Sunday, August 21, 2011

Mama D's, Hermosa: Good ole no-frills Italian food

There are quite a number of Italian restaurant in Hermosa Beach in the South Bay. One of my favorites is Zane (great ciopinno). There's also Bottle Inn and Fritto Misto. But the one that is close to my heart is the casual, no-frills, homey Mama D's. Located a block from the beach, this restaurant almost seems out of place in the area. It's does not have a beach vibe and is not at all collegiate. Mama D's also has a location in Manhattan Beach.


The menu is rather large, with the usual Italian staples. Many dishes are served with a side of pasta, and you can choose from a variety of pastas and sauces. They also have gluten free and wheat pasta options. Hey, every bit helps.

No fancy wine glasses here. They have no corkage Mon-Thur, and a modest $7 fee per bottle on weekends.

Their bread and garlic dipping sauce is to die for. Definitely plan on garlic breath afterwards. The waitress does a great drop of refilling the bread basket.

Seafood Lasagne was the special of the day. The dish is rich and very filling. It's a huge casserole of pasta, seafood and topped with their popular creamy pink vodka sauce. There's ample seafood including shrimp, clams, scallops and squid.

I opted for the Veal Marsala which was another giant portion. The thin veal cutlets were sauteed with fresh mushrooms and marsala wine. The dish was served with veggies and a side of pasta, with the pink sauce of course. To make it a bit healthier, I opted for the wheat penne pasta.

Freshly baked cookies came with the bill, and they were really good cookies. Crunchy on the outside, and warm with gooey chocolate chips in the center.

Mama D's offers good ole comfort food, at affordable prices. You definitely won't leave hungry. They load you up with bread and occasional food samples, and their portions are large. My chicken marsala made for a great dinner the next day. The service was also warm and attentive. This is the type of place that makes me want to go back and support the business. Truly a gem in the middle of a partying beach town.

Hits: prices, service, complimentary bread & cookies
Misses: you'll be painfully full
Rating: ***1/2

Mama D's
1031 Hermosa Ave
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(310) 379-6262
www.mamadsrestaurant.com

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