My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate Valentine's Day and it was just perfect. As soon as I walked in, I fell in love with the setup. It was so cozy and romantic. They had a special Valentine's menu and I loved that they had heart-shaped bread. We started with the calamari as an appetizer. It was crispy and delicious. For our main entrees, I got the Cupid's Delight and my boyfriend went with the Veal Della Mama. Both dishes were amazing and we really enjoyed our meals. The food arrived pretty quickly which was great and the service was really good too. Our server checked in on us a few times to see how everything was which was nice. For dessert we couldn't resist the rocher. It was rich and chocolatey. Overall, we had a really lovely Valentine's dinner and I'd definitely come back here again. read more

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Great service and clean atmosphere. The food was delicious but portions were small. They stated they make their pasta in house. It is pricey for the amount of food you get. They did warm my heart with the basket of delicious warm bread. read more

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4.25 stars Solid option for Italian in Brooklyn Great for large groups, events and parties Well priced Best: calamari, clams, meatballs and appetizer platter. Loved the pasta dishes Would I go out of my way (Queens / city) not really but if your in the area I would definitely eat here read more

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Romantic upscale Italian without outrageous prices in Drykers section of Brooklyn. Fabulous beet salad, authentic pasta dishes with large shrimp. Would prefer a bit thicker red sauce but all very savory, generous portions and beautiful presentation. Service was 10 star! Cannoli was delish and lovely lemon cookies were complimentary! The entrance with large bar is so impressive and set the mood. The Christmas decor was lovely and tasteful and they take reservations for Christmas Eve or NYE. Perfect for after touring the fabulous neighborhood lights in Drykers. Don't miss it and come early! read more

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I made a reservation online through Yelp for 8 ppl, got a confirmation. My party shows up at the time and they did not honor our reservation . They said they don't look at online reservations and that I should've called. I even asked if they can seat us if we split up our party (they had several tables open) and they wouldn't even accommodate us. Terrible way to treat our large group - they didn't even ask us if we are willing to wait a little bit - made no efforts to fix their mistake. read more

Deep into Brooklyn is this family oriented Italian restaurant with a very strong menu. We split several apps. The calamari was well fried. The arancini was delicious. I got the chicken which came with green beans and rice and a side of pasta. It was simple. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here given all the great Italian places by me but if I lived closer to here, I would definitely consider coming when I crave home cooked Italian food. read more

Mamma Rao's - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The food was absolutely delicious. I got the weekly pasta special, which was steak with rigatoni in a creamy mushroom truffle sauce. It was one of the best pasta dishes I ever had. My wife got the grilled octopus and calamari salad and it was so good and flavorful and Very light but very fulfilling as well. Tasted very fresh. Our server was awesome and the owner was next to us with his family, they were very friendly and down to Earth. The restaurant had an old school, New York, Italian small neighborhood restaurant. read more

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I eat out a lot, there's tons of Italian places- tons in bay ridge tons in Astoria , tons in other areas. This place is the best of the best- some of the best meals I've ever had - place is really nice and clean - full bar the service and staff is amazing, they make their own pasta and it's not super expensive. Food is real good, like really good. Skip all the other hype places in bay ridge and come here. This is like one of the only good places left. Just ignore the other stupid reviews - some of these people are nuts like. Don't waste time don't waste money just come here. read more

Super food and FANTASTIC service! The waiters were all excellent. Highly recommend it!

