Mama Louisa’s Hero Shop

This is a real authentic mom-​and-​pop shop and the owners seemed very kind and on top of things to me. My first time visiting so I’ve never experienced the previous owners, but the man and woman running the place were very kind to me, and they made me one very tasty italian combo. granted it was off-​peak but i don’t understand all the recent negative reviews for this place. i’d definitely recommend and want to go back soon to try more of their italian specialities.

I order her a lot but today they really annoyed me. I called them at 11:55am and placed an order for bacon and egg on toast and French fries. I called ahead so that I wouldn’t have to wait long and avoid the lunch rush. I left my house at 12:20 and arrived there at 12:22. Walked in and told them I had called ahead. I don’t know if she forgot to put the order in or what, but I stood there until 12:42 waiting on food I ordered almost an hour prior. I saw countless people come in off the street and place orders and leave. When my food was finally ready, I got no explanation, apologies or even a thank you for waiting.
In short, don’t bother calling ahead.

This place is definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area. Just make sure not to wait too long to go because they close early. Today was my first time there and I will be back!

Just tried this spot today and I’ve got to say they make a DAMN good hero! The price for a large fully packed hero was $ 6.75 and it was well worth it! Tons of meat! I will be back! Can’t beat your neighborhood bodega lunch spot!

Great neighborhood spot! The deli hot and cold sandwiches are excellent. I would suggest calling in ahead of time because it can get crowded around lunch time.

Mama Louisa’s is and has been one of our favorites for years. Though the ownership changed recently, the new owner is extremely kind and helpful and the food is still fantastic. It may not be the same as it was in every way, but it’s still a gem.

Decent heroes. Horrible service. I went there twice, at different times, and it takes 15 minutes to get hero even with absolutely no other customers in the place. They are oblivious to the fact that parking in the area is horrible and actually barely acknowledge the presence of customers in the store.
To make matters worse, the guy preparing the food uses the same gloves to prepare food, clean the counter, and answer the phone. At this point I walked out. This place lives on a reputation that seems like it died years ago. Not going back! No need to push a bad experience in to a viral infection from disgusting food preparation practices.

I’ve been going here for years. Actually, over a decade since I was a kid. So like everyone else I was sad when Frank retired. But I decided to give the new owners a chance since there were still familiar faces and the food still tasted great. But after today, never again! Ordered on the phone, waited half an hour to walk over since I live close, proceeded to wait an additional 40 minutes in store.
Now normally I don’t mind this. It was busy. But when the main thing I ordered was not made, even though it was the very first thing I ordered on the phone, I mind. And I really mind that the prices went up. The things I ordered should not equal to almost $ 20.
So I walk back realizing I did not have the main sandwich I ordered, trying not to be in a bad mood. As you can see, I failed.
Can’t believe I’m gonna say this, but after 16 years of me coming here, I’m done.

Be warned. This is not the same place that earned all the five star ratings. They should really change the name.

YOU CANNOT FIND A RATING ON THE NYC RESTAURANT INSPECTION SITE.
I remember this place having a «C» rating on the door. I can’t find them ANYWHERE on the New York City Department of Health’s web site. It seems they use ONE name on their door and another for the NYC web site. It is NOT listed. REALLY strange.
To my understanding, the ownership has changed in the last year. I have NO idea why so many people said this place was great when FRANK owned it. When Frank owned the place, most of the items at this place were outdated. No one checks. Diet soda? most of the time OUT OF DATE and that stuff turns deadly when it is outdated. Bag of chips etc? OUT dated. That aside, the sandwicnes were AWLAYS skimpy. Veal Parmigiana? YEAH RIGHT! Instead of veal, they used stew beef. In my opinion, this place got away with murder for YEARS! Now, there is a NEW owner. It’s even WORSE. What bothers me MOST is that every time I ordered from this place since the new owner, the woman ALWAYS gives me a price OVER what it is supposed to be. ALSO, they charge different prices for different people. One day, I sent my GF in for a plate of Turkey with mashed potatoes and vegetables. They charged her $ 9.50 which is says on their NEW menu. I go in, they tell me $ 10.50. I asked why since the menu states $ 9.50. They said it was a mistake on MY particular menu. So SHORT VERSION: They charge TAX, they charge a $ 2.00 DELIVERY CHARGE. They OVER CHARGE on a regular basis unless you correct them, and even THEN you can’t be assured she won’t lie to you and tell you that your menu has a mistake on it. BRAND NEW MENU! So, when Frank had it, it was BAD. Now, it is WORSE! What a shame.

