Great neighborhood BYO. Our table of 6 received smooth and attentive service throughout the dinner rush on a Friday night. They were happy to accommodate requests like refrigerating BYO wine and bringing out a BYO cake (candles and all!) Highly recommend the service as well as the food. The Bolognese was delish.
Amazing food. The garlic bread was heavenly. The scallops were delectable and creamy. The Carbonara was scrumptious. And oh the cheesecake, like a cloud. Absolutely mouth watering. Highly recommended. Oh and superb customer service!
I LOVE MAMMA ROSAS! they have SUCH a legit and exceptionally well thought out menu with so many different options, there is really something for everyone here! the food is proper Italian and the people who run this place are awesome 😎
This place is ABSOLUTELY amazing. Every time weve dined here, I honestly cant fault it. This is a MUST to dine at. I'm actually suprised that there are not more raving reviews to be honest!!!!
The ambience is gorgeous, little setting and a very traditional italian feel about it all. You'll know what I mean when you walk in and are seated.
The staff are friendly and efficiant.
But the food, omg the food is OUTSTANDING. From the scallop to prawn entrees to the chicken breast or a good ole steak.... and the Greek salad to go with it is simply tops. Dont forget to order and house made garlic pizza bread, simply devine and the perfect start and a great accompany to any dish.
Please do yourselves a favour and treat yourself to an evening at this establishment. The italian in you, will love you for it.
A little restaurant but the food had amazing flavours. We ordered calamari and herb pizza bread for entree. Calamari was fresh and perfectly cooked with a pinch of lemon it tasted great!
Furthermore, we had ravioli and another dish made of chicken breast which had the right amount of flavours and tasted yummy. Overall, I would recommend this place for all Italian cuisine lovers and also for people who would wanna try this type of food for the first time. I’d definitely visit again.
This small little Italian restaurant packs some big flavours!
The mamma Rosa spaghetti, and lasagna is very nice!
Pizzas are also good. The crust is cooked properly and not doughy, slightly crunchy.
Ambience is dark and romantic, and the smell is always amazing.
It is mostly packed so make sure to book ahead!
Food 4/5
Service 4.5/5
Accessibility 4/5
Setting 4/5
Have been here on several occasions and always have a great time. The staff are friendly and attentive. The restaurant is very cosy and has a nice feel to it. The food is incredible. Have never had a single bad dish here. Came here for both Valentine's Day and our 2 year anniversary because we love this place so much. The price is decent for the dishes you get. The pizza is on the more expensive size but is worth the price. Can't recommend the garlic pizza bread enough.
Came in a busy Wednesday night. As two vegetarians there where only 2 dishes on the menu but the staff were more than happy to try to accommodate us by rejigging dishes to suit our requirements. Great service. Yummy food. Would suggest they try and add another couple of veggie options like ravioli but very enjoyable. Take a bib though as we slashed food all over ourselves.
Favorite pizza place. Gluten free bases are great! Dined in and had takeaway multiple times. Pasta is also good - they have gluten free pasta too! Fast service - only 15-20 minutes when ordered on at 645 on a Friday night! Not cheap, but definitely worth it.
After hearing so much about this place I had to try it out with Hangry Viz last night.
We ordered the chicken fettuccine and carbonara with a few modifications . My fave was the chicken fettuccine it looks like they used smoked chicken which was delicious and so was the sauce. Full of flavour. The carbonara was nice but I found it a little bit too rich for my liking but Viz liked it more.
Cute little place located in Kohimarama. Totally booked out. The staff were very friendly and attentive too.
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Ambience: It's a small restaurant with a vintage decor. It has outside seatings as well as inside. The space is pretty small with tables crammed into the space a bit too close to each other. My bf had difficulty to fit him into the chair with a such small space. It seems like it's very popular among many locals around kohimarama and mission bay.
Food: we ordered spicy sausage pizza, lasagna and carbonara. I asked them to be served together and the food was served after 15-20 minutes of the order. Not bad.
I couldn't taste much of spicy sausage in the pizza but still it was very good. It was even better with some tabasco sauce on it. Pizza base and the crust was on point.
Carbonara had TOO MUCH OIL as you can see in the picture. However, surprisingly the taste was good. Although I could not finish it after seeing so much oil underneath the pasta.
Lasagna was very good. My friend said it was so so but for me it was very good. It had plenty of sauce with minced beef. The taste was very hearty and seasoned perfectly. Not too sour (due to tomato) and not too salty.