Spectacular evening. Private party; food, service, music (dj) perfect, drinks were splendid and again, the food was top notch! Best party I've been to in a while and the location and all it provided, not withstanding the people and the reason for the celebration; makes me wish I've been going there for the last 40 years! Must go! Highly recommend! Will return as soon as possible. Five stars without hesitation! read more

The food was excellent--so well prepared, high quality ingredients and piping hot. Service was impeccable from start to finish, very attentive and knowledgeable about food allergies. The decor might seem a little dated for those who chase the latest interior design trends, but very well kept and fits in well with the neighborhood. My only peeve was being charged over $16 for a side of gluten free penne marinara. read more

Attended a holiday party here and it was better than I expected! The tables were set up with about 8-10 people per table. The venue was a little small so about 45 people occupancy with a tiny dance floor. There were about 2-3 servers who handled all the orders. When you arrive, they offered to check your coat. Service was not bad in the beginning when there were a few people but when more people started to trickle in, it got a slower. There was the typical bread and butter offerings. The champagne was absolutely delicious! It was so light and fruity. I'm not a big alcohol drinker but I loved the champagne. The appetizer was served a little delayed (but I think that's because they were waiting for more people to show up first). The first appetizer was mozzarella, tomato, and prosciutto. Next came rice balls (so delicious) and pizza bites (bread was fluffy and the basil topping was so good). They also served fried calamari and fried zucchini. They were both really good! Loved the calamari, it was light. For entrees, you had a few options. I ordered the veal and it was so disappointing. Worse thing on the menu, should've ordered the shrimp instead. The shrimp was light and pretty good. They ended the night with these light lemon cookies/cake. They also had a giant red velvet cake with the most absolutely delicious strawberries. Overall: it was a fun place for the party. Food was pretty good but dance floor too small. read more

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My family and I had an amazing lunch at Mama Rao's. The food was so delicious we are looking forward to going there again. From the zucchini blossom appetizer to the seafood pasta, each dish we tried was amazing. They also had a very good selection of wines. The service was also excellent. We highly recommend Mama Rao's. read more

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I recently came to this restaurant to celebrate a birthday party. They have a very nice party room here. The setup was excellent. It was very spacious. We started off the party having some drinks. The Espresso Martini was a big hit, as everyone seemed to order one. After a bit, lots of appetizers were coming around to try, and they were all great. For my main meal, I had penne with vodka sauce and chicken francese. I really enjoyed these food items. The sauce used on the penne was to die for. It was amazing. The chicken francese was so good, too. I loved the lemon sauce on it. And the chicken was cooked perfectly. Not dry at all. Everything was really tasty. Overall, this was a nice place, and I had a great time. Highly recommended. read more

Mamma Rao's - Penne Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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My boss held his company dinner here last night so it was my first time eating at Mama Rao's. Food and service was amazing along with a great atmosphere. The steak was perfect and linguine with red clam sauce was delicious! Definitely worth checking out! read more

You will leave here hungry don't give enough food Manhattan prices. Go anywhere but here plus they owner has bad attitude.

Mama Rao is one of the best Italian restaurants in Brooklyn. Great service, great food if you like lots of variety, they are one of the best. read more

The ambiance was nice the service was great the food was fantastic the clams and calamari was cooked perfectly the rigatoni was delicious, veal was tender, everything we ate was cooked perfectly and delicious. We had a great time. read more

We were visiting from out of state and came to Dyker Heights to see the neighborhood decorated for Christmas. I looked for a nearby restaurant with good reviews and found Mama Rao's. I cannot eat gluten and was pleasantly surprised they offered not only home made pasta but gf home made pasta too. I immediately called to see if we could reserve a table. I can't remember the gentleman's name when I called but I could hear him trying to figure out how to fit us in and he did. We got there 20 minutes early because my daughter had to use the bathroom. The place was full with patrons and no standing room which felt awkward for us but they were so friendly and accommodating. We didn't wait long before they sat us earlier than our reservation. The restaurant was really nice and cozy. The service was amazing and the food was unbelievably good. They were so sweet to bring out lemon cookies for us and then when we were leaving even gave us a box of them. I highly recommend this place and will definitely visit again. One of the best parts of our trip. I wish them good health and prosperity in the new year. read more

