Mario's Italian Lemonade
4.4
from - Neighborhood: Little Italy/University Village
- 1068 W. Taylor St.
- Chicago, IL 60607
- xxx-xxx-xxxx
- Price range: $ (Under $9)
Mario's Italian lemonade has the consistency of a Slurpee and is like store-bought Italian ices, ''only better,'' promises Dorothy DiPaolo, the current owner's mother. Mario's ices consist of chilled slushlike lemonade, fruit and syrups in various flavors including fruit cocktail, pina colada, chocolate and banana. Lemon is the No. 1 flavor. DiPaolo opened the business in the '50s with her late husband, Mario. The wooden stand is Italian green, white and red, sprouting from the front of a brick rowhouse next door to Jamoch's Caffe. DiPaolo says that when she and her husband opened their stand, there were many stands and pushcarts in the neighborhood. Over the years, most have disappeared. She says customers from many years ago who went to nearby St. Ignatius come back and bring their children. Mario's also sells snacks including snowballs, seeds and nuts, lupini beans, dried chickpeas and candy.
Getting There
- Cross Streets:
- Racine and Taylor.
- Parking:
- Street
- Public Transportation:
- CTA Bus: 37 Sedgwick, 60 Blue Island 26th. Blue Line Train: Racine stop.
- Wheelchair Access:
- Yes
The Basics
- Hours:
- 11 a.m.-midnight from early May to September 15th. In bad weather, when not many people are out, the stand sometimes closes early.
- Cuisine:
- Italian
- Meals Served:
- Dessert
- Price Range:
- $ (Under $9)
- Smoking:
- No
- Audience:
- Families
Features
- Carryout:
- Yes
- Features:
- Kids Menu and On-site Merchandise. No seating. Kid size portions. No buffet.
- Worth Noting:
- recommended
- Specialties:
- Italian lemonade.
- Payment Methods:
- Cash
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
Write a review
Rate Mario's Italian Lemo...
"Neighborhood fixture"
By cdg2009 from Little Italy/University Village, July 12, 2009
convenient, busy huge selection of flavors
Report This Review
"BF and I have different tastes..."
By IBcute81 from Chatham, May 24, 2009
I love this place...really really love it. The fruit chunks are awesome. Tutti Frutti is one of the best, or you can mix two flavors. BF thought it...
Report This Review
"SOOOO GOOD!!!"
By Mirz112 from Lincoln Park/Lake View, July 23, 2008
This is the BEST Italian Ice/Lemonade I've ever had. I'm not sure why anyone would say anything negative about Mario's because it is AMAZING! My fr...
Report This Review
