The Original Mama D's Italian Kitchen

In town for a marathon and thought to try this place out. If you love authentic Italian food as if you were in NYC or a quaint place in Italy you have to stop by. Food made with love just has a flavor to it. Met the owner's son as he sat in his new "Coach's" chair and he just added more authenticity. Our waitress was so pleasant I would come back every time I hit SoCa. The food....everything we tried was perfect from a meatball for an appetizer to the complimentary bread we added marinara sauce to. Perfect

Honestly, one of the more deserving 5-star ratings I’ve ever given out. From the moment we arrived u til the chocolate chip cookies and final bill, the service was excellent and what you’d expect from a much more expensive restaurant. Everything we had was great, the price paid was fair. Overall, great restaurant experience and we will 100% be back. I highly recommend Mama D’s.

Homemade Italian food! I’m totally in! My household is part Italian and we know what homemade Italian food tastes like, and this place is definitely it!! Service was excellent! Everyone, I mean every single employee was super nice and attentive! I absolutely love that!! The food was phenomenal, from the lasagna to the gnocchi! I would highly recommend this restaurant! I’ll be back soon!!

Hoping to help others with expectation-setting before visiting this place. I’d heard people highly recommend Mama D’s, and regularly seen a crowd outside the front door. Needless to say, I was really excited when the day came where my partner and I could swing by for dinner. The staff was kind - no qualms there. But the food… particularly, the pizza, was probably my least preferred pizza in all of Orange County. Now… I’ll eat any pizza so I still made a dent, but when paying for pizza my takeaway was nearly any other pizza spot would be better. My partner took a slice and said it tastes like a frozen pizza, which I agree. All to say - they may have some great dishes but I’d like to make sure people have clear expectations… if you love good pizza, this is not your place. I’d recommend you go with a pasta dish.

First off it was amazingly delicious, like it makes Olive Garden seem like canned food. The service here is the best service I’ve ever seen at any business in my life. I wish I picked up our waiters name, he was a cool surfer dude with a modern mullet and mustache. One of our group dropped a fork with sauce on her white pants and less than 30 seconds later our waiter came with a fresh fork and bleach pen. The garlic bread was phenomenal , and the penne was amazing. If it wasn’t out of my state I would eat here every week.

Visiting on vacation and heard about this place. I had the Chicken Parmesan but went with their special pink sauce and it was fire! Highly recommend!! We hit it up two nights later for some pizza and bread to go. Super friendly staff and great atmosphere.

I am so upset I ordered a Chicken Caesar salad, It ended up costing me $21 And this is what I got. That’s the same price as Some of their pastas, but for this portion? I’m blown away. I literally got robbed. The portion is so small and there’s barely even any lettuce in it. I wanted to get it so bad because online It great and waaayyyy bigger than what I got. This next photo is right after I mixed the dressing. Noticed the gaping hole in the center. I do love this place so it’s sad it happened.

Mama D's was recommended to us by the hotel staff where we were staying, for great food, warm ambiance, and not too far from the beach. Everything he said was true. We fell in love with Mama D's warmth, welcome, food, and staff. Josh and the host were amazing! The restaurant is family owned and seems to be a local favorite. The decor is like sitting in mom's dining room, shelves with sentimental trinkets and paintings that elicit ideas of homey Italian homes, with crayon artwork from satisfied children spaced on the walls. Homey and warm. We had the special - tortellini with spinach, sun dried tomatoes, and gogonzola cream sauce. The special called for shrimp but we substituted Italian sausage. It was delicious! We also ordered an Italian salad. The meal came with homemade bread with olive oil and garlic dipping sauce. Again, something mama might do. The food came in a very timely manner. We were too full for dessert but received two hot, mini chocolate chip cookies each with the check. Like mama would do. The place was very clean, the staff welcoming and attentive but not intrusive. We'd definitely go there again and have already recommended it.

