Mamma Melina Ristorante

I'm not a food expert, but this place was great. I'm a traveling nurse that love local family own restaurants. Keep your chains(Outback, Applebees and etc.). This place was a great Seattle find. Be sure to save room for Tiramisu. Be sure to make reservations on weekends. And bring tip money for the pianist, he's so pleasurable. Have patience, it's a busy place. Order your wine and chill.

Posted 07/09/07

If you want to come here, especially Friday night or Saturday night, better to make a reservation. The line was long, but completely worth the wait. The place is crowded, but the food and services makes up for it. Authentic Italian food at an affordable price, can't beat that.

Pros: excellent food, service, and cheap wine.

Cons: A little crowded.

Posted 06/11/07

Very real authentic italian cusine. I loved the antique interior which made the whole atmosphere very sweet and romantic. Food was great I enjoyed it a lot. The service wasn't too friendly but pleseant enough. Definitely going back to try other dishes.

Pros: great italian food

Cons: set is antique that it kind of looks dirty

Posted 05/07/07

My husband and i are very active members of the University District social services for the homeless and have been dining at this restaurant for years.
We have always enjoyed the wonderful homemade pastas, seafood dishes and desserts, and most of all the atmospere and service.
The wine list is a definate bargain and even when we had a special bottle of wine that we wanted to bring in we have had no problems with the service, matter fact they served our wine in very nice" Nebbiolo" glasses, wich we ended up buying for our own home at cost from the owner.
A special thanks goes out to this guys for supporting the local problems by always donating their help.

Pros: food, wine list, service

Cons: reservations needed on weekends

Posted 04/16/07

I thought to give this restaurant a try based on the reviews i read. Sorry to say my entire family was very disappointed in everything from the food to service. The male host / waiter was very rude and made us feel that we had inconvenienced him by just coming into the restaurant. He was rude the entire evening then gave off an angry expression and rolled his eyes at us when he saw we left a 15% gratutity, as if he deserved any more than that. The pasta lacked sauce ... we were pretty much eating plain boiled noodles. The silverware was dirty and there was something green floating in my glass of water which was warm. Do yourself a favor and try another Italian restaurant, one that actually will appreciate your business!

Cons: Food quality, service

Posted 04/15/07

WE HAD A PARTY OF 6 AND MADE RESERVATION THE SAME DAY( FRIDAY NIGHT)
WE WERE SEATED RIGHT AWAY WHEN WE ARRIVED AND FROM START TO FINISH OUR MEAL WAS EXCELLENT.
THIS RESTAURANT MAY NOT BE THE BEST OUT THERE BUT THE SERVICE AND THE FOOD DEFINITELY WILL BRING US BACK.
WE ALSO ENJOYED THE LIVE MUSIC AND THE ROMANTIC SETTING,
AND THOUGHT THAT MAMMA MELINAS WINE LIST IS WAY UNDERPRICED SINCE WE HAD A BOTTLE OF GREAT WINE FOR $28, THE SAME WINE THAT WE HAD AT A DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT FOR $ 12 MORE JUST LAST WEEK.

Pros: GREAT VALUE ON WINES, EXCELLENT SERVICE

Posted 03/02/07

My first foray to Mamma Melina last year was a fabulous experience. The two subsequent visits -definite disappointment.
First the wait on a weekend evening is about 40 odd minutes. That is fine if the food that follows is worth the wait. The Bruschetta was soggy and utterly tasteless. The gnocci was undercooked and tasted pasty with lumps of cheese in the pink sauce. The manicotti was tough and thoroughly subpar. Store bought pasta shells filled with ricotta in Ragu/Classico sauce seems like heaven in comparison.

The only redeeming factors for this place are the impeccable service and live music. But thats not much of a consolation on an empty stomach.

