Mamma Luisa Ristorante Italiano

We came for New years eve and Mamma Luisa did not disappoint! The staff was excellent, so kind and made the evening fun for the guests. The food was even better, all the years I've been going to Newport how did I let this spot slip through the cracks ? Well it will remain one of our gotos whenever we come and visit . Thank you for ending 2025 on such a high note and full tummies.

We just ate dinner there for Mother's Day: myself, my husband, and our 3 kids (ages 9, 11, and 13). The atmosphere is warm, cozy, and intimate. The staff were very friendly, and the food was amazingly delicious! It is now one of my favorite restaurants in Newport. Every meal was fresh, authentic, and delicious. We had many dishes (as you can see in the photos), including starters and three different pasta dishes. We finished everything. Great portions. The drinks—cocktails—were great, too. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Love this restaurant. The pasta dishes are excellent, and the service is superb. Excellent wine list. We love the antipasto appetizer, Bolognese, carbonara, and Garganelli Boscaiola. I also had a lobster pasta dish from the specials menu which was excellent. On the dessert menu we loved the tiramisu, the pistacio creme cake and the Tartufo al Cioccolato. Best place in town for a special occasion or a for a non-touristy, high quality meal. It's a bit off the beaten path and I don't think there's a lot of street parking so ride share might be the best way to get there.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We were spending the day in Newport and, after being turned away from another restaurant, decided to try this spot based on a recommendation. We arrived just after they opened at 5 PM and were warmly greeted at the door. Although we didn’t have a reservation, the staff—possibly the owner—kindly let us know they could seat us as long as we could finish within an hour and a half due to a later reservation for the table. That was more than enough time for dinner, and we appreciated the accommodation. Our server was excellent—friendly, professional, and thorough in explaining the specials. We ordered the penne pasta and the seafood pasta, and both dishes were outstanding. The seafood was fresh, the pasta perfectly cooked, and the flavors were rich and balanced. Highly recommend this restaurant—not just for the great food, but also for the exceptional customer service. We’re so glad we stopped in!

I loved loved loved this place. I went for Easter with a group of friends. The food was amazing and they have an excellent wine list too. They also have an amazing assortment of desserts. My favorite was the lemon cake!!!

Absolutely loved our time at Mamma Luisa! It was our first visit, and we fell in love with their pasta vongole. The sauce had a deep, rich flavor that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Prosciutto and cantaloupe dish was just so heavenly! Steak was great, but a little chewy (we requested medium rare). Last but certainly not the least, their desserts were so yummy! I had tiramisu, and my fiancé had a pistachio cream dessert. Of course, we loved both. Our server (Jessica, I think?) was so courteous and knowledgeable and took care of us so well! She’s the best. :) On the other hand, one of the servers (an older Asian lady) was quite rude to this lovely older couple who sat near us. The way she talked to the couple didn’t sit quite right with us. Her speech was curt and did not seem professional. We heard her say that she has worked at the restaurant for 10 years, so I guess her attitude doesn’t come from her lack of experience. She wasn’t our server, but she made us feel quite uncomfortable whenever she was serving the tables next to us. Since she wasn’t our server, we are not taking a star off, though!

Very interesting place. It's in an old house and I feel it may look exactly how it did from day 1. The food was amazing and our server Robert was outstanding. He definitely added to the experience. The house itself was old and needed work but I feel that would take away from the whole feel of the place you really feel like you're having a home cooked meal. I can't believe I didn't take any pictures but I'm definitely going back.

Always our favorite Italian restaurant in Newport! Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Small and intimate, so reservations are needed. Great wine selections and amazing pasta options…always worth trying the specials. So many favorites that we rotate and share. The servers are all great and the owner pays attention to all details so that the experience is perfect! It’s our first and last stop each season.

First of all the food is amazing. We got the cherry tomato bruschetta, salad with the goat cheese (I forgot the name) and I got the bolognese. The bruschetta and salad were both very good but the bolognese blew both out of the water. It was so tasty and flavorful and rich. The server was so sweet, she was a blonde woman and was just so caring and knew everything we needed before we realized we needed it. The restaurant is in a house so it feels super cozy. You feel like you're in mamma Luisa's home. So great.

