When anyone makes a list of the most iconic foods in New York, pizza is usually at or near the top of said list. Tell any New Yorker that you’re heading into the city, and they will passionately give the name of their favorite pizzeria. Here at Mario’s Pizza, we bring a little of that delicious Brooklyn style to North Carolina. Our authentic pizza recipes are guarded family secrets, but we’d love to share a slice or two with your family! If you’re looking for New York style pizza near me, head out to one of our many locations to see what you’re missing.

What Makes Pizza “New York Style”?

When someone talks about the style of a pizza, people usually think of one of two things: New York style pizza or Chicago style pizza. In actuality, pizzas vary greatly in many regions, but the difference between New York pizza and Chicago pizza is style.

New York style pizza is flat with a thinner chewy yet crispy crust. It doesn’t have a super doughy crust like some other thinner pizzas. Traditionally, it has a red tomato sauce, shredded cheese, and other optional toppings. This kind of pizza is perfect for eating on the go, since you can pick up a huge slice, fold it, and eat it as you are walking down the street.

On the other hand, Chicago style pizza is a very thick pizza also known as “deep dish.” This type of pizza has a chunkier sauce, with cheese and other toppings layered on the bottom and sauce on top. The edge is higher, like a fruit pie crust, and you often have to eat this kind of pizza with a fork rather than just grabbing a slice.

What Makes New York Pizza the Best?

Whether you like a thinner crust or a deep dish pizza may be a matter of personal preference, but among thinner crust pizzas, many people consider New York pizza to be the best. So what sets pizza from New York apart? And how do we bring those flavors here to North Carolina?

First, many people believe that New York pizzas are the best because of the water, but we actually believe it has more to do with the recipe. We’ve handed our recipes down through the generations, all the way from Italy. Originally, our family operated a pizzeria in Brooklyn before coming to the North Carolina coast and then later moving inland to the Triad region. We don’t need New York water to make a great pizza.

It’s not just about the ingredients. We also use traditional cooking methods for our pizzas. And, like any good New York pizza, our toppings go all the way to the edge of the pie. We make sure every pizza is loaded with flavor.

Other Iconic New York Foods to Try

We love pizza, but if you’re in the mood to eat like a New Yorker, there are a few other delicious dishes to try as well, both here at Mario’s Pizza and at other restaurants and bakeries.

• Cheesecake – What’s a good meal without a sweet dessert? New York style cheesecake is iconic for its smooth texture and simple flavors. You can order a slice at any of our many restaurants in Winston-Salem, High Point, Greensboro, and Clemmons.
• Bagels – New York style bagels are boiled and baked, giving them a chewier texture than many other kinds of bagels. Top one with cream cheese and lox for breakfast before coming out to Mario’s for one of our lunch specials later in the day.
• Pastrami on Rye – This is a sandwich best ordered from the legendary Katz’s Delicatessen in Manhattan. However, if a trip isn’t in your cards anytime soon, we do offer both hot and cold subs at our restaurant.

Some of our other favorite iconic New York eats include “street meat” (gyro or pork souvlaki) with white sauce, egg creams, black and white cookies, and of course hot dogs.

FAQs About Our New York Pizza

Our friendly wait staff would love to answer any questions you have about our pizza menu or other Italian dishes. Here are a few questions our customers frequently ask:

Do you deliver New York style pizza near me?

We offer delivery through most major food deliver apps, including Slice, Doordash, Uber Eats, and GrubHub. You can also order ahead for pickup through our app or via phone.

What if I don’t want pizza?

Our Italian restaurant offers a wide range of other dishes, including calzones, stromboli, salads, subs, and many authentic pasta dishes. We also offer pizza by the slice, in case your family doesn’t want a full pie.

Can I join your rewards program?

Yes! You can download our app or use your phone number to sign-up in person at our restaurants. When you are a member of our rewards program, you earn points for every order, as well as birthday rewards and other offers.

Where are you located?

Good news: New York style pizza near me is easy to find throughout the Triad! We have three family-owned locations in Winston-Salem, two locations in High Point, one location in Clemmons, and three locations in Greensboro, including our new restaurant at Friendly Center. You can use the dropdown at the top of the page to find exact addresses, hours, and more information about any of our pizzerias. We hope to see you at one of our locations soon for a delicious taste of New York.

When you order from a nearby pizza shop like Mario’s Pizza, pizza isn’t your only option. Our authentic New York style pies are, in our humble option, the best you can buy here in North Carolina. However, our menu is also filled with other offerings, including a wide selection of appetizers. Here are five pizza pairings you can consider the next time you’re ordering from our Italian restaurant.

A Classic Combo: Pizza and Garlic Knots

Our pizza is Brooklyn-style, which means it has a thin, slightly chewy crust with toppings all the way to the edge. Our slices are huge, so a single large pizza can feed the whole family. However, if you love our crust as much as we do, you might want to pair your pizza with our famous garlic knots. These doughy bites pack a punch of garlic and pair perfectly with your slice of pizza.

Along with garlic bites, we also have two other bread starter options: garlic bread and cheesy garlic bread. Both are made with a delicious, thick Italian bread, plenty of garlic, and a side of marinara for dipping.

Our Friday night special is a 19″ one-topping pizza plus garlic knots. Or, if you like the garlic/cheesy bread options instead, check out our Wednesday night special for 17″ one-topping pizza plus any appetizer (excludes wings).

Please the Party with Pizza and Wings

If you’re ordering for Sunday football, tailgating, a birthday party, or any other fun event, why not add wings when you order pizza. Wings are a classic pizza pairing, and we offer both traditional bone-in wings as well as boneless wings. As an added benefit, boneless wings are great for kids who are picky eaters!

