R Lazaro
We’ve been visiting Mama Lena’s for almost 50 years. Unfortunately, for the past 30 years, it’s been less frequently, because we now live closer to Pa. Well, on Sunday since we were going to be attending an event in Carteret, I asked my wife… “Honey, are you in the mood for some great clams oreganata. Wanna hit Mama Lena’s?”.
I can’t speak for my wife, but I spent of the two hours at the comedy event, anticipating Mama Lena’s.
This place just never changes. When you enter, the pizzeria’s on the right and restaurant’s on the left. There’s plenty of tables. We were a little nervous because the parking lot was packed, but there was a party going on in back.
We got a great corner table in the front. The waiter was fast, but far from annoying. Btw, they don’t have a liquor license. Try their unsweetened ice tea, it’s fresh brewed, and exceptional. They always bring out a half loaf of their warm homemade Italian bread w/butter, and now they’ve added garlic knots. Before we even looked at the menus, we ordered the stuffed mushrooms and two orders of the clams oreganata. The waiter and the other wait staff were very attentive. Taking away used dishes, asking if we wanted drinks refilled, if we were ready to order entrées. You’ll never feel rushed. Every thing is timed perfectly because they’re paying attention. Eventually I ordered the Shrimp Scampi and my wife ordered the Stuffed Shells.
I asked for the Shrimp over ziti. It was perfect. The sauce was a light white wine/garlic combination. The garlic was sliced and pan seared to perfection.
My wife’s stuffed shells reminded me of the way we do our stuffed shells. First of all, they’re big, and they give you four. They also place a layer of mozzarella on top and put the entire plate under the flame. But their sauce, their sauce is the key. If know sauce, you know this sauce has one secret ingredient… it’s LOVE. A lot of effort goes into their sauce, you can just tell by the deep rich red color.
Now I want the leftover stuffed mushrooms for breakfast.
ps: I forgot to mention that they also bring out a wonderful side salad with their own house dressing. I’m posting a picture.
… moreJake Aretz
Great food. Everything was fresh..bread was absolutely fantastic..funny how some places impress you with the small details. Cheers.
… moreMichael DellaValle
Through the years aways passed by on way home to Staten Island , glad we stopped in and tried it finally. It was delicious! The atmosphere was perfect , cosy and comfortable. Appetizer hot antipasto good for three adults and very tasty, fresh and flavorful. The entree’s were a nice size , served hot . With each fork full we had smiles bite by bite. Looking forward to returning and trying more on the menu , or even just coming in trying a cheese pizza to go . The pizza smelt amazing on the way out . Great night
… moresarah contessa
My husband and I finally stopped by Mama Lena’s after passing it for years—and we’re so glad we did! We brought a bottle of wine and were warmly greeted right away. The service was excellent, and the food was delicious with generous portion sizes. We’ll definitely be back! The only small suggestion would be to play some music instead of a regular radio station, but overall, it was a wonderful dining experience. Can’t wait to return!
… moreManneezzy
We decided to order catering for the superbowl from here and it was a huge mistake. They charged us $170 (absolutely unjustified) for a tray of wings, penne vodka, and chicken francese (which they cant even spell correctly on their menu). The wings were by far the cheapest i hae ever come across, literally no meat on the bones and just covered in a crispy batter. The penne vodka was bland as well as the chicken francese, completely tasteless from what I’m used to and I am 100% Sicilian. Don’t waste your time or money on this establishment take your business elsewhere.
… moreFrank Liquori
Whenever I’m in the Edison area Mama Lena’s is a must stop place , love the variety of pizza that’s available & their meals are second to none . The service is always friendly & speedy . They also make great sandwiches both hot & cold .
… moreAfuah John
The eggplant rollitini is terrible. Before I even took a bite I noticed it had a sour smell to it. I couldn’t tell if that’s just the smell of the sauce or the food went bad. I took one bite and spit it out immediately, I almost threw up . I couldn’t even eat it and I was so sad because I really was craving eggplant and it looked SOO good, only for my food to be inedible. I’m lucky I also ordered a slice of the Cesar pizza which was good and ended up being my dinner for the night . Still very sadddened by my spoiled eggplant
*** UPDATE I called the restaurant and they were very apologetic about my eggplant so they invited me back to the restaurant to make me a different order. This time I had the chicken Parmesan and it was delicious. They were very nice and happy to rectify the situation.
… moreFernanda Jacome
I really like this place. Their food is delicious. I totally recommend checking it out sometime! The staff is friendly, attentive, I had such a wonderful experience there, and I totally recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal with great service.
… moreLynn Magennis
Have enjoyed a few of their meals and every one has been delicious. The restaurant is exceptionally clean. Large variety of different pizza.
… moreIris Mateo
It was my first time there. The staff is very friendly and very attentive. The service is on point, and the food is excellent. I had the Chicken Francese and it was delicious. The atmosphere is great. Very clean and very tranquil. I highly recommend this restaurant. We also visited the pizzeria side next door, and they were very nice and welcoming. I will definitely be going back. Definitely a 5 star for me!
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