Great food, service, and ambiance in this small quaint restaurant. We liked that we were able to order small portions at a lower cost which were very ample. Very friendly staff. Reservations are a must. The little bread balls just melt in your mouth! Only negative is the noise.

January is restaurant month in SLO county. Many restaurants offer special dinners of 3 courses for $30. Mamma's Meatballs special for this January consists of a fried Risotto ball with mozzarella and capers. Very tasty and interesting spices. Then a Fettuccini pasta with perfect pan seared scallops. Finally a grilled flank steak in a wine reduction sauce that was every bit as good as one I had in Florence at a 5 star restaurant (Dante's). I think it is a great bargain for excellent Italian food. The place was packed the night we were there but all the servers were hustling to keep up. They did mention that they were expanding to keep up with the crowds. This was our first time but we will be back to try their regular menu.

We decided to take another couple as a Christmas present due to the reviews we had seen. First, the waiter (who said he was also a cook) was not very helpful in helping us choose our dinner selections. I asked for if there were any specials and he came up with a corny joke and never answered my question. When the second couple arrived, he proceeded to do the same corny joke. I then asked what would be "yummy". He said what was I looking for? I said something with like 5 ingredients that was delicious. He said he had something with 6 ingredients, but that wouldn't work for me. Did not appreciate his sense of humor or lack of helpfulness (especially when he bragged about working in the kitchen). The dining area is small and crowded. We ordered a side of meatballs, since this is their specialty. No big deal--kind of dry. Our entrees were just average, not what you would expect from "homemade pasta". He did recommend a wine that we liked, on a positive note. I would not go back or recommend this place, unfortunately.

Small, bustling restaurant in commercial center in downtown SLO. January is a good time to go as it is restaurant month: fixed price menu with 3 courses for $30. Or try one of the many entree options, including pizza, pasta, or meat/chicken offerings, which can be ordered as a small or large portion, and priced accordingly...a nice touch. Tonight we had pork medallions in dijon mushroom sauce.....tender and delicious, garnished with crispy roasted potatoes and steamed broccoli. Eggplant parmesan is also very good, as is the rich Pasta Carbonara. Special wine offerings change weekly and can be ordered by the glass, half carafe, or bottle. Service is good and reservations are advised as this restaurant always seems busy.

We missed out on this restaurant on our first visit as our large group was difficult for them to accommodate without reservations. Eyeing some of the patrons dishes we knew we had to come back. The right call. The wait staff is prompt, professional and know their wine list; also offer a reasonable corkage if you BYO after a day of tasting. The atmosphere is intimate and family friendly....your going to share a conversation with the tables near yours!. Food is well prepared and the presentation excellent. As a cook I learned a few things from the dishes we enjoyed. Portions are overly generous, but perfect to share. Mama's will be a must repeat on our next SLO visit.