Mark Maggio, restaurateur extraordinaire has been cooking, creating recipes, opening restaurants and most importantly serving the most delicious Italian food in the greater Baton Rouge area for over thirty years; Mark has opened some of the finest eateries in Baton Rouge and is somewhat of a local restaurant legend and celebrity due to his culinary expertise and his bigger than life personality. Mark began his restaurant career when he was only twenty one, but his love for Italian food started way before that with his Mother, as a young child growing up in an Italian home you’re going to learn about and eat great Italian food, you could say his Mom was his inspiration. Mark is still doing what he loves and lives to do after thirty years in the restaurant business. His most recent eatery is on a much less grandiose scale than some of his other projects that he has done over the years; he is now serving on a much smaller scale and specializing in Catering.

If you don’t know Mark Maggio personally you certainly will recognize the name because you probably have eaten in one of his many restaurants over the years. Mark, with his authentic style, fine artistry and talents has touched the hearts and palates of many, family and patron's alike.

What many of you don't know is that Mark is a family man. Mark's happiness comes as a direct result of his children. "Happiness and love for family is something that comes from within and is self-generated. It is something that is pure and cannot be truly defined, unless you have experienced it in your childs delighted eyes and smile", says Mark. Mark believes it's important to provide a good example for children, loved ones and community with both words and deeds.

Pictured left is Mark and his young cousins.

Mark’s most resent project is not the elegant fancy upscale restaurant with seating for three hundred people, a wine list with a five hundred bottle selection that would be the envy of any three star restaurant in New York City, serving the highest quality prime steaks and fresh seafood. No that was in the old days, what still remains from the old days is Marks relentless commitment to perfection and his passion for his art which has always contributed to his great success as a chef and restaurateur. The restaurants may change over the years but not the delicious food which has given Mark Maggio his tremendous following and reputation spanning a thirty year career and still continues on today. Mark treats everyone as if they are part of the family, offering the best in the lost art of hospitality.

Mark is a perfectionist who insists on everything being done right, from the quality of the food that he starts with in his kitchen, to the preparation and finally the presentation. Mark is temperamental and high strung like most great chefs, when it comes to his food, reputation and the satisfaction of his guests, he can be a little hard to please at times and this has caused him to fly off the handle on occasion. Mark says jokingly,“I’m no Chef Gordon Ramsey if you know what I mean. In my humble opinion a chef in his kitchen is like the head coach of a football team, could you imagine someone saying that Vince Lombardi was a little hard on his players; it just goes with the territory.” Mark learned from the best, his mother, and many of his employee's credit him in the same way.

Mark Maggio opened his first restaurant back in 1979 he called it appropriately “Marks” he served only breakfast and lunch at that time, burgers, salads and sandwiches. It was a big hit with the folks in Baton Rouge which greatly encouraged Mark to do other things. In The summer of 1984 while still operating Marks he opened "Maggio’s Italian Kitchen" where he perfected among his many other delicious favorites his famous stuffed bell peppers.

Mark was just beginning, because just two years later he opened his third restaurant which was his second "Maggio’s Italian Kitchen and Seafood Galleria" in the Hammond Air Food Court and it too was a huge success that further encouraged this young entrepreneur.

The year was 1987 and Mark was ready for yet another restaurant venture when he partnered up with longtime friend and Cousin Nick Martrain, together they opened "Maggio’s Restaurant" on the corner of St Charles and Sumerulous downtown, that was twenty four years ago and the restaurant is still there operating the way Mark and Nick opened way back when, except now it is called Christiana’s.

Back to Breakfast and lunch, while Mark and cousin Nick were operating Maggio’s Restaurant on St Charles, Mark decided to open what he still calls his all-time favorite restaurant which was "Maggio’s Café" at 325 Florida Blvd, he renovated the entire restaurant and it is still there today which is the present day Harrington’s.

