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| - I haven't been to this restaurant in a long time, but I was reminded of it just recently when I read Katie C's review of the location on MacLeod Trail. Like Katie, I'm not really a fan. Combining one negative experience and a great mix of mediocre ones tends to leave me a bit cold towards East Side Mario's.
I don't find the food terrible, and there are definitely a couple of ringers on their menu (their garlic bread is awesome, and I have enjoyed their Seafood Linguine), but I do take exception when I find unappetizing extras hidden in my food; have you ever discovered a daddy-longlegs in your Caesar salad? Yeah. Turns you right off your meal. And while I don't blame the serving staff for this kind of mix-up, I would have appreciated it if they had done something to kind of ease the ensuing culinary tension. Our waitress just sort of blinked in bemusement and asked if we wanted to order another salad. This gives you a hint towards their general standard of service as well.
Top this off with the fact that you're paying over or around $20 a meal (with drinks, but not including dessert), and I'm definitely more inclined to just cook for myself, at home. It's not like I'd be missing the ambiance, either. The only great thing about this East Side Mario's is its proximity to other businesses, like Sunridge Spectrum, Chapters, and - oh yeah - a lot of other restaurants.
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