Love this place for good Italian food. It's been quite a few years since we've eaten here. Place looks like a converted home with different seating areas. Strangely, we were seated next to a couple who had just received their drinks. Soon afterwards, another couple was seated immediately next to us, with the other half of this small room empty. Service was very good and food was solid. We got the salad with goat cheese, butternut squash ravioli, spaghetti with garlic and olive oil, as well as my favorite, the vegetarian ragu. Desserts were ok, but not sure we would order again. Overall, a great meal with reasonable prices.

Apparently I have a review sitting in my draft for years. These pictures were taken years ago, which is perfect for the point I'm trying to raise here--this place is not like it used to be. I used to visit here very frequently. I remember being amazed by the food the first time I visited... and all the time after that. I used to recommend this place to anyone visiting from out of town. I didn't care that the owner can be condescending at times--the food was THAT good (plus the servers were always great). I've always loved the interior too, and there's no bad seat in the restaurant. I eventually moved away from the New England area about 6 years ago, but the moment I'm back, I came straight to here for my Italian fix. I was very disappointed. Melons weren't ripe enough. Side salad looked like one of those teriyaki joint salads. They stopped caring about presentation. They stopped caring about the taste. They stopped caring about the service quality too. I had to ask for olive oil for my bread. I had to ask for the typical sautéed zucchini for my side (which was still good, thank goodness). The reason I visited was because I recently got engaged and wanted to show my fiancé of my favorite spot. We made sure to include this note in our reservation, but we didn't even get a simple "congratulations." What happened to this place :(

This Italian girl needed some pasta tonight after all the seafood this week in Newport. We went to a restaurant that friends recommended. We enjoyed our dining experience. Our server, Nicole was very attentive, always checking on us, refilling our glasses with wine and water. My husband ordered a bottle of Nobile to enjoy with our dinner, but there are cocktails and wine by the glass available. We shared two antipasti to begin with. The Formaggi Assortiti, which was an assortment of four cheeses with fruit, nuts and jam. I love cheese and this was a great selection. The Prosciutto e Melone was two sweet slices of cantaloupe with prosciutto di Parma, mozzarella and olives. I loved the salty sweet element of that dish. For entrees, I had the Ravioli alle Fave, which was cheese ravioli & fava beans in a garlicky tomato sauce. I questioned Nicole about the tomato sauce on the ravioli, and she said it was chunky. I said I would rather a more smooth purée sauce like a marinara. She quickly said that was their marinara sauce. My tomato sauce was definitely as she described, chunky, but there was such a difference in the sauce between my entrée and my husband's. I was trying to convey to Nicole that I wanted a more puréed type sauce and even mentioned that I put my tomatoes in a Vitamix because I can't have nuts or seeds. I was very frustrated that there was obvious difference between the marinara on my husband's entrée and the tomato sauce on my dish. Unfortunately, I just ended up scraping the sauce to the side and eating the ravioli. The tomato sauce was a miss for me. My husband had one of the nightly specials, the Eggplant Parmigiano. He raved about his dish. His marinara sauce was a true marinara sauce, smooth. I had to taste his entrée because he was oohing and aahing over it. His entrée was delicious with a little kick of heat. Mamma Luisa it's a very small charming restaurant. Definitely make reservations because seating is limited. Being 100% Italian, I could tell you that the pasta is homemade and the dishes are authentic. I really loved the wonderful attentive service from Nicole as it added to the dining experience.

Loved this restaurant! The food was FABULOUS! The atmosphere was quaint and our server was wonderful (Heychong...you're the BEST!). Parking wasn't even an issue. Enjoy!

We stopped here as a group of 6 and had the best experience. We had a private little room and it was so cozy. The food was delicious with an impressive menu. I wish we saved room for dessert because the platter looked incredible. Looking forward to going back when in the area again. We found parking in the back, there were only about 4 spots. If those are full, there's plenty of street parking.

Mamma Luisa is THE Italian restaurant to visit in Newport! My family was so impressed with the homemade quality of all the dishes we ordered. I loved my penne arrabbiata and the pistachio cheesecake was so light and tasty. The service is exceptional and the music makes you feel like you are right in Italy. Thank you for a great meal!