Posted 02/05/07

My wife and I took two other couples there recently on a Friday night. Was glad I had a reservation, as people were waiting, but we were promptly seated. Wine was a good one at a good price, and most of the food seemed well put together and flavorful. The service was a little slow, but we weren't in any hurry and the place was PACKED. Only real negative was that the house pasta (side to many of the mains) tasted to all like it came from a can with "Chef Boy-ar-dee" on it. Plus, mine was cold, which I HATE.

We liked the place and had a good time, but it was loud (which was ok - we were, too!), and we weren't even near the piano. If you want an Italian place to have a good time with friends, this would be better than most. For a quieter dinner with food that is at least as good, for about the same price, we'll go to Assaggio.

Pros: Great atmosphere, good food, reasonable wine prices

Cons: Side pasta tastes like canned, parking

Posted 01/19/07

The wait was a bit long on a cold Saturday night (11/2006). We had reservations, yet still had to wait which was made more frustrating b/c there was an empty table sitting there for 20 minutes, the table was ready with settings and was just not being used for 20 minutes. Finally they realized the table was there, so they sat the people before us who did NOT have reservations. Perhaps they stress the walk-in element... After we were sat, the service was good. We shared the Caesar and it was good. I had that evenings veal special and the sauce was flavorful and altogether very good. My dinner companion's dish was also very good. If I eat Italian, I'll be coming here again...

Posted 01/02/07

It's easy to take a place like Mamma Melina's for granted. It has been around for years, on a corner many people pass by at least weekly if not daily. Seems as though it has been there for years and it has. But the bottomline is the food is authentic and made with love from scratch. Prices are competive with places like Olive Garden but of course the quality is so much higher here. Service is efficient and friendly, they actually do make you feel like you are a part of the family here. Here's to another few decades in this same ole spot.

Pros: Great homemade pastas, good house wines, fun ambience.

Cons: No parking at all.

Posted 01/01/07

as soon as you walk in you will notice the small cozy atmosphere at an instant. the service was great and the food was outstanding, not to mention the live singer who was outstanding. amazing! there's not one complaint .

Pros: food, service, atmosphere

Cons: not a thing

Posted 12/16/06

I've eaten at Mamma Melina a number of times and found it to be consistently excellent. The service is always good and the food delicious. Remember that Tuesdays is half price wine night, and you can trust their recommendations. The wines are reasonably priced to start with, so at half price there are some excellent bargains. Cross street is really 50th NE not 47th...

Pros: Excellent service, good food and wine

Posted 11/27/06

They just opened for lunch and we stopped by to get a bite. The food was very good and inexpansive. Plenty of steet meterd parking makes it easy to park

Pros: Good and cheap

Posted 11/13/06

What an enjoyable evening! We arrived a few minutes before our reservation..my husband did let them know he was starving. We were seated rather quickly and bread was brought. Just a few minutes later we were asked if we'd like to move to a table in the back. The table we were sitting at was in front of the piano. They wanted to seat us quickly (so not to starve) but moved us to a better table when one was available. That just doesn't happen at most restaurants. The atmosphere could be whatever you wanted, romantic, family, social. It just had that feel. The food was delicious. The portions are not gigantic (thank goodness), you certainly do not go away hungary! Too full for a dessert? Try the Lemoncello...mmmm. Well worth the drive.

Pros: Abience, food, service

Cons: parking is a little difficult

Posted 11/02/06

We made reservations, which you should definitely do, were seating right away. Service was excellent. Everyone is attentative, regardless of if they are your server or not. The food was AMAZING. I had the bruscetta and the scampi. Totally amazing. Inexpensive. I honestly could not have asked for a better place for my anniversary. It is a little noisy, but it feels like dinner in the city. Would totally recommend this place if you want the best Italian food.

Pros: Food and Service.

Posted 10/22/06

The food was good and not too expensive. The staff was very nice. It is a small place and quite crowded so if you are claustrophobic, I wouldn't recommend it. We had reservations but because other people stayed longer than expected, we weren't seated for 1/2 hour after our reservation time. That is why you should definitely make reservations. There were 5 of us and it is a good place for smaller groups, 6 or less. The piano player is a nice addition to the atmosphere. They even do birthday shout-outs and song dedications. Overall, fun and yummy!

