Mama Mia 44SW

The perfect authentic, homemade, family-run Italian restaurant! The service was wonderful, the food was absolutely amazing, and the ambiance is great! We got the Fresh Garlic Bread appetizer, then got the Spaghetti & Meatballs and Lasagna, respectively. We ended with desserts of Tiramisu and Chocolate Temptation. Everything was perfect and we’ll absolutely be back the next time we’re in the area!

Mama Mia is a must visit if you're in NYC, especially in what was known as Hell's Kitchen. It's a very intimate and cozy place to enjoy a good meal. The bar is small, but welcoming to sit at. For those who enjoy Italian good, Mama Mia hit's the spot. I recommend their Chicken Eggplant Rollatini Parmigiana. So delicious! They has some interesting drinks that start at $18, but not watered down. The prices are typical for NYC but if you're having a drink or two and an entree, you will probably end up paying over $60 (and that's not counting dessert). Mama Mia is one NYC restaurant that is a joy to have a meal at.

We could not have asked for more! We went after reading reviews and r experience was beyond anything expected. U gotta ask for Teago who was our server. He’s so knowledgeable about everything on the menu. If he recommends.. don’t fight the feelin… just order it! The owner Connie is amazing and we loved hearing stories of the family and their lovely restaurant and alllll the changes they have seen in allll those years. Everything … perfect!!!

I've been here twice before seeing a show. Both times I entered around 5:45 and got my food quickly, which I appreciated because I needed out before 7. Unfortunately, no one wanted to bring me a check during both visits. I had to ask several staff members to pay for over 15 minutes and watch them all do several other tasks before finally being able to pay. I barely made my shows on time due to this, which was extremely disappointing. Decent food, not the best but also not the worst. I would not visit again if I need to be somewhere! I highly advise you go to other restaurants in the area if you need to catch a show.

Mamma Mia is truly a gem in Hell’s Kitchen! . Their meatballs are rich and flavorful, the pasta is cooked to perfection, and every bite feels like home. This is a real family place - warm, welcoming, and full of heart. You can feel the love in every dish, especially knowing the owner (her name in Connie) is here every single day, greeting guests and making sure everything is just right. A proud spot for Hell’s Kitchen, and a place I’ll keep coming back to. Martin and Ann also doing good live music every weekends 🫶🏼

Everything in New York is expensive. But, this restaurant, even though it is expensive, I can say that the experience was fabulous. The dishes were served very well, and the food was incredible. But, for me, the best thing was the atmosphere. It was extremely pleasant and, when I went, on a weekday, close to closing time, it was quite empty, so the experience was very good. Excellent place to go for dinner, for example. Very pleasant place.

First of all, I have to say the food we had last night was delicious. Unfortunately, our experience was spoiled by the pushy tactics of our server. We were seated and served table water and given menus. We waited and waited and eventually after 20 minutes we asked if we could give our order. If it had been up to me, I would have left but my husband insisted we stay. There were only 3 other couples in so it wasn't because it was busy. The server recommended we had garlic bread because my lasagne would take 20 minutes but we declined, saying it would spoil my meal and I would be too full. The server then brought table bread which I said we didn't want but he wouldn't take it away and my husband ended up eating it. Then our food came and the server brought more bread which again I said we didn't want and again he insisted on leaving. True to form, my husband ate this aswell. When we had finished our meal, which as I said was absolutely delicious, the server offered us the dessert menu and even though we said we didn't want a dessert, he brought it and explained the various desserts. When the bill came it was $99 including charges for the unwanted (but eaten) bread, taxes and a tip, which if it had been up to me, I wouldn't have paid but my husband doesn't like conflict so wouldn't let me not pay. I felt 'ripped off'. To put things in perspective, my meal was $24 and my husbands $26 and I had a soda for $5 and he had a $9 beer. The bill left a very sour taste and spoiled the whole meal which was a shame because the food was so good.

Had the most amazing experience at this restaurant today. We just happened to walk in and were made to feel very welcome. The server was extremely nice and helpful and mindful of my kids allergies. We ordered the pasta bolognese and Chicken Marsala. Both tasted out of the world. We will be back to try more dishes. Highly recommend for the tasty food and amazing service.

A group of 10 went for dinner last Saturday night. It was fantastic. The staff was very attentive. The food was excellent. We will go back again. Try it for yourself, plenty of places in Times Square but this was the best, not a tourist trap. NYC's finest authentic establishment.

