Valentino's Pizza

I think our party may have tried everything on the menu? Or almost everything! Literally kept ordering more dishes because everything was so delicious! My out of town friends initially asked to come because of the jell-olives. It did not disappoint. The drinks were also delicious! The only not completely high note was the dessert but I think the fact that the starters, mains, and drinks were so so so delicious that it just did not compare. Will absolutely be recommending this place to everyone! If you go, we highly recommend the garlic knot monkey bread, fluke crudo, and bucatini con mackerel. (sorry we were too busy eating that I did not take pictures of all the items we ate but here are a few for reference)

Delicious and bold menu! The welcome drink was so special with picking your own glassware! The lemon bucatini was amazing especially! Love the funky decor and the fact that the servers were so knowledgeable about the menu! Will def come back!

L. H.

Everything was great, and appreciated the friendly service. Highly recommend checking this place out. + Fires of Vesuvius was our favorite cocktail. Strong flavor and great spice level. + Enjoyed the crudo. It was light and fresh, packed with flavor. + Monkey bread seems popular, so I don't have much to add. I will say, it was larger than expected and pretty filling! + Definitely preferred the riggies over the rotalini. I just don't think we had the palate for the broccoli rabe. + Panna cotta had three or four layers, so satisfying to take a spoonful. + Baba-yaki was interesting. Great texture, and fun to eat. I don't think I ever tried amaro. It was definitely an adjustment. Overall, it was a lovely and creative experience, with lots of little surprises throughout the evening.

John Gonsalves

Cafe Mars is one of the most creative dining experiences I’ve had in Brooklyn. The gel olives were super unique a really fun, flavorful dish that shows how playful their menu is. The anchovies with the pizza seasoning were also surprisingly good, packed with flavor and a perfect bite. I tried the Riggies, which is originally an Ithaca, New York dish that’s normally made with chicken, but here they do a version with mussels. It ended up being really good and full of flavor definitely worth ordering if you want something different. The decor is beautiful, with a cool, modern vibe, and the service is extremely friendly and attentive. Overall, a great spot if you’re looking for something creative and memorable in Gowanus.

Andrea Correal

We had an amazing experience at Café Mars, the food is as unique as the space, flavorful and delicious, some of the highlights were the scallops, girelle pasta and the ice cream sandwich. While the vibe is fun and relaxed, it’s a true fine dining experience full of creativity. Every detail has been thought out from the interior design to the pop-up thank you cards!. The service was outstanding and everyone was very friendly. Can’t wait to come back to explore more of the menu!

Melodie Thurman

10/10!!!!!!!!! Like not even kidding. Every dish, every bite, every moment was pure delight. The food touches on every level. From the taste, to the feel to the sound. Hits on all levels. Will be coming back. Core memories made.

Amanda N

We hosted our wedding reception at Cafe Mars and it was perfection! Jordan and Paul worked with us to create an ideal menu. So much time and attention was paid to every detail. Our guests raved about the food and the decor, and we felt that we had an evening that really represented our style. Thank you so much!

Kelly Connor

Can't stop day dreaming about the Garlic Butter Monkey Bread! Cafe Mars is not just mouth watering food, but a unique experience with the most incredible staff. Our waiter was not only well informed, but funny and friendly and made the night that much better. I recommend everything on the menu. Every dish that came out was delicious and sometimes quirky! From the ambiance to the impeccable service and mouthwatering food, it’s clear that they put a lot of care into creating an exceptional dining experience.

Libby Swofford

The food and atmosphere is so good and they have lots of nice little touches that made it a great spot to celebrate my birthday. Complimentary sparkling water. You get to choose a fun glass from a basket and the choice between bubbly or kombucha as an aperitif. Matchbooks and a guest book you can sign at the front. Colorful and funky. Great service.

Luz Marina Toro

Food was delicious, service was delightful. Favorite app: jellolive—really unique flavor of Negroni jello. Favorite entree: all the pasta dishes are delicious, can’t pick one! Highly recommend ordering a bunch of plates and sharing. Will define back!

Grace Zelden

Such a fun and unique restaurant! The food was delicious and very unique, but the flavors all worked really well together. Had a great time and highly recommend.

