Mamma Melina Ristorante + Pizzeria

Went to Mamma Melina last night (Friday) with a couple of friends. Two orders of Fettuccine Alfredo no meat and one order of ravioli. The food was disgusting!!!
The Alfredo sauce was very Watery (watery cream sauce?) with absolutely no flavor even after I had ordered it with extra garlic. I never use salt and had to add salt just to get a little flavor. The noodles were limpy egg noodles, not proper fettuccine noodles. The ravioli was stuffed with a terrible tasting stinky cheese. None of the three of us finished our meals as they were terrible. I should have stayed home and opened a jar of prego alfredo sauce and boiled some proper noodles and been much more satisfied. The décor is questionable… chandelier in one part of the big room with white tablecloth and PLASTIC chairs on food stained concrete floor. Overpriced for the terrible food. Don’t bother wasting your time, money, or palate.

Excellent happy hour! I’ve had the calamari, ravioli, rigatoni, and carpaccio. Everything is delicious, and portioned so that 1.5 plates is basically a whole meal (minus the carpaccio). Their rigatoni especially is savory, meaty, and filling. The interior is upscale and mood lit. A great spot for a casual date that won’t break the bank.

They have great happy hour deals! There’s also no crowds around that time.
I highly recommend their pizza! It’s simple yet heavenly.

Great happy hour deals, so-​so food. The happy hour specials are only in the bar area, which is fine by me because they have a couple tables so you don’t have to squeeze in elbow-​to-​elbow with your friends at the bar.
Our party of four split a bottle of the house red for $ 15 (great deal for 4 people!) and my boyfriend and I shared the Corydon pizza ($ 7.50 with the happy hour special). The crust was nice and crisp but it just didn’t wow me and is definitely a bit pricey for the small size at full price ($ 10? more?) We also had some bread and olive oil at the table, but I think that’s because we initially sat down in the main restaurant for dinner and not at the bar for happy hour.
I’d recommend the happy hour menu, which we’ll definitely be back for next time we’re in the area. Dinner menu, eh, judging from the food I had at happy hour, it’s probably not worth the price.
Added bonus: the bathrooms have heated toilet seats.

Charming restaurant with nice pretty decoration. You could feel the modern elegant ambiance in here. But the food is surprisingly standard. Not extremely good, not bad either. Just like any other taste you could fine in another average italian restaurant. I was expecting better.

We had dinner. We were hoping to have a similar experience to all the dinners we had at he Roosevelt location. We were disappointed. The service was great. The calamari was deep fried instead of sautéed. The Sea Bass was overcooked. Good coffee. The bread used to better too. Spaghetti was good.
Expensive for a so so experience.

Mamma Melina, you had me at half off. I’ve walked by this restaurant countless times without ever dropping in and I was pleasantly surprised to discover their very happy hour last night– 50% off the entire bar menu, all day Sunday and Monday! A bottle of red for $ 16? Yes plz. We only ordered a few dishes but each one came with a little oomph. Chunky pieces of crab in the ziti, zesty dip with the calamari, creamy polenta… yum! That said, there are definitely a few things on the menu that will make you wonder if you’re being overcharged for something pretty plain at a super hip restaurant (i.e. cuore di romana = salad) Service was well done. Our hostess kept our wait to a minimum and our server was very mama bear affectionate. I will be back!

I had a great experience, and I think there was a Mamma Melina else where, but didn’t know the exact location. I love the atmosphere and its at a great location.
The food was great, the service was quick, we had our food on time and quickly. Everything was exceptional and I really enjoyed the experience, especially on a big group, as they were able to accommodate all of us. #foodie #foodporn #awesomeness #yummy #delicious #exceptional #thankyou #goodcompany

I was here for hh when it was empty but it got busy quickly.
Calimari, yes!
Gnocchi, yes!
Margarita pizza, no thanks…

Modern, hip, and fun ambience great for dates and small get togethers.
Im not a big fan for Italian, but I am a definite Mamma Melina fan. The place is worth visiting even if you’re not planning on specifically spending time in that area like U Village. The main dinner menu is great, but for those wanting to stay on budget or try a few things then the HH menu might be better to try first. The HH menu has a decent selection.
The service here has always been professional, and I have enjoyed all my dining experiences. The establishment has a pretty elegant and an upscale feel especially at night, but I find that it’s still causal there. Seems like a fun hang out for the young professionals living in the area. I’d recommend going with a small group at most 6 and getting a seat outside on a Summer night to just hang out over drinks and dinner.
Couple of tips:
— The space isn’t small, but seating feels limited and at times a but crowded.
— Doesn’t seem like a family friendly place at night.