A few of my family members and kids went to see the lights in Dyker Heights and came to this restaurant after. We found it via a google search. The food and service were great! We started with meatballs for appetizer. For the main dishes, we ordered pollo bruschetta and shrimp oreganata. The best was when my husband asked if they could make a shrimp dish that was not in the menu. The waiter agreed without any hesitation. Everything was delicious and freshly made. Another added touch was that no one ordered dessert, but they brought over cookies for the table that were on the house. Highly recommend and would definitely return! read more

My colleagues and I went here for the first time for a holiday dinner. I mean everything was good, the appetizer's, entrees, desserts, drinks, coffee, bread, etc. I mean everything ! The menu was actually interesting! The service was great!! All servers and manager were completely respectful and professional. If you want to change something on a dish, no problem. Great customer service. This will be are new hot spot. Go and check it out. You will be happy that you did!!! read more

I have eaten in Mama Rao's prepandemic for Father's Day. Although it was a holiday I remember service being fast and friendly. I ordered for delivery today. They do not dissapoint I ordered the same pasta dish I had years ago for my primi piatti and it is true to taste. If you are vegetarian definately get Linguine alla Strega!!! Linguine with mushrooms, zucchini, shiitake mushrooms, and sun dried tomatoes in a'olio. To go orders come with complementary bread and they even gave me two of my favorite lemon cookies for dessert!! Mama Rao's is a must try ! read more

Mamma Rao's - Linguine Alla Strega - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Came here to celebrate my daughters birthday as per her request: If its not italian shes not happy lol. The penne ala Vodka was creamy, rich and hearty. The chicken parm was perfectly made with the right amount of crisp yet tenderness. The ratio for the sauce was also superb. My daughter ordered the chicken cutlet with Alfredo linguine and she LOVED it! It is a bit pricey but the food and experience was definitely worth it. Money well spent. Anytime we pass by the neighborhood she points and says " Look Mom, the Yummy restaurant" LOL The waiters were nothing short of amazing. We also got free desert on the house. Loved dining out at this restaurant and will be back here for another special occasion. read more

Mamma Rao's - Penne Alla Vodka and chicken parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Y'all let me tell how you need to run, not walk to this restaurant. First, let's give kudos to the wait staff. They were so very attentive. Now, let's move on to the food. It was scrumptious to say the least. From the appetizer to the entrees, every course took my pallet on an amazing food journey. Not everyone loves bets but you will in this sweet and savory salad. The fried Zucchini was crisp but not greasy. My friend has all the seafood and couldn't stop eating it. Not pictured is their salmon and it was cooked perfectly with a great seared skin and the right amount of pink in the middle. It was flaky and well seasoned. I will definitely be going back. read more

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We went to Mama Rao's for Valentine's Day, 2025! Restaurant was nicely decorated, wait staff were all attentive, nice and friendly- just what you'd expect at a local Italian restaurant. We enjoyed everything we ordered and weren't disappointed. It was all good and we appreciated having a nice, local restaurant nearby. Highly recommend!!! You won't be disappointed!! read more

Smaller space on one, supposedly a large space on the other side for parties, this location is perfect for those who want a big hoopla of food on a budget and visiting from across the river. We weren't there for too long but glad we were not being rushed with the check when we were shooting the breeze. Staff didn't mind we all didn't order a boozy drink for lunch, and no shaming for those who did. read more

Delicious Italian cuisine! My favorite was La Grigliata (octopus and calamari arugula salad) so fresh and so addicting! Also, end your meal with their lemon drop cookie read more

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I've heard great things about this spot but the overall service and experience was mediocre. I'd recommend the Linguine alla Strega for the vegans. The highlight of the night was their crab cakes, it was amazing and I'd highly recommend it to everyone. The most disappointing was their baby lamb chops. I understand baby means small, but they were so thin I thought I ordered lamb chips. I'd probably have to stop by again and try other menu items on a more lively night. read more

Came to to celebrate my mom's 80 th birthday party. Leo and the team were very accommodated from decoration to the cake. Food is great ; service is excellent; they even let us play Chinese music throughout the party!!! read more

