10/19/09

Totally Over-rated

by SE Reid

This place is one of the most over rated restaurants in Portland. The owner, Lisa Schroder, must have a great public relations person, cause this place sure does get a lot of undeserved attention.

There are sooooo many better Italian restaurants, don't waste your time with this one.

• Pros: Wish I could think of one
• Cons: Food, service

06/09/09

Best Service EVER!

by curiousg74

Our waitress was one of the best I have ever had in Portland. I think her name was Stephanie. She was energetic, fun, had perfect recommendations and made our dining experience memorable and fun! The food was incredible, very flavorful and great proportions!

• Pros: Service, Food
• Cons: none

05/31/09

Rude workers

by 125022

We went there recently for my mom's birthday. This one waitress who was not serving us walked by our table continually with the worst expression on her face and glared at us several times. Our waiter commented: Did you enjoy your appetizers? My mom replied: "Oh yes, the bread was wonderful". The waiter then said: "No, I meant your drinks".

If they don't want to serve alcohol, then don't serve it. That goes for many restaurants in Portland: What is WITH this city and drinking? So many people here get so hot and bothered/and or offended when people order drinks. We also noticed that while we were eating, several workers were standing at the bar looking right at us and talking - probably gossiping. It reminded all of us of a high school cafeteria and why you never choose to eat inside of one.

Needless to say, we will not be back.

• Pros: Fantastic food
• Cons: As good as the food is, it is ruined by the service

05/05/09

A new found favorite

by bcoop

Nice old bar seating and excellent food! Try one of their homemade vodka drinks! Bartenders always nice to visit with. Cant beat the prices.. lasagna and calamari are the best.

• Pros: Menu items and price
• Cons: None

04/02/09

worst meal and service I've had in years

by Mimi22

I have never written a review but due to the bad experience we had a Mama Mia I felt compelled to write one. I ordered the eggplant parmagiana. It was breaded and fried and burned then covered with sauce. It was inedible. My daughter ordered the child's ravioli. For $5 she received one ravioli about 2 inches in diameter. When the waiter breezed by and asked "how was our dinner"? I responded "terrible". He just turned and left. I couldn't believe it. We didn't see him again until he bought the check. We were with another mother and daughter and on our way to see Wicked so I didn't make a fuss but cannot see how they are still in business, especially in this economic climate.

• Pros: Can't think of any!
• Cons: Food, Service

03/31/09

wish i had something nice to say

by maks43

i know if you don't have something nice to say, you shouldn't say anything at all, but i can't help myself with this one. the food is okay, not great, but i have had worse. the real problem with this place lies in the people. i have witnessed the owner berate her staff in the past, which i think is really unprofessional. but i got a little inside scoop from a guy i know who used to work there that confirmed that type of behavior as common practice. the staff are terrified of the owner, otherwise known as "the tyrant." i heard she is in anger management or something too because she is so crazy and will fly off the handle for no reason. personally, i don't think people who are nasty and mean like that deserve my support, so i won't be back.

• Pros: cute place
• Cons: owner, some of the staff are loud and obnxious

03/25/09

Too Many Issues

by noname500

While I thought the food was okay, and the prices reasonable, we had a host of other problems that would stop me from eating there. The biggies? First, they don't honor reservations at all! We were seated long after our reservation time, and there was a lobby full of other people who weren't seated promptly. Why bother taking reservations, if you're not getting people to tables on time? The other big problem...they charged us TWICE. Upon reviewing our credit card statement, they charged us our actual bill, plus someone else's bill! It's been a hassle getting this fixed, and I'd never trust them with my credit card again. Ridiculous.

• Pros: Okay food
• Cons: Don't honor reservations; problems with our bill

03/01/09

WAITER STOLE HIS TIP MONEY FROM ME!

by alovelytune

Our server was a chubby blond haired gay guy and he was the most ruddiest waiter I've ever had. Look out for him if you do go here, and try to avoid him at all costs! Like most Italian restaurants after you order your main entree they ask if you'd like a salad or soup which is usually included with your meal. And if it is not they will ask you. "Would you like to add soup or salad for an extra $3.95?" This waiter offered us a salad, which was $6.95 and a soup for $3.95. Without telling me that they were additional. I did not know he would be charging me the additional $11 bucks for just soup and salad that I didn't really even want. Since I thought that this was a sneaky move on my waiters end, I did not leave him a tip because he didn't deserve one. As we were walking out he then says you forgot to pay $5.00 on your bill. I know paid the EXACT amount on my bill and I figured he was just mad because I didn't leave him a tip. I then gave him his the $5.00 that I supposedly "forgot" and walked out of the restaurant. As I was walking out he then yelled to me and my date. DON'T YOU EVER COME BACK! What a PSYCHOTIC waiter! The service here is horrible and the way this waiter acted was immature and ridiculous, and I hope the management wises up and fires this guy. The food is alright but if you'd like soup or salad for free, then stick to olive garden.

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: SERVES IS HORRIBLE

11/12/08

Great Place for Happy Hour & Dinner

by KevCos8

I took some out of town clients here and was pleasantly surprised to find the $3 Happy Hour menu. The bar had quite a few business types huddled around the gigantic flat screen TV watching Monday Night Football. The plates were perfect size and for $3 we ordered the entire happy hour menu as appetizers and THEN sat down for dinner. They had the usual suspects on tap from Widmer but also a seasonal from Sierra Nevada which was pretty tasty. Calamari was crisp as was the fried zucchini. Steve the bartender was pretty knowledgeable and talking sports with my clients--giving me a much needed break! The service was quick and attentive (not to mention attractive;) and the dining room was pretty amazing.

Must haves: veal marsala, garlic bread, and cioppino plus the entire happy hour menu was a great deal.

I frequent Mother's Bistro next door (same chef/owner) so I expected everything to be on point at Mama Mia's, and it was. Great place, great value.

• Pros: Happy Hour Menu, Veal Marsala, service and it's close to my office

10/15/08

Don't buy it!

by BevandC

"She makes the mozzarella cheese fresh everyday, and it truly melts in your mouth"That's what they tell you and it may be, true but it has little or no tast. Something smells here and I don't think it's just the food! Let's start with the "Sunday Gravy", To Italian's the Sunday gravy is not really how the red gravy is made, it's the love that Mom or your Grandmother put into it. Yes it is a wonderful feast of tastes, and NO it can not be made in any restaurant. I have no problem with a restaurant marketing themselves in a way to get people in the door, but this place just has gone to far. Bye the way don't try it for yourself because it's just encouraging bad behavior, and the eating of tastless food.

• Pros: Nice tables
• Cons: Food is very poor