Service: Some of the staff seemed to be a bit less professional than others. They seemed quite clueless while they were serving us but all of them was friendly. There was no cracked pepper, tabasco, Parmesan cheese etc on the table but they can be served upon request.
Despite so much oil in my pasta, I actually would like to come back to try some other pasta and pizza menu. It was a very hearty (homestyle) Italian meal experience.
I collected takeaways from here on Friday night. The phone service was great. The pick up...even better! Polite, efficient & the food was delish. 5/5, would recommend!
Food is always good. Service too. Can't complain, love having an authentic Italian so close to home. Should expand our horizons and try some other dishes some time. The Greco pizza looks amazing!
Visited mamma rosa on a Saturday night, didn't book. Was seated outside which was fine as it was a mild evening and there were outdoor heaters, prices were very reasonable and the food was spectacular. Had the spaghetti and meatballs and garlic bread to start. Both were brought out very quickly and both were very good. Will be back.
Great food and service. Got the prawns, steak and seafood chowder - was not disappointed!
The environment is very welcoming and food came out quickly.
The best meal out I have had in ages. The meals were generous, delicious and we didnt have to wait long, even though it was a busy Saturday night. I only wish I had the room to have had dessert and to try more things on the menu - so will be back. definitely worth the trip from the Shore!
Not sure why this has such average reviews. This place is delicious but I guess everyone's last buds are different. Their pasta is authentic, I have travelled throughout Italy before. Their prices are good (especially takeaways also) this place is great!
Ok not sure why the rating is below 4 let alone 3, people eat out once twice then they become food critics I'm not just saying that because I'm a chef,my love and passion for food is beyond this world,so tucked away in a back street of kohi we found this gem well a friend told us and boy I'm glad he did such a great atmosphere and it just has that real Italian vibe to it right down to the table cloths,the service was awesome,not to mention the food everything was so tasty but the prawns DAM BMF REALTALK this will be our new Italian hot spot for sure besides papas pizza cos I work there 😜 but great job guys thanks for the great hospitality and experience 🙏
I was shocked when I saw the Zomato rating for this restaurant. It seems to me that only the unhappy people write a review so I thought I would set that straight. We have been eating at this restaurant for 30 years usually on a weekly basis and I can't recall a situation of long waits for food or food out of order in the last 10 years. It's true that the tables are squeezed in and that they have multiple bookings per table per night, every night of the week. Does that not tell you something about the food and value???? I'm happy if the non-locals stay away so we have more chance of getting our booking. Yes, the ambience is 'cheap n cheerful' but we've eaten at many of the best Italian restaurants in various cities and I find this food very hard to beat.
Despite being a regular visitor to Sydney and Melbourne, which have an impressive Italian restaurant scene, Mamma Rosa continues to excite. It is by far the most authentic Italian restaurant in the area. The pizza bread is addictive, and my personal favourite, the Spaghetti Al Pollo Picante, never ceases to satisfy. The waitresses are always accommodating and friendly. One slight gripe is the lack of EFTPOS payment, which caused a trip to a St Heliers ATM one evening for takeaway - hopefully they modernise soon!
Our go to takeaway in the area. The kids who are both picky eaters demolish the Spaghetti Bolognese and the Pepperoni pizza is as good as I've had.
We have also dined in several times over the years, and it's usually a very good experience with high quality food. It's a small/cosy restaurant so it pays to book at busy times.
The only blemish I've had here was on my last dine in experience where the Marasla sauce (on a Veal dish) didn't taste very good, but I'll give them the credit that it was a one off - as every other time I've eaten here the food has been top quality.
Highly recommended. One of my favorites.
My absolute favourite Italian restaurant..highly recommend even for takeaways. The owners are fantastic and work hard to ensure you enjoy your meal,
Turning out to be our favourite Italian restaurant! A small but very cosy and warm environment. You will need to book because it's very popular and I can see why. Staff and food are fantastic. Our booked table was running a few minutes late (obviously the patrons before us were enjoying an extended stay and didn't want to leave understandably) so we were offered a temporary table outside and a complimentary garlic bread. After we got our indoor table about 20 min later and had our amazing mains, we were further offered a complimentary liqueur because of our initial wait for the table. I have to say though that this is the first time we had to wait for our table so it is rare. A big thumbs up for the outstanding service to make up for a minor inconvenience on the night.