Phenomenal, the best run restaurant I have visited in a long time, a true team working together to serve people. And the chicken sausage capri with pink sauce is as good as it gets. Hats off Mama Ds

Everyone was lovely and the food came out hot and quick! No complaints. Even got some cookies

Im not the type to ever order a ravioli but damn our waiter sold and served the seafood ravioli to us! Their seafood ravioli is limited and maybe a secret menu item, they don't have it everyday. Before I get into the food the service is AMAAZING, like why do I wanna just be their friends?? The stuffed eggplant is soo good. I would have never thought I liked eggplants, but here we are (as I probably licked the plate clean). The seafood ravioli tasted like clam chowder in ravioli form. The filling tasted great and had the right amount of crab, which is what im assuming the meat to be (may have been lobster). It was the right amount of creaminess and it coated the ravioli very well. The chicken and sausage parm were great. We opted in for a spicier pink sauce and that did not disappoint, however something felt homey about the pink sauce. And what I mean by this is that I feel like I can make it at home?? Which I probably wont but it has the homey feeling. The pizza I fear is where it felt a little "normal" the crust was good, the toppings tasted good, but truly no oomph I fear. Overall this cozy little restaurant feels like youre eating in a lively italian space where you have amazing food and good times with not just your friends/family but also with the workers!

First thing that comes to mind is definitely the service and the team here. Our server was full of charisma and you can definitely tell that everyone is a family here and proud to show off what Mama D's has to offer. Also the complimentary bread and the olive oil w/ garlic was a great start. Idk what other word to describe the bread with besides "meaty" incredibly addictive. On that note, we took most of the recommendations our server gave us which ended up being: Seafood Ravioli: Probably our favorite item as a table and it came with a shrimp filling. The lobster cream sauce layered on top was delectable and savory and a perfect accompaniment. Sausage & Chicken Capri: Another recommendation to us of course with the house Pink Sauce which is Marinara + Alfredo. Pretty good, but tbh not anything mind blowing but I can still see it just being a universal table pleaser. Stuffed Eggplant Parmigana: A baked rolled eggplant parmigiana with tons of ricotta stuffed inside layered with heaps of marinara. Lovee the marinara actually. Personally, I could do with a little less ricotta, but overall still a big fan of the dish. Pizza: Average pizza split for the table, can't go wrong. Tip: if you wanna BYO pizza just take one of the specialties and sub in the toppings you want. Interior super homey. A bunch of cheesy life quotes all over the place that still round the vibe together with a mix of classy and comfort. Recommend :-)

I have reviewed Momma D's before, I haven't changed the "4" star rating, but I have some additional insights to share. It is mid-November so I wasn't interested in waiting for a table outside on Newport Blvd. We arrived at 5:15 for dinner (they don't take reservations). We were quickly seated, and received a very friendly greeting. The service is spectacular, attentive and personal. The menu is rather ordinary but the "pink sauce" is a show stopper! We shared the Caesar salad and the spaghetti with the pink sauce. They were both 5 star worthy. My house Chianti was delicious. We enjoyed the evening very much. The ambiance is loud and not much fun. Momma D's is a local landmark.

I get what the hype is all about: hospitality, flavor, and comfort food at its best. A beachside local favorite and I'm content with takeout since it's so busy here most of the summer. Our family favorites include fettuccine Alfredo and their mozzarella appetizers. Even being takeout, our pasta are delicious. The couple sauces I've tried are flavorful and a crowd pleaser so I can't wait to try the pink sauce and the lasagna. Look forward to dining in one of these times. My wishlist would be to find an Italian restaurant that makes a delicious carbonara: while I have tried their "carbonara" pasta- -it is definitely NOT a legitimate carbonara. While it is NOT the Italian carbonara with pancetta and egg/parmesan - it was flavorful and the chicken was very tender. I'd leave out the snap peas if I ever order this again. Takeout staff and their courtesy lemonade was wonderful. Look forward to returning and trying more of their menu.

Cute, classic Italian restaurant. Lots of history and great food. The atmosphere sets the tone. The staff all go out of their way to help you and check in. The food for our entire table was delicious! The best part was the cute drawings on our to go boxes and the plate of fresh made cookies :) We were visiting our daughters for family day at Vanguard University and they begged to go here! Highly recommend! Beautiful classic decor, great atmosphere, service and ambiance in the heart of the cutest town.

Christian was an excellent server. He had great knowledge of the menu, was friendly, and helpful. The bread that they bring to serve with the garlic oil is a delicious combination. When we left, since there was a wait outside, I saw they had given people pieces of the bread as they were waiting. A nice touch. I had the vegetable pizza, which was good but did not blow me away. My daughter had the lasagna with pink sauce and that was really good. The dish came out with the cheese melted on top and a good amount of sauce. The flavors were rich. Mama D's is a good place for larger groups and looking around the restaurant, our group of 9 was not one of the largest and there seemed to be at least 4 more larger size groups.

