Mario’s is a Sicilian-style pan pizza and Italian-American sandwich shop in Saint Paul’s Merriam Park neighborhood, serving thick, cheesy square pies, hero sandwiches, and zeppole donuts.
It’s the kind of place locals describe as “an ideal little pizza and sandwich shop,” with pies big enough to feed a group and leftovers that pass the cold next-day slice test. 🍕
The Focaccia-Like Crust And East Coast Italian Formula That Has ALL Of Saint Paul HOOKED On Mario’s
Mario’s sits at 232 Cleveland Ave N in the former Tillie’s space, not far from Estelle and Liliana, opened in 2022 as a Detroit/Sicilian-style pizza and sandwich project from the team behind Estelle, as reported in early Star Tribune coverage of the project.
The menu is explicitly “inspired by East Coast Italian-American cuisine,” centered on Sicilian-style pan pizzas, Italian hero sandwiches, and zeppole donuts, with both red-sauce and white-sauce pies in regular rotation on the full menu.
Mario’s leans into big-format Sicilian pies with serious topping combos rather than simple cheese-and-pepperoni rounds, with specific builds like Supreme, Artichoke, Salami & Pepper, and Hot Honey & Pepperoni earning praise from pizza-focused reviewers who note how fresh the dough tastes and how well the toppings layer across the thick crust.
Write-ups highlight just how large the pizzas are — people talk about taking home multiple meals’ worth of leftovers — and how well the slices hold up cold the next day, which matters a lot for this big Sicilian pan format.
Local coverage mentions that prices can seem high at first glance, but the size and heft of the pizzas quickly make them feel fair, especially when one artichoke pie yields four extra meals from the fridge, according to a local food writer who made exactly that case.
On top of the pizza, the menu includes Italian hero sandwiches and zeppole donuts, which push Mario’s from “just a pizza place” into a full Italian-American corner shop where you can build out a whole spread.
Between the cozy room, the pan-pizza focus, and the East Coast inspirations, Mario’s reads as a destination slice shop for Saint Paul pizza fans rather than just another generic delivery option.
Food Highlights
- Supreme Sicilian Pan Pizza: Classic toppings over Mario’s thick pan crust — red sauce, mozzarella, a mix of meats and vegetables — make the Supreme the strong “everything on one pie” order for sharing, with reviewers praising the presentation and texture even while noting it can lean a bit bready.
- Artichoke Sicilian Pan Pizza: Garlic cream sauce, piquillo pepper, feta, pecorino, parmesan, fresh tomato, Sicilian oregano, kalamata olives, and artichokes layered over the pan crust earn the Artichoke pie praise for an excellent combination of flavors and fresh aroma, with at least one local writer specifically mentioning taking home four more meals from a single pie. 🫒
- Salami & Pepper Pizza: A bold topping set over the Sicilian base leaning into cured meat and peppers gives the Salami & Pepper a more assertive bite that reviewers describe as “not for everyone” but loved by fans of punchier, more intense pies.
- Hot Honey & Pepperoni Pizza: Red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, jalapeño, house-made hot honey, and chili flake finished with olive oil, pecorino, sea salt, and more hot honey make this pie the sweet-heat order for anyone who doesn’t mind a saucier, more indulgent slice. 🌶️🍯
- Italian Hero Sandwiches: Hoagie-style builds packed with cured meats, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and oil and vinegar on soft rolls give the heroes a co-headliner status that makes Mario’s feel like a proper East Coast Italian-American corner shop rather than just a pizza spot.
- Zeppole Donuts: Fried dough dusted in sugar and served warm give the zeppole a sweet Italian-American street-food finish that rounds out the menu for anyone who wants dessert after their pie or hero and cements Mario’s identity as something more than just a place to pick up pizza. 🍩
Atmosphere
Mario’s is described as a cozy, casual pizza and sandwich shop, with a small room that feels very neighborhood-oriented rather than high-concept.
Write-ups mention details like needing cash to leave a tip, which fits the slightly old-school, straightforward vibe that regulars seem to love rather than find inconvenient.
Inside, the focus is on big pans of pizza, counter service, and a comfortable space where you can split pies, share heroes, and still have plenty to take home afterward.
Local food groups and reviewers call it some of the best pizza they’ve had in Saint Paul, especially for anyone specifically craving Sicilian pan style, which adds a quiet cult-favorite energy to the otherwise modest room.
Bottom Line
Mario’s is the Saint Paul pizza shop you hit when you want thick, focaccia-like Sicilian pan pies like Supreme, Artichoke, Salami & Pepper, and Hot Honey & Pepperoni, plus Italian Hero Sandwiches and Zeppole Donuts, served daily from 11 AM in a cozy Cleveland Avenue neighborhood setting.
If you’re in Merriam Park and wondering where to find a proper Sicilian pan pizza that holds up just as well cold the next morning, this is the answer.
Address:
232 Cleveland Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55104
📞 (check the official site for the latest contact details)
🕔 Open Sun–Thu, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM; Fri–Sat, 11:00 AM–10:00 PM