Mario's is the kind of neighborhood pizza joint you want to root for, friendly, unpretentious, and slinging comfort food classics. The pizza rolls come out hot, crisp, and oozing cheese, easily the highlight of the meal and dangerously addictive. But when it comes to chicken parm, things take a turn. Both the sandwich and entree feel more afterthought than signature dish. The chicken lacks punch, the sauce leans flat, and the overall flavor just doesn't land. For a place with solid pizza credentials, the parm feels like a missed opportunity. Still, there's hope, a good pizza shop can always bounce back. For now, though, this one's not escaping the "parm slump."