Mama Mia was just an ok experience, and I don't see myself visiting again. Everyone had a taste for Italian, and Yelp led us to Mama Mia. It was fairly busy around 6:30p, and there was only one waiter -- he was working the bar and managing several tables. As such, service was a bit slow. The lighting in the restaurant was a bit dim. Too dim! I don't have the best set of eyes, but I needed my flashlight to see the menu! We ordered mozzarella sticks, baked clams, chicken parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, and the fish of the day (branzino). I tried the mozzarella sticks, baked clams, and my entree was the branzino with spinach. The mozzarella sticks were really good--came out piping hot and the cheese pull lived up to its name. The branzino was just ok. The menu description indicated it would be served alongside spinach and capers. However, there were more olives on my plate than capers. I was a bit disappointed. Additionally, the plate was filled with oil. While the fish was seasoned well, there was simply too much oil. As a matter of fact, later that evening, I felt a bit nauseous. I attribute it to my oily dinner. The baked clams were also just ok. There was too much breading--so much so that I scraped the breading and got right to the point: the clams! I wouldn't get this dish again. As mentioned earlier, service was slow. I had to flag down the menu waiter for the bill. Mama Mia wasn't really my cup of tea, but clearly with their Yelp 4-star rating, I'm in the minority. Cheers!

We tried this place in a whim and a quick look on Yelp to see what was available after we finished watching a play. The motiff was a bit a little bit too dark for my liking, but my family was fine with it. The was a group of young adults that were too loud, very loud. Even my kids thought they were obnoxious. Other than those, the place was nice and quaint. The servers were friendly and cordial. I just wished they requested that group to keep there noise level down. When it comes to the food, it was very good. Very tasty and affordable. I was surprised with their pricing, especially being it in the theater district/Hell's Kitchen area. Their menu shows the price difference between paying with cash/debit card vs credit card, so you can at least know ahead of time how much the final bill would cost you. I thought that was a pretty good touch. Was the food mind-blowing? No. It was just good old fashioned New York Italian Food. A good place to fill your belly and relax after watching an Off-Broadway show. It's definitely worth checking out.

Great spot to go for a cozy dinner before a Broadway show or if you're staying in Midtown! It's a very homey inside with kind staff and fast service. The pasta is wonderful and all of the appetizers are worth a try! Also, the portion sizes are great. My favorite dish is the Vongole Di Napoli (Linguine with clams) though the Seafood Combination is also great!

We came on a week night and it was super busy. Definitely recommend getting a reservation. Staff were attentive and the food quality was okay.

Somewhat stumbled across this place looking for something nice, fancy, yet quick enough where I can potentially catch a 9pm bus back home. We arrived around 8pm. The place is pretty dimly lit. Almost unassuming of sorts, but perhaps a bit romantic depending on the person you're with. We ordered a fairly straightforward meal to share: eggplant parm. We also each had a glass of Merlot. The wine probably took away from us truly experiencing the full taste of the eggplant parm, but it was fine. Food was solid. Nothing crazy, but it did the job. The only slight tip for them is that I wish the bread came with olive oil instead of butter, but that's only personal preference to me. Maybe they do have it.... I hear that the ambiance of the place is much different during the day when the sunshine adds a lot more light indoors. There's also the outdoors area, of which no one was occupying because of the rainy weather. The eggplant parm took a bit to arrive, but we somehow ended up out by at 8:45, leaving us plenty of time to get to Port Authority and in line. Unfortunately, this review won't have photos as it was just too dark for photos and I was a bit distracted with conversations and such.

In our rush to watch a show and don't know where to eat, we stumbled upon Mama Mia 44 SW a short walk from our hotel. Server was kind enough to rush our dinner knowing we are watching a play tonight. Food was good. Seafood Combination in white sauce was a bit bitter, the taste of wine a bit too strong. Otherwise good

There's definitely a correlation between my reaction to a Broadway show and how hungry I am after the performance no matter how late it might be. Case in point was Jamie W.'s and my recent attendance of the acclaimed Sondheim revival, "Merrily We Roll Along" (review: https://yelp.to/xfJVp2pzgR). It was simply fabulous, and we were ravenous. We didn't walk very far on 44th before we came upon this busy Italian restaurant. We were seated close to all the foot traffic from the kitchen, but frankly we thought it was part of the post-show vibe at any tourist-magnet restaurant in the 'hood. The menu was pretty traditional, and we each started with the perfectly fine $10 Caesar Salad (photo: https://yelp.to/MyXNbHZU_S). We were in need of Parmesan cheese with barely visible lettuce. Jamie went pasta-free and ordered the $11 Homemade Meatballs. He got three of them buried under a thick mound of thick marinara meat sauce (photo: https://yelp.to/f236ie_--r). The same sauce was ladled on my $22 plate of Linguine Bolognese (photo: https://yelp.to/IEsDI3UZQR). It was delicious in a homestyle way with, of course, plenty of Parmesan cheese. BTW the '44SW' refers to its location in the southwest corner of 44th and 9th. FOOD - 4 stars...old school Italian made Mama-style AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...kinda dark and a bit packed but it was the post-show hour SERVICE - 4 stars...busy but attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...nice to know a convenient post-show option in the Theatre District RELATED - Hungry in NYC? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2YS9ELs

It was such a beautiful day; therefore, I elected to sit outdoors. I enjoyed the Pasta Del Giorno (which was healthy and filling) with a glass of Chardonnay. The service was top notch! I definitely recommend this establishment if you have a taste for some Italian food.