Ordered takeout. Was ready quickly. The pizza and garlic bread they give you is insanely good. Love the heavy garlic flavor. Staff was super friendly. We ordered 4 pizzas and it all got crushed easily. Packed w flavor. Crust was perfect. Would love to come back here when back in town.

Me and my friends were hanging out in Newport Beach and were looking for a place that was open late for our dinner. My friend wanted to take us here to eat because he remembers going when he was younger and it being solid Italian food. The ambience was cozy and comforting with indoor and outdoor dining. We were greeted by friendly servers and unfortunately outdoor dining wasn't available at the time so we sat indoors. The menu was very extensive and a little difficult to understand with the various amounts of options. Out of all the things we tried, my favorite was probably the calamari and the garlic bread that they started us with. I was looking forward to the pink sauce in our sausage and chicken pasta that was highly raved about, however I found it bland and lackluster. The chicken marsala pasta was watery and I felt like they were skimping on the chicken. The chicken itself was flavorless and dry, but I did enjoy all the mushrooms that was in the sauce! We also got the "Favorites" Pizza that had sausage and pepperoni- the crust was soggy and the toppings were paltry :-( Maybe I happened to come on a bad night.

Love the pasta here! We came by on a Tuesday evening and it wasn't busy so we were seated right away. The service is friendly from start to end, which I really appreciate! The garlic bread and oil at the beginning of the meal is so warm and delicious! We ordered the classic pasta with the spicy Mama D's pink sauce and bay scallops and the lasagna with marinara sauce. The classic pasta was so good! The noodles were a great al dente texture, and the pink sauce was delicious. I really enjoyed the spicy sauce since it just had a little bit of a kick but it wasn't too spicy. The bay scallops had a great texture and cooked so well, and they were so generous with the scallops! The lasagna was also delicious. The marinara sauce was so flavorful and I really enjoyed it. We finished off our meal with some fresh baked chocolate chip cookies that were fresh and warm! The portions are a bit on the smaller side for the price, but the food is delicious and I really enjoyed the meal! Parking is difficult to find. Depending on how busy it is, you might have to loop around the surrounding neighborhoods multiple times to find a spot or be willing to do a bit of a walk.

This place warrants a five star through service alone. Our server christen was the best. She was cheerful and genuinely excited to hear it was our first time here. She gave us a great recommendation and even gave us a sample of ravioli to try (which was delicious).

We were visiting my daughter who's in college and arrived late into Irvine. I saw The Original Mama D's was open and had excellent reviews. The reviews were not wrong. My husband and I had pizza which was delicious! The crust was not thick or doughy and reminded us of The pizza we made at a cooking tour in Italy. We didn't feel stuffed or heavy after eating it. My daughter got the fettuccine which she loved as well. The staff were friendly and attentive. 5 stars!!

This place has been on my list for years. Friends have raved about this place multiple times, so I had high expectations coming in. I finally had the chance to try it with my friend. Not sure what I was expecting, but I was not blown away by the food. The bread and olive oil at the beginning were good. I enjoyed it since we were starving after a long day. We got pasta with the famed pink sauce. While the texture of the pasta was pretty good, the sauce itself was... average (?). It was good but nothing spectacular, especially when each plate is $20-30. The ambiance was cute. It was packed, but felt cozy/homey at the same time. Service was fine; I felt like our waiter disappeared toward the end of the night, so we waited a good amount of time between the end of our meal and when we received our check. The wait for a table was horrible, but expected since it's a popular restaurant. The parking situation is also terrible. We were lucky to get a spot in the back, but the lot is very small, and most will have to rely on street parking.

FOOD: The Food here is AMAZING!! Very authentic Italian Cuisine. Enjoyed what I tried. The Bruschetta was delicious and my dinner (pictured) was very tasty. SERVICE: The service was good! Our server was nice and friendly. DECOR/AMBIENCE: The restaurant is small, so the seating is limited and there tends to be a line outside. Parking is also limited, but there is street parking. The decor inside is a mix of things, from pictures of Old Hollywood to a framed story about the restaurant.