Pros: Yummy Food, Staff

Cons: Crowded, Loud

Posted 10/13/06

we go here quite often, and have always had a fabulous meal. you really do feel you've been invited to someones home for dinner. the patriarch is singing with the piano player (an absolutely fabulous voice to boot), the matriarch is smiling and welcoming and when we've been there, leo is as gracious a host as i've ever come across. the calamari is pitch-perfect and the gnocchi so well-done my mouth is watering as i write this. the wine list is well priced and thoughtful. i'd say the place is too packed and brightly lit to fit my standards of romantic dining. then again, i'm always glad to see it so crowded because it bodes well that we'll hang onto this treasure.

Pros: food, the family, the music

Cons: no parking, of course.

Posted 10/11/06

Listen, in response to the second to last review from Diana, she is just a disgruntled former emplyee who worked there over a year ago. She was a very nice girl but just didn't have what Mamma Melina needed in a server. Some people just aren't cut out for it. In my opinion though, it's not a hard job. Most UW students, like myself, can handle it. I on the other hand love working there, along with all the other employees. The food is fantastic, and the prices on both food and wine are so cheap you won't find anything better in Seattle. The highest entree on the menu is only 16.95, and you can get a great bottle of wine for under 30 dollars. ($40 per person is rediculous) In response to the ambiance, Brian our piano player is not running a karaoke bar, he is a professional singer who takes requests and sing 90% italian opera. He is a huge draw to the restaurant. As for the small two top tables, if your server has ever put together a puzzle in kindergarten then they will have the skills to get two entree's, a bread basket and all the drinks you want on your table. It irritated me when I read the review and knew that it was just a lie to make her feel better. If you want to find out who's telling the truth, just come into Mamma Melina and see for yourself. You wont be dissapointed. My name's Jason, I'll see you there.

Pros: Service, ambiance, value

Posted 10/03/06

In response to the previous member:
We go to mamma Melinas all the times and their food and service is outstanding, we also go to the taste of india and cedars but they are totally in a different category.
We love the chicken dishes and the cannelloni at Mamma Melina
they also offer a great variety of desserts and they have a full bar.
Whenever we have a b.day or a special occasion Mamma Melinas has never dissappointed us.
We do enjoy the piano and it can get loud at times but hey it's part of what this restaurant offers and they dont even charge a cover!!

Pros: service, food, value

Posted 10/01/06

Me and my husband have been going to Mamma Melinas for years since we moved from Los Angeles and really enjoy the service and food at this family owned restaurant.
The pollo al marsala is always excellent and the ravioli special are always worth to try.
Also they have a very affordable wine list with wine specials monthly.
Lately they also have had a chocholate souffle on the dessert list that is to die for.
There are not too many restaurant in this city that can offer value and consitency at the same time, but Mamma Melinas has never dissappointed us.

Pros: Service, food, ambiance

Cons: none

Posted 09/23/06

While I mildly enjoyed my food there in the past and much appreciated the nights with live music, my last visit featured horribly bland food. Not too sure if that's a one-time thing, but there are other Italian restaurants in the area with much better food in my opinion.

Posted 09/21/06

I was trying to decide where to take my wife to dinner for our 5th anniversary on sept 14th and one of my colleagues suggested Mammas, so i decided to make reservation and bring some flowers ahead of time so they could have them on the table when we arrived, and that was when i started to understand why my friend and colleague suggested this restaurant. The host was very helpful to make our dinner a special one. When we arrived our table was ready and the flowers were arranged beautifully on it, the waitress ( Anna) was so professional and very attentive to our needs, and not too invasive.
the meal was great from start to finish and the owner served us a complimentary champagne cocktail served in 2 beautiful stemless glasses.
At the end of our night my wife and i were so impressed by our experience that we decided to take our whole family to this wonderful restaurant for an upcoming B.day.
thanks Mamma Melina for making our dinner one to never forget!!

