All’s Well at Mamma’s

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Oh yes, you can have it all at Mamma Roma, the bustling Italian eatery in Odenton. If family-style feasting is what you and yours are in the mood for, then your party will be pleased by the extensive menu, fine food preparation, pleasant service, and boisterous atmosphere that is Mamma’s. The renown restaurant, now celebrating its 20th anniversary (congrats to owners/brothers Rino and Bruno!), has been the go-to restaurant for the Piney Orchard community and beyond to enjoy fine Italian fare in a casual, charming even, setting.

Time and again, Mamma’s hits all the right notes when my family visits for lunch or dinner. Stepping through the shopping center façade opens the door to the Mamma’s experience, with its inviting dining room decked in a bright palette of wood tables and paneling, yellow paintwork, black and white tile flooring, golden pendant lighting, and a Mediterranean mural that stretches the length of one wall. Wine bottles, strands of ivy, framed photos here and there, and the Piccolo Espresso Bar (good for a cuppa or freshly baked sweet treat) are eye-catching throughout the entire space. 

We plan to arrive hungry when jotting down “Dinner at Mamma’s” in the family calendar and our recent visit was no exception. Though I, my wife, and two growing pre-teens can clean our plates, we tend to over-order anticipating some take home for the day ahead. And Mamma’s portions satisfy in this regard. Add to that all manner of beverages to sip, savor, enjoy—wines, beers, cocktails, sodas, teas, the aforementioned espresso bar—and you’re covered.

Starting our meal with a shallow bowl full of steamed mussels was a good start. Mamma’s offers the delectable morsels in several preparations of varying sauces and accoutrements. We chose the Mussels Tegamino with garlic, olive oil, lemon, croutons, and white wine sauce. So very good. Added to that was an order of Shrimp Barca, consisting of toasted Italian bread slices topped with grilled shrimp in a peppercorn cognac cream sauce—a repeat hit of several visits that delivers with decadent flavor and a balance of crisp and soft textures.

Moving on to entrees, we took note how the menu is organized into various groupings of entrees including: baked (lasagna, parmigiana, ziti, manicotti, etc.), “gladiators” selections (house specialties), pastas (the most extensive number of dishes), chicken, veal, seafood, and more casual faves like pizzas (New York or Sicilian styles), calzones, strombolis, salads, soups, and subs. We had hearts set on a few items—gnocchi among them. We chose both the Gnocchi Sorrentina (a classic preparation of the pillowy potato dumplings in a rosé sauce with basil and baked with mozzarella cheese), and the Gnocchi Portobello (with a creamy white sauce full of portobello mushrooms and bacon). Both were heavenly. 

A hunky slice of beef-based Homemade Lasagna was ordered for good measure—Mamma’s version is spot-on and boasts the vibrant house marinara sauce (or “gravy,” if you will). We also love seafood, so a simple-yet-scrumptious order of Shrimp Lemon (plump shrimp in garlic and wine in Mamma’s signature lemon sauce, served over spaghetti) was quite pleasing. Easy for the kids to enjoy as well. We also added the entrée Seafood Extravaganza, which, as the name implies, is an overflowing plate of mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, and crabmeat, all sautéed in garlic, olive oil, and cherry tomato sauce, and served over linguine. A big-time dish full of Cinque Terre influence and flavors. 

A sweet finish to the meal with a coffee/ice cream concoction, complete with swirls of chocolate syrup, and a couple cannoli was shared by the table. If you need a moment to decide and digest, though, stand up and stroll over to the Piccolo Espresso Bar, where a display case of confections will make dessert decisions a fun challenge. Also, it’s important to note that Mamma’s has perfected the online-order/carry-out line of business (and catering), so if a couple pizza pies are the order of the evening (or maybe a full meal of apps and entrees!), you can count on Mamma’s to promptly prepare them for you. 

And so, again, my family and I found that all’s well at Mamma’s. They’re good people there, the food is fresh and delicious, and the atmosphere quite welcoming.

Mamma Roma  | 8743 Piney Orchard Parkway, Odenton; 410-695-0247; mammaromas.com