All time favorite Italian restaurant in OC! Pros: food, service and food!! Cons: parking, wait time Appetizer: bruschetta, calamari and stuffed mushrooms are always solid! Pastas: salerno and sorrento with Mama D's pink sauce and additional sausage and Good selection of wine. We love the freshly baked cookie to end a yummy, fulfilling meal.

First time trying the famous Mama D's. Oh my, was it just what all the hype was about. Authentic, delicious and great service. The pink sauce- divine!! We will definitely be back!!

Absolutely fantastic experience! Parking was ok as there is a decent amount of street parking but you likely have to pay for that. Decent amount of space and tables inside. Service was great. Food took a while to come despite it not being too busy (just keep the free bread coming). But when the food came it did not disappoint! We ordered the stuffed mushrooms, Caesar salad, spinach ravioli, Cioppino, and the capri. All were well flavored, delicious, and perfectly made. Words cannot begin to describe how exquisite everything was. Hands down one of the best Italian restaurants I've been too. Would definitely come again!

This place was SO cute and fun for kids - we heard the wait can be long, but it was mostly empty at 5pm on a Friday (lol they had just opened). We were seated right away! Highlights: - coloring pages and crayons for kids - kids' bowls of pasta & sauce complimentary - pink sauce is delish - lasagna is really as good as advertised Dishes are reasonably sized, probably good with one per person and apps or desserts but we did family style to share everything. Super cozy and homemade tasting! Would be back if we lived closer :)

Lovely atmosphere, delicious food and very friendly staff! Can't wait to go again. The pink sauce is had with my Gnocci qad amazing. My husband loved his Lasagna.

From the moment you walk into Mama D's you're treated like family. The hostess was welcoming, sweet and informative. They have couches inside to wait for your table or to-go food, they also have lots of outside seating while you wait and people watch. I came with a big party of 10 and not only were they accommodating, the wait was less than 20mins. While we waited one of the hostess brought a basket of their savory garlic bread for everyone outside to munch on as we waited. The inside is absolutely adorable, the tables are close together but it's such a "family-party" ambiance. I got their sausage & chicken capri with rigatoni and pink sauce (mix of marinara sauce and Alfredo sauce) was absolutely divine! Our waiter was a sweetheart, funny and very attentive! Please try the calamari it was delectable and some of the best calamari I've had in a while! Now, next time I will definitely try the lasagna, my cousin got it and it was a little piece of heaven! Mama D's has all the secret ingredients for a great establishment! Will be visiting soon! Also wanted to add that our waiter brought us warm complimentary chocolate chip cookies! So so good!

We decided to go there one night as I love Italian food. This was the BEST DECISION EVER! Chris our server was so kind, knowledgeable and patient. His recommendations on our dinners were on point. Chatting a little more with him we found out he has grown up in the restaurant business so if you get him as your server, you are in very good hands! The food was Excellent, the service was Amazing and overall this was a great place to go! We will definitely be back to enjoy the other dishes he recommended to us. Thank you Chris!

I love being on the mailing list and receiving a text notification whenever the Seafood Ravioli special is back. I went in today and had it. Loved it as usual but next time I have to switch back to my favorite Gnocchi with pink sauce and sausage, that I haven't had in a while. One minor disappointment today was the Stuffed Mushrooms. This is the first time I've had them and they are boring and flavorless. First of all they stuff the mushrooms with more mushrooms! How about you take the filling you use in the seafood ravioli and use that in these mushrooms? Then you can call them seafood stuffed mushrooms. They would be way better! Or how about you at least add some seasoning, or add granulated garlic, or even blend some cheese into the stuffing? They need more love, and I know you have a lot of love to give Mama!