Such a warm and cozy Italian restaurant! Truly so delicious and reasonably priced. The host (or maybe owner?) was so so nice and made us feel super welcomed. The bread comes with olive oil AND butter, the first of which tasted especially good. I got the bolognese and it ranks in the best pasta I've had here in New England. Get a reservation on Open Table if you can-- definitely worth coming by!

Came back for second time in one week. That should say all you need to know! Make reservations and try this place.

Wow! This place was incredible! My family absolutely loved everything about it. The staff were super nice and attentive, and the place is decorated nicely. The Garganelli Boscaiola pasta was perfect. Fresh, colorful, and flavorful. Coming from NY/NJ where italian food/restaurants are on every corner, Mamma Luisa's did not disappoint and can hang with the best. The desserts were light and probably our favorite part of the whole experience. Would HIGHLY recommend.

I LOVE this place! This was a recommendation from my boss, and I am so glad I listened to him! The restaurant is so cozy, it clearly was built in a home. We loved all of our dishes, we ordered both the Raviolli alla fave and the Raviolli di Zucca. Both were AMAZING. If I'm ever in town again, I will return to this place.

Absolutely delicious and a one of a kind experience. This is our second time at Mamma's and it didn't disappoint. We started with a beautiful salad, then moved on to a pasta dish each (I had the carbonara and he had the bolognese), finally we finished with our entrees - he had their chicken parm (but their version has prosciutto on top) & I had the sole. Absolutely incredible. Our server was lovely and took care of everything. Take a look at their bottle menu - we got a $39 bottle of Prosecco that didn't break the bank. I love that this restaurant is in an old house. It's adorable inside and out. Decorated impressively. "Eating at grandma's house vibes". See you next year!

Food at this restaurant needs serious improvement. We ordered an eggplant appetizer that was undercooked and lacked any flavor. The chicken was on par with the frozen chicken patties you get in the grocery store. A smidge of sauce with one slice of prosciutto and one slice of provolone cheese. It was served with mushy overcooked zucchini cubes. Couldn't even choke down more than one taste. The other entree was a very small portion of shrimp,scallops and some kind of egg noodles drizzled with olive oil. Thank goodness for Parmesan cheese. That gave it a little flavor. The woman who served us started out nice but rushed us along like she was late for a date! Cleared the table of butter and olive oil even though we still had bread to eat. Took it upon herself to pour the remaining wine when I told her five minutes prior that we were good. The glass she filled was the person driving so he didn't even want any more. I had to pour that additional wine from his glass into mine so as not to waste an expensive but tasty bottle. The waitress seemed annoyed that we didn't rave about the food. She told us right from the start that she's been a waitress there for over 10 years so she should have been more professional and proficient at her job. Wine and bread were good. Cozy atmosphere. Definitely can't recommend and won't go back.

I'm Italian and, as all Italians know, its challenging to get amazing Italian food outsise the home. But we truly found AMAZING food at Mamma Luisa. For appetizer we had the eggplant special, entres were Bombette Pomodoro e Rucola as well as the Veal Sscallopini special. Finally we had the tiramisu (freaking amazing). Of course the warm bread to start off the evening, with amazing olive oil, was just what we needed to get us started. This combination of everything alwas just perfect. The ambiance is veey charming with the various rooms. The music at the right level as was perfect mood music with traditional italian music. Service was exquisite with very good attention (not overbearing at all) We ABSOLUTELY loved Mamma Luisa.

Comfortable, cozy vibe with great food and great service. We stumbled upon the place and the aroma from outside the restaurant almost forced us to head inside.

The absolute most delicious Italian. The gnocchi is 10/10. Ambiance is perfect. Get yourself on that reservation list!!

A great total food experience including the setting, atmosphere , the service and the food. Quality and innovative recipes as well as the old standards. Can't wait to go back!

Always lively to be here. Full of fun and great food. Service was great. Food was equally delicious. For all vegetarians., This place has an extensive and delicious menu. Eggplant parmigiana was made with sweet eggplants , not bitter at all. The marinara gravy was delicious and for anyone with reflux this sauce did not bother me. Bruschetta caprese and caprese with pesto was all homemade. Yum, yum. Capped it off with lemon sorbet served in a dozen lemon. What a great meal. A Newport staple. Just links being in your Nona's house.

Unbelievable. Located at the same small house for 32 years, this incredible restaurant provides a unique dining experience. The menu is vast and includes the Italian favorites. I had pasta carbonara. It was fantastic. Our server was prompt, funny and extremely knowledgeable. A wonderful evening.