It's pretty obvious only the grumpy people have been writing the reviews on this place. EXCELLENT FOOD EXCELLENT SERVICE!!!! The whole family gets really excited when it's someone's birthday because Mamma Rosa's is always the first place everyone wants to go for dinner! My brother lives in Melbourne and whenever he comes home it is always the first place he goes. Highly recommended 10/10
heard a lot about this place and went in to have a taste of it. A very cosy warm place with really good staff. The staff serves you with a smile and makes you feel at home. BYO eating place with a wide range of pizza, pasta selections. Desserts are amazing too. Pizzas, are one of the best pizzas, I have had till date. Fresh out of the even - crispy, no soggy stuff, no overcooked stuff - done just the right way. Their pepperoni pizza is a must try, as well as the chicken pasta with red wine and red sauce. Yum!! ducked in the suburb - I would say this is a hidden gem for pizza lovers. A yummy Italian Restaurant.
First time at Mamma Rosa. Not a bad experience but disappointed that in this day and age they DO NOT HAVE EFTPOS . They are cash ir credit card only. with no Atm locally it makes it hard.
THE FOOD was one of the best cooked pizzas I have ever had. The way we normally try them is First hot. Taste test excellent. No soggy or droopy pizza. SECOND about 30 mins later oncd cooled enough to eat . THIRD the over night stone cold test. Each of these three passed with flying colours. With the pizza tasting better with each stage. We will be back again but will be prepared wirh cash next time. Overall pizza 9 out of 10 service 7.5 out of 10.
Ate here last night and was really impressed! I've been before but it was extra delicious last night. I had the chicken pollo frangelico and it was to die for!! Everyone else loved their meals as well and the service was friendly and prompt. We did have to wait about 45 minutes for our meals to arrive but it was understandable considering they were rather busy. Love this place and we will be back soon.
We travel a long way to get to Mamma Rosa (the pizza is cold by the time we get home) - but it is worth it. As an avid pizza lover I have been on the search for pizza as good as Il Piccolo in Wellington (going back a few years now). Mamma Rosa is right up there. The owners are lovely and work extremely hard to present delicious food. Its a little pricey but hey, look at the area and its always busy. We love it. THE FOOD SCRIBBLER.
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I've been coming to this restaurant for close on fifteen years now and I have enjoyed every single meal and visit - whether for a sit-down meal with the family, take-away pizzas on a Friday evening or a quick beer or coffee on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Food: delicious sums it up well but I'll take the time to be more specific. You can taste, see and smell (the aromas and the tastes need to be experienced) that all of the food has been made with great care and with quality ingredients. It is authentic Italian cuisine made to delight 'Kiwi' palates (so pasta with more creamy sauces the way we like it or pizzas with more cheese and toppings). If you are a 'foodie' you will absolutely love eating your way through the menu.Ambiance: what's not to love?! It's charming mixture of good food / appropriate (and catchy) music that's not too loud / BYOW and proximity to a great wine shop makes the restaurant somewhere 'like home' - just without the tidying up afterwards. ;-) Service: very good - your needs are met quickly and without fuss and importantly without intruding on your meal or enjoying it. TIP - book in advance or at least give them a call - great food in a great place means it's popular. Always best to check. Cheers Mamma Rosa :-)
Used Zomato for recommendation for dinner and were pleasantly surprised at how authentic this little place is.. lovely ambience friendly staff and great food at affordable prices.. will return! !
My favourite memories of Italian food here. So yum and quaint. Pasta and pizza both delicious. I can't think of anything wrong with this place. Highly recommend. Probably best to book a table to avoid missing out!
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We recently re-discovered this place and find it fantastic. Yes it is small and that is half the attraction, producing great food and service. The food has a great taste whilst Mumma Rosa can cater to individual pallets/needs. Pricing - very good and service frendly especially when they get to know you.
My wife and I have travelled extensively including through Italy (staying months at a time) and eaten in many local Italian Restaurants whilst in Italy. Their is no question Mumma Rosa is equal to them and in many ways superior the local Italian restaurants.
As for the negative comments below, well it seems they have a attitude problem and who would want to admit knowing such people. Actions are the ultimate proof of what people think and they are very popular, supported by the locals and you should book to get in - now is that the sign of how inaccurate such comments below are? If the comments below were true they would have closed long ago so treat them with the contempt they deserve!
