Azani Ajimatanrareje

Excellent service-our server was so nice and helpful. Even let us try the pink sauce and wine to help us know what we wanted to order. What was even better was the food… had the pink meat sauce rigatoni and I haven’t had pasta that good since visiting Italy. Truly delicious! I would highly recommend but please know there can be a wait on weekends.

Brian McManus

Really amazing Italian food served with genuine hospitality. Our little one was offered a free bowl of spaghetti that came out immediately. I also really loved the atmosphere inside the restaurant. It has a diner style feel to it with incredible authentic Italian food. Our family had a really great experience at Mama D’s.

Robin Seaton

Mama D's was recommended to us by the hotel staff where we were staying, for great food, warm ambiance, and not too far from the beach. Everything he said was true. We fell in love with Mama D's warmth, welcome, food, and staff. Josh and the host were amazing! The restaurant is family owned and seems to be a local favorite. The decor is like sitting in mom's dining room, shelves with sentimental trinkets and paintings that elicit ideas of homey Italian homes, with crayon artwork from satisfied children spaced on the walls. Homey and warm. We had the special - tortellini with spinach, sun dried tomatoes, and gogonzola cream sauce. The special called for shrimp but we substituted Italian sausage. It was delicious! We also ordered an Italian salad. The meal came with homemade bread with olive oil and garlic dipping sauce. Again, something mama might do. The food came in a very timely manner. We were too full for dessert but received two hot, mini chocolate chip cookies each with the check. Like mama would do. The place was very clean, the staff welcoming and attentive but not intrusive. We'd definitely go there again and have already recommended it.

cassidy

Had a wonderful experience here. The restaurant is an incredibly warm and friendly atmosphere. Calista was so sweet and welcoming, while Cayden our server went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. Everyone who works here is incredibly kind and the service is excellent. It was my first time visiting the restaurant and I couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable dinner. The food is absolutely delicious! The fabled pink sauce certainly lives up to the hype, and the calamari and stuffed mushrooms were fresh and delicious. I can’t wait until I’m in Newport Beach again and can return to this incredible restaurant. I’d recommend this place to anyone looking for a top tier dining experience that’s equally delicious as it is heart warming.

J Lucas

First off it was amazingly delicious, like it makes Olive Garden seem like canned food. The service here is the best service I’ve ever seen at any business in my life. I wish I picked up our waiters name, he was a cool surfer dude with a modern mullet and mustache. One of our group dropped a fork with sauce on her white pants and less than 30 seconds later our waiter came with a fresh fork and bleach pen. The garlic bread was phenomenal , and the penne was amazing. If it wasn’t out of my state I would eat here every week.

Jaroslav Richters

Not over exaggerating, one of the best meals I have had in a while! Simple yet full of flavors and perfection! The atmosphere and service make you feel like you're visiting your grandma's and getting fed the best food out there. Definitely putting this on the top of my list of places to eat at when I am in the area!

Sulan A

Very homey and great Italian food good portion, the complimentary bread and the oil dip was a real pleaser! Parking is a little issue. We came before the crowd.

Sandy Stanfield

Calista was our server. Huge beautiful smile and very helpful and pleasant! Everyone that works here could easily be models in magazines….they’re gorgeous. We got sat immediately after walking in. We got super lucky bc there was a wait outside on a Sunday evening around 6:30pm. The Caprese salad and Gary’s Baked Ziti were fabulous! I’m often disappointed at Italian restaurants….bc I’m 94% Italian…and know good Italian food…..but this was the real deal. We ordered a Tiramisu to go back to our hotel and Calista made sure we had plastic utensils. This is an active, bustling and a somewhat loud restaurant…but there’s a reason for that….people are really enjoying themselves!! We’ll be back Sandy&Gary Rancho Mirage

+1

orlando casas

Max said it was good and it was! Great Service, awesome food and love the atmosphere! Worth the visit wait, would totally come back for Mama D’s Pink Meat Sauce!

+5

S Tam

We were greeted and sat quickly. Our server Noah was there to greet us, bring water, and hot bread. I love the menu for pastas where you pick your pasta, your sauce, and your protein. Makes it awesome to have exactly what you want. The house specialty pink sauce is outstanding! Noah brought a sample for us to try with the bread. We lived it. We had gnocchi with pink sauce and penne putanesca with pink sauce. Both were plentiful and perfectly cooked. We finished the meal with the house cookies and Tiramisu. Both were very tasty. Overall, service was fantastic, meals were delucious and atmosphere was bustling. We'll be back

+3

Maria Vicente

My partner and I went for an early dinner after a beach day and we absolutely loved it! Booker was our server and he went above and beyond with recommendations, and the service from everyone overall was fantastic. The food was delicious and I can confidently say this was the first place to offer me a to go cup for my refillable soda.