Food was amazing. The best italian food i've ever had my 20 years of coming to Newport. Such a cute clean place as well following with great service.

First time here. My wife and I met some friends here for dinner. The restaurant is contained in a house with tables set in different rooms. The rooms are nicely decorated with different items from Italy Our server was pretty attentive to our needs and was nice enough but a little pushy. Not to a fault but enough to notice. They have an extensive wine list with choices from the US and Europe. Good selection of Italian wines as well. Prices ranged from low to expensive so everyone can find something. NO COCKTAILS are served which is somewhat important to me. That was disappointing. They served some most excellent warm bread with a great crust. Antipasto was OK but a little skimpy for the cost as compared to other places I have been. I had the veal saltimbocca for dinner. It was served with roasted squash but no pasta which was a bit different. It was quite good and a good portion size. My wife had eggplant parmigiana and it was good as well. All in all, we enjoyed it. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could

Really nice old style setting with excellent food and service. Reservations are a must to guarantee a spot. Mamma Luisa's is all about the quality of the meal and they have an extensive wine list, too. Highly recommend.

Food was delicious! Had an amazing bottle of red wine per suggestion. The atmosphere was cozy & service was great. Highly recommend to get some great Italian food in the area! You would need a reservation though for the weekend. Love this place! Will be back!

Fantastic food in a cozy, comfortable space. We will return! It's like having Sunday dinner at home but without the effort. Great staff

I enjoyed a pasta dinner (of course) with shrimp and scallops. the scallops were the best I have ever eaten. my honey enjoyed the sole with spinach and it was also delicious. The caprese was smooth with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. we enjoyed a bottle Pinot Grigio, Gabriela and was smooth, not too dry and tasteful. my first time here but it won't be the last. If you enjoy Tiramisu, go for it!

TL/DR: Reminiscent of some of our best meals in Tuscany. Authentic, flavorful Italian in a charming converted home. We arrived hungry after a long walk to Fort Adams and beyond and back. (Yes, we showered before dinner, because we're classy.) It was close to the open on a Monday, and we were given one of the window-box tables. What we ate: Fava bruschette - the combo of bean spread, pecorino & prosciutto was great, 5/5 Caprese al pesto - solid take on a classic, 4/5 Tagliatelle al ragu Bolognese - very hearty & flavorful sauce, perfectly cooked pasta, healthy portion, 5/5 Penne del pastore - fresh & flavorful, and again a healthy portion, 5/5 Tiramisu - we love a good tiramisu and this was that, 5/5 Some of the other reviews complain about the staff, and I'm not sure what that's about. Our server, Robert, was quite personable, didn't miss a beat, and recommended a Barbera that we loved with our entrees. Otherwise, we didn't see or hear any incidents of rudeness from anyone on the staff. Would recommend for a special occasion or a nice night out. We'll definitely return on our next visit to Newport.

Amazing dishes and wine selection! Very authentic menu and with an upscale but homey atmosphere. Came here for our anniversary dinner and the staff was great.

We ate dinner here and absolutely enjoyed everything! I had the ravioli di zucca which was absolutely to die for and my mom had the bolognese which was good but she said she has had better before. Great atmosphere and cute restaurant in an old house. The goat cheese bruschette and insalata esotica were both to die for as well. Will be coming back as soon as I get back in town!

What an amazing Italian authentic meal and feel. If you are looking for a taste of Italy, this is a spot to check out. Went with my family and each tried something different and we all loved each of our meals. Very simple drink menu as they only serve wine, that wasn't a problem with us but if you were looking for a specialty cocktail, there are plenty of other places you could pop in after enjoying a delicious meal here. Look forward to returning.

I do not recommend this place. Very rude waiter/host. Unaccommodating to families. They don't have anything on their website that said no strollers and he just told us to leave our $1000 stroller on the street and would not allow us to pass with it, no exceptions (even folded up). He acted like if we told them we had a baby, they all of a sudden would have knocked down a wall to fit it. There was another woman they made wait out on the street instead of sitting at a table 5 mins before the reservation (the restaurant was completely empty). She also cancelled hers. We are not coming to Newport for mama Luisa Italian. We are from NYC and CT and I guarantee our Italian is better. I would go elsewhere, especially if you are in a wheelchair or have a child in a stroller. You will be met with an angry host. The host was so unfriendly I'm still in shock people give this place decent reviews.