Pros: Food, value, atmosphere

Cons: none

Posted 09/16/06

I used to go here ages ago--always came with the family and always had a great time. However, I ate out here a little while ago expecting the same fantastic food and treatment, and was sorely disappointed. The ambiance and service was still pretty nice although for a Wednesday night the place was practically empty and left me wanting more of the loud, crowded dining room experience I had had before. My date's three-cheese pasta bake tasted average--like something typical of Olive Garden fare while my proscuitto-stuffed chicken served aside lukewarm spring vegetables was about as appealing as a Hungry Man entree. I haven't given up completely and like to think that perhaps this was simply an off-night. However, if you are searching for a no-fail, truly excellent Italian dining experience I recommend you go elsewhere.

Pros: Fun location, friendly staff

Cons: Average food, overpriced

Posted 08/30/06

This is a great find! Exceptional service, the staff was very prompt and attentive, never felt like we needed to wait for anything. The restaurant filled up around 8pm and had a warm candle light feel. Wasnt a huge fan of the sauteed squid, but the pastas was perfectly cooked, sauces were rich in flavor. Fantastic desserts! Would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a casual dinner all about family and friends.

Pros: Service, Food, Ambiance

Cons: Parking

Posted 08/16/06

From the moment we arrived at Mamma Melina we felt the warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Dinner was superb and the service was flawless.
I ordered the wild mushroom ravioli special with the shaved ricotta and my wife had the salmon special which was perfectly prepared. To finish off the meal we took our waitress' suggestion and ordered a chocholate souffle special that knocked our socks off.
The atmosphere at Mamma Melina is very romantic and they have a funny piano player which also takes requests.
This place is definitely a # 1 on our list of places to go for a casual dinner or a special occasion.

Pros: Value, atmosphere, food

Cons: none

Posted 08/01/06

I rarely get excited about restaurants, Mamma Melina gets me going! The sautéed calamari is so good, healthy and unique. The variety of things that they put on the plate when you order seafood or meat dishes is amazing. Great drinks (I paid $6 for a very generous pour of absolute martini) that hasn't happened in a few years! Had a very good bottle of red for $25. Gotta love Mamma Melina!

Pros: Food, service, prices

Cons: can't find any

Posted 08/01/06

I must say i get very critical when it comes to Italian food due to my Italian background. When i first entered Mamma Melina i could tell already i was not going to be disappointed and i was proven right. The truly all Italian ownership shows a great deal of warmth and attention to customers need. The food is excellent and the pricing is very honest, the art on the wall brought me back to my recent vacation to Italy and the live music made my girlfriend melt. We found this restaurant to be very romantic and charming and the staff very knowledgeble. We started with a very tasty portobello mushroom appetizer, Than we had a superb chicken marsala and ziti with meatballs to die for. We had left a little room for "Mamma's Tiramisu" and we thought it was the best in town (please beware of imitations) That was the real deal!!! We were also surprised to find excellent wines at bargain prices.....Can't complain about that!!

Pros: Great place

Posted 08/01/06

What a great time at this place! Amazing food, great service and food, great prices....What else do you need? Start with the roasted eggplant and mozzarella app to be in immediate bliss.... The fresh fish was perfect and the balsamic cheese cake incredible. Thank you Mamma! (She was there last night)

Posted 07/31/06

After our third visit we must say that Mamma Melina rocks... It's a busy place and the singing and piano player can get a little loud but they have an amazing way to create a great atmosphere and provide great food and service. The wines are inexpensive and good. I had chicken marsala twice and can't stop thinking about it! All the dishes that we have tried so far are outstanding and fresh, it's that good!

