Marra's Italian Restaurant

The black-tiled facade, wooden booths and pizza oven made with bricks from Mt. Vesuvius have made Marra's an Avenue mainstay for 88 years that's still beloved by many.

Unfortunately, it's mostly nostalgia, as my visits have brought consistently disappointing renditions of Italian-American favorites dimmed by generic red gravy, careless cooking, and low-grade ingredients (including on the once-solid pizza).

This classic really needs some fresh love and energy.

Revisited April 2015