With both our bone-in and boneless wings, you can choose the sauce. We offer the following at all our nearby pizza shop locations:

• Mild
• Buffalo
• Honey BBQ
• Teriyaki
• Sweet Chili Sauce

If you love wings, make sure you don’t miss our Sunday special, which is a 19″ one-topping pizza plus 10 boneless wings.

Pizza and Fried Appetizers from a Nearby Pizza Shop

What goes better with pizza than mouth-watering fried foods? However, one of the downsides to ordering food for pickup or delivery is that fried foods don’t always travel well over long distances. That’s a huge reason to order your pizza and appetizers from Mario’s! We have nine locations in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, High Point, and Greensboro, so you are never far from one of our pizza restaurants. Better yet, we recently opened our newest location in Friendly Center. Additionally, our sister restaurant, Tony’s Pizza, has locations in Mooresville, Charlotte, Hickory, and Huntersville, so you can get your pizza fix in that area as well.

In terms of fried appetizers, we offer a variety of options. Fan favorites include:

• Jalapeño Poppers – crispy peppers stuffed with cheddar cheese and served with a side of ranch
• Mozzarella Sticks – six cheese sticks coated with an Italian breading, fried, and served with marinara sauce for dipping
• Toasted Ravioli – these fried pastas are stuffed with ricotta cheese and served with your choice of ranch or marinara
• Onion Rings – our onion rings are thick-sliced and beer-battered before frying, and they come with your choice of ranch or honey mustard sauce
• Fried Mushrooms – like our onion rings, our fried mushrooms are beer-battered, and they come with a side of ranch
• French Fries – who doesn’t love a thick-cut french fry? Ours come seasoned or unseasoned (your choice!)

Why stop at just one? Choose two or three appetizers along with a pizza for everyone in your family to share. You can all taste-test everything and compare notes to choose your favorites.

Add a Salad to Your Pizza Dinner

It’s never a bad idea to add some extra vegetables to your meal, especially when you’re ordering a pizza dinner. Here at Mario’s, we offer a few different entree-sized salad options:

• Garden Salad
• Greek Salad
• Chef Salad
• Caesar Salad

We also offer our garden salad and Greek salad options in party tray size. So, if you are feeding a crowd, it’s easy to add a salad to the meal.

With the exception of our Craisin’ salad, which has a mix of Craisin’ cranberries, sugared walnuts, and feta cheese over a bed of spinach, our salads all start with the perfect blend of romaine and iceberg lettuces. Each has its own toppings – check out this article about our salads for more details.

Pizza and Dessert

While we’ve mainly been talking about different options to add to your meal at our nearby pizza shop, our authentic Italian desserts pair nicely with pizza as well. Our recipes come straight from our family and trace all the way back to Italy. You can find the following desserts on our menu:

• Tiramisu
• Cannoli
• Cheesecake
• Limoncello Mascarpone Cake

We also offer cannoli trays, in case you are feeding a whole party. All four options are a delicious sweet treat to end your meal.

FAQs About Mario’s Pizza

We’d love to answer any questions you have about our pizza, appetizers, salads, desserts, or other delicious Italian food in Greensboro, Clemmons, High Point, and Winston-Salem. Here are a few frequently asked questions we get:

Do you have a rewards program?

Yes! You can come into any of our nearby pizza shop locations to sign up for our rewards program or download our app on Android or iOS. Order through the app or simply give your number to a member of our staff to earn points on every pizza.

Can you accommodate my special diet?

We have several vegetarian dinner options, and we also have gluten-free and cauliflower crusts. Our staff takes food allergies and special dietary needs very seriously, so if you have questions or concerns, just ask. Keep in mind, because of the possibility of cross-contamination (lots of flour flies around in our kitchen), we cannot guarantee that any dish is completely free of gluten.

What other foods do you offer?

In addition to pizza, appetizers, salads, and desserts, we also offer several options for entrees when you are craving Italian food. This includes subs, pasta dishes, calzones, stromboli, and more. Stop by or call us today to order your favorites.

Are you craving pasta… and not just any old pasta, but the best pasta near me? If you live in the NC Triad, come out to Mario’s Pizza. We make authentic Italian pasta dishes based on our secret family recipes all the way from Italy. Our team would love to satisfy your craving with a piping hot plate of pasta straight from our kitchen.

Pasta Dishes at Mario’s Pizza

Here at Mario’s, we give diners a taste of Italy with our Italian food. If you’re looking specifically for pasta for dinner, here’s what we offer:

• Baked ziti
• Eggplant parmigiana
• Chicken Parmigiana
• Meat Lasagna
• Baked ricotta cheese ravioli
• Spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce

We serve all these dishes with a side salad and garlic knots and top it with a delicious savory tomato sauce. Of course, you can also expect a lot of cheese and perfectly-done pasta that is never mushy or soggy. Our dishes are filled with flavor, which is why our customers come back again and again. Click here to read what they’re saying about the food from Mario’s.

The History of Pasta in Italy and the US

Today, pasta is usually recognized as an Italian food, because so many delicious pasta recipes originated in Italy. However, this recipe from Italy was likely derived from noodle dishes from China, which were brought to Italy by Marco Polo in the 13th century. Others believe that the first dishes spread to Europe from nomadic Arabs. Either way, pasta has a long and rich history in Asia. In China, they used flour made from the breadfruit tree to make several different kinds of dishes.

Once it made its way to Europe, makers began to use durum wheat to produce pasta flour. This created a dried product that could be easily stored and transported. Thanks to the mild temperatures in Italy, most dishes included fresh vegetables, and tomato sauce became extremely popular.

