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A Los Angeles Italian Dining Legacy

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For more than 50 years, the Marino family has been part of Los Angeles’ Italian dining history, welcoming generations of guests from the worlds of film, music, fashion, politics, and beyond.

 

The story began in 1953, when Ciro “Mario” Marino arrived in Los Angeles and joined the legendary Villa Capri in Hollywood. Its guests included James Dean, Howard Hughes, and Rita Hayworth.

It was an extraordinary era in Los Angeles dining, alongside restaurateurs who would go on to establish such iconic restaurants as Dan Tana’s, La Scala, Matteo’s, and La Dolce Vita.

 

In 1957, Ciro opened his first restaurant, Via Veneto, on Sunset Plaza, followed by Martoni’s on Cahuenga Boulevard in 1960. Martoni’s quickly became a Hollywood institution, welcoming Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, and many others.

In 1970, he opened Martoni-Marquis on the Sunset Strip, across from the Chateau Marmont, where guests included Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, and Elvis Presley.

 

After spending several years in Italy with his wife, Maria, and their three children, Ciro with his family returned to Los Angeles. In 1983, he and Maria opened Marino Ristorante near Paramount Studios. It soon became a gathering place for longtime patrons, entertainment-industry leaders, and generations of families drawn to its warm hospitality and classic Italian cuisine.

 

Today, Marino Ristorante proudly continues as a family tradition. Ciro and Maria’s children,

Mario, Sal, and Rosanna, carry forward the legacy their parents began. Mario welcomes guests with the warmth and hospitality that have defined Marino for generations, while Chef Sal honors his father’s culinary traditions with a modern sensibility, sourcing exceptional seasonal ingredients from local farmers’ markets and select purveyors around the world.

From its elegant white-tablecloth dining room and private dining spaces to its inviting patio,

Marino remains rooted in timeless Italian hospitality. Its carefully curated wine program reflects decades of family stewardship, with a deep and mature cellar built over generations.

 

More than a restaurant, Marino is a Los Angeles tradition, a place where exceptional Italian cuisine, family, and hospitality have come together for generations.