Sofia L

I think our party may have tried everything on the menu? Or almost everything! Literally kept ordering more dishes because everything was so delicious! My out of town friends initially asked to come because of the jell-olives. It did not disappoint. The drinks were also delicious! The only not completely high note was the dessert but I think the fact that the starters, mains, and drinks were so so so delicious that it just did not compare. Will absolutely be recommending this place to everyone! If you go, we highly recommend the garlic knot monkey bread, fluke crudo, and bucatini con mackerel. (sorry we were too busy eating that I did not take pictures of all the items we ate but here are a few for reference)

Sheila Xia

Delicious and bold menu! The welcome drink was so special with picking your own glassware! The lemon bucatini was amazing especially! Love the funky decor and the fact that the servers were so knowledgeable about the menu! Will def come back!

Came with a group of 5 for a birthday so we did the prix fixe menu. That set up was perfect for us, you got to try 1-2 bites of every single item on the menu. Specifically, we LOVED the meatball dumpling with sesame and the lemon pasta were excellent. Two friends do not eat pork and they were flawless in respecting that and maintaining the integrity of the dishes. Service was very friendly and enthusiastic about the culinary work. The decor and vibes are fun/kitschy, not your typical Italian spot with brick and old timey vibes, it’s modern and colorful. I would highly recommend a group dinner here.

Kirk Peterson

This place is just a gem. Any time i’ve gone, the staff is absolutely wonderful. Welcoming, attentive, and just work really hard to make the experience feel unique and special. The space itself is also very cool, again an amazing attention to detail. I’ve had food that’s been amazing, some dishes that have been alright - but give them total credit for trying new things and being playful and inventive. Highly recommend.

Julia H

Came with a group of 5 for a birthday so we did the prix fixe menu. That set up was perfect for us, you got to try 1-2 bites of every single item on the menu. Specifically, we LOVED the meatball dumpling with sesame and the lemon pasta were excellent. Two friends do not eat pork and they were flawless in respecting that and maintaining the integrity of the dishes. Service was very friendly and enthusiastic about the culinary work. The decor and vibes are fun/kitschy, not your typical Italian spot with brick and old timey vibes, it’s modern and colorful. I would highly recommend a group dinner here.

Café Mars is such a funky place from their creative dishes to their interior design. The staff were all super friendly and welcoming throughout our time there! My favorite was the girelle pasta. Very strong lemon flavor that reminded me of similar dishes I’ve tried in Italy. Overall, we thought they were all tasty but not too memorable. Ended up being pretty pricey for each person (I somehow forgot to take all photos, but we’ve ordered more than what’s shown here).

Everything that was breaded and fried were excellent— the asparagus, mushroom. The breading was so light and crunchy and flavorful, and perfect with all the sauces that came with it. The monkey bread was amazing with the garlic butter. The lemon pasta was great as well. Portion sizes are on the smaller side.

i loved this place! we came after searing an water review and really wanted to try the “whimsical” experience. we weren’t let down. the olives are fun and should be gotten. lean into it!!! if you’re not here for fun why are you here? after we really enjoyed the lettuce and the octopus with pepperoni. both not just satisfying but delicious. in terms of the pasta we got the girelle (lemon) and triangle penne (beef cheeks). i 10/10 recommend the triangle penne, but i do wish we got the waves (prawns) instead of the lemon. next we had the bluefish with kohlrabi agrodolce — SO GOOD. wow. who knew bluefish could taste so tangy and meaty and yummy? lastly - the strawberries and olive cake. the olive cake - being made literally with black olive purée - was a total winner. i also got an espresso martini with mine which was a little too bitter for my liking. other than that one drink - beverages were great. really like the candy with the check and the first welcome drink on the house. our only negative comment - just wish service was faster. it seems they have limited staff, and way too many tables for their small kitchen. we waited quite a long time between dishes and were there over 2 hours. not a big problem but would prevent us from dropping by on a weeknight again. all in all - a great new spot.