Such an amazing place. Seriously the customer service and food are so worth it. Unfortunately there aren't any reservations but at least you can walk around the beach while you wait. Came in to eat here the other night for a friend's birthday dinner and seriously did not dissappoint. I always wanted to eat here as well passing by and got the chance to. While you wait outside for your table, they even give you bread there! Such an amazing feature and the worker was so kind. Our server Zaren was such an incredible soul. She helped us with the whole menu, great recommendations, and came out to let us try their signature pink sauce with our bread before we ordered so we knew what was up! With her great recommendations, I ended up getting the house made meat filled ravioli with the pink sauce. Let me tell you that these were probably the best ravioli I've had. The pasta wasn't too thick nor too thin and the filling was such a good even spread. The sauce is layered underneath and that's it, which makes it great for an even amount of flavor. Seriously such an amazing choice. Everyone else enjoyed their dishes as well so nothing here is a bad choice it seems! Only single downside is the size of the restaurant. Certain tables are very close to others so expect to SQUEEZE in and out if you need to use the restroom. And if you get one crying kid/baby, just know it rings through the whole restaurant because of how small it is. We unfortunately had to deal with that for a bit until the kid calmed down lol. Other than that, the decor is nice and fits an italian theme. It isn't anything crazy but the size really distracts you from what is in there. Finally, with my friend's birthday, the servers will come together to bring you a brownie with chocolate chip cookies to sing for you! They even get you a note which they all sign for you which is so sweet and kind, so definitely tell them if it's a birthday celebration!

We love Mama D's! Despite having a few locations it is still very much fun as a family owned and operated restaurant. They are always very friendly and remember their patrons. The food matches the service and is incredible. Must get the pink sauce!!

I haven't been to Mama D's in years and it's just as good as I remember! Their famous pink sauce is truly phenomenal! We enjoy celebrating our friends birthday here and they truly ask yu feel like family here! It gets busy but service is good! The inside seating get a bit cramped. Parking is okay in the area.

Our friend suggested this family owned restaurant in Newport Beach and raved about how wonderful the customer service is there. I'm here today to tell you he did not disappoint. The service here is phenomenal, our waiter was so attentive, gave us great suggestions and frequently came to check in on us throughout the meal. We got the stuffed mushrooms, meat ravioli and spinach ravioli, and sausage and chicken capri. The stuffed mushrooms were crispy and hot! I loved the filling inside and the overall flavor of this dish. The ravioli was my personal favorite! No wonder it's so famous! I loved the texture of the ravioli and the pesto sauce was the perfect sauce choice. Lastly, the capri's 'pink sauce' had a rich creaminess to it that brought the dish together. Overall I loved my experience at Mama D's! This is definitely going up on my top Italian places to go to in OC list.

The food is spectacular. This is the best restaurant in Orange County by a mile. The service is the best in the country! Say hi to Keith when you come through.

The wait was a while, but it wasn't bad. I love how they offered some appetizers to people waiting which I really appreciated. They also have blankets for you to use for the cold. Spinach ravioli which I enjoyed a lot. It is with marinara sauce and has a perfect blend of spinach and cheese. Calamari fritti was the perfect appetizer. While I waited they offered rigatoni in pink sauce which I liked a lot. There is street parking.

The service was great the moment my family & I walked thru the door. The food was so got damn good that pink sauce and bread. Everything was fast I arrived irritated because I walked out of another Italian restaurant. The service was horrible with long waits and it was practically empty. So I went to Mamma D based on referral from friends & family. I left happy and oyr server he was really nice. I don't remember his name tall bald with facial very friendly. The host were all very nice both male/ female. I'll probably try the lasagna next time or treat myself one day. I'm not sure if they have a bar section. I was with my family if nit no biggie I'll get it to go anyway.

I came here on a rainy Thursday night with my two friends to catch-up - we didn't have to wait too long before we were seated. It was my first time here, but it was actually an incredible experience. First of all, our server, Jeremy, did an astounding job throughout the night. He gave a good overview of the menu, gave me and my friend a recommendation when we were struggling on what to get, and was overall such a pleasant person to speak to. He let us know that Mama D's allows you to order pastas 1/2 and 1/2 so you can try multiple flavors, which is exactly what I opted to do under his guidance. If not for his detailed recommendations, I certainly would've been too indecisive to choose! To start, we are some complimentary bread and then ordered calamari and stuffed mushrooms for the table - not too greasy, with some straightforward, yummy flavors. I then ordered 1/2 sausage and chicken capri (not with the original spaghetti, but with fusilli under Jeremy's rec) and 1/2 build your own pasta: rigatoni + bolognese + one of the preset veggie options (I can't remember the exact name but it had onions). Omg. I don't eat a lot of pasta, but it was so GOOD! There was so, so much food (which they graciously packed the rest of for me to take home, along with a fresh batch of bread). The flavors were rich, but not too intense, and the texture of the pasta wasn't soggy at all. It was incredibly enjoyable, and I was so happy to have tried both flavor options. An additional note on the excellent service: my other friend ordered a Diet Coke, and when I said I wanted one too, Jeremy counted it as a refill and didn't charge us separately. He also gave us free warm chocolate cookies and toothpicks at the end. Overall, such a great experience if you're searching for a new pasta joint. The detailed service, the atmosphere, the delicious food - all of these came together to create a memorable time for me and my friends.