Posted 07/31/06

i read the review here from city search so i decided to try this restaurant, since everyone said was good, so i went there with my bf, they have live music, sang by the owner, the service wasn't good, they never refill our drinks or asking us how was the food and the major thing was they used cheese power instead of fresh parmesan cheese for the final touch of the meal , it is kinda disappointed, and the food just okay, nothing really special, i mean it is fine if you want to just have a meal but if you have expectation about that restaurant you may find that disappointed.

Posted 07/25/06

It's surprising to me that my most memorable meals are always at Mamma Melina Ristorante. From the moment you walk in the restaurant, we could immediately feel the true Italian warmth! The menu never fails to please me. From delicious fish to savory pastas, Mamma Melina excells.

Their wine selection, too, astounds me. An amazingly affordable sampling of excellent wines awaits. The piano man, a candle light dinner..So romantic, classic and beautiful.

A top pick in Seattle!!!!

Posted 06/22/06

Our experience at Mamma Melina was perfect from start to finish, our server promptly approached us and explained all of the nights specials. We didn't even have to open our menus. Go for a date or a girls night out. You won't be disappointed!

Pros: Service, Cost, and of course the Food.

Cons: It gets loud

Posted 06/10/06

This is truly a Seattle gem! We have been to Mamma Melina many, many times and our experience has always been one of great food, superb service, warm hospitality, and a lively yet romantic atmosphere. While the menu is excellent, we usually go for the specials, just because we've had almost everything on the menu, and the specials are to die for. The wine list is thoughtful, and we've found some nice, not too expensive (especially for a restaurant) bottles of lovely Italian wine that you can't find at other Italian restaurants. We prefer to go later in the evening because it can get quite loud at the regular dinner hours on the weekends, but that can be part of the fun too. If you haven't been here, you are really missing out!

Pros: Food, Wine list, Service

Cons: Can be too loud

Posted 03/30/06

Very good Italian food and excellent service made us really happy at Mama Melina's. Great ambiance (candle light), live music and the waitstaff was very helpful. Food and wine is priced for a 'comfortable' and fun experience.

Pros: Great food, Great service, Good prices

Posted 03/17/06

Mamma Melina was great to us! The food was exceptional, the service so friendly and kind. I loved the fresh halibut with sundried tomatoes and chardonnay sauce. The great thing is that the pasta and the vegetables that they served with it were perfect as well. We had a very good bottle of wine for $28 (they feature over 150 wines starting below $20). Tiramisu for dessert was the best we have ever tried, definitely homemade.....

Pros: Yummy food, Great service, Atmosphere

Cons: Non found

Posted 03/14/06

Went with a group last night, and while we did like the ambiance and food, we were highly disappointed with the service. One of the members of our party has a nut allergy so that person can not have any nuts. She ordered a salad without pine nuts. Dinner arrived and the salad was covered with pine nuts. After it was cleared up, the salad returned an everything was fine, but at the bottom of the plate was a pine nut. Luckily there wasn't too much cross contamination but my problem is that the server took advantage of the situation and made liberities with a potentially fatal situation. An awful situation and one where I will be more than happy to share with other people.

Posted 03/13/06

We had a wonderful dinner at Mamma Melina! I can't belive that we have been in Seattle for ten years and we didn't know about this little great place in the U district. Excellent food and service, very friendly staff, fun and VERY social owner..... Try the homemade Ravioli, a real treat. Calamari 'sauteed style' was to die for. Excellent wine selection to go with your dinner......

Pros: excellent food, excellent food, excellent service

Posted 02/28/06

Great times at Mamma Melina! Excellent food, very good service, fun live piano and singing. Tables are very close to each other but that added to the fun for us. We were impressed with the flavors of our dishes, mama is cooking the good stuff!

Pros: cheap, great food, excellent service

Posted 02/20/06

After my third visit, I can say that Mamma Melina is the best Italian place in town! I had grilled scampi last night that was amazing! I really love the dimmed lighting and the candles all over the place. The service is always good and they have great wines on their list. They made a fan out of me.....!

