Mamma Maria

Went there last night with a group of foodies from LAX. I recommended it — based on Unilocal — so was a bit anxious. Everyone enjoyed their meal a lot. I had scallops which were sweet and savory over risotto. Very good. Started with mozzarella and tomatoes. Don’t overlook them. I don’t know where they get their mozzarella but it was delicious. Others had Osco Busco and lobster ravioli with mushrooms and raved about it. I’ll go back for sure.

Every time I visit Boston I make it a point to eat at Mamma Maria and every meal I’ve had has been delicious. Consistency is the true mark of a great restaurant and Mamma Maria has earned that mark time and time again.
The restaurant is in a beautiful building, the service is great, and the cocktails are well made. Mamma Maria sets the ideal ambiance to enjoy a delicious meal.
Two main dishes never leave the menu: the Osso Buco and Rabbit Pappardelle. Both great choices and my two favorite options.
Quite simply some of the best Italian food you will ever have. Enjoy.

A great spot in the North End. Excellent food, service and wine selection. A bit quieter spot since it is not on Hanover Street.

This place is as good as the other reviews say, and well worth a visit over many of the nearby competitors on the North End. The menu had several nice Italian wines at reasonable prices. We started with Calamari and Carpaccio, both very nicely prepared and very tasty. I ordered the rabbit pasta and thought it was excellent. My tablemates who ordered the Osso Bucco and the Short Ribs were equally pleased with their choices. We went all in and finished off with some delicious desserts. If you are looking for a place to go, make this one of your first stops in the North End.

The ambiance and location was four stars. The food was four (ish) stars. The waiter was maybe three stars. But the host. The. Host.
So at first I walk up to the door, and I see a man standing in the door. Thinking he is coming out, maybe waiting for a friend to put on a coat, I stand away from the door for a minute and look over the outside menu. The menu is pricey. but I’m on a business trip and I haven’t eaten anything today, so let’s just spend my per diem on a nice warm bowl of pasta. And it had great reviews on Unilocal.And it was close to my hotel. And it was 16 fucking degrees outside.
I walk back to the door and this man hasn’t moved. So I gently knock to let him know I want to come in. Nothing. No movement. So I knock harder. Nothing. So I just open the door. He doesn’t say anything to me at all… no hello, no good evening, no table for one… just stares at me.
I’m like «uhh, are you open tonight?» (It looks pretty empty inside).
He’s like «Uh, yes. Have you looked at the menu?» And I tell him yes.
He looks skeptically at me and says, «would you like to look at it again?»
At this point I’m feeling kind of offended… but to give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe they had a special menu tonight or they change it up on Mondays or whatever. Nope. Same menu.
So I look up at him like… «yes, same menu… thanks.»
Him: «So you want a table? Just one then?»
Me: «…yes.»
To cover up the obvious discomfort he tells me that… «you know a lot of people come in here wanting things like chicken parmesan… because this isn’t like other restaurants in the neighborhood… blah blah. Just need to make sure you actually want this kind of food.»
Do I look illiterate? Do I look like someone who needs to read a menu twice to understand what kind of food I want?
As I am then seated at my table, my waiter giggles at me slightly.
I sit there for a LONG time waiting for him to come back to my table to get my order. Like a ridiculously long time for how dead it is. I finally have to usher him back with overwhelming eye contact.
He was mostly ok the rest of the meal, but I never really got over my initial encounter with the host (and yes, I did tip well despite everything).
You’d think, with only two other tables occupied in this place, that they would be happy for an extra customer. You’d also probably assume that they didn’t ask the three older couples next to me if they had looked at the menu. The realization of this really sunk in, as my mediocre lobster pasta sunk in… deeper, deeper, until I finished every last bite. The nice gentleman who was helping my waiter clear plates was the only thing keeping me from leaving a nasty note, to be totally honest.
As I spent a fair amount of time snap chatting this story to some friends, I decided justice should be served. Maybe this man didn’t mean his offense, but he should know that what he did was at best rude, and worst, pretty sexist and dismissive.
So as I walked out, I approached him with my concern.
«It must be exhausting asking every table if they’ve looked at the menu before they are seated, huh?»
So instead of apologizing for his behavior, or maybe even for the misunderstanding, he simply says that soooo many people come in expecting cheap Italian food and get water and bread and then leave and are soon disappointed. That only 10% of their customers don’t have reservations, and he swears he asks everyone who doesn’t have a reservation to look at the menu twice. He tells me how incredibly embarrassing it is for everyone, that people try to leave out the back door, that they don’t tell the waiter that they are leaving, that young people (as he motions towards me) can’t afford it, that whole families come in with kids and balloons and they have to turn them away.
I let him know that I felt like I wasn’t really welcome there. And no, I was not embarrassed. And no, I also didn’t have balloons.
I honestly wish I would have had this conversation before I sat at my table, because I would have turned around and walked out.
Just because I’m a young woman dining alone, does NOT mean that I am not capable of reading a menu. That you don’t have to WAIT to ask my order because you want to see the sticker shock of your menu (which honestly isn’t even that overpriced compared to some restaurants in Austin). I wish I was being overly sensitive here tonight, but I experienced some flash judgment here tonight, and it felt pretty awful.
Mamma Maria… work on making your customers feel welcome and maybe they’ll have a chance to actually enjoy your food.