Ana Morales

We came from Vegas looking for a spot to eat and this one is by far the best restaurant we’ve tried. It’s a 10/10 in every sense. The atmosphere gave homes vibes. Our sever Thomas was extremely friendly and attentive. He made our time well worth it. The food tasted homemade! Both our pastas were rich and tasty. Even a simple spaghetti our kids had was delicious. We now have a reason to come back! Thank you for the experience! P.S. It comes with complimentary bread and cookies!

Rick Tully

Mama D’s Original Italian Restaurant in Newport Beach is a lively gem that blends authentic Italian flavors with a warm, vibrant atmosphere. The moment you step inside, you’re welcomed by funky decor, buzzing energy, and the mouthwatering aroma of freshly made pasta and sauces. It’s the kind of place that feels both homey and electric, a perfect setting for casual dinners, family gatherings, or celebrations with friends. The menu is packed with Italian classics, each dish crafted with care and served piping hot. Whether you’re diving into a hearty plate of fettuccine Alfredo, a rich lasagna, or their signature pink sauce pasta, the portions are incredibly generous, so make sure you bring your appetite. The food isn’t just filling; it’s satisfying in the way only comfort food made with love can be. What really sets Mama D’s apart, though, is the service. The staff is exceptionally friendly and attentive, treating every guest like family. If you’re celebrating a birthday, expect to be serenaded by the enthusiastic team and presented with a handwritten birthday card, a rare and personal touch that makes the experience unforgettable. Mama D’s is more than just a meal; it’s a joyful experience that keeps people coming back.

+15

Sarah Fries

Traveled to Irvine for a conference and this place popped up on the radar. It was a short drive from the hotel and parking was not terrible - there's a small lot behind and then street parking around the area. It was a Tuesday night and there were big parties waiting to be sat however our group only had 4 so we got a table right away! The server Abby was amazing and took the time to educate us on the menu and was incredibly engaging (the whole staff was like this - so cool)! The dining area has a cool vibe to it and the whole place was very clean. I ordered the Chicken Parm with Pink Sauce and it was AMAZING! 100% recommend this to anyone who appreciates a good parm. The Pink Sauce was yummy, a mix of Alfredo and marinara sauces. They brought out complimentary bread, oil, and garlic at the start of the meal and our check was accompanied by adorable homemade chocolate chip mini cookies. After dinner we found that we were only a minute or two from the pier and public beach so this place is in an awesome location if you are visiting the Newport beach area. Will for sure be back next time I'm nearby - the service and food were top notch!

+11

Tyler Jensen

This place is amazing. Wonderful staff, food was AMAZING. The bread they bring out was sooo good. They gave us free chocolate chip cookies afterward. Definitely one of our families favorites.

+2

Tim Kealamakia

Had the opportunity to go here on a Monday night. It seemed like a popular place. We arrived 10 minutes after they opened at 6pm. We were told that the wait was 35 minutes. While waiting, it was nice that they brought some bread samples outside and even a pasta sample. Where our experience turned a bit sour was when we checked on our placement in line right at about the 35 minute mark. The hostess was a bit rude and said we still had 4 groups ahead of us. We waited another 15 minutes and I sent another person of my party in to check. She was told it would be 15 more minutes. We obviously considered leaving at that point but then felt like we would just start over on another hour wait. It took 10 more minutes for them to seat us. I understand that things happen, but all in all it took nearly double the time to sit down and they weren't nice about it. Then as we sat down, there are messages that talk about how customers are so important to them. We didn't get that feeling at all. The service and the food was quick once we sat down, so kudos to them for that. The food was good. I'd recommend choosing your favorite pasta and get the original pink sauce. Don't do it spicy though, I personally think it's better without the spice. I don't recommend the cesar salad with chicken though. That was mediocre at best. atmosphere was fun. Not sure I'll go back again if I'm in the area against.

Matt Parks

Hoping to help others with expectation-setting before visiting this place. I’d heard people highly recommend Mama D’s, and regularly seen a crowd outside the front door. Needless to say, I was really excited when the day came where my partner and I could swing by for dinner. The staff was kind - no qualms there. But the food… particularly, the pizza, was probably my least preferred pizza in all of Orange County. Now… I’ll eat any pizza so I still made a dent, but when paying for pizza my takeaway was nearly any other pizza spot would be better. My partner took a slice and said it tastes like a frozen pizza, which I agree. All to say - they may have some great dishes but I’d like to make sure people have clear expectations… if you love good pizza, this is not your place. I’d recommend you go with a pasta dish.

I am so upset I ordered a Chicken Caesar salad, It ended up costing me $21 And this is what I got. That’s the same price as Some of their pastas, but for this portion? I’m blown away. I literally got robbed. The portion is so small and there’s barely even any lettuce in it. I wanted to get it so bad because online It great and waaayyyy bigger than what I got. This next photo is right after I mixed the dressing. Noticed the gaping hole in the center. I do love this place so it’s sad it happened.