Mario's Luigis Downtown Brings Italian-American Ambiance to Hall Road

It's address may have changed, but customers of Mario's Luigis Downtown restaurant can rest assured its menu hasn't.

Although the Italian-American eatery has moved from Mount Clemens to Clinton Township, owners Mario and Ava Olgiati are still serving up the pizza, spareribs and “old Italian ambiance" that made the original location famous among its customers.

From its checkered tablecloths and hanging balconies, to painted views of the Italian Riviera and Amalfi Coast on its walls, the new Mario's looks strikingly similar to the original, which the Olgiatis operated for 17 years.

“We wanted to keep the old world element that we had in the old place but with more of a modern American and old world combination,” Mario Olgiati said. “The public really loved the old Italian ambiance we had and we’ve brought all that with us and added some touches to it.”

Olgiati points to the restaurant’s iconic Statue of Liberty as an example.

“We brought that with us. The Statue of Liberty in the place in Mount Clemens used to be above the front door and the only time you saw it was when you were leaving,” Olgiati said. Now the figure stands over the bar, “so as soon as you walk in you see it.”

That Lady Liberty is the restaurant's focal point is only fitting as Mario's new location is none other than Liberty Plaza–a fact Olgiati puts down to fate and serves as assurance that his decision to leave Mount Clemens was the right one.

“I always had a deep desire to be on Hall Road and I’ve been a Clinton Township person for pretty much the better part of my life,” Olgiati said. “Mount Clemens was a great, great experience, but we had an opportunity here (in Clinton Township) and we wanted to take advantage of it.”

The new location is roughly one-third larger than the Mount Clemens venue and boasts one-third more staff. 

“That this is a dream come true is an understatement,” Olgiati said. “I would like to be here (on Hall Road) as long as I can. This is a long-term venture.” 

Although the restaurant has been open less than a month, Olgiati said he has already noticed several new faces as well as Mount Clemens regulars.

“It’s a very pleasant mixture of the old customers we accumulated in Mount Clemens and a lot of new faces,” he said. “It’s probably 50-50 right now.”

Mario's Luigis Downtown is open at 4 p.m., seven days a week. It is located at 44905 Morley Dr. in Clinton Township, next to Morley Candy Makers.