What may seem like a tiny little family owned restaurant transforms into a Manhattan Beach hotspot in the midst of a Friday night downtown. Mama D’s Italian Kitchen seems almost like a magnet to families of all sizes looking to have an authentic Italian meal. At 6:30 PM on a Friday night, Mama D’s is stuffed to the brim with all its outside waiting seats also filled. But no need to worry, a ten minute wait is all that it takes to get promptly seated and greeted by a perky, friendly waiter. When walking into the compact restaurant, you are surrounded by many tightly fit tables adorned in picnic patterned tablecloths and a quote that reads “Home is where your story begins” creating a perfectly homey atmosphere. It takes a few moments to adjust to the loud, lingering conversations of the other guests in the restaurant, making it a difficult place to hold an intimate conversation.

Immediately after being seated, the table is served a basket of freshly baked garlic bread topped with specs of the essential parmesan cheese accompanied by an oil based dipping sauce filled with floating pieces of diced garlic. The sleek, green, leather bound menus present a large range of food from the traditional pastas and pizzas to eggplant, chicken and seafood dishes all with the classic Italian flavor. As I scanned through the menu, a few dishes in particular caught my eye: the eggplant parmesan and the homemade Mama D’s chicken ravioli. The eggplant parmesan is served on a searing hot plate and the eggplant itself is enclosed in a crunchy breaded crust while submerged in a pool of customary chunky marinara sauce topped off with a thick layer of slightly browned cheese. The contrast between the dense texture of the eggplant and the light crunch of the breaded outlining and tangy finish of the marinara sauce creates a perfect blending of flavors for that simple, yet unique taste that can satisfy any craving. On the other hand, an equally delectable dish, the homemade Mama D’s chicken ravioli, is served on a plate of six hand cut and folded pasta pockets plump with ground chicken and cheese atop the special, creamy Mama D’s pink sauce — a combination of alfredo and marinara to produce a one-of-a-kind taste.

Mama D’s Italian Kitchen projects the atmosphere of a small, family owned restaurant, but it can certainly satisfy a large appetite! With its zesty Italian cuisine, Mama D’s is perfect for an evening out with your family or friends followed by a brisk night walk on the beautiful Manhattan Beach pier.