Great place for happy hour, and one that last longer than the normal 6/​7pm; it goes til 11pm. Bar menu was half off so a great way to sample menu items at a cheaper price. Most pasta are made in house so you know it’s fresh. Ordered the prosciutto salad, calamari, rigatoni bolognese, crab & prawn mac and cheese, spinach ravioli, tiramisu, & chocolate lava cake. The pastas was al dente and delicious. I like that it was saucy, alot of Italian restaurants I feel don’t put enough sauce on the pasta and you have to ask for more. This was perfect to the point you have to wipe the plate clean with some bread or even lick the plate… yes that good! The blood orange martini was so yummy!
Service was great, restaurant décor was nice, giving a nice romantic ambiance at times. Street parking or an adjacent parking gargage is available.
Pictures on Instagram @amanda.n_

This Italian place is awesome. Great ambience, beautiful yet unique décor with class and has a great outside area (casual outdoor furniture section) and some European café like feel tables/​chairs. Inside, unique artwork on the ceiling rather than wall.
Food.I have some favorites and some I wouldn’t try again.
The winners are:
1) Spaghetti alla diavola con aragosta dell’atlantico — delish
2) Saltimbocca di pollo alla romana — love how they cook this chicken dish (note: the first time I had, the chicken was cooked perfectly and moist– sauce/​toppings-​yum!, second time– everything remains the same with sauce and toppings (they are consistent which is key to a successful restaurant but the chicken was very dry not moist– different chef perhaps — still good just not as good)
The average list:
Pizzas.we ordered a couple on the happy hour menu– not bad but not amazing
Meatballs are good– no complaints (2 big ones for happy hour)
Drinks are pretty tasty as well and a good wine selection.
The nah list:
Linguine con salmone e polpa di granchio — check out this description — «Linguine, wild oregon smoked salmon, fresh dungeness crab and light cream, fried leeks» — I fell in love with the description and I think my husband and a couple of friends did too… but nope! A bland dish with not a lot of protein and very light on the sauce/​crab/​smoked salmon… for some reason, these just don’t work well together like it reads… the lobster pasta didn’t read as well but was incredibly amazing in taste.
So in this case, do not judge the book by its cover (or description)
Desserts:
We had the chocolate cake/​ice cream — so good! My favorite. The pistachio gelato– good but not amazing – I suggest adding some fresh chopped pistachio. We had a couple of others – can’t remember so it must not have done anything for me :)

I had dinner here recently and I really enjoyed myself. It was a pretty large restaurant but very open and with lots of windows. They have quite a bit of outdoor seating but it was too hot to sit outside for me at that time. The only bad part of the evening were the people sitting next to me. The guy kept making this very loud smacking noise. It was like a nervous tick or something. This is obviously completely out of the restaurant’s control. :-)
The waiter was very knowledgable about every item on the menu. I had lots of questions. :-) I ordered two appetizers: fried calamari and eggplant parmigiana. Both were delicious. The calamari wasn’t greasy at all. Perfect amount of batter and the aioli dipping sauce was super zesty.
I also ordered a Caesar Salad. It was mediocre. For dinner I ordered the spicey lobster and clam spaghetti and the crab and salmon linguine with a light cream sauce. Both were very tasty. The seafood was very fresh and delicious.
I was too full for dessert. Next time!

