High energy and on a first name basis with the "who's who" of show business, Ciro "Mario" Marino was known more to bow before the food, palms together almost in prayer, than make a show of conversation. His reverence for the food he created shined through the deceptively simple, unpretentious dishes he presented day after day and night after night for 50 years.
Born in Naples, Italy on October 26, 1932 Ciro Marino- son of a merchant marine a housewife. He was one of 10 brothers and sisters- four which survived the end of WWII. Following his father's footsteps, Ciro entered the merchant marine at age 16 traveling the world. After 4 years he moved to NYC in the early 50's becoming a waiter and beginning his craft in the restaurant business. He moved to Los Angeles in 1952, first working at the famous Chianti restaurant then at Villa Capri, the Sinatra rat pack hangout, a place James Dean liked to practice his Italian in the kitchen with Ciro and a young Howard Hughes dined with beautiful women. The original waiter staff laid claim to the string of the most popular Italian restaurants in the 60s including Dan Tana, La Scala, La Dolce Vita, Matteo's and his future venture Martoni's opened with his co worker Toni.
His first place was Via Veneto on Sunset Plaza opened in 1957. He reported "I created the first outdoor café in Los Angeles so popular that Via Veneto couldn't get people to leave until 4am!"
Martoni's followed in 1960 in Hollywood on Cahuenga Blvd. According to the guidebooks, Martoni's was "known for excellent food, service and a celebrity draw." Everyone from Frank Sinatra to members of the The Beatles, Jackson 5, Nat King Cole, Phil Specter and more hung out at Martoni's bar each night full three rows deep. Musicians wanting to be discovered and agents wanting to get in the door took jobs as buss boys and waiters. Major record contracts were signed and napkins were used for scribbling major movie plots. Sonny Bono hastily penned the song "Look at Me" after being refused service for his wild attire on evening- a song forever made famous by its flip side "I've Got You Babe"
He opened the Martoni Marquis on hip Sunset Strip in 1970 and regulars Liz Taylor, John Wayne and Elvis Presley made it famous. In 1976 he and wife Maria moved to Italy to raise their three children. Following a few years in Naples, Marino packed up his family returning to Hollywood to open Marino Ristorante on Melrose Avenue in 1983 becoming the unofficial Paramount Studios commissary and power lunch spot for producers, agents and entertainment lawyers. Wife Maria became the hostess. Daughter Rosanna helped manning the register on weekends. Sons, Mario (jr.) and Sal joined in their teens to work while attending high school.
His old time customers Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis jr., Gary Grant, Jerry Lewis, Ann Miller, Hank Mancini and many more returned populating his tables. They were joined by a younger and more diverse but loyal and regular clientele which included screen actors Sharon Stone, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, music composers Bill Conti and Alan Silvestri, performers like LL Cool J, Snoop Dog and Placido Domingo, heads of studios, agents, lawyers and LA's top politicians.
Mario (jr) and Maria “mom” Marino remain today. Mario is also co-owner of La Bottega Marino trattorias’ with partner/brother Sal also chef/owner of Il Grano in West LA.