Pasta made its way to America in the 1700s. Thomas Jefferson was actually a huge influence on eating habits at the time and brought several cases of pasta over to his home in Virginia after spending time in Europe. In the 1800s, the United States saw a huge influx of Italian immigrants, especially from the Naples area, so pasta became a popular street food. You can read more about the history of pasta here!

Our Other Italian Entrees

Although our pasta dishes are very popular, we also serve a variety of other dishes. Of course, our main offering is pizza! We create NY-style pizza and have a variety of specialty toppings to satisfy any tastes. We also have the following other entrees on our menu:

• Calzones
• Stromboli
• Hot Subs
• Cold Subs
• Salads

Moreover, we also have several delicious appetizers available including Italian sausage, boneless and bone-in wings, toasted ravioli, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, garlic knots and garlic bread, jalapeno poppers, Italian meatballs, french fries, and fried mushrooms.

If you have a sweet tooth, you might also want to check out our dessert menu, which includes several authentic Italian treats such as tiramisu, cheesecake, and cannoli. We also have a homemade limoncello mascarpone cake, which has layers of luscious mascarpone between lemon-infused sponge and topped with white chocolate curls.

FAQs About Our Restaurant

A member of our staff would be happy to answer any questions you have about finding the perfect pasta dish at our restaurant. Here are a few frequently asked questions we get, along with the answers!

Do you really have the best pasta near me?

Finding the “best pasta near me” is going to be subjective of course, but we humbly think our recipes are top notch. Our family has been in the restaurant business for decades, starting in New York before moving to North Carolina. Come in and try one of our favorites; we think it will become your favorite as well.

Where is your Italian restaurant located?

We have several locations throughout the Triad, including locations in Winston-Salem, High Point, Greensboro, and Clemmons. Our newest Italian restaurant is located at Friendly Center in Greensboro. If you live in the Charlotte or Hickory area, you can also visit our sister restaurant, Tony’s Pizza. Use the drop-down at the top of the of the page to order from any of our locations or find our address and hours.

Do you have a rewards program?

Yes! You can sign up via our app or simply give your phone number to a member of our wait staff. You’ll earn points every time you eat at Mario’s Pizza. There’s no downside! Sign up today to start earning.

Can I get a Mario’s gift card?

We would love to help you give the perfect gift for any special location with a Mario’s gift card. Our gift cards are available in any amount, and you can buy them via our app or at any restaurant. They make great stocking stuffers for the holidays, and people also love to receive our gift cards for anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, and other special occasions.

Do you have any dinner specials near me?

Yes! We have several lunch specials, as well as a daily dinner special. If you’re looking for dinner specials near me, check out our Italian menu.

Can I order delivery to Winston-Salem, Greensboro, or the surrounding areas?

We would love to deliver pasta, pizza, or other delicious foods straight to your door. Our restaurant is available using Slice, Doordash, UberEats, and Grubhub. Order now for delivery or give our nearest location a call for pickup! We hope to see you soon.

No event is complete without some tasty food. The downside? Having to prepare it yourself! No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen during their own party. Here at Mario’s Pizza, we can provide delicious dishes to satisfy every diet. Instead of worrying about what people will eat, you can simply enjoy time with your friends and family. If you’re looking for takeout restaurants near me to feed a crowd, we’ve got you covered.

Effortless Dinner Plans with Mario’s

Our team has experience providing the food for large events, but what if you just need a quick dinner for your family or a few friends? We can be your go-to to-go restaurant (say that five times fast!).

As you’ve probably guessed from our name, our menu includes a selection of delicious pizzas. We specialize in Brooklyn-style pies, so expect large slices with tons of toppings and a crust that is the perfect balance of chewy and crispy. We don’t stop at pizza, though. Our menu also includes:

• Hot and cold subs
• Salads
• Italian entrees, such as baked ziti and meat lasagna
• Appetizers like wings and jalapeno poppers
• Traditional Italian desserts

We have vegetarian options, gluten-free crust, and cauliflower crust, in order to satisfy as many tastes and special diets as possible. We even have a vegan cheese option available.

When you need to order dinner fast in the North Carolina Triad, we can help. We have locations in Winston-Salam, High Point, Greensboro, and Clemmons, and serve the entire Triad area including Kernersville, Wallburg, Jamestown, Lewisville, and more. We also have a sister restaurant, Tony’s Pizza, which has locations in Charlotte, Huntersville, and Hickory.

Party Platters – Pizza, Pasta, and More

Not only can we feed your family, but we can also provide catering for events large and small. We have a number of party tray options:

• Eggplant Parmigiana
• Baked Ravioli
• Chicken Parmigiana
• Baked Ziti Lasagna
• Spaghetti with Marinara
• Spaghetti with Meatballs

Additionally, you can order our garden salad or Greek salad party tray, a garlic knot tray, or a decadent cannoli tray to round out your meal. With enough advanced notice, we can customize your order so you get the exact food you want for your event.

Of course, we can also provide pizzas! Our pizzas come in up to 24 inches, and you can choose your toppings or select any of our specialty pies from our menu:

• The Worx – our version of an “everything” pizza heaping with veggies, four different meats, and mushrooms
• Pizza Bianco – a white pizza option with ricotta cheese and fresh garlic
• 5 Boroughs – a tasty meat lovers’ pizza with bacon, beef, ham, pepperoni, and sausage
• The Greenhouse – our popular vegetarian pizza
• Spicy Buffalo Chicken – a new addition to our menu, which is perfect for anyone who likes a little spicy zing in their food

We also have Stromboli, which have mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce, and up to three toppings stuffed inside our crust, and calzones, which are filled with mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, and a topping of your choice. Both are delicious options if you want something a little different for food pickup near me in the Triad.