The atmosphere is nice but it’s a bit overpriced for what you get. We shared the veal and the rabbit pasta, both were good but won’t wow you. Servers were aloof, made things a little awkward.

Have been coming here for many years and the experience varies by the room you are in (wicked noisy large room with parties, or quiet little private niche), or the server (friendly, curt, competent, incompetent). But the food is consistently good. Last time had the veal gnocchi– and it was a cheap way of getting Osso Bucco. Slow braised veal in a rich tomato/​beef reduction. Could have been a main course. Beautiful frutti di mare in a delicate fish broth, and a poached pear for desset, infused with wine and just the right consistency– with a nice piece of cheese. The espresso is excellent.
The wines are quite pricey, even at the low end, ($ 60) but it is hard to get a bad bottle and the servers are pretty well educated on the list.
This is my go to place for business dinners and romantic evenings (in the right room), and it never fails to impress.

Loved this place. we went for birthday dinner date and it couldnt have been better. Its romantic, cozy and delicious food. Not at all on the pricey side. I would definetly come back here for more since they have daily changing menu.

My company hosted our corporate holiday party (the second year in a row, because that is how wonderful the restaurant is). We were able to reserve the upstairs room which for my small office was good amount of space — at times the room did feel a little too toasty. The service is outstanding — the wait staff was very attentive and consistently offered us beverage refills throughout the night. The food of course is superb. The truffle gnocchi appetizer was my favorite. I also had the beef tenderloin which was very tender. Overall a great experience and I can’t wait to go back. The only con for me is that parking is quite difficult in the North End. They do offer valet but be conscious it takes about 20 – 25 minutes for valet to get your car after you hand back the valet ticket.

An incredible amazing Italian restaurant. I had the Osso Bucco which was amazing. We also had the Buffalo Burrata which is amazing. So delicious. Such a unique place that is different than any other that you might find. So wonderful and in the heart of the North End.

Perfect combination of service, ambiance and taste. Could I write a longer review filled with our choices, sure. But why?
You go, you choose and be blessed with the love of food and service that made It a special place for us and we hope for you.

Divine! Every single aspect of the experience was perfect.
As a visitor to Boston I felt a little silly seeking out an Italian restaurant in America (sure, can’t I get that at home?) but I needn’t have worried. I definitely got my money’s worth.
We arrived without a booking but were thankfully a little earlier than most dinner patrons so snuck in just before the rush. We were seated upstairs in this character filled restaurant right by a window.
I’m a wine n00b and tend to stick to what I know but I wanted to try something outside my usual pinot grigio comfort zone. Our waiter was really helpful in choosing a bottle of wine. He explained about the menu consisting of in season produce and made some suggestions to us. He knew his stuff. His recommendations were spot on!
We were served bread, olives and pesto while we waited on our starters.
My colleague opted for the beef carpaccio to start and lobster pasta. I had the pumpkin gnocchi with truffle shavings and quail egg to start and rabbit pasta for my main. The gnocchi was some of the best I had ever had. I’m just gutted I don’t live in Boston so that I could return soon and sample some more of the menu! I couldn’t finish my main but they happily boxed it up for me so I could bring the rest back with me.
Our water glasses were never empty and we never once felt like we were being neglected. Really great dining experience all around.

If I had to rate Mamma Maria on just the food, I would probably give a 4.5. However, our experience here was less than pleasant overall, so I have to bump it down to 3 stars.
To be honest, my husband and I were probably a little underdressed for dinner here after a day of sightseeing. We weren’t in tee shirts and jeans, we just weren’t in dressy attire and I felt immediately judged. We were seated upstairs for our early dinner reservation.
The waitress was «snappy» at best. She was very short with us from the beginning and seemed very disinterested in answering any questions that we had as it was our first time there. I am vegetarian and did not find many options for me on the menu, so asked if I could have their pasta and some red sauce (as I did not see any red sauce on the entire menu). She said that they don’t usually «do that» and begrudgingly said that she could check with the chef and tried to sell me on the butter sauce (which I usually find bland). She came back without a definitive answer and when I asked if they had red sauce in the building, she said that they didn’t (very strange). After that interaction, I actually had no idea what my order was going to be when it came out. I really felt like she had shamed me for even asking!
I have been to all kinds of Italian restaurants all over the country and I have never been to one where asking for pasta with red sauce was an issue. Those are the two main components of almost every Italian dish that I can think of! As we were waiting for our entrees to come out, I heard another patron ask for red sauce as well and he ran into the same issue.
I ended up receiving the pasta dish with the butter sauce (as is) AND red sauce on the side! I was so happy, because the butter sauce WAS bland and I really needed the red sauce to make it the dish that I wanted to be.
As time ticked on, our intimate dinner became less and less so as large groups were seated all around our tiny table. It made it very difficult to carry on a conversation as we continued on with our dinner.
Food-​wise, everything was close to perfect! Our salads were delicious, my pasta with red sauce was so fresh and my husband’s halibut dish was looked amazing. I truly wish that our dinner had been a better overall experience, so I don’t think that we’ll return.

I recently attended a business dinner at Mamma Maria’s in the North End. It was my first time dining at the restaurant and I wasn’t sure what to expect. We were in a private room in the back and when we were all milling around, it was tight, however, once everyone was seated at their tables of eight, it was a perfect fit.
The menu was pre-​fixe but I tried a bit of everything.
Appetizers:
Mission Figs, baked with Gorgonzola and layered with Proscuitto di Parma — this dish didn’t stand a chance. I mostly ate the proscuitto as I’m neither a fan of figs nor bleu cheese, but there were great flavors in this dish all the way ’round.
Yellow-​Fin Tuna Tartare in Venetian style with fresh cucumber, sliced radish, and EVOO — I housed this dish. Inhaled it. Didn’t stop to look around, didn’t attempt to look lady-​like, I just ate the crap out of it. It was That. Good.
Housemade sweet local corn ravioli with sauteed arugula, roasted red peppers and fresh sage — two little ravioli with delicious sweetness married with the bitterness of the arugula. Very nice dish.
Salad:
Baby Spinach mix with sliced pear, toasted almonds and fresh tarragon — this was a throwaway dish for me. I didn’t need it and it wasn’t anything special. It tasted good, for sure, but after the amazing tuna… I really didn’t need the salad.
Entrée:
Slow-​cooked beef short rib with black truffle, garlicky greens, and stone-​ground gorgonzola polenta — I’m not sure what I can say about this that hasn’t already been said. I mean… melt in your mouth short rib… with truffle… garlic…and cheesy polenta. What’s not to like?!
There was also a seasonal dessert platter, but I honestly can’t remember much about it. I think, by that point, I had slipped into a food coma. I do remember being resuscitated by a delicious and frothy cappucino before my slow and heavy-​footed walk to the T.

This was arguably my favorite meal during my visit to Boston. Mamma’s is in an old Victorian house, with a tricky winding stairway at the entrance. We were seated in what must have been the living room. It was quite small, very full and very LOUD, especially the table directly behind us. This made conversation difficult, which led to less fun. The food: options, quality and combinations were wonderful.
Here’s what we had (we shared everything)
Salumi plate: This included perfectly sliced cured meats (mortadella, prosciutto, salami), olives, aged parm, and a small scoup of panzanella. The latter was strangely soft and almost pâté-​like. I loved the flavor of it, but it was unlike any panzanella I’d ever had.
Arugula salad: Beatiful peppery greens with shredded parmesan, and tangerines, perfectly dressed.
Bolognese fetuccine: prepared as in the village of Serralunga di Crea with spicy artisanal pepperoncini pasta. This was some of the best pasta I’ve ever had. The texture was perfect, and the sauce was meaty with beef and pork. I was glad we split it, though, because the pepperoncini in the dough was pretty hot.
Ribollita: This came out more like a casserole than a soup, almost like a caponata with bread in it. I came piping hot in a little cast iron skillet. The toasted edges of the bread added a interesting textural note. Crunch is good.
Roasted Oysters: they were roasted on the half shell in their own liquor, then a flavorful touch or buttery cream sauce topped with fried leeks. There were 6 of them, but they were tiny
Carbonara with mussels: Silky, eggy, deliciousness with perfectly fresh mussels (although only 4 or 5 of them)
Then we finished with three desserts, chocolate torte, peach in puff pastry, and a mocha panna cotta. It was hard to pick a favorite.
Our waiter was definitely Italian, attentive, but stretched thin and hard to understand, especially with the aforementioned loudmouthed neighbors.
Food: ³⁷⁄₄₀
Service: ¹⁷⁄₂₀
atm/​intang: ¹⁶⁄₂₀
Value: ¹⁷⁄₂₀
overall:87/100