I have been going to Mama Mia since 2008. I do not live in New York, but it is the once spot I am guaranteed to dine while on one of my visits. I am always warmly greeted and welcomed by one of the family members, the staff is always attentive, and I have never been disappointed by any of the food I have tried. And even if you're just stopping by for a cocktail in the bar area, the atmosphere is a relaxing place to watch the busy people passing by and to strike up a conversation with locals and visitors alike.

High hopes after a play matinee. Solid chicken Frances; basic chicken parm. Great location and ambiance

Neighborhood gem. The staff is incredibly warm and welcoming, and they take great pride in the meals they serve. Could never get enough of their fresh pizzas, which always wash down well with a bottle of carefully selected Italian red!

A friend recommended this place for me. I came on a Sunday brunch, and the place was mostly empty. The service was pretty slow. Not sure why I made a reservation as the person who seated me didn't even check. I ordered off their brunch menu but didn't get any mini muffins. I had the pasta 44 with vodka sauce which was average. A friend of mine mentioned that this was considered a tourist place, and I can see why.

So so ... margherita is just OK but the meatballs are above average. I don't hate it but with so many great spots nearby, why bother w mediocre?

Great food, very nice staff. Since it wasn't busy, they allowed us to stay and chat, which I really appreciated. I will definitely be back again.

Great food and friendly staff. Nice, ambience, especially during the warmer months when the doors to the outside seating areas are open. This is my go to whenever I am in NYC.

Food was good. Service was inattentive and distracted. Had to ask for bread. Price was reasonable.

Started by the owner's parents over 50 years ago as a one-window pizza shop, this establishment located on the southwest corner of 44th St in Hell's Kitchen is where my partner and I decided on an early dinner Saturday night as first-timers before our Broadway show. Reservations were easily made via OpenTable. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the host at Mama Mia 44SW, who led us through an interior with vintage family pictures and a rustic vibe to a table by the window perfect for enjoying authentic food. The menu was fairly typical of most Italian venues. As a starter, we decided to share their lightly fried Zucchini Fritti with their marinara sauce. For our entree, we decided on Chicken 44 (sliced chicken, goat cheese, spinach, mushrooms in garlic & oil sauce) and Mushroom Chicken Breast with cream sauce, mashed potatoes & vegetables. We even saved room for dessert and got the chocolate temptation and mixed berry cake. Complimentary bread started our meal. Here it's all about the food. It was amazingly prepared with freshly ingredients, generous portions served hot, and full of slow-cooked flavors. Their marinara sauce was the star of this show, and we can't wait when this will be available for patrons to take home. Our server was the owner, Connie, who made us feel like we had been there numerous times and was friendly and accommodating. Her staff was pleasant and helpful even when the restaurant was busy with a small party. The price was fair compared to other local Italian restaurants. This has been on my radar for a while, and I'm glad we finally made it. It's a perfect location if one's going to the theater and not a tourist trap, which we can recommend, and you'll thank us.

Short visit to NY, place recommend by hotel staff and it did not disappoint. Good food, portion sizes are very generous and price points easy on the wallet. Pizza and pasta were amazing but the tiramisu stole our heart.

Such a fantastic meal. Authentic, family recipe Italian cooking. Only drawback was the cost of a side salad and that garlic bread needed to be purchased separately as an app. Will be coming back here again!

I came here for a quick lunch the other day and it was pretty good. The food was good and came out hot. The service was also pretty good although a bit slow. The restaurant itself was very cute and cozy

The staff was friendly and the food was amazing!! It's a charming place and I would definitely go again!

Thought I'd give this place another try. Food is still regular Italian food nothing special. Service felt like a bad diner, the server clearly did not want to be there. This is the second time we have been here and the service was bad and food was mediocre. Definitely never again.

I took my preteen here for a treat - it's old school Italian red sauce, giant portions, heavy food, bread basket type of place. Unfortunately the prices matched the portions for very forgettable food and was not happy to pay over $100 for dinner for two with one side of garlic bread. The service was friendly and there were some cute musicians playing outside. Inside was crowded and felt a bit hectic. There's better places nearby.

