Mamma Zu's
Richmond, VA 23220-6242
Phone: (804) 788-4205
- Price:
- $$$
- Best of Citysearch:
- Italian Food 2006
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 5:30pm-11pm
Editorial Review for Mamma Zu's – by Carter Trumbo
The Scene
Those in the know line up around the building at 5pm. Once inside, the scuffed floors, chipped china and rickety tables don't deter diners. Real food lovers recognize each other as they stand and squint before the nightly "chalkboard menu." It all culminates in a close quarters melange of tastes, smells and textures.
The Food
The owner has put every dime into dinner, not decor. You can get three kinds of pasta with 10 different sauces, or move on to more authentic peasant fare: veal sweetbreads, calamari genovese, spaghetti caruso (a rich chicken liver sauce), oxtail stew, osso bucco, lamb shanks, short rib stew, veal heart, eggplant parmigiana and zuppa di pesce. Servings are huge, and it's fun to watch plates passed around for sharing. The boozy, espresso-soaked tiramisu is something to save for yourself.
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Insider Tips
The ServiceLegendary for being lax and inattentive. Some Southerners loudly declare "I'll nevah come back." Others consider it a trade-off. Be forewarned!
What to DrinkWine, beer, highballs
User Reviews for Mamma Zu's
04/09/2008 Posted by EdMaple
I can sympathize with the reviewers that had a bad experience with the service, but that has not been the case in any of my visits. The place is what it is. It's not TGI McTuesdaygans. It's not Chez FooFoo. It is a dive. It is loud. If you don't get seated in the first group, just forget it. That said, the food is excellent. I have had some of the best restaurant meals I've ever eaten there. Seafood and pasta are cooked properly, and the deserts are excellent. The best Tiramisu I've ever eaten! Try Edo's Squid as well for another unique dining experience.
Pros: Food, food, food.
Cons: It's too small.
01/28/2008 Posted by misterdub
The customer service is awful. Let me just get that out of the way right now. We were going with a large party (7 people) and called to make reservations. The fellow taking our reservation was curt (bordering on rude). The wait staff, while knowledgeable, was rushed and somewhat disinterested. Because of the time of day that we came and the size of our party, we were told we could only order "family style" meals and therefore could only order 4 dishes. They don't take credit cards except Amex, which was also a pain. We knew that going in but the wait staff didn't mention it until the end. Had we not known, that could've been really bad. All in all, the customer service made it feel as though we were catering to their needs. In a restaurant, I expect it to be the other way around. All that said, the food was fantastic. Almost worth putting up with the rest. I had some of the best Eggplant Parmesan there that I've ever had in my entire life. All the other dishes were excellent as well. The atmosphere was cool in my opinion. I see others have griped about it so be prepared: it's a dive. It looks run down outside and inside. Tips: Skip large parties here, it's a pain. Avoid the dinner rush, you'll never get a seat. Don't go there when you want to be pampered or when you're in a rush. This is a city dive and you'll be treated as such. I do recommend going though -- the food was outstanding.
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