If you're looking for a vibe that feels like a fancy Sunday dinner at a cool relative's house, Mama Carolla's is it. It's set in this old 1920s house, and the atmosphere is just so warm and cozy. First off, the bread. It comes out warm with this herb oil that's basically addictive--don't fill up on it, even though you'll want to. For the main, you have to get the Rosemary Chicken Lasagna. It's their 'thing' for a reason; it's super creamy and just different enough from a standard lasagna to feel special. The Chicken Parm is also huge and consistently good if you're a traditionalist. A quick heads-up: they are weird about reservations and mostly do walk-ins. If you go on a Friday or Saturday, just plan on grabbing a drink at the bar because you will be waiting. read more

Nothing in particular . Food was good but not exceptional. Waiter was attentive and adequate. Room was a little cold and noises with table of ladies next to us they also slowed things down by asking for 7 individual checks Mmmm P km read more

Food, service and ambiance is great. You feel like you you're in Italy! We were able to get a table right away.

Mama Corolla's really never misses The food is SO good every single time! Like the kind of place where everybody at the table is silent for the first few bites because it's that good lol. The pasta is amazing, the bread and sauce are chef's kiss, and the vibes are cozy and cute without trying too hard. It honestly feels like a hidden gem even though everybody knows about it. Perfect for date nights, girls dinners, birthdays, literally anything. One of my favorite restaurants in Indy for sure. I love the fried ravioli! And that chicken lasagna is to DIE for! You just go! read more

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Another excellent Italian restaurant in the Broad Ripple area! This restaurant is nestled in the neighborhood and within easy walking distance. My Orlando neighbor, Janie D., who has a house in the area I was staying at, recommended I try this place. (Her past recommendation for Fernando's is now a regular stop for me when I'm in town and this will definitely be another "Go To" for me after my visit here!) The restaurant is quaint and it feels like you walked into an authentic Italian family business. The inside is nicely decorated, and the outside back patio has ample space, with a tent and tower patio heaters when the weather is cool, like it was this evening. Excellent service always makes a 5-star restaurant and from the hostess stand to the servers, Mama Carolla's has it all! Our server was the incredible Chas who was entertaining and attentive even at the late hour we chose to dine. My friends ordered from the Steak portion of the menu (the Uncle Dino's 12oz New York Strip and the Cousin Mary's 8oz Filet), and both said their steaks were cooked exactly to their liking and were impressed with the entire meal. I ordered from the "Mama's Specialties" menu and selected the Rosemary Chicken Lasagna. IT WAS SO GOOD! This was the first time I tried chicken in a lasagna and I was blown away! It was layered with wild mushrooms, spinach, ricotta cheese, fresh mozzarella and flavored with spices. It was surrounded in a tomato butter sauce that was incredible. The portion was large and I had enough for lunch the next day. We ordered a nice Merlot that paired perfectly with the steaks and the lasagna. A 5-star delicious experience all the way around! read more

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As many decrepit hockey fans know - they don't ask how, they ask how many. It's about results. Mama is a crease gremlin. While it's not flashy, she lights the lamp and scores goals for fun. Unfortunately Miss Carolla isn't content with the Thomas Holmström build, as sound as that is. For that very pridefulness, she can't be 5 Stars. To be direct, this Italian spot kills at a few dishes (Ravoili, Artichoke Fritters, wine carafes, and Lasagna to name a few) but struggles to deliver on every offering. I'd be looking to see them shake the menu down to increase the "hit rate" across the board. As for the emotional experience, mm! There's a seating pocket for every occasion and this staff has chemistry to match. Oh, and shoutout having peppermints rather than butter mints. I won't have it any other way. read more

Im ashamed that it took me this long to finally give this place a try. Always heard great things, and they absolutely lived up to the hype. Everything we had was excellent. The bread was all fresh-baked, the pasta was perfectly cooked, and the dessert was exactly what we needed to cap it all off. In addition to the top-notch quality, the portion sizes were also a pleasant surprise. Away from the food, the service was also terrific. Despite how busy they were, we were seated quickly, and the food came out to the table much faster than we expected. Keith was our waiter that night, and he was a total pro. Overall, I can't say enough good things about our experience. We'll definitely be back. read more