I would recommend Mumma Rosa to anyone - go and enjoy a great atmosphere and food!
I definitely go here as often as I can. Too bad its quite far from where I am. Food is always great!
On my visit to Mamma Rosa last night I could see why many happily choose it as their favourite local. The prices are reasonable, the atmosphere was nice - not too loud and not too quiet. In fact it was almost fully booked so make sure you make a reservation! We had a couple of pizzas which we were both very happy with. And it's BYO so bring along your favourite bottle and enjoy!
I have been coming to this restaurant for years as I live locally. A great selection of delicious pizza and Pasta, if you are wanting some takeaway and also a wide range of fantastic Italian cuisine if you choose to eat there. This place is a little gem and I can't speak highly enough of it!
I've been to this restaurant several times with friends and once with a large group for my birthday. The food is outstanding and seems to me to be authentically Italian.
They are always really busy and bookings are essential. They are also BYOW with a bottle door next door which is great.
The restaurant seems a little small and can feel a little cramped at times but the service was really good and we never felt as if we weren't looked after at all.
It's a great little local hidden eatery (the pastas especially are really good - the chicken with a cream/tomato sauce is fantastic!). It's well worth a visit and we will definitely be back!
Fantastic food and lovely, attentive servers every time.
I have never had anything but a superb meal there, though I will admit we generally skip the pizza and go for pretty much anything else on the menu.
I really don't get some of the nasty comments below:
They don't take eftpos? Boo-hoo. It says so RIGHT ON THE DOOR.
They were rude when you argued with them about it? Was it busy? Were you wasting their time? Was your ten-year-old son as obnoxious as you were?
Just amazing what some vindictive little trolls will do to bash a lovely restaurant--and as for questions of 'authenticity,' sorry, but you'll have to do better than that. I've been to most of the restaurants in Little Italy in NYC and there's not one of them I wouldn't happily skip to go to Mamma Rosa.
And as for locals "knowing to avoid it," it's always packed...
Some of you are just despicable, and some of your comments come off as pretty racist for this side of the ditch.
Have been going mama rosa for at least the last 9 years and have never had a complaint! Guys and girls that work there are extremely friendly and alway willing to help in any way they can. Risotto and fish dishes are my fav as i dont eat gluten......thou most friends like the pizza and pasta too. Tiny little place thats really nice and private out the back.
I phoned ahead because my son is dairy, egg and nut allergic. The staff were very onto it on the phone, realizing that they'd have to be careful with utensils and suchlike by themselves, and asked me to remind them when we actually came, which I thought sensible too. I did so, and they were very good - checked up on a couple of ingredients that they were unsure of, and my son had a lovely spaghetti bolognese with no ill effects. Note that he is tolerant of small amounts of baked dairy/egg, so if your child is more allergic, be extra careful.
It was lovely to be able to go out for a family meal together, and the staff really seemed to care about getting this right - thanks!
I have ordered a pizza on the phone,and didn't want to complicate things by getting true the whole menu.
Instead I relied on the staff recommendation plus anchovies , which are must for my pizzas.The pizza I was recommended was "spezziale" and special it was. Very ,very tasty and generous on the filling ,and large enough to be a happy customer.
I have eaten pizzas all over Italy ,and there are a lot of styles.
This one would be more like the northern Italian Tuscan style pizza ,and I loved it. Highly recommend the "Spezziale"
I love the pizza's and risotto and the steak is my husbands favourite. Prefer a table outside as it can get pretty hot inside. Still our favourite local restaurant!
I live locally and we visit Mamma Rosa often - have always found the food to be delicious and the only trouble we have ever had is being early enough to get a table as this is a small and busy restaurant. I have never ordered take-away so cant comment on how well the food travels, but dining in has always been a great experience, with friendly staff and a cosy atmosphere. My absolute favourite dish is the canneloni, it has never disappointed!
absolutely fantastic. risotto is a favourite both seafood and chicken! well recommended. only downfall is it is a small area... though this makes for a vibrant atmosphere.
Great menu and the specials sounded delicious also. The Caprioska pizza I had was delightful and all other meals were throughly enjoyed by the others at my table. Staff friendly and helpful, and restaurant warm and cosy on a rather unplesant Winters evening . We will be back for sure. PS Other tables were complimenting the chef on their meals too when they were leaving
AAA++++
Have only had takeaway from here, pizzas were always excellent and the lasagne was delicious, accepted credit card each time, haven't eaten in though..
