Passing through Deshler one afternoon, my stomach reminded me that it was just past lunch right about the same time as my eyes spotted the Mama Roses sign on Main Street. Parking out front along the road, I entered the establishment and paused, not sure if I should seat myself, or wait. After a minute or two of uncomfortable waiting, the waitress who was helping the lone table of customers paused long enough to look up and ask me if I wanted carryout or to eat there. Once I indicated I was planning to dine in, she invited me to sit at the table of my choice. Soon after making myself at home at a booth along the wall, the waitress finished up with her other table and sauntered over to ask what I wanted to drink. When she returned with my Pepsi, I went ahead and ordered the pizza burger with chips.
The restaurant was decorated in what I affectionally refer to as 'small town diner,' with tasteful pictures and food-type signs on the walls. The dining room was structured with a row of booths running along both walls, with tables and chairs down the middle. One item of note was just how meticulously clean the restaurant was. I mean, most mom-and-pop restaurants tend to be pretty clean, but Mama Roses was *spotless*!
After a fairly short wait, my order was delivered to the table. While the pizza burger was piping hot, it was conspicuously missing the side of potato chips. When I asked the waitress about it, she looked puzzled, apologized, took my sandwich basket away ("hey, I wanted to eat that!" my gnawing stomach shouted), and immediately returned it with a double-handful of chips. Before walking away, she said they make the pizza sauce in house and told me to enjoy my meal. She was right, as the pizza burger had a great taste, with an especially delicious marinara sauce that was not overly salty, like what store-bought sauces tend to be like.
Returning later with my bill, the waitress asked if I wanted a refill on my Pepsi, which I appreciated. However, before bringing my check, I was a little disappointed that she never asked if I wanted to try one of the many pieces of pie described on various signs around the restaurant. Maybe she thought my butt was already big enough, and she was trying to spare me from further embarrassing myself from the COVID-19 that I have already put on? Regardless I gave her the benefit of the doubt and left a 30% tip.
PROS: very good food, reasonable prices, and a fastidiously clean dining room
CONS: This is a minor quibble, but the waitress was not as overflowingly friendly as one might have expected given the fact that she had just three patrons in the entire restaurant.
Overall I rate Mama Roses as being Very Good, and look forward to returning the next time I am in the area. read more