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Went to celebrate a birthday, and the service, atmosphere and most importantly the food, was simply solid! Got on their waitlist as we approached and when we arrived, we got quickly seated. I've heard there's typically long lines, so maybe going mid week is the ideal time to go. We started off with fried ravioli and it was delicious, maybe a little more cheese would have been ideal, but it was still delicious. We got a ton of options and they all delivered. Angel hair with fettuccine Alfredo, Chicken Parmesan was a delicious option and the Chicken Rigatoni was slightly spicy and spot on! Overall, a solid five stars! Will definitely come again. read more

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The food was great and the service was better! They have a small menu that they nail perfectly! read more

Mama Carolla's - Chicken piccata - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Ambiance was intimate, dim lighting perfect for a night out. Service was great and our server was very charismatic! The pomegranate martini was my favorite :p the artichoke fritters were also delicious!! The chicken piccata was good, but i would definitely try something new next time. read more

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I have been meaning to try Mama Carolla's for a while now and let me set the stage. First off you need need a reservation. Not that you can't do walk ins but given how busy the place is, it's a long wait and definitely not worth your time. Second, the ambience needs a shout out - Mama Carolla's has won awards for its ambience and it's beautiful. Next the food, every single thing we ordered was so so so delicious. The artichoke fritters were so delicious and I couldn't stop at one. The pasta too good was definitely too good! It was a lot for me alone and I definitely recommend sharing unless you can fill up on just pasta. The dessert was Okayish and I don't see that taking over the fritters and the pasta. Service was very quick despite being so busy and we had a great time. A very festive atmosphere and it was definitely worth it! read more

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We arrive at around 4:50 on a Saturday evening and was quickly seated. The service during our visit was slower, but efficient. We had an appetizer, soup, entree, and dessert and was there approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. The overall feel was a relaxed atmosphere, but somewhat crowded, I ended up elbowing the person behind me a few times. The food was excellent and well portioned. The desserts were excellent! The lasagna was heavy on the mushrooms but very flavorful. The antipasti plate was good, but I would try something different next time. The wedding soup was flavorful as well. Not pictured was the Alfredo. It was a smaller portion than the lasagna, but it was more flavorful than most Alfredo that I have tried. This is a place I would definitely return when I wanted a change in atmosphere and good Italian food. For to Diet Cokes, an appetizer, 2 entrees, and 2 desert without tip was around $90 which I though was reasonable. read more

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I haven't been here in years and not sure why! I love the cozy, homey feel that Mama Carolla's offer. The seating is kind of tight but it makes you all nice and cozy. It was cutely decorated for the holiday season. Including our waitress dressed head to toe in Elf gear. My 4 year old niece loved that! There are no reservations accepted on Friday/Saturday. I joined the waitlist via Yelp and checked in when I arrived. We waited about 30ish minutes on a Friday night. Parking is available in the rear for $5 or you can park in whatever free spots you can find nearby. The food was delicious! We had fried ravioli for an app. I had the chicken lasagna and it was delicious. The portions are large. The service is great. read more

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Looking for Authentic Italian food, Mama Carolla's is a great place to go! It's a cute house made into a restaurant, makes you feel like you're truly eating a home cooked meal. Came with a group of 6, arrived right at 5:00, when they opened and the place was already filling up and on a wait. We waited maybe 10 minutes and got in, reservations highly recommended! Drinks were pretty good, my French 75 was a little on the sweet side but still tasty. All of our appetizers were amazing, just wish the cheese on the bruschetta was melted. My favorite appetizers were the Steamed Mussels, Portobello Mushroom and the Fried Calamari, all were filled with flavor. A few people got the special of the day which consisted of beef tips, mushrooms, Gorgonzola, and a red sauce. It was missing a little salt, but an easy fix and it was pretty good. I loved the Salmon Filet, which came with angel hair pasta and was covered in a creamy dill sauce. Only paid around $50 for a Drink, Appetizer, and entree, not bad at all! Overall a 4.5/5! read more