Went for an early dinner after a day of sightseeing before going to a show. Atmosphere was nice, but the food was just mediocre. Had fried calamari for the table as an appetizer. The breading was very dark and the calamari a bit chewy. For entrees we had penne vodka with chicken and spaghetti and meatballs. They were both just okay. For the price of dinner and the location I would have expected more.

Excellent attentive service and delicious food! I got my fav penne al arrabiata with shrimp and it was a good portion size as well.

To be located where it's located in Hell's Kitchen I believe the food was just okay. And okay at best. The service was fine but the food was just okay and for the Times Square location I need to jot walk out feeling I just spent a ton of money on average Italian food.

Please think twice. This was the most awful experience ever. 12:30 reservations and by 3 pm no food. Service was atrocious. Such a disappointment. We left without eating. No manager. No service. No food. Awful.

Service was good but the pasta wasn't great. We ordered the pasta con pollo and honestly didn't really like it. The portion was a little small, especially for the price. Granted, it's New York, it still seemed pricey for what we got. the mixed green salad was just mixed lettuce and two slices of tomatoes.

Had amazing Italian food and cocktails at this place! It's in a great location, a bit busy but not too noisy. It was easy to find and wasn't too far from Times Square. The staff were all amazing too.

We where in NYC overnight. Came into the hotel put our bags down needed a place to sit and chat and grab a good meal. Thank you, Vanessa at the front desk of the hotel. She recommended this place and it didn't miss. Service was friendly and accurate. The food was delicious. The price was perfect. We went with old faithful and it didn't disappoint. Spaghetti and Meatballs. Go relax and sit back and enjoy. Sorry about the picture but couldn't wait to dig in.

Good food, service, and ambiance! Both the lasagna and the Sausage Napolitano were definitely a chef's kiss! The Sausage Napolitano is a MUST. We also ordered the fried mozzarella which was the best I've had thus yet. The cheese had a long pull and great flavor. It will not disappoint. Cute little bar area in the back with a romantic ambiance.

Quiet Italian restaurant on the corner of a bustling street in Hell's Kitchen, but yet SO understaffed that it was hard to enjoy my food and overall soured my experience. They have a brunch special deal of $25 (plus AUTOMATIC gratuity and plus 3% charge for paying with credit card) where you get one brunch cocktail, coffee or tea, your entree, and a cute appetizer of mini muffins. The problem is, we were seated and waited over ONE HOUR for even just all of our drinks to come (just peach bellinis). The food was nice when it finally came out 1.5 hours after we were seated. The staff was all very pleasant, but extremely busy even though the restaurant was only 1/5 full. The poor waiter couldn't even bring us our coffees until after an hour. The waiter apologized that he was the only waiter and there was only one chef in the kitchen, plus there was one hostess and one person to refill the waters. We were a small party of four looking for a happy brunch experience, and we left feeling like this experience was a letdown--this is not how you manage a restaurant properly.

We were looking for a family-owned Italian restaurant and we found a great one in Mama Mia. I'd go back again the next time I visit NYC.

It was ok, not great, just ok/good enough. The space is small, the door every time opened make the room cold. They should put in a double door, it would make a big difference. Maybe in spring or fall it wouldn't matter. The food was ok/good, nothing stood out as good/great. If you need a pre-theatre meal, everything went smooth.

The food looks delicious and they are reasonably priced. They did add a 3.5% charge for using a credit card. Came a little early and they seated me, before the rest of the party has arrived. I had the Linguine with a bolognese sauce. The sauce was rich in flavor and delicious. My daughter had the Chicken Marsala . She loved it. I tasted it and it had a strong flavor of the wine. The other person had Manicotti. It was not on the menu; but they made it for her. I tasted it and the cheese was creamy and the shell soft. They had live music that as a nice touch.

What an awesome spot in Hells Kitchen. This place is in the corner of a popping Avenue 9. We were attracted to the live music Goin Local Duo playing on a Friday night. We had the Pizza Con Pesto, if you like pesto this is a sweet spot. Many good things to say. Pizza was warm and the crust was crispy and soft. This is a family owned joint with a great meal at affordable prices in a popular area of NYC. This is the first of many trips we'll be making to this awesome restaurant and experience. Marty and Anne take requests!

We stopped in on a Sunday night and when we arrived it was almost like they forgot we were seated outside. It took about 20 for the server to even acknowledge us and she immediately asked us what we want to eat with out us even getting waters or drinks first. We waited another 20-25 minutes for the food and it was decent but nothing amazing. About $30 per person for two entrees and one soda. Service was not good. Probably would not come back.