Sweet Treats from Takeout Restaurants Near Me

Most people think about lunch or dinner options when ordering food for takeout. However, here at Mario’s Pizza, we also have a to-go dessert menu. A sweet treat is the perfect end to any meal, and it tastes even sweeter when you don’t have to stress about making it yourself.

First, our cannoli party platters are always a big hit. Cannoli are pastries made from a fried tube of dough, filled with a sweet and creamy ricotta filling and just a touch of chocolate. The history of cannoli is fascinating and this dessert has roots in Italy, specifically Sicily. We use our family recipes to create authentic cannoli perfect for any celebration.

If cannoli are not for you, we have a few other sweet dessert options as well:

• Tiramisu – a mildly sweet coffee-flavored dessert made with layers of ladyfingers and mascarpone cream and topped with a dusting of cocoa
• Cheesecake – our love letter to New York, where our family first started in the restaurant business before moving to North Carolina
• Limoncello Mascarpone Cake – a rich but light lemon cake with layers of mascarpone and topped with white chocolate curls

Many takeout restaurants in Greensboro and the surrounding areas don’t provide authentic desserts made in-house. If you have a sweet tooth, we think you’ll love what we have to offer.

FAQs about Mario’s Takeout Restaurants Near Me

At Mario’s, we always strive to provide top-quality pizza takeout near me for families throughout the Triad. Here are a few frequently asked questions about ordering food from any of our locations:

Do you offer any specials or rewards?

Yes! We have a daily special, as well as a rewards program that allows you to earn points every time you order from our Italian restaurant. We also announce special deals on Facebook and Instagram. We even have giveaways for free pizzas for our followers. Follow us now so you don’t miss out on these offers and freebies!

Are you open right now?

Our hours can vary by location and are subject to change. However, we are typically open 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 9:30 PM Friday/Saturday, and Noon to 8 PM on Sunday. Check out our location info to double-check the hours for your preferred restaurant (make sure to select the desired location from the drop-down).

Can I have your food delivered?

We deliver via all your favorite food apps, including UberEats, Doordash, Slice, and Grubhub. If you are a member of our loyalty program, you can also order ahead & pay with your phone for pickup. Feel free to also call any location to place an order or ask any questions you may have about our Italian menu the next time you’re looking for takeout restaurants near me.

Here at Mario’s Pizza, we do our best to accommodate all diets. We want our pizza shop to be somewhere the entire family can go to enjoy a delicious Italian dinner together. If you’re looking for a place where you can order a gluten-free, vegan, allergen-free, or cauliflower crust pizza near me in the Triad, we’ve got you covered!

Why You’ll Love our Cauliflower Crust Pizza

We’ll be the first to admit that when you think of pizza or Italian food in general, waist-friendly options probably aren’t the first thing that come to mind. However, we want to make sure that we offer healthier options for people who want to indulge, but also don’t want to completely derail their diets.

Inherently, cauliflower crust is:

• lower in carbs
• higher in fiber and protein
• a good source of plant compounds and antioxidants, which may prevent inflammation

You can learn more about cauliflower and cauliflower crusts here.

Even if you aren’t following a special diet, you might want to give our cauliflower crust a try. You can simply enjoy cauliflower crust pizza near me if you want something different than a normal pizza crust. Many diners say they love the texture and flavor of our cauliflower crust.

Gluten-Free Pizza Options

Cauliflower crust is a good gluten-free option, but not everyone likes cauliflower. That’s why we offer a rice flour pizza crust option as well. This crust is a good option for those with health conditions that make processing gluten impossible, but who want a more traditional style crust. We pack a lot of flavor into our gluten-free crusts, making them taste as close to our normal wheat flour crusts as possible. Here are a few things to keep in mind when ordering our gluten-free pizza option:

• We take cross-contamination very seriously. That said, these crusts are made in the same kitchen as our traditional pies. If you have a severe gluten allergy, please be advised that we use the same equipment and ovens.
• Not all our toppings are gluten-free. If you aren’t sure, one of our wait staff can let you know which toppings have gluten and which do not.

We also have other gluten-free options if you aren’t in the mood for pizza. Our menu includes several salad options, for example, and we can always substitute ingredients that contain gluten, such as croutons.

Going gluten-free with either of our crust options or a different meal can have health benefits for everyone, including reducing bloat, clearing skin, and lowering cholesterol. You can read more about the health benefits here.

Go Vegan with Mario’s

Not only does our Italian restaurant have gluten-free and low-carb pizza options, but we also can accommodate vegetarian and vegan diners as well.

For vegetarians, we have several pizza and sub options, as well as the aforementioned salads. We also have several meat-free Italian dinner entrees, including:

• eggplant parmigiana
• baked ricotta cheese ravioli
• spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce

Our entrees come with a side salad and garlic knots to round out your vegetarian meal.

But what about vegans? Ask about our vegan cheese! We can make almost any pizza on our menu using vegan cheese instead of regular cheese. We also have many options for vegan toppings, including not only vegetables but also mushrooms, olives, and fresh garlic.

Accommodating Other Allergies at Our Restaurant

Here at Mario’s Pizza, we are happy to accommodate any allergy. Like we mentioned with gluten allergies, our food is made in a single kitchen, so please keep this in mind if your allergy is extremely severe. However, if you have a mild to moderate allergy or intolerance, please mention it to a member of our wait staff. We will do our best to provide you with tasty meal options that are safe for your diet.