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Such a special Indy spot! The most charming Italian restaurant. I love to save it for warm weather because their garden is absolutely magical. Wouldn't guess it was right in the city, but the inside is also quaint and cozy so always a good time to go. Food is great! This is a wonderful date spot in Indianapolis. I had the chicken Parmesan and bruschetta to start and enjoyed both! read more

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Just came back to celebrate a birthday. And mama Carolla's never disappoints. I'm literally in love with their mussels! Can't wait to go back. read more

We came in for the devour Indy menu and it was quite a deal. It was for 2 and included a shrimp cocktail, salad for her soup for me, and a dinner entree each for only $45. I had chicken piccata and she had the ravioli. I liked the sauce on the ravioli, it went perfectly with our primitivo Zinfandel. I just love the attention to details in here that the excellent serving staff provides. Our waitress was awesome and the food was incredible. read more

Mama Carolla's - What? An empty table, not for long. Great place for Italian, nice outdoor seating too - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Great food and service. We often celebrate special occasions here. The staff is great as is the atmosphere.

From the moment you walk into this Indy favorite it's always a great experience. A group of four in a Tuesday night and of course it was packed. We were able to get seated in under 15 minutes and the service was amazing all night. Our bus boys and waiters did a great job. we started with several appetizers including the cheesy garlic bread and the mussels, both were excellent. All of our entrees were very delicious and served and cooked to perfection. I had the bone in pork chop and the sides and the meat were wonderful. read more

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Mama Carolla's has such a charming, old-world atmosphere. It's a very cozy spot that is perfect for date night or family dinner. We started with the stuffed mushrooms, which I thought was okay. There was crab meat in it, but I didn't realize it had crab until my husband told me. For entrées, the Misto Mare was fresh and light with a mix of seafood that was satisfying. The chicken parm was exactly what you'd hope for - crispy, cheesy, and topped with lots of sauce. Everything came out hot and well-prepared. Service was friendly and attentive, but was also slow. This was expected as it was packed! We went on a Sunday evening and arrived around 5:15 with already a 45 minute wait if you wanted to eat inside. I think it would be hard to bring very small kids because of how packed it was inside. We enjoyed the intimate setting. The pacing of the meal allowed us to relax and enjoy the evening though. While everything was delicious, some of the flavors leaned more toward classic comfort than truly standout. Still, the experience as a whole made for a lovely evening. read more

Mama Carolla's - Misto Mare - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The place is adorable. Food is amazing. People are wonderful. Went for a birthday dinner for a friend and as always, loved the atmosphere. This place is quaint and small. Tried four appetizers, yep, ordered four! We tried the Bruschetta, the Calamari, Melon Prosciutto and the fried Raviolis. I highly recommend the Melon Prosciutto. My least favorite was the fried Raviolis (which I wanted to love). Dinner, two had two different veal recipes, I had a pasta with a side of meatballs. Overall, the meal was amazing, just do not get the fried Raviolis, unfortunately. The veal meals were both the best by far, so think about that choice if you are looking at ideas to think out of the box. PROS: Parking- plentiful but you have to pay Wonderful atmosphere Outdoor seating is the way to go, wonderful, even when hot Drinks are great Prices are medium, so affordable for a wonderful night out CONS: Parking- plentiful but you have to pay Small atmosphere inside so it can be loud read more

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Food was Excellent . The service was helpful and on point. The ambiance was very cool. It was a great place to celbrate our Anniversary. I would go again. read more

Mama Carolla's is one of our absolute favorite Italian restaurants in Indianapolis! The atmosphere is warm, classic, and cozy--perfect for a special night out. We kicked things off with an Italian Margarita and a Vodka Gimlet, both refreshing and very reasonably priced at just $8. For appetizers, we couldn't resist the Fried Mozzarella--a perfectly crispy ball of cheesy goodness that disappeared in seconds. The house salad was light and flavorful, topped with their creamy Italian dressing. For entrées, I went with the Rosemary Chicken Lasagna, while my husband enjoyed the Manicotti. Both dishes were packed with incredible flavor and left us in full-on food coma mode (in the best way). I opted for a Cucumber Cooler as my second drink, and it ended up being my favorite--refreshing, crisp, and so light. We didn't have room for dessert this time, but I noticed several tempting options on the menu for next time. From drinks and food to the attentive service, it's a 10/10 experience every time. We usually save this spot for special occasions since Friday night reservations need to be made about two months in advance--but it's absolutely worth the wait. Hands down one of the best recommendations in the area! read more

