Italian Roots. Local Ritual. Maria's has been Northridge's neighborhood Italian kitchen since 1994, one of the Alfano family's 7 dining rooms across Los Angeles. The hand-rolled meatballs are the reason regulars keep the same booth for years: rolled from freshly ground beef, simmered in a marinara cooked slow on the house recipe, and portioned so leftovers are the plan. Beyond the meatballs, the scratch kitchen runs pizzas and calzones, pastas, chicken and seafood, and a vegan menu for lunch and dinner. It is a regular choice for family dinners, birthdays, and students stretching a pasta into 2 meals, with catering across the west Valley. Kid-friendly, with takeout and delivery every day from 11 to 9, an easy stop on Reseda Blvd near CSUN.