We want Mario’s Pizza to be welcoming to everyone. At the end of the day, our goal is not only to serve delicious, authentic Italian food, but to also provide a fun and safe environment where you can spend time with the people you love. If there’s something we can do to make your experience better, just ask!

FAQs About Ordering Cauliflower Crust Pizza Near Me

We understand that if you are trying to order cauliflower crust pizza near me in the North Carolina Triad area, you might not have many options. We’re committed to being one of the chains that offers these alternative menu options for people with special diets. Here are a few frequently asked questions about ordering from Mario’s:

How can I order from Mario’s?

We have several locations throughout the Triad, including in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, High Point, and Greensboro to help your search for cauliflower crust pizza near me. Our sister restaurant, Tony’s Pizza, also has several locations in Charlotte, Huntersville, and Hickory. To order a cauliflower crust or rice flour crust, you can stop into any of our restaurants, give us a call, or place your order online. We are also available through DoorDash, Slice, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.

Do you have a loyalty program?

Yes! You can earn points for every dollar you spend when you join our reward program. You can sign up through our app or simply give your phone number to a member of our staff.

What kind of pizza do you serve?

Our pizza is Brooklyn-style, straight from New York City where our family operated a restaurant for many years before moving south. We have everything from cheese pizza to specialty pies. Our recipe has been passed down through the generations, and we think you’ll love them. Stop in today to try a slice!

Figuring out what to make for family meals can be frustrating, especially if there are multiple picky eaters in your house. If you’re stuck on what to eat for lunch, Mario’s Pizza can help. Here are five fun lunch ideas to consider, or for the easiest option, stop by our authentic Italian restaurant for a full menu of pizza, subs, wings, and more, including daily lunch specials.

Try an International Twist on an Old Favorite

According to one survey, some of American’s favorite things to eat at mealtime include:

1. Mashed potatoes
2. French fries
3. Hamburgers
4. Grilled Cheese
5. Fried Chicken

Other top lunch favorites include sandwiches, chicken nuggets/tenders, and salads.

If your family members tend to be creatures of habit, you can get creative by trying a new twist on one of their favorites. Think about how you can make your lunch globally-inspired to introduce a few new flavors or textures without going too far out of their comfort zone.

Here are some examples:

• Try teriyaki, jerk-style, or other unique international dipping sauces for your chicken.
• Add some brown gravy and cheese curds to your French fries to create the beloved Canadian dish poutine
• Create a grilled cheese or other type of sandwich using something other than slices of American and provolone. Try Spanish Manchego, Dutch Gouda, English Cheddar, or another type of delicious melty cheese.

Get creative by adding in a few interesting ingredients to encourage your family to try new things, without making them turn up their noses at something completely unfamiliar.

Create a Meat, Fruit, and Vegetable Tray Kids Will Love

Charcuterie boards are all the rage, and for good reason. People love the flexibility to try a wide range of foods during a single meal. There’s no reason you can’t make a version that your kids will love too, as a fun lunch option.

Traditionally, a charcuterie board shows off upscale cured pork products, and many also include nuts, cheese, fruits, vegetables, crackers, spreads, and dipping sauces. For your lunchtime charcuterie board with the kids, you can add:

• Rolled lunch meat and sliced cheese
• Baby carrots, celery sticks, sliced cucumbers, broccoli, and other raw vegetables they enjoy
• Crackers (Ritz, goldfish, saltines, or anything else in your pantry)
• Peanut butter
• Sliced applies, berries, orange slices, grapes, and other fresh fruits
• Raisins
• Pieces of bread or toast, cut into strips
• Pretzels

You can add any other snacky foods in your house as well. Don’t forget to add in a few more unusual options to encourage picky eaters to try new things. You could include foods such as hummus, kiwi or other tropical fruits, pickles, and more.

Have Breakfast for Lunch with a Pancake or Waffle Bar

Sometimes your mornings can be very rushed, so it isn’t possible to make pancakes or waffles. You can make them for a fun lunch instead, with a toppings bar that kids (and – who are we kidding – adults too!) will love. Here are a few fun toppings to try on your pancakes or waffles:

• Maple syrup of course (and try warming it a bit with some flavoring extract like vanilla for a fun twist)
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate shavings or chips
• Peanut butter
• Candied bacon
• Fresh berries or fruit syrup
• Jam
• Sprinkles
• Sliced bananas
• Apples stewed with some cinnamon (or use apple pie filling!)
• Mini marshmallows
• Honey
• Walnuts or pecans
• Shredded coconut

You can make your waffle/pancake bar slightly healthier with options like fresh fruit, nuts, and honey, or you can get indulgent for a special occasion with candy toppings.

Whip Up Some Easy Quesadillas if You Need an Idea for What to Eat for Lunch

Quesadillas are a fun lunch alternative to sandwiches and wraps. They are extremely easy to customize so you can please everyone. You can even make tortillas at home by mixing together 2 cups of flour, 3/4 cup of water, and a pinch of salt. Little hands will love to help you knead the dough into a smooth consistency, and after it rests for ten minutes, divide into 8 balls and roll into thin circles. Cook in a greased pan for a few minutes and viola: homemade tortillas.

Of course, you can also choose the easier route with a store-bought version as well. Either way, top one tortilla with your desired fillings. This is a great way to use leftover ground beef, steak, pulled pork, or chicken. Then, top with your favorite cheeses and a second tortilla and grill for a few minutes on each side.

Stop by Mario’s Pizza for Lunch

Sometimes, even the best lunch ideas in the world just don’t sound good in the moment. When you don’t know what to eat for lunch, bring the whole gang to Mario’s. Our lunch menu includes full pizzas and pizza by the slice, a wide range of Italian pasta entrees, hot and cold subs, and more. There’s a little something for everyone, even if you don’t want pizza for lunch.

