Mauro’s Italian Cafe & Bar
A couple of weeks ago (I’m a little behind on my posts) Sean and I and a couple of friends decided to go on a grand adventure to a new restaurant. Although I have been aware of Mauro’s for a while, it was only recently recommended to me so we decided to give it a whirl.
Mauro's Storefront - Photo via Medicine Hat Restaurants
This locally owned and operated pub is located on 3rd Street of the Gas City, which is a little out of the way for many, but it is well worth the trip. Upon arrival Sean and I noticed their small patio that offered a couple of nicely secluded tables and immediately knew where we would be sitting. Once we entered the restaurant there was a “please wait to be seated sign” that is apparently not meant to be acknowledged, so we continued on to the patio.
Although the table was a little small to fit the equally small patio it served our needs just fine. We were quickly greeted and given menus, but since we were the first of the group to arrive we informed the waitress that another couple would be joining us. Unfortunately, she didn’t produce the two additional menus we needed, so we had to share. As Sean and I had already made our selections by the time our friends arrived it wasn’t a big deal, but it was still an inconvenience. Our waitress was prompt to ID everyone in our company, something that is much more welcome than noticing underage folks in a “no minors” facility.
After we received our drinks the food was quick to arrive and it was really delicious. Sean had a decadent steak and pasta dish (which is on special on Thursdays) and I enjoyed an excellent pasta chuta. The menu itself is quite expansive, focusing on Italian cuisine, and the most expensive selection is around $20 for a 12 ounce steak.
Overall the experience was enjoyable; however, the waitress we had wasn’t the greatest. Her service was a bit disappointing, characterized by seeming inattentive to the task at hand and often walking away while still talking to us despite her being out of our sight. Another concern is that I heard about daily and weekly specials before visiting but if they exist I did not hear about them or see them advertised in the restaurant. The food was still good and she got the job done, but it wasn’t the best service to compliment the restaurant.
Despite all of that I would still highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great Italian meal.
September 18th, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Dusty says:
The one time I went there the friend I was with (who I title the “grungiest” person in Medicine Hat) ordered escargot, how ironic. I got a mushroom soup which was a little weirder than I expected but decent. I remember some weird people seemed to frequently hang around, that was years ago though.
It’s nice to check out … but I never found it “worth it” to go there after that.
September 21st, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Joan says:
there’s a big whiteboard when you first walk in that has all the special’s written on it.. you would’ve walked past it to get to the outside patio tables..
I like the food at Mauro’s but pretty much EVERY item has cheese in it.. even if it’s not listed on the menu.. so if you don’t dig cheese make sure you ask