My favorite happy hour in the U-​District. Beware, tables in the bar are limited and always snatched up fast. Small bar area seating in general.
Drinks are reasonably priced — well drinks are STRONG and less than $ 5. Beers are even cheaper. Bartenders are all very helpful and nice to chat with. Kudos to them for pouring with a heavy hand :)
The happy hour food menu is more extensive than most I’ve seen and you can get full on just a single plate, since portions are generous. Particularly for half price when you’d expect stingy portions. My favorite dishes:
–Calamari: generous serving of lightly breaded calamari that’s not too salty, so you can actually enjoy the two dipping sauces. One more creamy, the other more tangy like a cocktail sauce. Great appetizer to share. $ 5.50
–Mac and cheese (ziti): creamy and so very savory. There’s a fair amount of crab and prawns in it, which is a brilliant twist to a classic dish. Very filling and satisfying. $ 10
–Kobe beef burger: served on ciabatta instead of a regular roll and the most flavorful beef I’ve ever had in a burger, this is seriously good. It seems very simple and normal from just looking at it but the flavor is incredible. Comes with fries or a salad. Try the fries if you like fries that are similar to steak fries but not as thick as Red Robin’s. They are quite good, but salty. $ 8
For first timers, try happy hour. The prices are much more reasonable than the full price menu but you’re not sacrificing quality or quantity for HH.

Mamma Melina is a great place to meet up for a meal with friends! They have a surprisingly long happy hour, which is great if your schedule doesn’t allow for a traditional 4 – 6 happy hour. Their staff have always been friendly and accommodating, and have been nice enough to seat us in the restaurant for HH when the bar area was full. Service is well-​timed and the kitchen seems to turn around food decently quickly. No complaints there.
If you’re there to drink a little something, I can definitely recommend the blood orange martini. I’m not much of a martini person in general, but I tried it and was really pleased! It’s delicious, not too sweet, and surprisingly strong. Underestimate their power at your own peril!
Their bar menu, which is half off during happy hour (what a deal!) has a pretty good selection. I can personally recommend the lobster mac and cheese, which is about as indulgent and satisfying as it sounds, the calamari, and the pizzas. The one thing that I will be skipping next time is their caesar salad, which I had high hopes for but had little flavor in the dressing.
The restaurant is very good looking, and the atmosphere is buzzy but not too loud – you can still have a conversation with the people at your table. Mamma Melina is definitely going on my happy hour rotation.

I’m a huge fan of Mamma Melina for happy hour! Their pizzas are the delicious thin crust Italian style, without gobs of grease.
HH only in the bar, but the atmosphere is great and I’ve almost always gotten a seat. It’s a perfect spot for a date.
Full bar, great bartenders and staff — especially Aaron the maitre’d — he will take fantastic care of you!
We love the calamari — not the battered kind, carpaccio is to die for! Fresh thinly sliced meat with peppery arugula and salty parm on top.
We’ve had dinner a handful of times here as well, ranging from chicken parm to pasta to a seafood dish and have loved it all!
Only downside is parking — there is a garage but it’s a tight squeeze so I try to stick to street parking if I can find it.

I only ever come here for happy hour and it does not disappoint! The restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a sophisticated ambience. Love that they play modern jazz and bossa nova-​esque music, definitely adds to the cool atmosphere.
Happy hour is only in the bar and everything on their «bar menu» is half off! From appetizers to pastas to burgers to pizza, everything here is quite delightful. Also with $ 3.50 drafts and under ~$ 3.50 glasses of wine you can’t go wrong.
On my most recent visit, my boyfriend and I came for late night happy hour. Our server, Tracy, was excellent! Super friendly and very attentive. We ordered three items: calamari, kobe beef burger, and the crab & shrimp mac and cheese.
Calamari: SO good, and very reasonably priced at $ 5.50! The spicy mayo sauce or whatever that orange one is o m g. I was dipping everything in there lol, squid, fries, burger, everything. I love that they give you the tentacle pieces as well, it adds a nice varying texture to the dish.
Kobe beef burger: Pretty decent, wish they used a different bun and/​or toasted it. Love that they give you a banana pepper with it. Fries were also yummy!
Mac and cheese: Ok, I’ve had this in the past and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, this time when I ordered it and took my first bite I was overwhelmed with salt. Like I legit had a flashback of swimming in the ocean ok. I was like whatever, I do like salt so I had another bite. The next bite was SOO bitter! I don’t know what happened there and tried to justify it but honestly no food should be bitter unless it’s coffee, grapefruit, or bittermelon. So eventually we sent it back and the sous chef agreed something was wrong with it so they took it off our bill. They offered to make us something else but surprisingly after the calamari and the burger we were both full.
I am usually not one to send food back, but Tracy was very empathetic and kind about it. Although the food may be hit or miss, the service is excellent and will keep me coming back!

