I don’t even think you can call this place Italian? Nothing quality in their food, I wouldn’t be surprised if they got most of their dishes from Iceland and just melted a load of cheese on it. Our server was rude and patronising throughout the night. When I asked for the password for the Wifi so I could message my friend to see where she was he responded ‘I could give you the password or you could just actually talk to your friends! Um, how about don’t tell me how to enjoy my meal. Not impressed with the food/service/prices.
DKenn
Rating des Ortes: 3 Liverpool, United Kingdom
I was strolling through Sefton Park on a nice summers day and fancied a Italian so I thought id give Marantos a go on Lark Lane. Upon arriving I noticed the premesis was busy and was impressed by the old, church like interior. The waiter gave me and my group an option where to sit as in some parts of the restaurant was noisy. We all ordered just mains being served various pastas and some garlic bread. The pastas seemed to be a decent portion but at nearly £10 I expected them to be. The quality was decent but that I wouldnt have said anything special. I couldnt comment on any other kinds of dishes. If I was in this part of the town id possibly give it another go and try some of the other dishes.
Rana M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Manchester, United Kingdom
Lark laners choice of Italian. Although I’m guessing that’s more to do with convenience purposes rather than anything else. Well the jury is out on that one. It has however been around for a long time, and established a decent enough word of mouth reputation. The food is actually not bad at all and comes with pretty standard pricing. The hot and spicy pizza was just that and was generously shared between three of us, which at less than £14 was also a bargain. The balcony though is really wheres its all at at this place. On a sunny day the balcony is teaming with sun revelers chillaxin with cold beverages condensating in hands. This place as I discovered is perfect for a touch of Sunday lunch and few drinks on the balcony to help wash down.
Dave L.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Liverpool, United Kingdom
A bright and airy building on Lark Lane, Marantos is a great place to visit for an afternoon drink, although the barman’s Guiness ended up looking like prototype Ribena. Its balcony seating makes it feel much larger, like its on the side of a cliff and the music selection veered from choon to cheese at the drop of a trilby. Marantos’ wicker chairs and lofty structure fit in nicely with the general overtone of Lark Lane, although I’ve yet to eat here or have a drink that wasn’t as thin as dishwater.
Emma Louise M.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Manchester, United Kingdom
You can’t argue that Marantos looks impressive, with its famous balcony seating. The restaurant itself can be a little hit and miss however, when it comes to both service and food. The staff can be very friendly and attentive, but I’ve had friends report that they get very huffy with complaints, and the automatic gratuity(hello London) seems like our opinions aren’t really wanted. The pizzas here are particularly tasty but they can get it a little wrong with the meat and suchlike. The soft drinks are incredibly small and with no free refills I’d advise to go tap water all the way. Apparently Marantos was a lot better a good few years ago and seems to have fallen by the wayside which is a shame, given the superb Lark Lane location and the outdoors area for hazy summers. It’s a bit of a gamble, a little of a Russian Roulette outing — by all means the good dishes are great, but the bad dishes are really REALLY not great.
Anthony S.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Liverpool, United Kingdom
Maranto’s seems to typify everything wrong with Italian food. Italian cuisine is something that we all take for granted now and is much less exotic than it was when Maranto’s first opened nearly 30 years ago but that shouldn’t excuse the poor standards that many restaurants like this get away with. This is a big place, with two floors and loads of seating making it great for big parties and you will often find the place full around Christmas party time but that just tells me that they are geared towards packing in as many people as possible. The food is okay and that’s pretty much all I can say, heavy and cheesy and you want find the staff going out of their way to make the experience any more memorable.
Rebecca C.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Liverpool, United Kingdom
Set in a Tudor style building, the interior is not what you’d expect from the exterior. Last time I was here the restaurant was sparsely furnished and unfortunately lacked character. However, this is not reflected in the rest of the building, which has luxurious fittings and woodwork. The lunch time menu here is pretty decent and very reasonably priced, and as Lark Lane tends to be quieter in the daytime its the time I’d recommend going. The evening menu is your usual variety of pizza, pasta and meat, and all the mains are less than £20, so it’s still reasonable. I know a few people have said that Maranto’s isn’t what it used to be, but then Lark Lane isn’t what it used to be either. Attracting a different crowd these days, the businesses have no doubt had to change to keep up, and maybe that is why regulars at Maranto’s feel as though standards have slightly slipped. Still, it is a beautiful building and still draws in many regulars and first-timers each week.
Jennif
Rating des Ortes: 2 Liverpool, United Kingdom
I was very disappointed in this place. After reading positive reviews, I had higher expectations. While the staff was friendly, the food and atmosphere left much to be desired. I should have stuck with my usual pasta, but instead opted for steak. It was way overcooked and very bland, the mashed potatoes were clearly instant, and the veg had no flavor, much like the steak. They sat us next to an extremely loud, very large party(5 large tables) full of unruly children(I am child-hostile) and weren’t keen on the idea of us moving to a table further away. My boyfriend’s pizza was very tasty, however, so they got one thing right. I felt the steak was way overpriced for what I got(£15). Overall, what was supposed to be a nice birthday dinner ended up in major disappointment. Also, as a minor warning, the pop/soda/soft drinks are VERY small.