In celebration of a beloved friends' birthdays, my friends and I went to Mama D's! It was during a rainy evening, so we fully expected to enter into a less crowded restaurant, knowing how popular this place is. Entering the restaurant from the cold, heavy rain, we were met with the warm, cozy ambiance of Mama D's. We were quickly recognized, acknowledged, and thoroughly welcomed by the hosts. Jeremy, our waiter for the evening, asked us whether this was our first time. For some of us it was the first, and we were immediately provided a sincere snapshot of the restaurant's best take according to Jeremy. We never felt like we were at lack all throughout the time we were there because we were repeatedly checked up on Thank you so much Jeremy!!! Appetizers *Spencer's Stuffed Mushrooms *Quinn's Calamari Fritti Pastas *Primavera *Sausage and chicken capri *Roberto's Cioppino w Linguine *I think the Pomodoro Fresco Jeremy has advised us to try the beloved pink sauce! We took his advice and it was good. It was a delight to discover the ability to mix and match the pastas and sauces (type and spiciness). We took some of the pasta dishes as half-half so we can get two different pastas for the size of one. The freedom and flexibility was so wonderful! It also adds to more of the reason to come back again for more. The bread was provided with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Additional condiments for the pasta were also provided - I was grateful for the variety of condiments too. In conclusion of this grand evening, we were gifted with peppermint candies and warm chocolate chip cookies. God bless you all, as you continue to bless many people by your warm, kind service and delicious foods!

Never disappoints. The food, the service everything here is amazing. We prefer this location to the CDM location. Worth the wait.

Would recommend coming early because there was a wait when I went at 6:00 pm. It was like an hour wait for our table (of 9). Workers were friendly and made sure if we wanted to look at the menu ahead of time. The restaurant was very cozy and their walls were covered with decorations and articles. The food was delicious, I ordered the Roberto's Cioppino and they gave me a generous helping of parmesan cheese on top. The calamari tasted amazing and not overly battered or fried. The mozzarella was decent, but the marinara sauce was rich and not too acidic. I can't wait to come back and try their Alfredo sauce.

We came in at 5:02pm with my family of 9. Seated within the first 10 minutes , with menus and water. A turn of the last century home, turned into a cozy family eating spot. Kaycee and the entire team was timely, helpful and unobtrusive. Smiles and patience helped the young ones through the menu. I had the Rosa with fettuccini, pink vodka sauce and plump perfectly cooked shrimp. A generous grating of Parmesan cheese and it was on. Around the table following the fresh baked bread and garlic oil, we had the classic with chicken and pink sauce, Alfredo and a few side salads. I powered the entire platter of fettuccini, while all the rest of the table took boxes for later. Everyone was complimentary and satisfied. Well done, thank you for your enthusiast service and hospitality.

Busy Italian restaurant with very good customer service. Everyone was great and polite. The waitress was great. I ordered a large ham and meatball pizza that was not bad but was just kind of plain tasting and nothing great. The dough was nothing special and neither were the meatballs. I was somewhat disappointed in the pizza. But everyone else at my table ordered pasta and it was very good, everyone loved it. The chicken Parm looked very good and tasted great. I will definitely be back and next time I will order pasta.

My friends and I were having a hard time deciding what to eat and thankfully my friend recommended Mama D's... and I'm so so glad we came here ! The customer services was ASTOUNDING -- they literally went above & beyond for us :') Mama D's is known for their infamous pink sauce, so if you come you need to try the sauce for the first time ! The sauce was nice + creamy.. but not too overly salty and paired sooo so good with the tender fusilli pasta. We ended the meal with a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie. I cannot wait to come back here! Tip: Come around opening/ before 6PM. We came early & when we left at 6ish PM it was PACKED

I heard great things about this restaurant so I gave it a try. It is small and quaint. Service is great with friendly servers. The servers can always recommend a great dish. All dishes I had great flavor and taste. I definitely recommend this restaurant for authentic Italian