Were still not done yet going down memory lane because Mark Maggio’s passion for food and business inspired him In 1990 to open his first fine dining restaurant which he called "Maggio’s Italian Grill" which was located on Corporate Blvd, this was the place where you could get the very best of everything and be treated like royalty in the process, fresh grilled seafood, steaks and of course his awesome Italian food were your options, here is where Baton Rouge was exposed to the classiest martinis around. Maggio’s Italian Grill was a huge success and the place was packed every day. Reservations were definitely a must if you wanted to impress that special lady in your life.

Mark took what he learned and opened his second fine Dining restaurant in 1996 and it was called "Maggio’s Restaurante`" on O’Neal Lane. This was Marks first brand new building and he decorated and furnished his new restaurant with the very best of everything, the restaurant was magnificent, beautiful and truly exquisite. Mark featured his signature Italian food plus a couple of additional South Louisiana favorites. The prime cuts of steak were unsurpassed in quality and flavor while the freshest seafood was served with an enormous selection of pasta dishes. A fabulous wine selection complimented the very sophisticated menu of superior quality and delicious food. The location could have been better and unfortunately the restaurant closed after a three year run.

A brand new beginning for a seasoned professional, Mark Maggio has seen and done it all when it comes to restaurants. His newest creation is a product of and accumulation of his over thirty two years of experience serving the people in Baton Rouge with the most delicious Italian and Cajun cuisine.

"Maggio’s Delicatessen & Catering", located at 14110 Old Hammond Hwy is a one of a kind operation; run by a one of a kind guy, it is in a class entirely by itself because no one does it quite like Mark Maggio. When it comes to Italian, Cajun food and Catering Mark is your guy.The small restaurant features many of Marks unforgettable entrees which were always available in some of his other fantastic restaurants. So treat yourself to the many mouthwatering Italian dishes that are prepared by culinary trained chefs who capture the spirit of Old Italian and Cajun Tradition.

When you step out of your car in the small parking lot the incredible and wonderful smells of Italian food will make your mouth water as you anticipate the remarkable dishes like the homemade lasagna that you cannot get anywhere else, the homemade meatballs are beyond compare, sausage and eggplant cooked to perfection by the master himself. The chicken parmigiana, seafood stuffed bell pepper and fresh eggplant will make you cry it is so good, the grilled chicken and spaghetti is not like your mama made, it is so much better. Mark’s poboys and muffulettas are the very best you will ever enjoy, no one does it better than Mark. The desserts are all homemade; the cannoli and New York cheese cake taste like an Italian pastry chef just baked it and brought it to your table. Cheesecake at its best is a perfect sweet—a smooth, creamy confection with only a hint of tart and at Maggio's that's what you will find.

When you visit Maggio’s on Old Hammond you must start with a remarkable salad, you will have three to choose from, first is the house salad with creamy gorgonzola vinaigrette & olives. The second is equally delicious with the balsamic vinaigrette & olive salad mix, or you can choose the very best sensation salad in town, don’t forget you can add the grilled shrimp or chicken for a few bucks more. All of the salads, poboys, muffulettas, dinner entrees and desserts are made fresh daily using only the highest quality ingredients.

Maggio’s poboys are in a class by themselves, can I say these poboys are truly magnificent and you have seven beautiful choices, here they are, first we have Marks incredible meatballs with his famous red sauce and cheese perfectly featured in a poboy bread, second we have the Italian sausage poboy, "badabing" this is so good, next is the chicken or eggplant parmigiana, "forgettaboutit" there is absolutely nothing better anywhere. Lastly we have the roast beef & au Jus, Mark buys only the very best roast beef, the ham and provolone poboy is also a great choice. The muffulettas are ten times better at Mark’s than in New Orleans I promise you.

There you have it, if you want to eat exceptional food you have to go see Mark Maggio at his new Deli and tell him Johnny DeAngelo sent you; he may even offer you one of his homemade cannolis.

As an Italian restaurant that creates the essence of Italy, please be their guest and enjoy the authentic aromas from the kitchen and savor the flavorful homemade recipes passed down from the mother of Mark Maggio. Come share a timeless experience of absolute divine culinary enjoyment.Mark combines two very important elements, true southern hospitality and the Italians need to please their guests with food.