If your day is especially busy, we also offer delivery via Slice, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Additionally, you can call us for a carry-out order. Don’t forget to join our rewards program to earn points with every visit!

FAQs About Mario’s Lunch Menu

We’d love to answer any questions you have about the Mario’s Pizza lunch menu. Here are a few FAQs to get you started:

Do you have options for special diets?

Yes! We have both a gluten-free crust and a cauliflower crust option. Notably, we take allergies very seriously, so please tell a staff member if someone in your family has an allergy or sensitivity. Likewise, we also have some carb-conscious options, including a wide variety of salads.

Can I order catering?

We have a variety of party trays available to make your next work meeting, party, or event delicious! Our team can also provide large quantities of pizza, calzones, strombolis, and other foods. Please provide 72 hours notice for catering.

What makes Mario’s different?

We bring traditional Italian food to North Carolina with our authentic family recipes. Our family has roots in Calabria, Italy, and we grew up in Brooklyn before moving south. You can read more about our journey here, and we hope to see you at one of our locations for an Italian lunch soon!

At Mario’s Pizza, you can get a taste of authentic Italian food right here in the Triad. We have a full menu of Brooklyn-style pizza, pasta, and other favorites, including what we humbly believe is the best calzone near me. If you’ve never had a calzone before, we would love to make one for you, filled with your favorite toppings.

What is a Calzone?

Calzones are an Italian invention, and roughly translates to “pants legs.” Naples pizza-makers created calzones in the 1700s as an on-the-go pizza so you could eat it while walking around, hence the name. They were originally just normal pizzas folded in half, which gave them their traditional half-moon shape. However, over time calzones have become their own thing, rather than just being a version of pizza.

Today’s calzones still have the half-moon shape, as opposed to stromboli, which is a rectangle shape where the dough is rolled into a log. Calzones typically have a cheese blend inside, featuring ricotta and other cheese varieties. They can also be stuffed with a variety of other toppings. We serve the sauce on the outside, however. It’s perfect for dipping. With a stromboli, the sauce is baked into the center with the other ingredients, so the resulting texture is a bit different.

Calzones still make a great meal on the go. We even have a calzone lunch special on Tuesday if you stop by Mario’s for a quick bite. We have eight locations throughout the Triad, in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, High Point, and Greensboro. Our sister restaurant, Tony’s Pizza, also has locations in Mooresville, Charlotte, Hickory, and Huntersville to satisfy your calzone cravings.

Calzones: Are They Better Than Pizza?

Pizza will always be our first love, but there are a few reasons why you might choose a calzone instead. Here are the top five reasons why calzones are sometimes better than pizza:

1. You get a bigger ratio of toppings to crust. Hey, we get it. Some people are just not “crust” people. We think our crust is the best in the Triad, but you might still like that a calzone gives you a huge pocket of delicious toppings to enjoy.
2. Calzones are grab-and-go, as mentioned. While you can sit in our dining room to enjoy a calzone, they are perfect when you want Italian food but don’t have time to stop for a long meal.
3. You get to determine the perfect amount of sauce for every bite. Because we serve the sauce on the side for dipping, you can pick if you want a little sauce or a lot. Just ask one of our servers if you need more!
4. Calzones stay warmer longer. Who doesn’t like to catch up with old friends over pizza? The only problem is that sometimes you get so caught up talking, your pizza gets cold in the meantime. Because of the pocket shape, calzones stay warm a lot longer.
5. Everyone in your family can choose their own toppings. Our pizzas easily serve the whole family, but that means you have to agree on toppings. Calzones are single-serve, so you can each pick your own.

Strombolis also have some of the same benefits over pizza, but with more crust and sauce on the inside. Our strombolis also have mozzarella cheese instead of a mozzarella/ricotta blend, so if you don’t like ricotta cheese, they might be the best option for you.

Delicious Calzone Toppings

Our calzones come with a delicious cheese blend and your choice of one topping. We have a huge range of toppings available here at Mario’s Pizza!

Toppings for meat lovers:

• Pepperoni
• Sausage
• Sliced sausage
• Beef
• Ham
• Chorizo
• Salami
• Beef roni
• Meatball
• Bacon
• Canadian bacon
• Grilled chicken (premium)
• Crispy chicken (premium)
• Steak (premium)

Vegetarian options:

• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Banana peppers
• Bell peppers
• Roasted peppers
• Black olives
• Fresh garlic
• Spinach
• Pineapple
• Fresh tomatoes
• Jalapenos
• Green olives
• Eggplant
• Feta cheese (premium)
• Artichoke hearts (premium)
• Broccoli (premium)
• Anchovies (premium)
• Kalamata olives (premium)
• Sun-dried tomatoes (premium)
• Roasted red peppers (premium)

Some of our most popular topping options for calzones include spinach, pepperoni, and mushrooms, but you can choose the topping that sounds tastiest to you. The best calzone near me will be the one that fits your personal preferences.

FAQs About Ordering the Best Calzone Near Me

Our servers would be happy to answer any calzone questions you may have. Here are a few we get about ordering an authentic calzone you love:

Do you have any calzone specials?

Along with our weekly Tuesday calzone lunch special, we also have a rewards program. You can sign up online, via our app, or by giving your phone number to one of our staff members when dining in. You’ll earn points any time you order a calzone or any food at Mario’s Pizza!

What other entrees do you have available?