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One of my favorite places in Central Indiana. Get the Rosemary Chicken Lasagna, trust me. read more

Mama Carolla's - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I have been wanting to go here for years, and this place did not disappoint. The atmosphere is like a beautiful mom and pop restaurant in Europe. The service was excellent, and the food is definitely some of the best I have had in Indianapolis. I will be coming back soon. read more

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We recently went to celebrate a friends birthday and she has spoken very highly of the restaurant, so we had high expectations. Our server was pleasant and attentive throughout the evening. We were seated in the screened in porch area; we requested indoor seating so just an FYI for anyone wanting to sit inside the house, you might need to further clarify which indoor seating you are wanting. We ordered the bruschetta which had smoked mozzarella cheese on top of it. The cheese was it's saving grace as it wasn't as flavorful as you would expect and lacked basil or balsamic. The "Holly's Artichoke Fritters" were a favorite for the table and if I returned, I would order them again. At the servers suggestion, I ordered the Rosemary Chicken Lasagna that came with a side salad. The salad was mainly wilted/brown iceberg lettuce and their house dressing was more oil than anything else. The lasagna was a decent lasagna with the sauce tasting like something straight from a Prego jar. We did not order dessert as we had a second destination for that.Overall, it's a pleasant restaurant with beautiful architecture and friendly service, but I wouldn't call it the best Italian around, nor were there any standout dishes that would draw me back for a second visit. read more

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Food was excellent.....the service was a little slow considering it was early and not so people in the restaurant.

We got there on a Saturday at 5:15 (they open at 5) and the wait was already over an hour long! It is a poppin place. The wait was great though. The outdoor waiting area was warm, even in the dead of winter, and I got a pineapple martini which was delightful. I loved the ambiance of the restaurant once we were seated, and all of food was awesome. Great date night spot. read more

We celebrated our wedding anniversary at Mama Carolla's this evening. We are lucky to have such a great Italian restaurant in Indy. We started the evening with the grilled shrimp appetizer stuffed with goat cheese served in a marinara sauce - that was a hit. I chose the veal parmesan served over a bed of pasta and my wife had the Mediterranean Pasta - rigatoni with chicken, sun dried tomato's, black olives, pine nuts, spinach and feta cheese in a garlic oil sauce. Both were extremely tasty with the portions large enough we had plenty to take home for tomorrow. We capped off the evening with a cannoli - a flaky pastry wrap filled with flavored ricotta, all in all it made fan enjoyable and memorable anniversary dinner. read more

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It's probably no surprise based on the other reviews how incredible this restaurant is. Amazing food (the fried ravioli omgggg), top notch service (literally everyone is so nice and attentive), and it's all housed in the coolest place. I love the little nooks where they put tables and the outdoor space is perfect for warm weather. Truly cannot go wrong here! read more

Atmosphere and service were exceptional!! It was a busy Saturday night and we did not have reservations. We waited 45-minutes and were able to have a cocktail in the waiting area. We started with the Brushetta for-4 .... HIGHLY recommend this starter!!! Two in our party had the Wedding Soup that came with their entree. They were happiest when dunking the crusty bread in the soup. High marks for that. My sister and I had House Salad... oy vey.... the house vinegarette!!! Two in our party had the Shrimp Scampi served with Angel Hair pasta. Delicious!! I had the Mediterranean Pasta with Rigatoni, Chicken, Calamata Olives, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Pine Nuts, and Feta cheese. This was a flavor bomb!! Loved it! My husband had the Pasta Too Good and was woefully disappointed. The pasta was over cooked, there were only 3-little shrimp, sauce was very soupy and, while described as "spicy".... was not. The chicken; however, was tasty. He will not be ordering that dish again, but, we would love to come back here!! read more

Mama Carolla's - Pasta Too Good. - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Food was ok but it was our 37th wedding anniversary, which we told the server. Not even a a "Congratulations" or "Happy anniversary," much less a dessert or anything. So disappointed. We will choose somewhere else next year. read more

