Mamma Mia: a great pizza experience

Located at the Old Town Mall in Lilongwe, Mamma Mia has been described as a great place to stop for a meal before or after shopping at the mall, but worth a trip just for the restaurant.

Run by an Italian expat family, Mama Mia’s is a real Italian restaurant renowned for its pastas, fish and seafood.

Its cosy interior allows for a relaxing and personalized ambience.

There is also a shaded terrace where you can dine ‘Al Fresco’ whilst the friendly and attentive staff, serve you up the very best in Italian delights.

Esteemed for its great Mediterranean vibes, Mama Mia’s is a Lilongwe hotspot not to be missed. Although the prices are high, the portion sizes and quality of the food make up for it.

Weary travelers who have stopped by the eatery and expressed their views on travel website Trip Advisor note that with its traditional Italian decor and old-world style, Mamma’s has a wide-ranging menu featuring antipasti, salads, panini and homemade pasta. The pizza bases are delicious.

“It’s a nice little Italian restaurant. A bit pricier than many places in Lilongwe, but not overly so. Food and service were both very good. I’d go back again,” notes one reviewer.

Another notes that the eatery has lovely mushroom cream soup, excellent pizzas. “We went there several times, but pizzas are the best.Friendly atmosphere, good and quick service. Recommended!”

Another traveler writes: “We had two meals here (it is closed on Mondays) and both were good if unspectacular. The pizzas are well made although the Tirolese comes with no sauce, a fact not mentioned on the menu, and the Pesto Gnocchi was a touch over-powered by the sauce. It is a pleasant and lively atmosphere and most dishes are less than K4 000.”

A US traveler also recommends the place, observing: “We had a leisurely lunch at Mamma Mia’s, clearly an ex-pat place to have a good meal amid quiet surroundings. My lunch of minestrone with a caprese salad would never be mistaken for the same thing in a North American or European restaurant, but it was tasty and had enough spicing to make it seem like it could be Italian. The outdoor seating is quiet and peaceful and the staff attentive. Trying to pay with a credit card was a frustrating exercise so plan to pay cash just in case. Pricing seemed a bit high for the amount of food provided, but was in line with other higher end restaurants we found.”