We are a top Italian restaurant in the Triad and offer a large selection of traditional Italian entrees, including not only the best calzone near me, but also the following other dishes:

• New-York style pizza and strombolis
• Appetizers such as Italian sausage, garlic knots, wings, garlic bread, toasted ravioli, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, Italian meatballs, garlic cheesy bread, french fries, and fried mushrooms
• Hot and cold subs
• Salads
• Eggplant parmigiana and chicken parmigiana
• Meat Lasagna
• Baked Ziti
• Baked Ricotta Cheese Ravioli
• Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

We also offer a selection of authentic Italian desserts, including tiramisu, cannoli, cheesecake, and limoncello mascarpone cake, as well as a kids menu with seven different options. You can see our full menu here!

Are you open for dine in?

Yes! Our dining rooms are open if you’d like to enjoy your calzone or other entrees at our restaurant. We also offer convenient online ordering if you would rather pick up or have your pizza delivered. Click here to learn more or stop into any dining room today for you next authentic Italian meal.

Are you searching for the best Italian restaurants near me? Here at Mario’s Pizza, we bring an authentic taste of Italy to the North Carolina Triad. Bring your family into any of our locations in Winston-Salem, High Point, Greensboro, or Clemmons to learn more about this delicious cuisine.

What is Authentic Italian Cuisine?

Like most cuisines in the United States, Italian food came to this country as people immigrated from Italy in the 1800s. This cuisine became more mainstream throughout North American in the 1920s, especially in east coast locations such as Brooklyn which our family called home until the 1980s when we came to North Carolina. We use family recipes originally from Calabria, Italy, so you’re getting a real taste of Italian cuisine.

First off: pizza. We serve New York-style pizza that comes in 10″, 15″, 17″, 19″, and giant 24″ party size. As is traditional, our pizzas have a thin crust for the perfect foldable slice. We top it with our family’s tomato sauce and, of course, a generous layer of cheese.

Pasta is another staple in Italy. In fact, the national dish is spaghetti bolognese. Here at Mario’s, we offer a number of popular pasta dishes. Here are our top four favorites:

1. Baked Ziti
2. Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce
3. Baked Ricotta Cheese Ravioli
4. Eggplant/Chicken Parmesan

Traditionally, authentic Italian cuisine does not include much meat, especially because dinner tends to be served later than we’re used to here in the US, as late as 10 PM. Instead, it heavily favors veggies and herbs for a slightly lighter meal. However, as Italian cuisine fused with American cuisine during the 20th century, diners started to see more meat on the menu. Today, one of our favorite dishes is our homemade meat lasagna. It’s the perfect combination of fresh tomato sauce, pasta, cheese, and meat.

Eat Like an Italian with Your Whole Family at Mario’s

If you’re looking for an Italian dining experience, bring your entire family to Mario’s. At its heart, Italian food is all about family. Mario’s is owned and operated by three brothers, and we love providing a tasty, casual dining experience for all ages, as well as at our sister restaurant, Tony’s Pizza, which has locations in Mooresville, Charlotte, Hickory, and Huntersville.

We believe good food doesn’t have to be fussy. We cater to families and even have several super affordable kids’ meal options, available every day, including:

• meatball sub with fries
• ham and cheese sub with fries
• cheese or pepperoni slices of our New York-style pizza
• pasta (spaghetti or ziti with your choice of sauce and optional meatballs)
• stuffed cheese ravioli with marinara or butter sauce
• chicken tenders (grilled or crispy) with fries

Our kids’ meals also include a drink in a reusable cup, which you can take home to use over and over again.

Delicious Italian Desserts at the Best Italian Restaurants Near Me

We love a sweet treat at the end of any meal. Our family recipes feature traditional ingredients to create classic desserts. Here’s what you’ll find at all Mario’s locations to satisfy your sweet tooth:

• Tiramisu – This dish is a coffee-lover’s dream. It has layers of coffee-dipped ladyfingers and thick mascarpone-based cream, with a dusting of cocoa on top.
• Cannoli – We start with a fried pastry tube, and when it is perfectly crispy we fill it with sweet cream. Our cannoli dessert also features chocolate chips and is topped with powdered sugar.
• Limoncello Mascarpone Cake – For this dessert, we use layers of Sicilian lemon sponge cake and mascarpone cream. It is reminiscent of limoncello, which is a lemon liqueur common in southern Italy. You can enjoy our white chocolate-topped cake without worrying about a hangover!

Additionally, we have a New York cheesecake on the menu. We can’t forget our Brooklyn roots!

You Can’t Have the Best Italian Restaurants Near Me without Pizza

While we do offer a wide variety of authentic Italian dishes, it wouldn’t be an Italian restaurant without the pizza. You can order a pie with your favorite toppings, or choose from our specialty options:

• 5 Boroughs – Our meat lover’s option, complete with the five pizza boroughs: bacon, beef, sausage, ham, and pepperoni
• Pizza Bianco – A simple white pizza with ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and lots of fresh garlic
• The Worx – This is our “everything” pizza, which is topped with pepperoni, sausage, beef, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, bell peppers, and black olives
• The Greenhouse – Our veggie lover’s pizza has tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, black olives, spinach, and mushrooms

You can also simply choose your own toppings to create a custom pie. We offer a huge range of options (everything you’d expect to find at a pizzeria near me from pepperoni to pineapple). Additionally, you can choose our premium toppings, which include:

• Premium meats: grilled or crispy chicken and steak
• Feta cheese
• Artichoke hearts
• Broccoli
• Anchovies
• Kalamata olives
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Roasted red peppers

You can even get your toppings on just half of the pie. So, if your family just can’t agree, you can get mushrooms and anchovies on one side and spinach, bacon, and sun-dried tomatoes on the other side. You and your family can enjoy creating new combinations to find that perfect family-favorite order.