Very nice place to eat and drink. The food is great and the restaurant is very friendly and nice too. Food is always just the way it should be and if not the employees will always be there to help with anything that needs to be done. read more

I tried this popular SoBro restaurant during Devour. There was a snafu during our wait to be seated, but they quickly corrected it once we made them aware. We were seated in the old house. The architecture is very Spanish with some Italian sprinkled in. For appetizers we tried the spicy meatballs and bruschetta. Both were good. My Pineapple Upside Down Cake cocktail was recommended by a table near us and did not disappoint. The main entree was creamy and flavorful. I parked next door at Good Morning Mamas. They are open 5:00pm - 9:30pm Tuesday- Saturday. Service was fast and friendly. There's a bar in the back in a heated patio. Extremely popular restaurant. Italian food done right. read more

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Food, service, ambiance.. yes, yes , and yes! All great! My husband and I had dinner here on Valentine's Day. Everything and everyone was wonderful. A truly special night. You won't be disappointed. read more

Mama Carolla's - Lobster Ravioli and Filet Mignon topped with crab meat - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

After living in Indy my entire life I finally made it to Mama Carrola's and WOW! The hype is real. We weren't able to make a reservation, but we were sat on the heated patio at 5:30 with no wait. Our server was very pleasant and informed us of the Devour menu which we took advantage of. All of the food was fresh and SO SO delicious. The decor and vibe there is amazing. Very homey. I can't wait to check out the rest of the rooms next time! read more

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There was a long wait due to the devour event, but it was well worth it, as the food itself was delicious. The calamari was of excellent freshness and flavor, and was a great appetizer. The salads were fairly good. The veil pasta was pretty good, but the lasagna my brother got was excellent, the beef lasagna. The canolie was delicious. The ambiance was fun, with it being fairly quiet and clean. The waiter was extremely efficient and nice. read more

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My BF said we needed a date night since he's working 12 hour shifts Monday-Sunday so no days off...we been cooking a lot lately so he said he'd buy if I fly lol. Figured we'd try something new where he had never been. I've been here once for my 35th birthday so it's been a while. I knew it was the perfect place for a date night. Parking is a little tricky but we managed to find one in the lot over luckily. The moment we walked in we were greeted with smiles and asked if we wanted to sit inside or out, I let him choose. Opted for indoor seating. As soon as we sat down we had someone bring us water then we were greeted by Amanda who was our server. Such a lovely woman with a beautiful smile and very sweet demeanor. She told us the special of the evening and the description of seafood had me right then and there. My BF ordered the chicken piccata. We both had the salad with balsamic vinaigrette but mine with mozzarella and his with Gorgonzola. The complimentary bread and oil was amazing. We ordered some wine. It was Amanda's suggestion yet I don't recall exactly what one. Either was it was light and delicious. Not too dry not too sweet it was just right. Dinner was amazing! My seafood penne was absolutely amazing. Crab, lobster, and scallops with a lobster cream sauce of some sort sure was delightful. The chicken piccata was also very tasty. The capers, the lemon sauce and a whole lot of garlic on the angel hair pasta was delicious. Just when I thought we were done, my BF ordered us the creme brulee. After all what's a date night without dessert? The blackberry compote on top complimented this delectable dessert. Perfect ending to an extraordinary evening. Definitely coming back and he said next week so guess next week it is! Amanda suggested the mussels appetizer and my BF said that is on the list for the next visit. read more

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Incredible food! Atmosphere inside is dated and dusty with loud crooner music, but the food is to die for. A patio table during the warmer months is perfection! read more

My dad took me to Mama Carolla's tonight for dinner while I'm visiting him from out of town, and boy was this place delicious. The allure of this place doesn't stop at the food. The inside is adorable and we were taken to one of the rooms up the stairs, giving it an even cooler vibe. For dinner, I had the Mediterranean chicken pasta which was light yet flavorful. My dad had the chicken parm which he adored. Both of us took half home as the portions were huge. The entire staff was so accommodating and I never once had an empty water glass. 10/10 recommend this place for dinner. Make sure you have reservations though as it was packed when it opened. I totally understand why read more

Mama Carolla's - Mediterranean Pasta Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana