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Mamma Maria
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
3 North SquareBoston, MA 02113
Neighbourhood: North End
(617) 523-0077
- Nearest Transit:
-
Commercial St @ Fleet St (4)
Atlantic Ave @ Commercial Wharf (4)
Commercial St @ Battery St (4)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 4 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
158 reviews for Mamma Maria
Review Highlights
-
"I had the Osso Buco which was tender, tasty and top notch." In 11 reviews -
"For dessert we had the chocolate torte and canolis." In 8 reviews -
"...was excellent, as was the rabbit pasta and mushroom ravioli." In 7 reviews
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158 reviews in English
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Review from Marilyn C.
Cambridge, MA
4/7/2012
Delicious! I had never heard of Mamma Maria's until I was browsing the Restaurant Week list looking for a new place to try. Mamma Maria's didn't disappoint. The food and wait staff get 5 stars. If I could give the overall experience a 4.5 out of 5 that would be a little more accurate, but I definitely enjoyed the dinner.
The portions were larger than I expected. I had a figs and prosciutto to start followed by a pork and beet dish for my entree and an apple tart like desert. Everything was excellent, especially the desert.. I am generally more of a chocolate person, but the apple tart was amazing. -
Review from Michael A.
Weymouth, MA
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Delicious... romantic... what else do you want? How about their lobster ravioli pasta! Thanks to my fellow Yelpers I took their advice. Came here with my girl and we ordered the lobster ravioli dish and it was as good as it gets! I was half expecting them to be like crab rangoons... with tiny bits of lobster and loaded with cheese. On the contrary, it was loaded with chunks of lobster. Not to mention they are jumbo sized hand made raviolis :)
*FYI ask for a "dinner size" portion as its advertised as an appetizer and only comes with one ravioli.
I also had their rabbit and pasta dish which was also very good but after trying the lobster pasta I wish I just ordered that instead. Although the rabbit was moist and absorbed the flavors of the sauce, I wouldn't order it again.
We also got seated on the 2nd floor close to the windows overlooking the square. Definitely a place for a romantic dinner.
Service was kind, prompt, accommodating and overall we had a great time! -
Review from Nicole S.
Boston, MA
5/11/2012
A good spot for your anniversary dinner! Mamma Maria is a charming little restaurant with excellent food, great service, and some fine drinks. Come early if you don't want to overhear everyone else's conversations, though.
We had the lobster pasta (I asked it to marry me; it turned me down; I ate it), the osso buco, and the rabbit. Washed it all down with the champagne cocktail and a chianti. Amazing, except all that food settles like a brick in your stomach. A delicious, delicious brick. I'll add another star if I come back and have the dessert. -
Review from JH J.
Boston, MA
5/15/2012
Mamma Maria had been on my Restaurant List for a while and reservations were finally made here to celebrate a friend's birthday. I loved the charming atmosphere and stellar customer service.
The 5 STARS are for the service that night -it was unbelievable! Our server, Khalid, was exceptionally attentive, addressing us all by our names and catering to our every request -which with 8 women got a little over the top. Apologies!
I had viewed the menu online earlier in the week (as I usually do) and knew that it could change. I originally thought I would order the cod, but changed my mind because the cod's mushroom risotto was replaced with a squid ink risotto...no thank you! Khalid suggested the Clam & Crab pasta, a house favorite. This dish alone I'd have to give 2.5 STARS: blah! Two of us ordered it and found it to be very bland. I had to add a lot of salt as well as fresh parmesan cheese (yes, I was given flack for doing this, but hey I needed flavor!). Disappointed at my entree, I HAD to sample what my friends were eating which allowed me to try the chicken, short ribs and bolognese. Clearly my friends ordered-up and had much tastier dishes! Looking forward to returning here -and ordering a different entree.
Overall, the restaurant was very charming, and I believe it is equally ideal for couples, families or dinner with friends. Oh yeah, did I mention they have excellent service?!? -
Review from Ang L.
Randolph, MA
4/2/2012
Two words. Lobster Pasta.....Amazing! Definitely coming back soon!
Great service, food, wine, and they make their Pasta in house. Fresh! -
Review from Aboud Y.
Cambridge, MA
3/13/2012
Hmmm. Really 3.5 stars.
Hard to characterize this place. On the one hand it feels so contrived and gimmicky and on the other the food does at times deliver. I think its a good place to take uninitiated out-of-towners who will absolutely love it...but for me I doubt I'll be back anytime soon. -
Review from Melissa D.
Boston, MA
2/12/2012
By far, the best place to go on a special date or an anniversary. Romanticism, delicious food and excellent service made my experience wonderful.
Their menu changes frequently and the restaurant is easy to find (look for the giant anchor and chains at North Square). We were greeted by the host who took my coat right away and escorted us to a corner window. The room had delicate details and made you feel like you were sitting in a romantic dining room at the Breakers Mansion.
Our server was attentive, friendly and took her time with us. We wanted to spend some time there so she was very patient with us.
We had the mushroom truffle pasta and pancetta chicken pasta dish. You can definitely taste the fresh pasta once it hits your lips and both dishes were not overloaded with oil or sauce. We kept sharing our plates but the mushroom truffle pasta was amazing. Also, a great wine list and the servers know their wine. You will spend more than normal but why wouldn't you for your significant other! -
Review from Alex C.
Chelsea, MA
1/17/2012
I took my husband there for his birthday based on Yelp's reviews and it was a fantastic experience. At first, we weren't sure where the entrance was and the host overlook that we took our time at the door. (silly us!)
After coat check, we were seated at the window side which was a lovely idea. Our waitress was awesome and attentive. Helped us pick a great wine bottle (Pine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon). Her description was excellent - full bodied and favorable.
We had pan -seared scallops for an app - wonderfully cooked, burst of flavor, highly recommend!
My husband chose the Osso Buco - Veal with risotto with shaved carrot and turnip. I was extremely jealous b/c it really looked good. The presentation was wonderful. I took a sample and wish I had order the same. Veal was nice and tender while the outside was crispy. Risotto -excellently done with the crispy vegetables - highly recommend
I had the clam pasta. It was a very light dish with the clams (fyi - clams were in their shells). I enjoyed it but wish I had ordered the Osso Buco.
I was glad that my entrée wasn't too heavy b/c I had room for a dessert. The server knew it was my husband's birthday so when she brought the Apple crispy tart with mascarpone cream, it came with a little candle. I thought that was very sweet. Nothing showy and a nice touch. My husband was very pleased.
Overall experience - 5 stars
Overall food - 4 stars (mainly b/c I wanted the Osso Buco and I didn't like the clam in shell idea)
Overall service - 5 stars (excellent; attentive w/o hovering. )
Ambiance - Romantic, quiet perfect for our evening.
Will go again. PS : they stated that most (or all) of their food is from local grown farms in MA. That I liked very much! -
Review from Julia F.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Mamma Mia!
I mean, Mamma Maria!
Seasonal menu cut through the cold of our early fall coldsnap. 'Just right' doesn't even cover it!
We went without reservations, which, in hindsight was a bit stupid on a Friday night. When we pulled up to the valet, they asked if we reserved a table, then facilitated us getting in- we were ushered to the second floor in the back to a cute bar.
Kitchen prep noises were fairly audible, but the bartender was really nice and chatted just enough with us throughout the night.
I got rabbit pasta which was large flat noodles in more of a stew than a sauce. Not bad at all, just not what I expected I was ordering. My boyfriend got lobster pasta, which he said was amazing.
We shared some kind of veal ravioli or gnocchi plate as an appetizer - delicious!
I can't wait to make reservations and go back!
.Listed in: take me out!
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Review from Emilie C.
Boston, MA
12/23/2011
My husband and I just went here for dinner tonight for the first time, and everything was delicious! We shared the lobster pasta for an app, and although small, it was extremely tasty.
They do a great deal where you can get half portions of pasta at exactly half the price of the entree, so I got half of the New England Seafood pasta, and half of the wild mushroom pasta. I really couldn't decide which one I loved more, because both were so flavorful and the portions were much more than I had expected. My husband ordered the halibut and said it was cooked perfectly.
I will gladly come back here again. The service was top-notch and it's a very cozy environment, like you're sitting in someone's living room. Highly recommend - great date place! -
Review from Michelle S.
Randolph, MA
1/3/2012
Went a few weeks back for my 24th birthday w/ the bf.
The restaurant itself was romantic and cozy, set in a Boston row house. We dined on the second floor at a corner table right next to the windows - - nice view of the north end neighborhood.
We started withe lobster pasta. So yummy!! The only downside was the size (one ravioli each).
For dinner I chose the Beef Tenderloin Certified-Angus beef tenderloin with foie gras, and fingerling potatoes; the bf chose the Osso Buco with saffron risotto. The beef was cooked perfectly & the often critical bf loved his osso bucco.
Prompt service, great food, cozy space.
Just know what you're getting into with prices! -
Review from Erik L.
Boston, MA
3/2/2012
Brought a date there and my biggest complaint was the waiter was a useless. I live in the North End so I've been to many restaurants in the area and finally waited for a special occasion to go to Mamma Maria as I know it's one of the more upscale restaurants in the N. End. Here's my summary:
* Waiter was a dick... the only time he smiled and tried to be pleasant was when he handed me the bill, no joke.
* The food was good but the portions were small (I expected as much though so I didn't fault them for it)
* The location is very cool; I wish I could just buy the whole building and live in it.
* However, they sat us in one of the main rooms, and it was full of people and had high ceilings and there was a loud group in the room as well and the noise carried to the point where my date and I had to shout to talk to each other, which was very frustrating.
I had the the pasta bolognese, it was good, but small and nothing to write home about. The noodles were homemade and good though. My date had a pasta and seafood dish which was actually very good.
If I experienced any of those issues on there own, I would have given a much better review but I got stuck with them all so I think the 2 stars are warranted. Basically, I think the people that go there are snobs, and therefore the staff is also full of snobs and seeing that the food wasn't out of this world, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere at a better value place, with friendlier people and cozier environment. -
Review from Kat M.
Norwalk, CA
12/27/2011
Super romantic setting is perfect for an evening with a loved one. I loved our table on the 2nd floor. We sat right in the corner at the front of the restaurant. It included a nice view and some fresh air since we sat next to the window. The restaurant is a bit cramped and stuffy, so we thought we were very lucky to get a light breeze.
Mamma Maria is definitely pricey. It isn't a place I'd become a regular at because even though the food is tasty, it isn't worth $90+ for two small plates of pasta, one beer, and one martini. They have a limited menu, so we ordered the pasta with scallops and the mushroom raviolis. No apps, salad, or dessert and we paid a little over $115 including tip.
Waitress wasn't very friendly. She was rather short with us and only returned to see if my date wanted another beer and to give us the check. I took one tiny sip of my pisco sour and placed it to the side. It was bitter and was unlike any martini or mixed drink I've had before. Yes, it was strong, but it had a really funky taste. The waitress never asked how I liked my drink or if there was anything wrong with it. I didn't complain or ask for another. I simply paid the $10+ for it. I never thought water could taste so delicious!! After such a bitter cocktail, the water was heaven for my taste buds.
Service....mediocre
Martini....huge mistake!
Prices... Yikes!
Setting...lovely
Food...A-ok -
Review from Sarah C.
Boston, MA
10/26/2011
My mom wanted me to find a place in Boston for her birthday that was Italian but not too adventurous. I chose this place based on Yelp reviews and was not disappointed. I also let our waiter know that it was my mom's birthday and in lieu of a birthday cake he brought out a dessert sampler for our table to share including candles.
The main entrees were delicious and carefully organized to dance on your tongue. It was elegant and rustic. I had a hard time deciding and so did most of my dining companions. We were all satisfied with our choices and would return here again.
I highly recommend this place for a special evening out with a loved one. It's intimate, romantic and it feels like you are stepping into someone's house in the North End. Also its steps away from Mike's Pastry's which is a bonus if you arrive there early or need another dessert afterwards. -
Review from Meagan F.
Boston, MA
11/10/2011
With 7 people, all ages, all different food interests, it is hard to find a place where every person loves his or her meal. But, Mamma Maria's last night met that challenge with such a great success. For my Mom's birthday, I made reservations for our family and friends. We each had something different, and no one left disappointed, which is hard to do with 7 people.
To start: figs with Gorgonzola and prosciutto, thinly shaved mushroom salad with truffles, ravioli stuffed with squash, bay scallops--each decadent!
For Mains: Osso Bucco rabbit pasta, bolognese, tuna with squid ink pasta, fillet with asparagus and carbonara, and my Lamb cooked 3 ways (sausage, lamb ragu, and a chop) with mint gnocchi. The flavors were just killer in each dish, although I cannot attest for my Dad's Osso Bucco, for he would not share with anyone-- a classic sign that he has an excellent meal and is being selfish and hoping no one will notice.
We had excellent, attentive service, excellent cocktails and wine. No dessert, for the birthday girl wanted Mike's Pastry.
This is still one of the best restaurants in the North End, hands down. In a Dickens-eque house on a quiet street, the atmosphere, the food, and the service make it simply a beautiful dining experience every time. -
Review from Dave R.
New York, NY
3/6/2012
Very good all around. Everyone's food was delicious, the wine was good, and the waiter was knowledgeable and attentive. I would definitely go back.
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Review from Melissa S.
Salt Lake City, UT
11/29/2011
Nom nom nom. I am so glad we found this place.
Nearly everything about our experience at Mamma Maria was stellar, and I definitely recommend it. The ambiance is lovely and romantic, the service was excellent, and I will be thinking about the food for a long time to come.
I cannot recommend the duck appetizer highly enough. It was served over some perfectly cooked wild rice with a sauce that deliciously defies description (seriously, I've tried twice to recreate it at home and failed miserably). The duck was cooked beautifully, and the sauce had some citrus-y and cinnamon-y notes that worked very well. There were cranberries, too.
My friend had the osso bucco, and it was divine. Wonderful flavor and presentation, with some very tasty crispy root vegetables on top.
I had the rabbit pasta, and wasn't quite as impressed with it. I felt that the rosemary in the dish overpowered everything else, and had some overly bitter flavors that really overwhelmed the delicacy of the fresh pasta. I normally enjoy rosemary, but it just didn't work for me in this dish. Next time I will hope to try the lobster ravioli.
My only other minor quibble is that the gelato we had for dessert was fine, but nothing to write home about.
Tiny nitpicking aside, I was thrilled with our meal here. I will definitely be back when I am in Boston again. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. -
Review from Blair F.
Fairfax Station, VA
11/28/2011
OK....so I don't mean to sound like the lone naysayer here, but Mamma Maria's was good, but not great.
First, the maitre d' could have used a personality injection. Instead of "'hi' folks, welcome to Mamma Maria's', we were welcomed rather coolly. I mean, when a well-dressed guy comes into a restaurant with two pretty women, a little more of a reception would be welcomed. Especially when I am about to drop a pair of bills on dinner.
Anyhow, we ordered the gnocchi lamb and mozzarella caprese for appetizers. The gnocchi and lamb was quite good, but was missing a little punch (flavor). Some black pepper, coriander, or some other spice would have been nice. The kicker for me was the mozzarella salad. The salad was 3 slices of cheese, each about 3/8" plus 3 halves of a peeled cherry/pear tomato. For that price, I would expect more cheese and some arugula and a boatload of tomatoes. Seriously, the cheese was good, but was not still as good as Costco's buffalo mozzarella.
For an entree, I had the venison sausage and braised duck. Both were excellent. I really like this platter and the duck was cooked to the tenderness of a good osso bucco.
We passed on dessert, opting for a canoli at Mikes.
The service was decent, but not "spot on", if you know what I mean.
This restaurant has the potential to be 4 stars, IMO, but they need to ratchet up the service and the food a little bit. I am not expecting the world here, but Mamma Maria needs to tighten up their game and work on adding some flavor and volume to their repertoire. -
Review from Zoe P.
Arlington, MA
10/3/2011
2 star lunch. The pasta (not fresh) was that texture a lousy chef makes it when someone has told him what al dente means, but he has no actual experience of it. Underdone.
The fra diablo wasn't spicy (though the body of the sauce was just the way I like it, rich and runny), the marsala was way too sweet and the pizza was far too cheesy and and the crust was lame. There weren't nearly enough clams in the linguini with clam sauce. I had to ask for salt (because it's such a gourmet place they don't keep it on the table) and my dad and I exchanged puzzled glances because we don't usually go for the salt. But he needed it too.
We had thought Mamma Maria might be a good choice, since the stairs were packed with little old ladies in fancy jogging suits and jewelry, rather than tourists with maps in hand. But sometimes seniors just like a bland bargain on a Sunday afternoon, and that's what our lunch at Mamma Maria's was.
The best part of the meal was that the woman at the table next to us (a young woman) had credit card trouble and they called the actual cops who arrived with - I kid you not - the paddy wagon. And the little old ladies in fancy jogging suits at the table next to us provided some choice commentary. So, one star for the show.
And one star for the fresh bread with olive oil and rosemary. And they kept my water filled. Maybe this place is better for dinner, but I'm not going to check. -
Review from John C.
Boston, MA
1/12/2012
One of the best in the North End, excellent service, incredible food and beautiful atmosphere. Pricey, plan on $100 per person if you have a drink or two. Typically a big date or business dinner spot, but we had a great family dinner there on New Years eve.
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Review from Alison G.
Somerville, MA
2/25/2012
I'd like to give this place 4.5 stars. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is that the dessert was not good at all. We got this chocolate torte, and it was so dry. Plus, the menu said that it would be served with espresso gelato, and it came with strawberry, which wasn't super awesome. Also, the wine prices are outrageous, but that's to be expected of North End restaurants.
Now, let's talk about everything else about this place - all amazing. This has to be one of the top 5 romantic restaurants in the Boston area. The restaurant is in this old house, and there are 5 separate dining areas. The lighting, table set-up, and decor create such a romantic atmosphere. We felt like we were the only couple in the room, especially because we were served by two separate servers throughout the night. We were never waiting for something for two long, and I felt like we received the perfect balance of attention.
We started with 2 apps - the lamb with pumpkin gnocchi and mozzarella with prosciutto and tomatoes. My boyfriend loved the lamb dish, but it wasn't that appealing to me because it tasted a little too salty. He said he'd love it to be his main course though, so perhaps it was just my taste. The mozzarella...oh, the mozzarella....I could have eaten plate after plate of it. They said that it's flown in from Italy. Wherever it comes from, it is the best mozzarella I've ever had and perfectly complimented with olive oil, prosciutto, tomatoes, and basil. For dinner, my boyfriend had roasted chicken with lentils and brussel sprouts. I was kind of thinking it was a strange choice for an Italian restaurant because I love pasta, but it was such a good dish. The chicken was cooked perfectly - so juicy and tender. And he loved the lentil, olive, brussel sprout combo. My dish was New England seafood pasta, and it was sooo good! The pasta was good, not overwhelmingly so, and there wasn't much sauce, just a light olive oil (if I remember correctly). But the dish was all about the seafood, which was cooked perfectly! I never eat all of an entree, but I had to eat every bite of this meal.
If you have any anniversary to celebrate or just want a romantic night out, I highly recommend Mama Maria. -
Review from Maggie P.
San Luis Obispo, CA
9/12/2011
A good North End Italian experience. We arrived earlier to our reservation but they still seated us. They accepted our humble jeans and checkered shirt gracefully. Though others were all fancy or in business wear, there was one other guy in a Harvard hoodie so I didn't feel too bad wearing my skulls and hearts socks.
Service. 5. Excellent, professional, accommodating, efficient. When the server could not give me a good wine recommendation, she brought out tasters and even one that was not on the menu.
Food. 4. Delicious bread, pesto spread, and olives to start off. I recommend the Arugula and Duck Pasta antipastis. The lamb gnocchi and rabbit pastas were less impressive but still delicious. For dessert we had the chocolate torte and canolis. I didn't expect the torte to be grainy, but it tasted great.
Ambiance. 4. Classic museum sort of feel. Paintings, perfect walls. We were seated with a bunch of couples and just couldn't help eavesdropping on conversations.
I'm not overly impressed. It still deserves a 4, but I just wish ever dish could have been a flavor explosion. -
Review from Eric H.
Stockton, CA
10/6/2011
This place gets five stars because the lobster pasta I had a few weeks ago was probably the most delicious pasta I've ever tasted. I'm salivating at the thought of it!
Two in my party had the white fish (I believe halibut) which was tasty, but the flavors weren't nearly as rich as the pasta.
If I return I will be sure to try the osso bucco--it looked amazing! It was getting rave reviews from our table neighbors.
The service was great and the setting was what you'd expect of fine dining.
I will happily return to Mamma Maria. -
Review from Travis W.
Verona, WI
10/26/2011
I've decided to start my Yelp career on a trip to Boston. First stop, Italian food on the north end, of course.
Mamma Maria
Food ***
We started with the meatball appetizer. I had the filet with seared fois gras and fingerling potatoes. Leslee had wild mushroom ravioli...after they informed us they were out of the lobster pasta.
The meatballs were average. We both gave them a 'meh' rating.
The filet was a bit underdone for medium rare. Not cool in the middle or worthy of a send-back, just a touch on the red side of pink for me. It had a glaze that was pretty tasty, despite my general reluctance to sauce a steak. This being my first experience with fois gras, I can't tell if it wasn't prepared well or I don't care for it in general. It was not the rich, creamy goodness I was hoping for. The potatoes were seasoned well and nicely done.
"There were a lot of mushrooms, so good if you like that" is what I hear about the ravioli. Being anti-fungus myself, I didn't try any. Care to expand upon that, I ask? "No show-stopper, but generally ok"; which I interpret as a mix of above average food and disappointment at not getting the dish she wanted. A note on portion size - sounds like it wasn't enough, and that's no good coming from a tiny appetite.
Service ****
Let us know up front if you are out of something so there are no dashed expectations. Otherwise, no complaints here. The table was ready when we arrived and the service was prompt.
Atmosphere **
It's a nice place, with upscale casual dining. You'll be fine in jeans...unless our look was why they saw fit to sequester us: The 2 star rating comes from our party of six being crammed into a little alcove that was made for a table of 2. Can everyone get up and let me out so I can go to the restroom?
Value ***
The filet was fairly priced ($34); the pasta a bit on the high side given the portion ($26). My sticking point here was the lack of moderately priced wine. I'm not looking for bargain basement. The prices started at ~$50 a bottle. Each bottle we chose was good, but not noticeably better than any $35 bottle I've had in a quality Italian restaurant. I did not price check the markup.
In closing...
I won't go so far as to call Mamma Maria a tourist trap, but I left feeling like I didn't make the most of my north end Italian food experience. -
Review from Claude F.
Updated - 4/3/2011 1 photo
For My Sixth trip to Mamma Maria's I am going to focus my review not on the usual deliciousness of the food but on the sheer exemplary service of the staff which is the BEST in Boston.
Had reservations at 5:15pm to dine here with my fellow HR professional Ann (who works HR for a health care facility where HR people make much much more money then state HR people and which Ann never fails to rub in)
Unfortunately, Anne got lost driving in the North end (note to yelpers: We HR people are well known for being horrible drivers, which is why we always make you come to us for everything.) However, the bartenderess could not have been more helpful. She immediately leaped in and gave Ann perfect directions, via my cell, of how to get to Mamma Maria's from exactly where she was lost at (which was Southie...don't ask).
By the time Ann arrived it was 6pm. But, though it was 45 minutes past our reservation, the maître Dee (a real good guy) actually held my table (my preferred spot by the window) so Ann and I could enjoy the spectacular sun set view! What a nice gesture!
Our Waiter, a bearded gentleman, about 40 years of age, may well have been the best waiter I have ever been served by. He was courteous, helpful, informative, funny, patient, unassuming, and preemptively knew our every need. And best of all: he did not rush us at all! So Anne and I could have our usual HR "inside ball" conversation completely uninterrupted. Which went something like this:
Ann: "I am @#$%& dead! I have to hire 50 OTs, PTs and RNs by August! Do you know how hard it is to get good RNs???!!!"
Me: "Umm...well... I have heard of this web site called Monster. Maybe you should try it out?"
Ann: "Smart Ass comments like that is why you're still single Claude!"
Okay...maybe at that point I kinda wished he did rush us a bit. But all in all, he made our evening a delight and THAT is why I keep coming back to Mamma Maria.
But here is where they REALLY went over board for us:
Ann put her BMW with Mamma Maria's Valet parking (a real steal at $18 for the whole evening) But we decided to go for dessert somewhere else in the North End. Ann was amazed that when I asked the maître Dee "But can we still leave the car with you guys until where done?" that he actually said "Yes" at no extra charge! What other Restaurant in Boston would do that?
All in all: This is why I say Mamma Maria's is the BEST restaurant in Boston. If anyone thinks there is a better place: prove it to me!Listed in: Getting your Money's worth!!!, 5 Stars!!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/17/2011
This was the 5th time I have been to this place and my opinion has not changed:
Best and most… Read more »
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Review from Chris S.
Haverhill, MA
6/20/2011
This place has a great rep - and while certainly a fine dining experience - it left me a little unsatisfied.
First of all - let me announce that I am a vegetarian - so my options were limited. Normally, at an Italian restaurant - I am in good shape with: eggplant, pasta, salads, etc. There is almost always a good amount of choices for me.
However, at my last visit I was limited to a mushroom ravioli. I am not a fan of mushrooms - so I choked it done and waited for desert (which was amazing).
The wine was fantastic - and the atmosphere/service - but it didn't hit the spot for me that night. -
Review from Janet G.
Needham Heights, MA
3/13/2011
Cute place! I like that its a glorified renovated old house..its across from the Paul Revere House..felt very historical.
I gotta say, the service was horrible, but maybe because we happened upon Restaurant Week. My friends love this place. We ended up ordering from the Restaurant Week menu, but added on top the Crabmeat Salad which was amazing! It was served with a poached egg and black truffle oil. Delicious! For my appetizer, I had the arugula salad, which was tastey but not anything special. My main dish was the Pork with beets and harvest vegetables. I got it without the gorgonzola sauce. It was good, but not too notable.
Although I wasn't wowed by the food (except for the Crabmeat salad which I would order again), its a cute place. -
Review from John E.
Alexandria, VA
1/8/2012
Veal shank w/marrow $38 effin awesome
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Review from Brandon W.
Fullerton, CA
1/9/2011
Good stuff: Friendly and professional service. Delicious, mellow food; bolongese and osso buco in particular. Spacious and clean interior.
Bad stuff: The bread could have been better.
This was easily one of the best Italian meals I've had in my life. Having been partially raised by an Italian godfather, I've had my share of Italian meals, both from restaurants and homecooked. If I lived in Boston, I would be here every month. Hell, if I lived within a couple of hours, I'd still go back.
I went here for a Saturday night for dinner after making reservations. I was early, but as soon as the door opened, I was greeted by a smiling host and coat check and walked to my table. One thing I love about Boston restaurants compared to those in San Fracncisco is that despite being in a congested city, the rooms are quite spacious. I was very comfortable in Mamma Maria.
They don't mess around with a huge menu. The menu consists of two pages, but one side is only wine. The wine menu is the opposite; it was one of the most extensive wine menus I've seen. Most of the items I saw were traditional and very accessible.
They start you off with some bread, which by itself is actually quite bad. It's very chewy and has very little taste. The olives and pesto sauce the bread comes with, however, is delicious. I almost always ask for butter if none is served, but after tasting the pesto I found no need to make that request. The pesto was very fresh and you could taste the woodiness in it. I would definitely return for pasta in pesto sauce.
I got to try some of the bolognese. It was possibly one of the best I've had. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauce, which seemed to have a lamb or otherwise game-y meat flavor, was absolutely delicious. Oftentimes, a pasta served in such delicious sauce becomes dominated, but the texture and flavor of the pasta really stood on its own. It was a well balanced, delicious plate.
I had the osso buco, which is a specialty of this restaurant. Another incredible dish. As expected, the meat came right off the bone and packed delicious veal flavor. The sauce was mellow but contributed very well to the taste. It was served on a delicious creamy bed of rice a la milanese which carried a unique, but addicting flavor. Definitely recommended.
For dessert, I had the chocolate torte, which is served quite flat with a topping of coffee ice cream. I'm not an expert on tortes, but to me it was another winner. The ice cream in particular was delicious and creamy.
In conclusion: Mamma Maria makes me wish I lived in Boston. It's that damn good. If you skipped over my novel length review, I recommend the osso buco and bolognese. -
Review from Aga S.
Boston, MA
4/26/2011
I've heard many good things about Mamma Maria yet before I tried it on last Saturday night and now I can truly agree with all of them.
Dinner at Mamma Maria was marvelous!
Our party of four was seated in a private room with a beautiful view of North Square. The room was really cozy and created a very special atmosphere. Our server Khalid made our dinning experience an unforgettable one! The food was amazing from start to finish.
The overall experience was wonderful! The food, drinks and ambiance at Mamma Maria are all exceptional. And the staff is fabulous! -
Review from Chad T.
5/2/2011
Very solid 4-star italian restaurant. All their pastas are made fresh and you really have an outstanding selection of options to choose from. I started with the Lobster Pasta (which is a home-made lobster ravioli), then went to the rabbit pappardelle (I literally can't turn this dish down when it is on the menu.... it's a true compulsion). Both of these were great.
For those of you who can't make up your mind between two different pastas, they're happy to give you half-portions of each one so you can try multiple items, which I think is a wonderful and not-used-enough idea. It ranks up there with John Slover at Ciano allowing you to pick any wine off the bottle list and commit to only 2 glasses (for half the bottle price) while he sells the rest of the bottle off the glasses list. More restaurants should offer options like that as a way of differentiating themselves... maybe market forces will cause it to naturally happen.
For desserts we tried the chocolate tort with espresso gelato and the Sfogliatelle (puff pastry with fig glaze). Both were very... meh. Hence the 4-star review. But the pasta here was top notch and I would definitely come back again. -
Review from David C.
Boston, MA
12/21/2011
Expensive but worth it!
The service was very professional, timely but not intrusive.
The meatball and mozzarella appetizers were the best I've ever had.
The suckling pig was delicious and perfectly cooked. The swordfish was very tasty and spicy, as it should be, but slightly overdone.
Excellent cocktails and wine.
I recommend and will return. -
Review from Eric F.
3/28/2011 7 photos
What an awesome 26th birthday dinner =)
The meal started was off to a great start as the staff was able to accommodate my request for a 2nd floor table right by the window and the view was as good as fellow Yelpers have noted. I was pleasantly surprised when our waiter informed us that they do an appetizer "tower" which was essentially a very nicely presented sampler of most of options including baked oysters, clams, salumi and buffalo mozzarella.
Our main dishes included veal osso bucco, wild mushroom ravioli, pasta bolognese, braised chicken and rabbit pappardelle. My osso bucco was very tender and my friends gave glowing remarks on the rabbit pappardelle. I will say though that the portions are moderate, so you may not get particularly full if you come hungry.