We are from out of town but had a great experience! The service was great, and we loved the ambiance. The bolognese was absolutely spectacular and the best one I've had (I've tried plenty of bolognese!) the chef is from bologna so I had to try it, and boy was it incredible!! So much flavor. Whenever we come back to Newport, we will certainly pay another visit!

My pasta was delicious! My husband used to be a chef and said that the bolognese was almost as good as his. Lol. I got the "Penne del Pastore" and have been craving it since then. It's too bad we live two hours away. The negatives were: They only serve beer & Wine. If you aren't a big wine drinker but will have a single glass of wine, there's not a vast variety of wine by the glass. So they might not have the type of wine that you want to drink. For example, I wanted a single glass of riesling. They had it there but it wasn't available by the glass. Also, the portions are on the smaller side for the price you're paying. Other than that, it was great!

Overall very good. A little over-priced for what you get but very tasty. Very fast on service but didn't feel rushed . Deserts are way over priced for something they get at restaurant depot.

Fabulous! Obviously a gem in Newport. Delicious Italian cuisine, quaint ambiance, and excellent service -Thank you, Magdelina! Definitely will visit again when in town.

Our first visit. On the far end of Lower Thames - well off the tourist path. The four of us had a delightful evening. Great service. "Cozy". And we thought old school Italian authentic. We split two orders of their bruschetta - they have about 6 to choose from. Entrees were various pasta dishes. And we split two desserts. Everything was tasty. Damages with tip was $300 but note we had 2 bottles of wine. You will not be disappointed.

Wonderful food and experience! Definitely go here! The service was perfect and the food was to die for. I've never had more authentic Italian and better hand made pasta. We made our reservation relatively early for the typical 'busy time' for this restaurant. The wait staff happily moved our reservation as well.

My gf is Italian and we live in Brooklyn. She said let's try it, I said no way is it going to be good. I was proved wrong. HyChung was our server and was delightful and witty. The place has a great, welcoming small Italian restaurant vibe. Charming. The food was as good as we would get from our favorite local place. That's saying a lot. Prices are equivalent. This is Newport and inflation is present. We had a Pasta Fagioli, a Veal Marsala and a Pasta dish that was perfectly al dente. They serve half bottles of wines which was appreciated and the variety was adequate. Will definitely go again. If you're in Newport and craving Italian it's worth it. Go to Kings Park after for a nice waterfront stroll.

This place is SO good!! We started off with the Swiss chard and pinto beans soup to die for (took one home), the insalata with goat cheese, and the multi Italian cheeses- fresh fresh fresh and delizioso!! We then went to the steak and vegetables , and the Tagliatelle Al Ragu Bolognese!! Last but not least the HOMEMADE TIRAMISU and exotic fruit sorbet both to die for literally mouth watering. If you're ever in Newport you must try this place - I mean it nonna would be proud!

There is a good reason so many people are leaving 5 star reviews of Mamma Luisas just GUSHING with praise! I've been to Italy mamy many times and I can say this resteraunt is up there with the best Italian resteraunts and in many cases, even beats them. Sorry Italy! The food is authentic and so goddam good there really are no words. Roll your eyes in the back of your head, ufff good food, type of good. The resteraunt is cozy. It's actually an old house converted into a resteraunt so there are tables upstairs and downstairs all contained within small rooms of the house. Heck they even have 1 table on the landing in between the upstairs and downstairs of the house. The only negative comments I see about this place are about customer service and well I don't know what that's about my experience was the exact opposite. The reason I even went to this resteraunt in the first place is because my elderly parents went there first by themselves and the waiteress treated them so well my parents demanded I go back with them a second time, and I'm so glad I did. The waitress knew my whole family by name and was so nice and really rolled out the red carpet. The best eating experiences I've ever had in my life have been in Newport Rhode Island and this place is no different. It really is that good. It's a must go if you are ever in the area.

Delicious and cozy! I came here for my birthday dinner and while there were no Ubers in Newport and the taxis were all booked, it was worth the frantic run to the restaurant to make our reservation on time (at least I didn't feel guilty about the bread basket). We started off with a delicious mozzarella and tomato appetizer followed a seafood pasta special. The staff were so friendly and we didn't feel rushed as we leisurely worked our way through three courses!

We visited Mamma Luisa our last night in Newport and I can't imagine a better way to end the trip! This is such a lovely restaurant with amazing ambiance, friendly staff and great food. It felt very cozy and intimate. If I lived in Newport I'm sure I'd be visiting this place often. The bread we got for the table was still warm and really tasty. We ordered the cheese platter that came with delicious homemade jam and crackers with some sort of truffle paste - so good! I love wild mushrooms so was really excited to try Garganelli Boscaiola - pasta with porcini mushroom and peas in tomato-cream sauce, and I wasn't disappointed. It was delicious. I was happy they could make it without pancetta as I'm vegetarian. Overall, a great place and if we're ever back in Newport we'll definitely visit it again!

What a way to wrap up our trip to Rhode Island. We truly felt we were transported back to Italy where a family is making delicious meals one at a time. We imagined a loving wife was making delicious food one plate at a time, and come to find out, she was. Finding an Italian restaurant that can handle allergies is often tricky, but we felt extremely comfortable with how our evening was handled. The restaurant was in an old historic home and it was super cozy. I could imagine this would be a great spot for a first date, a family dinner, or the special night you propose to your significant other. The menu was extensive, but not overwhelming. We kicked off the night with some wine from the extensive wine menu, and we decided to go full pasta! The pasta was cooked perfectly and our as advertised spicy pasta dishes had the perfect level of heat and flavor. Enjoy the complementary warm bread. There was plenty of olive oil, salt, and pepper at the table as needed. Dip as you wish! It was completely obvious in every bite we took that the food was made with love. The tomatoes in the bruschetta were super fresh, and the the olives and seasoning were perfectly balanced. The food came out in the perfect amount of time and we never felt rushed one bit. No matter how you slice it, the food was solid, service was friendly and the knowledge of the menu by our server was well appreciated. If you have any room left, there will be a handful of fresh made authentic Italian desserts. Save some space, it is worth it! We truly loved our dishes and would highly recommend this restaurant.

Very authentic Italian food. Had the veal saltimbocca with pasta. Very tender and tasty! Good selection of vino too!

Excellent food. Real traditional Italian not American Italian. Service was gracious and prompt

Mixed reviews the chick pea soup was great. Charred brocolli salad very good, Spaghetti with capers and olives good but not al dente. Sole with orange sauce was not what it use to be and did not seem fresh so it was only fair. It was served with an odd, but tasty side of beans. A bit pricie, same on site owners for 30 years. Some of the food seems to lack some of the love it use to have.

My mother-in-law is Italian and an amazing cook of traditional Italian cuisine and this is one of the few restaurants I would take her to. Our eggplant parmigiana appetizer, Tagliatelle Bolognese, and Garganelli Boscaiola were scrumptious. Even the bread had the right mix of soft center and crunchy crust. The wine - Barbera - was smooth and the dessert - chocolate-covered, crème-filled profiteroles - were exactly right. We will keep returning.

Located on Thames Street in Newport, this little Italian restaurant may be hard to spot, but you'll regret it if you pass it up. My family and I have eaten here twice now, and our experience both times was incredible. The restaurant is owned by a husband and wife from Northern Italy....so this is GENUINE Italian, my friends. The environment showcases the Italian culture, but not in an overwhelming manner, and the establishment is MORE than clean and comfortable. The food- well, you'll have to see for yourself, but so far, everyone in my family has raved about their meal here. The staff is welcoming, accommodating, and kind beyond words! You'll leave feeling warm, satisfied, and like you just teleported to Italy for a night. So, if you're in Newport, please don't hesitate to give Mama Luisa's a try:)

While the food and service were outstanding the lack of hospitality of the owner turned a great evening into a sour taste

Well this was an impromptu stop we were In Newport for just the afternoon. The proprietor has to take our name due to contact tracing and he said Martelli! That was my grandmother's name. So the experience began on a very cordial note. The birra suggestion was excellent, appetizers (all of this is shown in the photos) was decadent and the gnocchi was as good as my grandmother's. I highly recommend this restaurant, if you don't eat here you're a Babbo!