Ordered takeout from here and was less than impressed. Very small portions. Mini Meatballs: 5 small meatballs with mozzarella cheese in middle. This was probably the highlight of the order. Scalopini Dello Chef: The veal was sliced extremely thin and it was tough..lots of peppers. Served with a scoop of mashed potatoes & lots of green beans. I did not enjoy it. Gnocchi Posillipo: Not much Gnocchi. My granddaughter was finished in a few minutes & wanted more. Paid $85 (food total) and was very disappointed. On a side note, where do you get off charging $22 for Kids Chicken Tenders!!?!? I was going to order them for my grandson but good thing I looked at the price before I finalized my order!! read more

Restaurant has great food reasonably priced, a varied menu, wonderful service, pleasant ambience and outstanding bread! A neighborhood jewel! Highly recommend. read more

Outstanding deli and great to go pasta and sauce options. Wonderful owners - excellent sandwiches / selection and lots to choose from in the glass case read more

Found this quaint restaurant in a Chinese area of Brooklyn NY. Little did I know how wonderful and really good food I, we , got. On top of they make the Rao's sauce that we have used for years. What a great find read more

Was visiting the old neighborhood and popped for dinner with some old friends. We were a party of six and they seated us right despite no reservations. The staff were courteous, friendly and attentive and the food and drinks were amazing. Would highly recommend and go again next time I'm in town. read more

The service was only outdone by the food - that was delicious. They also give you a healthy glass of wine which I found very enjoyable.

Thank you Yelpers, based on your reviews I took my mom out for dinner at Mama Rao. We had two amazing pasta dishes. The linguini with clams was delicious mixed with whole & chopped fresh clams. I had the most amazing pasta dish EVER it is called Pasta Strega. It's thin spaghetti with asparagus,shiitake mushrooms,sun dried tomato,zucchini in a light garlic & oil sauce. Oh my goodness we ate the entire dishes. They make their own bread as well. I will definitely be back. The staff & waiters we're very nice and on top of their game. Thank you for a delicious meal! read more

Mamma Rao's - Perfect Pasta La Strega. Best pasta dish ever! - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Needed to pass the time during lunch while my car was being repaired in Dyker Heights and decided to roll the Yelp dice. I'm glad I did, as the food here is exceptional. I ordered the Scallopine Dello Chef, which was tender Veal over spinach, roasted red pepper, coated with mozzarella in a white wine reduction. It was a satisfying blend of flavors perfectly complemented by sides of buttery string beans and a lightly fried mashed potato roll. For dessert, I ordered tiramisu and a shot of espresso. Both were perfect. The tiramisu is light and airy, but I prefer it ok the heavier saturated end - just my preference. The lemon cookie was a nice free send off, and was very light a day delicious. The service was prompt and courteous. I will definitely be back. read more

Mamma Rao's - Scallopine Della Chef - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. A family favorite for years. Besides being very professional and personable, their food is heavenly. The service is exceptional. We recently had my moms 100th birthday party at the restaurant. Leo took care of everything. He was fabulous and super-easy to work with. He made the entire party process extremely easy, even had no problem with our extra decorations. The party menu was incredible, all sit-down, and great choices. The food and cake were dreamy. The room was set up beautifully. And the service was above and beyond. Reasonably priced too! I will continue to go there, and wouldn't hesitate to have another party at this great place. Thanks Leo! read more

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Went here for a company dinner. When you first walk in they say do you want to take your coat. I refuse I rather have it on the chair. They ask what u want to drink. They brought the drink. My company order different kind of foods. All taste good. The service and staff are great. I would definitely come back here again. read more

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My daughter was turning 15 years old. We held our family event here. It was perfect!! The food was delicious. The space was appropriate for our party size. The service was OUTSTANDING! Tom was so mindful to our needs and was able to coordinate the event nicely. The staff was AMAZING! They were all so kind and attentive. I would definitely recommend this venue for dinner, and events! read more

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