Our first visit to restaurant, we went with 2 other couples one couple had been many times. This is a great restaurant with excellent food (outstanding food) many other people know this as well because it was full. Staff were friendly and efficient, food arrived in a timely manner, not rushed or too slow just right. Out of 10 we rate the food 9 and the service 8-9. Value for money 9 again. All in all a definite return visit is on the cards.
Absolutley my favourite restaurant so yummy lovely staff.. Best dishes are peperoni Pizza and Spagetti alla Mamma Rosa with chilli oh so yum!!!!!!
Friendly service and very nice food, served hot and well presented from a menu with all the familiar Italian dishes. Well organised and operated neighbourhood restaurant that runs smoothly when busy. Good one...keep it up!
Loved the food, It was just beautiful.. great service! But it sucks that they have no EFTPOS! Had to use the wine shop next door. Why no EFTPOS mama rosa - its very modern thing to have these days.. However your beautiful food wipes the grump of my face..
Delicious food! have been here a number of times now! cabonara is so good and the pizzas are really tasty good flavour! my partner is Greek and struggles to find good Greek food in Auckland, but he was very impressed! nice to have a combination of Italian and Greek food to choose from and the owners are really friendly! This is my favourite restaurant!
I have been eating there for nearly twenty years.
Very few restaurants are as consistently great.
Fantastic Italian food, great staff and wonderful atmosphere. Would recommend to all, as it's my favorite restaurant. The ravioli is the best I've ever had.
We've eaten here a couple of times now and it's fast becoming my favourite Italian Restaurant. Gorgeous food, great staff and very reasonable prices. A little cramped out the back when it's busy - but it's worth it!
great little place to eat, always happy with the food!cute settinga nd lovely staff
Excellent food and if you are a vegetarian strongly recommended. Try the vegetarian Pizza and lasagna.
Pizza baked on fresh dough and not on some stored bread base.
The place is Small, not flashy, the food is very delicious and very good for the price charged.
Service is with smile from very polite waiters.
Worth going
Best Italian in Auckland, and great staff. Would recommend booking first. Love the Calamari!!
Absolutely delicious food! Highly recommend all veal dishes and the desserts. Polite and attentive waiters. Will definitely go back, have already recommended to my friends. :)
Great restaurant. Varied menu. Pleasant staff. Highly recommended
This is nice small Italian restaurant, with moderate menu options.
We had the Gongozolo and Parma Pizzas. Both were good, but slightly lacking the authenticity (The oily nature of authentic Italian pizza)but taste wise good.
Will come for more.
Had a lovely dinner here with 2 friends. We shared a large Mamma Rosa pizza and 2 servings of Tiramisu. Both were delicious especially the dessert, it took a while to get through but it was so divine we couldn't leave any.
Been several times and always good. Highly recommend the lasagna.
Today we got the large margherita pizza takeaway, ate it by the beach watching the sunset. Delicious as always.
I think the "most Italian" place you will be able to find in East Auckland.
Very close to the beach, low-key simple (exactly how Italian suppose to be) honest good restaurant.
Portions are big, we all couldn't even finish our meals. Prices very reasonable for the location. Great wine.
Better to make a booking.
Best pizza in Auckland hands down. have been a patron for many many years and I always say Mama Rosa has the best!
Also a great place to take the missus on a date, it’s my go to for first date locations- especially when sitting outside in the warmer months it’s lovely
First couple of visits to Mamma Rosa, I've really enjoyed the warm atmosphere. The menu had great selections and food was delicious. Tiramisu was delightful (this is coming from someone who is not a usual fan of this dessert!)
It's a cosy small local eatery. The ventilation was not good in the main room. There was no window. The food was okay but the portion is kind of small. The service can be improved as well as the speed.
Lovely spot to eat.
Great Italian food, good atmosphere and friendly staff.
Will be going again
Ben Hocking (bmwhocking)
+5
Fantastic food, well paired wine & a very good dining experience with a relaxed atmosphere.
Definitely our favourite local restaurant :)
Got recommendations to go here for a birthday dinner. Booked early enough, sat outside. Saw many passing doggos, always a great view. Had the lasagna and garlic pizza bread, my goodness it was a big portion! It was great!!! So delicious.
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