This family-run Italian spot serves its spaghetti and meat sauce inside a building that used to be a city hall. The water tower out back watches over it like a very tall uncle.
The outside is a plain gray building across from a grocery store. Inside, you get wood paneling and checkered tablecloths that feel borrowed from a grandma’s dining room.
I like how it skips the flash and lets the pasta do the talking.
This kitchen has been feeding the Des Moines area since 1997. Iowa has plenty of chain Italian places, but few feel this personal.
I believe that matters when you’re about to eat your weight in noodles.
There are warm breadsticks, baked cavatelli, and a calzone stuffed with two cheeses. So what would you order first?
The Spaghetti That Earns Its Spot On Your Weekend Plans
Spaghetti with a robust meat sauce is the headliner at Marino’s Italian Restaurant. It’s simple, classic, and exactly the kind of plate that makes a drive feel justified.
Plenty of restaurants treat spaghetti as the safe pick for picky eaters. Here, it gets the respect of a main event, and that changes things.
The meat sauce is the whole point. It’s hearty enough to cling to every strand, which is what you want when you twirl your fork.
I can’t imagine a better test of an Italian kitchen than its spaghetti. Fancy dishes can hide mistakes, but a bowl of noodles and sauce has nowhere to hide.
Marino’s has been cooking for the Des Moines area since 1997. That’s a long time to keep a simple dish good, and it shows real commitment.
Portions here run generous, so a takeout box might come home with you. Leftover spaghetti for lunch tomorrow sounds like a pretty great bonus.
My tip is easy. Order the spaghetti on your first visit, even if something fancier tempts you, because it’s the dish the place’s name feels built around.
Then come back for everything else. Trust me, you’ll have plenty of reasons to return.
Warm Breadsticks Show Up Before You Can Get Impatient
Bread is the opening act at plenty of Italian restaurants. At this Johnston favorite, the breadsticks arrive warm with a rich red sauce for dunking.
That sauce is the secret helper. A plain breadstick is nice, but one dragged through red sauce becomes a tiny meal of its own.
Fair warning, though. It’s very easy to fill up on bread before your pasta even lands, and nobody wants that rookie mistake.
I like to think of breadsticks as a preview. They give you a taste of the kitchen’s style before the big dishes arrive at the table.
Food here is made fresh, so your entree can take a little while. Warm bread makes that wait feel a lot more pleasant.
Here’s a smart plan for groups. Share the basket, save room, and use the last breadstick to wipe up leftover sauce from your pasta plate later.
Kids usually love this part too. A breadstick and some sauce can keep a hungry little one happy while the grown-ups chat.
Small details like this make a meal feel cared for. Good luck stopping at just one.
A Salad With House Dressing Worth Taking Seriously
Nobody drives across town for a side salad. Still, the one at Marino’s Italian Restaurant deserves a moment of your attention before the pasta steals the show.
The salad comes fresh and crisp. It’s topped with a house-made Italian dressing, which is a nice touch many places skip entirely.
House-made dressing matters more than you might guess. Bottled versions often taste flat, while a kitchen-made one shows the cooks care about the small stuff.
Think of the salad as your palate’s warm-up stretch. A cool, crunchy bite feels great before a plate of baked cheese and sauce.
The menu also lists a salad supreme for folks who want something bigger. That’s handy if you want a lighter meal or a bit more crunch.
Here’s a practical idea for a lighter night. Pair a salad with a cup of soup or split an entree with a friend.
Portions run big, so splitting is a sensible move. You’ll still leave full without needing a nap in the parking lot.
Simple greens, good dressing, no fuss. Sometimes that’s exactly what an old-school meal needs first.
Baked Cavatelli With Sausage Brings Serious Cheese Energy
Cheese lovers, pay attention. The cavatelli with sausage comes under a thick layer of baked cheese that practically begs for a fork.
Underneath, you’ll find crumbled sausage and a rich, flavorful sauce. Cavatelli are small, curled pasta shells that catch sauce in every little groove.
That shape is a fun bit of trivia. Cavatelli comes from southern Italy, and its curl works like a tiny scoop for sauce and meat.
Baked pasta dishes are a strength at this Iowa kitchen. Lasagna is on the menu too, along with other oven-baked comfort classics.
Here’s my honest advice. If spaghetti feels too simple for your mood, cavatelli is the cozy, bubbling upgrade you’re looking for.
It’s also a great dish for cold nights. Iowa winters can be long, and a hot plate of baked pasta helps a lot.
Since the food is cooked fresh, baked dishes may take a bit longer. Relax with your breadsticks and let the oven do its job.
The reward is worth it. That golden cheese top is the kind of thing you’ll think about on the drive home.