Very good food. Nice atmosphere. Got to meet one of the owners and visited with her. Highly recommend!

I'm giving this place a hot Broadway show review of four stars. It was nice to be able to sit outside in this cozy space without a reservation, (and we find that eating before a 7:00 Broadway show, many restaurants are barely packed enough to warrant a reservation. ) The first place they tried to sit us at was out on the sidewalk in front on a dinky table that was kind of an odd fit for the place. Needless to say, you can see that this alternative seating was very nice. The food was delicious, although you would expect that in this neck of the woods where all of the Italian restaurants serve authentic dishes. When you are this close to a major hub of people, I would expect a little more of a something-something to make this place stand out but, but I didn't put my finger on it. Service was nice, and quick if you were looking to get to a show within a certain time. It is certainly walkable from all of the major Broadway theaters/Times Square, and I would recommend eating here versus some of the other Italian places nearby that are chains disguised as high-end Italian restaurants. As a matter fact, I would encourage everybody to try a new place if you are in New York, and stay entirely away from all chain restaurants.

Great brunch spot near the theatre district! The food is delicious, and it's a good value!

Family owned and really good service. We had an exceptional dinner. Calamari appetizer, Caesar salad, Combination seafood pasta, and homemade dessert. The wine was reasonable priced and delicious. Highly recommend. .

A gem in the heart of Times Square area. I've been here quite a few times. Each experience has been good. Servers remember our faces and always comes by to speak conversation. If they aren't already waiting on us. The owner is lovely. Whenever I've seen her in the building; she is making sure to greet each and every table making sure service & experience is going good. The food is filled with flavor and the martinis are spot on. Try the Chocolate seduction you won't regret!! It's a great spot to check out trying to kill time before going to see a evening broadway show (I've done it 4 times )

Went to this place and I must say the food was amazing. The best fried calamari and sauce we've ever had! The chicken apple salad was perfect - and the home made dressing was excellent. We also had the chicken 44 the past del giorno, the clams di Napoli and the eggplant parm. Every plate was perfect! And for dessert we had tiramisu!! Oh and the espresso Martinis were perfection!! We will definitely be back to try other items on their menu!! Thank you for a wonder dinner!! The staff and the family atmosphere was endearing!!!

Great ambience! Came here with a group of coworkers. Although the table was small , we had a great time and the pasta dishes were amazing!

This place was delicious. Amazing service, great food! I had the pasta with salmon, shrimp and calamari but with a pink sauce. It was delicious!!! The salmon was so moist, the calamari cooked to perfection and the shrimp were good too. My son had the chicken Alfredo. It was the best he ever had according to him! The restaurant itself was very cozy! It had a nice ambiance though the music was a little loud. I would recommend this Italian spot and wouldn't mind going back.

Great service I ever experienced in my life. I been coming to this restaurant since I was little and the food never disappointed me. the host and staff are the friendliest people I ever met and made my boyfriend birthday feel so special. The restaurant and setting of it makes me feel I step right into Italy, it's such a comfort and warmth feeling. and honestly if you are ever craving real home made Italian food this is the spot to be at.

I wish I would've taken a picture of what was brought out of my meal. I asked the hostess before we sat down if there was gluten free pasta options, which she said there was, so I was super excited. The menu had no mention of anything GF, so I asked our server (blonde woman who was actually very nice) what GF options there were, in which she let me know there was only one (penne) and I could sub out the pasta into any pasta dish. I asked her to notify the chef that I have a gluten allergy (I have celiac), which she said no problem. I ordered a shrimp scampi. Simple enough. The plate of pasta was separate by itself, and the shrimp was served in a separate plate, which I thought was strange as you would assume everything would be cooked together. The pasta looked unappetizing, I took a bite, overcooked and completely bland. So I figured it need the shrimp and sauce, poured it on top, took a bite. Completely bland. They essentially boiled some shrimp and pasta, threw some unsalted butter in top and told me have a nice day. Lived my entire life in NYC, this is the first time I have ever had to send a plate back. I was not about to pay $34 + the up charge for the gluten swap out for something inedible. The waitress notified the chef, and she came back iut to tell me he told her "some types of pasta just fall apart" in my big back pasta eating 30 years of life, never have I been told this. This chef has zero pride in the food they are serving.

The food was amazingly good... The penne vodka pasta was delicious! The mushroom fettuccine was incredibly good. ​ Our waitress Raphael was very nice, he listened to our requests and fulfilled them with a lot of charm!!!! Really nice ambiance, and good background music - the vibe was niceeeeee!!! Definitely a place to come back to...