Pros: Superb food, Service, Prices

Posted 01/24/06

Upon walking in the restaurant, we could immediately feel the true Italian warmth! The owner (we presumed) had a nice smile and showed us to our table. The food was excellent and so was everything else...... We wish that all experiences at restaurants could be this good, I guess that's the reason why they have been at that location for 16 years....

Pros: Excellent food, Warm atmosphere, Good price point

Posted 01/23/06

My husband and I had a great dinner at Mamma Melina. The food was exceptionally good, the service was very nice and the atmosphere perfect. Try the chicken marsala or the seafood linguine. A warm bread pudding was a great ending to our dinner (takes about 10 minutes to prepare). We were also impressed by the great wine prices.

Pros: food, service, atmosphere

Posted 01/22/06

Mamma Melina rocked our world last night! Fantastic food, incredible atmosphere and perfect service. The smoked salmon appetizer special was heavenly and my stuffed veal was the best that I ever had. Great wine list and excellent selection of pastas. What a great find this restaurant was, thank you Citysearch!

Pros: Great food, Good prices, FUN!!!!

Posted 01/21/06

I'm a Chef at a downtown Seattle restaurant and dined at mamma melina for the first time a few days ago. I have to admit that I was impressed how well this restaurant runs. Great execution on the food, superb service and very affordable. I moved from New York and I feel comfortable saying that mamma melina is up there with all the good old New York Italians! Keep up the good work guys, I will be back!

Pros: Excellent food, Excellent wines, Excellent service

Posted 01/21/06

This place was ok- pretty average, but not as great as would be suggested by all the reviews. The food was okay and the service was pleasant. So if you're in the area, it's fine to drop by, but I won't be seeking this place out anytime soon. This place would never be best "italian", or as highly rated, in a city that was more Italian food savvy.

Pros: near theatre, inexpensive wine

Cons: average food, nothing exciting

Posted 01/13/06

Many praises for Mamma Melina. Been driving by it for 10 years, finally tried it for the first time and loved it. Service is top notch! Food is above average (the veal marsala is excellent) and the ambience is GREAT! Live music on Sunday night, very fun and would recommend for romantic dates ... my wife and I will definately be back

Posted 01/07/06

We "found" Mama Melina's after a movie at the Seven Gables a few years ago. What a find. We've been back sevral times and the food is consistently above average , the service is always professional and timely and the prices are reasonable.
The "kicker" is added entertainment sometimes(weekends??) in the form a talented pianist and singer right in the dinig room area.
It always seems a little crowded, but that is part of the ambience.

Pros: Food, Sevice, Price

Cons: None

Posted 01/04/06

Great good, great wine, great atmosphere! We had a great time for their New Year's Eve dinner and look forward to eating there again.

Posted 12/31/05

Incredible food, great service and very affordable prices. Gret wine list as well. We started with a grilled portobello appetizer that was so good I wanted to have another one for dinner! I had a grilled prawns dinner that was served with a side of yummy pasta, roasted potatoes, zucchini and carrots. It was superb! My friend had the homemade ravioli special that was perfect as well. No room for dessert after that but we will return. It was crowded on a weekend night but that's part of the fun!

Pros: Food, service, wines

Posted 12/09/05

Great homemde raviolis for 12.95 (they make them every day by hand according to our server), superb chicken marsala, and fantastic calamari. A good bottle of chianti for $19 and we were in heaven..... The owners are first generation from southern Italy but the menu has items from all over the country. Very impressive job!

Pros: FOOD!!!!!!, Service, Atmosphere

Posted 11/28/05

Even after coming back from Italy I believe that Mamma Melina is the best Italian that I've ever had. It's amazing to find it in Seattle! Great meat and cheese cannelloni, lamb loin with barolo sauce that makes the 'Piemonte' region come to life..... What a treat!! Inexpensive and very good wines as well. Service is fast, good and friendly. My name is Anthony Franco and I'm a very happy costumer!

Pros: Great food, Great service, Fun place

Posted 11/28/05