The Calzone And Sausage Pizza Make A Strong Case For Sharing
Pasta gets the spotlight, but the pizza oven has fans of its own. The pepperoni calzone is stuffed with mozzarella and ricotta cheese.
It arrives with marinara sauce on the side. Dipping each bite is half the fun, and nobody has to tell you how to do it.
Two cheeses inside one golden pocket is a winning plan. Mozzarella brings the stretch, while ricotta adds a soft, creamy middle.
Sausage pizza is another menu favorite at Marino’s Italian Restaurant. It’s a classic choice for anyone who wants a slice instead of a pasta bowl.
Here’s where groups can get clever. Order a pizza for the table and a pasta dish or two, then trade bites like a family-style dinner.
That approach works great for families with mixed tastes. One kid wants pizza, another wants noodles, and everybody leaves happy.
The sandwiches here are made a little differently too. They’re baked with dough, so expect something unlike a regular bun.
My suggestion is simple. Save the calzone for a night when you’re extra hungry, because it’s a hearty pick.
You Can Bring Your Own Drink With No Extra Fee
Here’s a policy that makes planning easy. Marino’s doesn’t sell drinks of its own beyond the basics, but guests may bring their own beverage.
Even better, there’s no corkage fee. That means you won’t pay extra just for opening something you brought from home.
Plenty of restaurants charge a fee for this. Skipping it feels generous, and it fits the friendly, family-owned spirit of the place.
The Hy-Vee across the street makes things convenient. You can grab a favorite sparkling soda or fancy juice right before dinner.
I like how this keeps a night out flexible. Celebrating a birthday or anniversary is easier when you can bring the drink that suits the moment.
A quick tip helps here. Bring your own bottle opener if your drink needs one, just to keep things smooth.
Groups of friends especially appreciate this setup. It turns an ordinary dinner into a relaxed gathering without a big bill at the end.
Small perks like this build loyalty over time. It’s one more reason the place feels more like a neighbor than a business.
Checkered Tablecloths And Wood Paneling Set A Cozy Mood
Nostalgia comes standard in this dining room. Warm wood paneling and classic checkered tablecloths give it the feel of Nonna’s house.
The space is small and homey. It’s clean and well kept, which matters a lot when a place leans into old-school style.
You won’t find trendy neon signs or flashy decor. Instead, the room keeps things simple and lets your attention stay on the food and your company.
I believe that kind of setting is getting rare. So many restaurants chase a modern look that cozy, classic rooms feel special now.
The building itself has a fun backstory. It once housed Johnston’s City Hall before becoming home to pasta and red sauce.
Think about that for a second. A spot that used to handle city business now handles lasagna and tiramisu, which sounds like an upgrade.
This makes a great place for a low-key date or family dinner. Conversation comes easy when the room feels relaxed and familiar.
Wear whatever’s comfortable. A room like this welcomes jeans and sweatshirts just as warmly as dressier outfits.
Save Room Because Tiramisu And Cannoli Are Waiting
Dessert at Marino’s Italian Restaurant sticks to the classics. The menu includes tiramisu, cannoli, and spumoni ice cream.
Spumoni is a fun pick if you’ve never tried it. This layered Italian ice cream usually combines several flavors and colors in one scoop.
Tiramisu means pick me up in Italian. That name makes sense after a heavy pasta dinner, when you need a little boost to stand up.
Cannoli bring a crunchy shell and a sweet filling. They’re easy to share, which helps if everyone at the table is already stuffed.
Here’s my practical advice. Plan for dessert from the start by boxing half your entree early in the meal.
Generous portions make that strategy smart. You’ll get leftovers for tomorrow and still have space for something sweet tonight.
Families can turn dessert into a little game. Order one of each and let everyone vote on the winner.
Skipping dessert here would feel like leaving a movie before the ending. The sweets wrap up an old-school Iowa meal in the most fitting way.
Know Before You Go So Your Pasta Plans Go Smoothly
Finding the place is half the adventure. Look for a modest gray building sitting beneath a water tower, across from Hy-Vee.
The full address is 5775 Merle Hay Rd, Johnston, IA 50131. It’s about a mile north of Interstate 80, which makes it easy for road-trippers.
Marino’s serves dinner only, starting at 5 p.m. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday and closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Hours can shift, so check before you head out. Nobody wants to show up hungry to a locked door.
Reservations are accepted, which is a big help on busy nights. Takeout and delivery are options too, if you’d rather eat pasta on your couch.
Food is made fresh, so this isn’t a rushed meal. Give yourself time, enjoy the breadsticks, and treat dinner like an evening event.
City View once named it the best kept secret back in 2015. Since then, the word has clearly gotten out across Iowa.
Plan your drive, bring your appetite for noodles, and pick your dessert early. Your spaghetti is waiting.