FAQs about Italian Food at Mario’s

You can call us any time if you have questions about our menu. One of the things that makes us the best Italian restaurants near me is our customer service. We love our customers! Here are a few frequently asked questions we hear to get you started:

Do you offer any specials?

Yes! We have daily meal specials. In addition, we offer a lunch special; get a pepperoni or cheese slice, along with a side and drink for one low price. Our lunch special is available until 4 PM daily.

Is there a loyalty program?

You can get a free slice of pizza just for signing up for our rewards program. You’ll also earn points on every order, which allows you to earn discounts on future orders. You can sign up here for iPhones or here for Androids or simply ask our wait staff to help you sign up the next time you dine at our restaurant. We hope to see you soon!

Are you craving an authentic Italian pizza experience? Come down to Mario’s Pizza for lunch near me. Our recipes were passed down through the generations from Calabria, Italy. Today, we have eight locations in the Triad area. We’d love to serve you and your family.

What is New York-Style Pizza?

Here at Mario’s, we bring you a delicious New York-Style Pizza directly from Brooklyn. New York-style pizza developed in the early 1900s when Gennaro Lombardi opened the first pizzeria in the United States in Lower Manhattan. Many major chain restaurants serve this style of thin-crust pizza.

However, here at Mario’s we do things just a little differently than the chains! We use traditional recipes and fresh ingredients to create the perfect pie, based on our family recipes and Brooklyn background. Our chefs start with a thin, hand-tossed crust, topped with our unique tomato sauce, high-quality cheese, and your choice of other toppings.

Our most popular toppings include the normal crowd pleasers such as pepperoni and extra cheese. In addition to choosing your own toppings, we also have a few specialty options, which are fan favorites:

• The Worx: Our “everything” pizza, with pepperoni, sausage, beef, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, and black olives
• Pizza Bianco: For those of you who love a white pizza variety – ours has ricotta cheese, fresh garlic, and mozzarella cheese
• 5 Boroughs: A meat-lovers pizza with bacon, beef, ham, pepperoni, and sausage
• The Greenhouse: The ultimate vegetarian pizza with tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, black olives, spinach, and mushrooms

You can order any of these pizzas – or create your own – at our restaurants. Or, we offer delivery through your favorite services, including Slice, Doordash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. We have multiple locations in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, High Point, and Greensboro, and we serve the entire Triad area through delivery, including Kernersville, Lewisville, Walkertown, Lexington, Thomasville, Rural Hall, Advance, Mocksville, King, Summerfield and more. If you’re looking to order pizza in Winston-Salem or any of the surrounding areas, we’ve got you covered.

More Than Just Pizza at Mario’s

If pizza isn’t really your favorite meal (gasp!), don’t worry. We have other options on our Italian menu when you’re craving lunch near me. Here are just a few of our other Italian offerings:

• Stromboli
• Calzone
• Baked Ziti
• Eggplant Parmigiana
• Chicken Parmigiana
• Meat Lasagna
• Baked Ricotta Cheese Ravioli
• Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

We also have a full appetizer menu that includes Italian sausage, garlic knots, wings, garlic bread, toasted ravioli, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, meatballs, cheesy bread, fried mushrooms, and french fries. Additionally, we have savory subs. Moreover, we also a kids‘ menu that has seven different meal options for $5 and under.

Delicious Desserts After Your Italian Lunch Near Me

At the end of your meal, do you crave something sweet? We offer a number of authentic Italian desserts to satisfy any sweet tooth.

First up, if you love coffee, try our tiramisu. Tiramisu was first created in Treviso, which is a small town near Venice in Italy, and gained popularity in America in the 1980s. This desert includes thick layers of mascarpone-based cream and a dusting of cocoa powders on top. It’s perfect if you love a dessert that is sweet, but not too sweet.

Our menu also features cannoli. These fried tubes of pastry are filled with a mixture of sweet cream and ricotta cheese, mixed together with chocolate chips and sprinkled with powdered sugar. This dessert is a centuries-old treat that originally came from Sicily. Today, cannoli are enjoyed around the world with a variety of different fillings and toppings, but we think our traditional-style recipe can’t be beat.

For those who are looking for something a little different, we also offer a delicious limoncello mascarpone cake. Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur popular in southern Italy as an after-dinner drink. As the name suggests, it has a strong lemon flavor. Our dessert has layers of sponge cake infused with limoncello and Italian mascarpone. We top it with white chocolate curls.

Last but not least, we go back to our Brooklyn roots by offering slices of cheesecake. We serve authentic New York-style cheesecake. Order a slice for a dense, rich, slightly tangy and sweet end to your meal here at Mario’s.

FAQs about Our Italian Restaurant

We’d love to answer any questions you have about our Italian menu. Here are a few frequently asked questions we hear to get you started.

Do you offer lunch specials?

We have daily specials, which are valid all day. In addition, we have lunch specials available until 4 PM daily. You can choose from our daily lunch slice special or our daily lunch sub special, which both come with a side and drink. We also have a 10-inch pizza lunch special available every day. If you love specials and deals, you can also follow us on Facebook to be the first to know about any extra offers and events here at Mario’s.

What should I order for lunch?

Our entire menu is available for lunch. However, if you’re not sure what to order, our staff would be happy to recommend an option based on your tastes. Many people love our slice special for lunch, since you can enjoy our pizza without committing to an entire pie.

Do you have a loyalty program?

Yes! If you love our pizza (and we know you will!), join our loyalty program to earn points every time you come to our Italian restaurant. Just download the “Mario’s Tony’s” app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or sign up by giving our staff your mobile number when you eat in our dining room. Start earning today by coming into any of our locations for a delicious Italian lunch.