There are some amazing items on the menu. And the staff is fantastic. We ordered almost everything. Favorites included the jell-olives, the anchovies, the chicken liver mousse, the grilled octopus, the roasted kabocha, and for dessert, the breakfast in sicily. That said, the whole concept is a bit too gimmicky for me. Bottom line, I'm really glad I had a chance to check it out but it may be a while before I come back. It reminded me a little of when (back in the day) molecular gastronomy was all the rage.

Vicki

Café Mars is such a funky place from their creative dishes to their interior design. The staff were all super friendly and welcoming throughout our time there! My favorite was the girelle pasta. Very strong lemon flavor that reminded me of similar dishes I’ve tried in Italy. Overall, we thought they were all tasty but not too memorable. Ended up being pretty pricey for each person (I somehow forgot to take all photos, but we’ve ordered more than what’s shown here).

Isabelle J

Everything that was breaded and fried were excellent— the asparagus, mushroom. The breading was so light and crunchy and flavorful, and perfect with all the sauces that came with it. The monkey bread was amazing with the garlic butter. The lemon pasta was great as well. Portion sizes are on the smaller side.

Christopher Taktak

i loved this place! we came after searing an water review and really wanted to try the “whimsical” experience. we weren’t let down. the olives are fun and should be gotten. lean into it!!! if you’re not here for fun why are you here? after we really enjoyed the lettuce and the octopus with pepperoni. both not just satisfying but delicious. in terms of the pasta we got the girelle (lemon) and triangle penne (beef cheeks). i 10/10 recommend the triangle penne, but i do wish we got the waves (prawns) instead of the lemon. next we had the bluefish with kohlrabi agrodolce — SO GOOD. wow. who knew bluefish could taste so tangy and meaty and yummy? lastly - the strawberries and olive cake. the olive cake - being made literally with black olive purée - was a total winner. i also got an espresso martini with mine which was a little too bitter for my liking. other than that one drink - beverages were great. really like the candy with the check and the first welcome drink on the house. our only negative comment - just wish service was faster. it seems they have limited staff, and way too many tables for their small kitchen. we waited quite a long time between dishes and were there over 2 hours. not a big problem but would prevent us from dropping by on a weeknight again. all in all - a great new spot.

Irma Zandl

There are some amazing items on the menu. And the staff is fantastic. We ordered almost everything. Favorites included the jell-olives, the anchovies, the chicken liver mousse, the grilled octopus, the roasted kabocha, and for dessert, the breakfast in sicily. That said, the whole concept is a bit too gimmicky for me. Bottom line, I'm really glad I had a chance to check it out but it may be a while before I come back. It reminded me a little of when (back in the day) molecular gastronomy was all the rage.

The inside is cute and we appreciated the creativity! The food was 50/50: monkey bread and lemon pasta were ah-mazing and worth the trip! The fried figs, while individually delicious, was overall a clunky dish. The scallop dish missed the mark. The service was good, however, it was really odd to have the utensil drawer being restocked at our table multiple times during our meal.

The place is fun, the decor is great, the service was very attentive. Fun surprises, like a complimentary drink at the beginning of the meal. The cocktails had really strong flavors. The menu is interesting, features creative dishes that are well executed. The menu changes regularly which is great. Have been here twice and would come back again.

More fun than good. The quirky atmosphere and great service was unable to fully compensate for the meal - that while beautifully plated, failed to live up. The lemon lemon lemon pasta was the standout dish. Bring friends and a light mood and you will have a good time.

Darcy Weidman

The inside is cute and we appreciated the creativity! The food was 50/50: monkey bread and lemon pasta were ah-mazing and worth the trip! The fried figs, while individually delicious, was overall a clunky dish. The scallop dish missed the mark. The service was good, however, it was really odd to have the utensil drawer being restocked at our table multiple times during our meal.

Yelena Conaway

The place is fun, the decor is great, the service was very attentive. Fun surprises, like a complimentary drink at the beginning of the meal. The cocktails had really strong flavors. The menu is interesting, features creative dishes that are well executed. The menu changes regularly which is great. Have been here twice and would come back again.

Tom Klaber

More fun than good. The quirky atmosphere and great service was unable to fully compensate for the meal - that while beautifully plated, failed to live up. The lemon lemon lemon pasta was the standout dish. Bring friends and a light mood and you will have a good time.