main entrée. It is beyond what I imagined this simple salad would be! Along with the cold salad, my plate has little red peppers stuffed with goat cheese. The combination of sweet pepper and tart goat cheese is a wonderful accompaniment to the salad and the hero. The peppers would make a wonderful addition to a charcuterie board or just on their own.

Now the employees bring us two more containers. Again, I do not know what I’m getting, and I’m excited. In the containers are meatballs in sauce and fresh marinated mozzarella.

I have made and have eaten many meatballs in my young 38 years of life. I am here to tell you; these meatballs are the best - the BEST ever! They are tender and full of flavor. I would eat them for a meal with no hesitation; you need nothing else. I ask for the recipe, and am met with a quick no. It seems only five people other than Mario himself have this recipe, and they are not looking to expand that list with me on it! The meatballs are so delicious, I am reluctant to move on to the marinated mozzarella. As I put a little twisted knot of this fresh mozzarella on my fork and I bite into it, it becomes clear there is no bad food here. The mozzarella is marinated in imported olive oil, herbs and spices. And you guessed it; I was not given that recipe either. Now I cannot make up my mind which one is my favorite. I keep eating, and although my stomach is beyond full, I do not want to stop. It is all so good, so fresh, and with the friendly smiles around me, it makes this meal incredible. If you are busy and want a nice homemade dinner, and do not have the talent or the time to make it yourself, go to Mario’s. You can get anything, literally anything, and you will not be disappointed. With so many fresh options, from scratch-made Italian sausage to chicken cutlets, you can take and bake or simply gather your ingredients to make your own amazing dinner! You will taste the labor of love that goes into making truly authentic Italian cuisine.

Photos from top to bottom: Top row: Mario Pica and wife 2nd row: Wide variety of cheeses, Godfather sub, Selection of fresh vegetables in the market 3rd row: Filet Mignon platters, Handmade chocolate eclairs 4th row: Meatball parm sub, Fresh angus beef cuts in the butcher case 12326 S Cleveland Ave Fort Myers, FL 33907 (239) 936-7275 mariosmeatmarket.com Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday Closed

Lauren Baugh is the Executive Director at Lee County Bar Association and can be reached at lauren@leebar.org.