Place was packed on a Tuesday night. We had 6:30 reservations but didn’t get seated until 6:40. I had the butter lettuce salad with goat cheese and hazelnuts. It also had just a touch of balsalmic dressing. It was light, tasty, and just the right size. The focaccia squares were complimentary and came with a pesto type vinaigrette.
For my entrée I had the canneloni special of the day which had crab and shrimp with spinach and a mild salsa type tomato sauce. It was one of the best canneloni dishes I’ve had. There was a nice amount of seafood and just enough cheese and tomato sauce without being too overwhelming.
I’m giving them a slight downgrade due to the slow service, but the food was top notch.

Unfortunately, I had a bad experience here with the service. My friends and I decided to visit on a Friday night for happy hour. A couple of us were able to get there at 5 to snag a table in the dining area and they were nice enough to agree to give us the HH prices out there.
Our whole party wasn’t able to get there until just before 6, however. We ordered our dishes then: the eggplant parmisiana, spicy meatballs, and calamari. The server seemed like she was extremely done with her job. She wasn’t rude, but was not friendly at all and barely checked on us as we ate.
When the check arrived, we noticed that the food was rung at full price. Apparently we ordered before 6, but it was entered into the register at 6:01. I was a bit annoyed that nothing was said (pretty sure she knew we were there for happy hour and could have warned us), but I accepted it as fair. We wanted the check split though, and she continued to act like we were causing her so much pain for requesting it. To make matters worse, the check was split incorrectly (some miscommunication about who was paying for what dish) and when we asked that it be fixed, she didn’t say anything and just took our checks back. I had to check later that night that my card wasn’t charged twice, because we also never got a void slip.
I am hoping to return and have a better experience next time at Mamma Melina’s, especially since I’ve heard such good things about their service in particular. Plus, the food and drinks are good and I feel like the rest of the experience should match in comparison.

Old favorite in new spot!
I’ve loved Mamma Melina since they were on the Roosevelt! It was a much better vibe then. Warm, cozy spot with murals on the wall. Amazing calamari steak with olive oil, delish pasta and crowded every night. Ahhh it was my favorite spot to go be fancy during college days!
And they moved to this place few years back! I totally didn’t mind. It was decorated more like their sister place. Much brighter, prettier, all white everything. And with the same delicious food! The place is huge. It goes from the bar to the back where they can actually closed off the area to make it a private room for you. It was quite nice. I’ve hosted a ton of events here. Birthdays, bridal showers, babyshowers, reunions! They’ve always accommodated us with everything from food, space to personalized set menus. What’s not to love! If you come here for the weekend brunch, you might find yourself staying till happy hour! I always do!
Notable and favorite dishes–
Spicy meatballs– always consistently good.
Calamari firtti — fluffy!
Lumache al burro — escargot baked in butter. My fav!
*Gnocchi –with sweet tomatoes! Always tasty.
*Linguine con salmon — linguine with smoked salmon, crab in a cream sauce. I usually get this on my lunches. Creamy good!
*Spaghetti ala vongle — spaghetti with clams! What’s not to love. This was my favorite from before they moved. Still like it!
*Fettucine Bolognese– my go to dish for dinner/​happy hour!
**Risotto ai gamberi– jumbo prawns in creamy asparagus risotto. Heavy but good for rainy days!
**Ossobuco di argnello — lamb shank with polenta! Crazy filling and heavy but tasty.
Pizza
Margherita — you can smell and see your pizza being made. It is simple and tasty! I like.
Melina — truffles pizza! yummmm!
Pizza con polpete — spicy meat ball pizza with mozzarella and parmigiano.
The best part? Dessert! I’m never one to order a dessert when I eat out but I do at a few places. This is one of them!
Vanilla bean panna cotta — I know its the easiest thing to make! But I love it here. It’s so beautiful and tasty. They also have other stuff but this is my favorite. You can also get a delicious cappuccino with your brunch, lunch meals! Or try their Rose! Prosecco! Blood orange martini for happy hour. They have a pretty solid happy hour in the bar area if you can manage to find a seat/​booth. And the besttt part? They have parking! Not gonna lie– the décor and free parking is why I hosted way too many events here. My east side friends love me for it :)