Mama Mia 44SW has been a go-to Italian restaurant for me in Manhattan’s theater district for decades. I often recommend it to friends because not only does the restaurant allow larger parties than many NYC establishments, but the prices are more reasonable than many others in the neighborhood. Yet, the food is still excellent!
The restaurant, on the southwest corner of Ninth Avenue and West 44th Street (hence, the name), has been run by three generations of the Schiattarella family. Ninth Avenue is just west of Times Square.
On a recent birthday gathering there, they surprised me with a candle on my tiramisu dessert and wrote “Happy birthday” in chocolate on the plate. I had no idea they were going to do that, so I was very appreciative.
The menu includes dinner salads, pastas, classic Italian dishes, and pizza. So there’s something for everyone, including vegetarians. Chicken 44 is a special dish with sliced chicken, goat cheese, spinach, and mushrooms in garlic and oil sauce. My personal favorite is the dinner salad with chicken, goat cheese, apples, and walnuts. There are also specialty cocktails and a decent wine list.
At my most recent visit, I ordered the Chicken Francese with capers, mashed potatoes, carrots, and charred broccoli. It was absolutely delicious! I highly recommend ordering this.
The restaurant is relatively small, but the ambiance is both elegant and casual. It’s open for both lunch and dinner and has a $21.99 weekend brunch that’s an absolute steal in midtown Manhattan. That includes a Mimosa, Bellini, Champagne, Bloody Mary, or Screwdriver. The brunch menu includes bananas foster pancakes, frittatas, and eggs Benedict, as well as more lunch-type dishes.
Currently, dinner entrees range from the low to mid $20s with a few seafood dishes costing more than $30. You’ll also save a little if you pay in cash rather than by credit/debit card.
So many tourists fail to venture west of Eighth Avenue when they come to Times Square, but Ninth Avenue is where the best restaurants in the area can be found. And Mama Mia 44SW is one I highly recommend, especially pre-theater.
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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