For wines, our waiter suggested the 2007 Castellare Chianti Classico Riserva (light-medium body, red berries, colorful, dry finish) and 2007 Vietti Nebbiolo (medium-heavy body, weighty intensity with bold dark fruit, smooth rounded tannins) and both were fantastic! They should get around to updating their online wine list though b/c I was admittedly a bit disappointed when they didn't have my friend's notable recommendations.
Amazing friends, food, ambiance & service...couldn't have asked for any more! -
Review from grace y.
3/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
To be honest, this place was a little disappointing. I came here after my classmate highly recommended it.
My boyfriend and I had a 8:15 reservation and called them and let them know we were coming late. We got there at 8:30 and we didn't get seated until 8:50, no big deal. They had a complimentary coat check which was nice, but everyone ends up tipping so be prepared for that.
The place is very "cute" - meaning cramped and narrow. We had the following dishes:
- beef carpaccio: Thin slices of beef with capers, arugula, and Parmesan cheese. Pretty damn good. Everything was fresh and the flavors from each of the items really worked well together.
- rabbit pasta: I'm a sucker for pappardelle pasta so I was amped to see this on the menu. The rabbit was slow-cooked and was great, but the noodles left me unsatisfied. The noodles were a little thicker and chewier than other places that I have been to.
- veal shank: The veal was bread-crusted and crispy. My boyfriend and I don't generally like veal so it was very good considering this. However, nothing was really special.
Service: Great. The waiter was nice and our water glasses were never less than half filled. Our waiter did try to get us to go to Modern Pastry instead of Mike Pastry, I heard him say this to pretty much every single customer. I have a sneaking suspicion that his uncle works at Modern Pastry. -
Review from Lala I.
Malden, MA
2/16/2012
went there with my lovely bf for din din last friday. according to yelp, its the most romantic resturant. mehhhh whatever. i have to say the best i had all night was the bread with the pesto sauce lol. we also ordered carpaccio which was decent. we didnt enjoy our entrees as much though. i ordered rabbit pasta which was only ok. kinda salty so i couldnt finish it. the bunny meat didnt taste that fresh hmmm. my lovely bf ordered crab and clams pasta, he thought it was only ok, kinda bland and soggy. my wine was ok. although the waiter was pretty nice and atmosphere was quiet and intimate, nuthing was too impressive. probably wont go back again.
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Review from Scott z.
Somerville, MA
1/13/2012
Excellent food although I am not use to eating at restaurants where I have to ask the server to explain items on the menu. Great location with a nice atmosphere for conversation. A little pricey but you get what you pay for.... a quality meal.
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Review from C R.
Charlotte, NC
12/4/2011
Great Italian food in north end. Had their classic and famous osso buco which was amazing! Also had their buffalo mozz - very good. Decent wine menu, not great. Overall a good experience.
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Review from Lisa S.
1/2/2011
Mamma Maria is my go-to restaurant in the North End. Luckily, I discovered it my freshman year of college, so I've been able to make it here many times over the years. The decor is quaint, and the restaurant is a renovated house with multiple small dining rooms. The ambiance tends towards romantic- it's a great place for a date or just for a quiet dinner with delicious food.
I have had almost no complaints about the food at Mamma Maria. Their appetizers are delicious, and I especially love their scallops and gnocchi. Mamma Maria is also the first place I ever ate osso buco, and despite eating it many times since, I think it is still one of the best osso bucos I've ever had. The meat is so incredibly tender that it basically melts in your mouth. I think it's one of their best dishes, as well. For other great dishes, I've never gone wrong with their rabbit or beef tenderloin. While I don't usually eat pork, my parents are a fan of their pork tenderloin. They have a few vegetarian options, but not too many.
They also have a great wine list, with a real diversity of prices. You can find bottles from $35 up to over $100. They also have a solid dessert menu. The servers are professional and attentive but the pace of the dinner is "leisurely" (aka don't plan a show an hour after your reservation). A meal here is pricey but in my opinion, definitely worth it. -
Review from KoreanSoup S.
Solana Beach, CA
9/5/2011
Good food and ambience.
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Review from Luis A.
Miami, FL
12/4/2011
-I had the rabbit pasta and the oysters. Both where very tasty.
-I did not like the pisco sour. I am a Peruvian; pisco sour is supposed to be very sweet but this was bitter. Maybe it was just the barman that messed up that night, otherwise he needs to go to Lima-Peru for 1 week training. If they can get Peruvian limes it would help, but that is a tough situation for anyone that makes pisco sour.
I would go again and pay the $100+ bill for 2.
