While I was hanging out with my uncle and cousin, we had a sudden craving for delicious Italian food. Our trusty app, Yelp, lead us to an Italian heaven called Mama D’s, in Newport Beach. The trip was most definitely worth the drive. Once we got there, we were greeted with a warm smile and seated immediately. Our server, Ann Marie, promptly brought out the most delicious bread ever. It was accompanied by Mama D’s very own garlic-olive oil mixture; it was a pure delight. Our waitress took the time to get to know each of our names and referred to us by name throughout our meal. She even brought us some of their complimentary cheese ravioli.
No other ravioli could compare to Mama D’s cheese ravioli. The ravioli skin was so light and delicate; similar to wonton wrappers. The cheese was light, fluffy, and oh so savory. But, what tipped this simple, but wonderful, cheese ravioli right over the top was the bed of tomatoey, marinara goodness that it was so gently laid upon. Mama D’s age-old marinara recipe without-a-doubt exceeded my expectations. The sauce was so smooth and savory and mixed very nicely with the gooey, melty, Parmesan cheese that was grated on the top.
The menu was very flexible as to what each of us wanted; we were able to choose any pasta to go with any sauce and any topping. We ordered spaghetti bolognese with a large meatball, fettuccine with Mama D’s Pink sauce, chicken parmigiana, and meat ravioli. The large meatball could be cut like butter and was melt-in-your-mouth quality. There was definitely some magic in that meat for it to have been so wonderful. The meatball paired very nicely with the spaghetti bolognese. When we tried the fettuccine with Pink sauce, we knew this Mama knew best. It was the perfect balance of tangy and creamy. The chicken parmigiana and the meat ravioli weren’t as special as the other dishes, but had nice texture and were cooked nicely.
At the end of our visit, we were pleasantly surprised with a free plate of freshly baked, mini, chocolate chip cookies. They had crispy edges and gooey centers. Why does Mama D’s give out such delicious, free dishes? I will never know, but you won’t ever find me complaining. Mama D’s is a cozy, hole-in-the -wall, Italian restaurant with a great atmosphere, friendly servers, and out-of-this-world food; I would definitely recommend this restaurant. I give it 4.5 out of five stars. Pleasant eating!
