The story
Café Mars calls itself “an unusual Italian restaurant,” and that description is earned. Opened in May 2023, it sits on 3rd Avenue in Gowanus, Brooklyn, in a building that was once a pasta factory and Italian grocer. Across the street is the home where co-chef Paul D’Avino’s great-grandfather lived after immigrating from Campania in 1901. That history is present, but the team—Paul D’Avino and Juan David Gracia as co-chefs, with Sierra Chunko on beverages and Spencer Mckinnon on service—uses it as a launching point rather than a limit.
The kitchen’s philosophy is a telescope, not a magnifying glass. Rather than zooming in on one region, they look at the totality of Italian cuisine, drawing inspiration from every corner of Italy and beyond—from the port cities of the Americas to the Itameshi cooking of Japan. The menu shines a light on overlooked classics and unexpected flavors. Look for dishes like Parmesan-cured fluke crudo in crazy water, garlic knot monkey bread, and a Neapolitan ice cream “from the future” with blackberry, vanilla, and pistachio. The bar program is equally thoughtful, with cocktails such as the Negroni squeezarato and a Lazy Susan made with mezcal, Midori, and chamomile.
The dining room is big and blue, with a bar that seats an odd number of guests—intentionally, to encourage solo walk-in dinners. Walk-ins are always welcome, and the team keeps tables and bar seats open for them. The energy is warm and convivial, a party for all-comers every night.
Café Mars has been recognized with a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2023, 2024, and 2025, a nod to its good quality and good value cooking. It has also been named Best Italian Restaurant in Ponce Bank’s Best of Brooklyn 2025, an OpenTable Icon, and a Diners’ Choice since 2024. The team is humbled by the attention, but the real draw is the food—contemporary Italian that feels both rooted and restless.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
Location
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