I’m adding this addendum to bring the star rating more in line with reality. I realize my overzealous original 5 star rating was due to the fact that I could swing by and pick up a huge hot ham n cheese/​ginger beer with a credit card

Update update update Frank has retired! Not the same! Got a meatball hero, and Antipasto salad. No flavor!!! It really is a ghost town! No extra snacks, anything you want under the sun, last minute Christmas gifts. Birthday gifts, Valentine’s Day gift etc… Nothing! Frank has retired and he definitely needed and deserves to enjoy his retirement. He will be missed terribly. RIP Mama Louisas!

I used to go here a lot! Since they changed owners, the woman who runs it is unpleasant. The food is not nearly as good as it used to be. It used to be that I would sometimes wait for my food, and the wait was totally worth it, now, even if I don’t wait as long (less people) the food doesn’t taste as good.
So sad to see a wonderful place deteriorate so quickly.
Don’t keep the name, if you are going to ruin it.

Frank has retired and this place is DIFFERENT. First, it was a ghost town — so rare! Second, the blt I got was more like a where’s the bacon-​l-​t? Third, when I pulled out my credit card (which they clearly list on the door for payment), the woman said «Credit card??» like it was a dirty word. Sad to see a great institution in the neighborhood change hands but today was my last time going. The food is NOT the same. I miss Frank and his wife dearly. I do hope, however, that he is enjoying a well-​deserved retirement.

I ordered the Italian combo with hot peppers. It was well-​constructed with good ingredients. Much better than the other heroes I’ve had in NYC – and its only a few blocks from my house!

I generally never write reviews about restaurants, but talk about management change! Frank the original owner had this place working like a well-​oiled machine with excellent ingredients. Ever since he’ sold the place earlier this summer — it’s just not the same. They are putting in cheaper products, the place feels empty, the orders seem to be messed up constantly. This used to be a neighborhood institution, I’m afraid it’s turned into just another neighborhood bodega.

Be advised, Frank sold the shop and is no longer associated in any way with the shop. I got a hero the other day and noticed an immediate difference in quality. The guy that makes the sandwiches was kept on by the new management, but the new owners are obviously trying to cut corners buy selecting lower quality goods such as the breads and dressings. Frank sold the business in early July 2014. Very sad to see him gone. I hope he enjoys his retirement. It’s a break well deserved.

I love this place, it is a go to for my office peeps! The sandwiches are crazy delicious and the Italian entrees are huge and tasty. It is all homemade food and totally worth the wait.

This place is classic! Nice italian lady comes out and greets me and cracks several funny jokes. I order the large Italian sandwich and this is by far best sandwich I’ve tasted since the 90s lol classic no holds barred, no frills deli sandwich. A simple must go… fresh bread… great quality board head deli meat… right amount of moisture with mayo and other condiments.
Caution: I got the large sandwich and it was a behemoth of a sandwich… I was knocked out for the rest of the day. A regular will do most folks well.

Last weekend my boyfriend and I discovered Free Tours by Foot. Our tour guide Derrick, showed us the ropes of Flatbush Avenue and introduced us to some unforgettable Brooklyn eats. We were pretty much all over the map tasting Trinidadian food, to Italian food, to Jamaican food and everything was de-​licious! And the best part about this whole tour? Yeah, I’m going to with with that it was free!
Before the tour, I had no idea that Flatbush Avenue was so diverse. In just a few blocks, we sampled food from all over the world! Our First stop was De Hot Pot where we indulged in a traditional Trinidadian dishes like Double and Spicy Mango. We continued the Trinidadian feel at Scoops where we sampled some of the most delicious corn chowder of my life! Next stop, Peppa’s Jerk Chicken where they chopped and packed a whole jerk chicken in less than 1 minute. Our fourth stop was at Jamaican Pride Bakery for a Bun and Cheese and a Fried Dumpling. Next, we bused over to the 100 year old Mama Louisa’s Hero Shop and had ourselves some meatballs. To conclude the tour we went to a Trinidadian bakery called Allen’s Bakery and sampled a cheese roll.
New York City is a stomping ground for food tours and most of them range about $ 50 bucks a pop, not including gratuity, but not Free Tours by Foot. These tours are great because you choose what you want to eat at each stop and in the end, each person usually only spends about $ 7-​$ 12. And since you barely spend any money on the tour, it’s an even better reason to tip your tour guide generously. Free tours by Foot does all sorts of tours, not just food, so check out all they have to offer here and don’t forget to tell them who sent you– Hungry White Girl!