We had a big work dinner here in one of the private rooms upstairs. The menu items were preselected, but was very pleased with everything.
Great Italian food in a quaint old house converted into a restaurant.

I came to Mamma Maria for a special occasion dinner with my fiancée and I was not disappointed! We arrived fifteen minutes early and were seated promptly, with our waters filled and a helpful, possibly Italian waiter walking us through the wine list. His service was impeccable throughout the meal!
I had the rabbit ragu with pappardelle and my fiancée had the summer ravioli. The ragu was hearty, smooth, and paired perfectly with the homemade pasta. The portion size was also perfect. The spinach ravioli was stuffed w spinach, fresh corn, and cheese and dabbed with a creamy sauce w roasted red peppers. It was a great summer dish that was accentuated by the freshness of the pasta. Just chewy enough and left her wanting more.
For dessert we had the berry tiramisu. Topped with blueberries and powdered sugar atop a tart layer of raspberries and mascarpone. The presentation was simple, colorful, and just enough for two.
We sat on the first level of the restaurant, which was designed to look like an old house. The ambiance was intimate without being stuffy. The only complaint is that we heard all of our neighbors’ conversation, which was more entertaining than not. Recommendation: definitely go! But leave a seat for me.

Pure greatness!!! The waiter was amazing! The food was delicious! The atmosphere was perfect and authentic. I honestly couldn’t ask for more!
The tuna tartare was great
I asked to substitute the bacon for black truffle in the baby arugula salad which was fantastic
The baked oysters were great as well
And the mozzarella appetizer was amazing!
The chicken entrée was fantastic!
Lobster ravioli was delicious!
Oh so good cappuccino
Amazing restaurant!!!

REASON: Went on a double date last night with my bf and two of my best friends for restaurant week. We had to make reservation a week in advance due to the high volume of reservations for Restaurant week.
LOCATION/​SEATING: This cute apartment-​like restaurant is located in the North End. Pretty hard to find parking but we got lucky and found street parking just around the block :)The décor of the place create a perfect romantic ambience. Four of us were seated in a small room just by ourselves. Felt very VIP-​ed lol. Felt like dining in a private home. The room overlooks the square and it is absolutely charming.
ORDERS: For our antipasti, we ordered Hierlom tomatoes, argula, and two plates of veal meatballs. Absolutely splendid. Never liked tomatoes, but this place utterly changed my predisposition, and my life even. For our principali, we ordered summertime ravioli pasta, swordfish dish, chicken dish, and a bolognese pasta dish. Phenomenal. Finally, for dolci, we ordered classic panna cotta with roasted espresso and walnut granola + 3 other desserts I forget the name.
SERVICE: Service was impeccable! Our waiter (I forgot his name) was extremely knowledgable. I asked him to recommend me the girliest drink for my boyfriend and he recommended the pink cosmo drink. The best cocktail I’ve ever had. Obviously, I ended up drinking the rest, being the alcoholic that I am. And OH, our waiter even gave me life advice. He told me to appeal my speeding ticket! lol
OVERALL: An excellent dining experience! Great food with great service! I would go back in a second!

This is definitely Five Star — everything from greeting at the door to the ambiance and every single dish being beyond the pale !
Our group of friend from far and wide gathered here where so impressed in the quality of the experience and the exceptional quality of the food.
The serving sizes are not extra large, adequate, but whoow the quality makes your eyes roll !
I would come here five days in a row it I could ! We had very tuff time getting table of 11 here but they did make room. You will not, not, not regret eating here — we are hooked on this experience ! Great meal for all !

De los mejores restaurantes que he probado en Boston!