We totally forgot to take a picture of the food but recently visited Mama Ds and had a great time with Jeremy S. The food here is great, I would recommend the spicy pink sauce with anything. We had two recommendations from Jeremy, the daily special with the sauce substituted for the spicy pink and the calamari with spicy marinara both were great. We also had the baked Ziti and Mama D tarimasu. Everything we ate was delicious. However What makes Mama Ds standout is the service we received. Not only did Jeremy take the time to ask our names he remembered them throughout the duration of the meal. He went above and beyond to make sure our food came out perfect gave good recommendations and even though it's just a job I felt like I received genuine service from someone who cared instead of the normal service restaurants have had since Covid. The atmosphere of the restaurant is a cozy beach town Italian joint where everyone is welcome. There are lots of family's and the decor is quaint making you feel at home with good food and not unnecessarily fancy. Any type of beach attire would be accepted here with no issues.

My guest and I enjoyed the Poppa D's Shrimp & Scampi. It came in the plate with the pasta separated from the shrimp and veggies. Initially it seemed like a small serving, but I was able to eat my entire plate. We barely had room for dessert. The staff appears to be happy & the guests are the benefit of that with the happy atmosphere. I wondered why we waited so long to visit. Tiramisu was wonderful.

Wow! I was thoroughly impressed with my experience here with my friends (group of 6). This is an excellent spot for getting top tier Italian food, but the best part is the friendly and fast service. The bread provided on the table is great and it's very thoughtful to have mints everywhere since there's a lot of garlic. Portions were great and the menu items are also customizable to meet dietary needs. I highly recommend this place to anyone in the area!

I feel bad because I was a little mean to the staff but it wasn't them I was just having a bad day. Anyway, gnocchi with the pink sauce add bacon. They have so many things on their menu and you can customize most of not all of it to fit your particular taste which is pretty cool. It's very homey and classic italian style restaurant. Great date night location or family dinner. Parking is meh, but it's worth it. You can also door dash or order to go and stop curbside which is pretty cool, but I do like eating in more.

Mama Ds is my favorite pasta spot in SoCal! My favorite dishes are the chicken ravioli in pink sauce and the chicken and sausage capri! All of the pastas are customizable, but I definitely recommend the pink sauce! The customer service and ambiance here is 10/10. The workers are so kind and make everyone feel like family. Definitely a must spot when coming to Newport Beach!

The bread and oil served was delicious and fresh so we loved that! I ordered the cheese ravioli with a creamy pesto sauce, the ravioli was great but I think it would have been better with a different sauce. My husband ordered the lasagna and we were obsessed with it!! Will be going back the next time we visit

This place was packed we waited about an hour line was out the door on a Friday night. Food was popping especially the creamy mushroom spinach pasta and the chicken Alfredo. Ambiance was loud but we were waiting outside got the food to go. I would fine in for sure next time.

TL;DR: chef kiss. I will be back. Delicious food, friendly service, and a delightful time. Just come earlier for parking and seating. Came here Thursday night and was seated right away. Our server was friendly and attentive. We were hungry and quickly ordered. Food came out promptly and it was delicious.

This has been by far one of my top dining experiences! The family feel of the restaurant and coziness makes you feel right at home. Tonight we met Austin and he made me want to come back nightly not just for the food but for the personal care he gave. He not only introduced himself but asked our names. He gave excellent recommendations and came back to make sure we had all we needed and were happy with our selections. At the end of the night he packaged up our leftovers and dropped them off with a sweet thanks you got coming in card that included a verse that could not have been more perfect. I'm not sure if he had incredible boldness or did it because he caught us blessing our meal... but it was greatly appreciated! Thank you Mama D's and Austin for such a great night!

i would personally come back here over and over again, the service and food is amazing truly feels like a home, cozy, and i would want to come back to try other dishes!! pesto ravioli, penne vodka pasta, everything was delicious! even came with little cookies for a sweet treat at the end :) definitely come here and try this! worth the trip, great for dates/birthdays/events as well!

My overall experience was what I would classify as underwhelming. We've never been there, however, lived in the area for 25 years. Thought we'd try it based on his reputation. The service was fair at best, and it felt like they were living off the laurels of better days of a true Italian restaurant. The food reminded us more of the Olive Garden than a down home Italian restaurant. To be honest, I think I'd rather go to the Olive Garden.