La Mia Mamma’s concept is brilliant. Founder Peppe Corsaro missed his mother’s cooking so much that he decided to bring her over from Italy and start a restaurant business to cater to hungry Londoners. The idea is simple: Italian mothers and grandmothers from each of Italy’s 20 regions are brought to London for a three-month residency. During their stay, they present their authentic, regional recipes, and after their tenure, a new group of mammas from another region takes over.

Since the initial opening in Chelsea in 2018, numerous mammas have joined the venture, delighting their “belli di mamma” at locations on King’s Rd Chelsea, Hollywood Rd Chelsea, and Kensington Park Rd in Notting Hill. Each restaurant highlights a distinct region of Italy and its rich culinary heritage.

Mamma

Passers-by can see the mammas working their magic in the restaurant’s window kitchen and are invited to step inside for a proper Italian feast where the most important ingredients are savoured in each bite: mamma’s love and experience!

We booked a table at Hollywood Rd, which showcases the Lazio region, to celebrate our friend Silvia’s birthday. It’s a short walk from Earl’s Court station, 13 minutes precisely on Citymapper.

When I arrived, I was greeted with friendly faces and a lovely welcome. The decor was homely, and the restaurant was buzzing with beaming customers. Our table was downstairs, tucked in front of the kitchen where the magic happens. After some deliberation, we decided on the £35 per person meal deal, which includes a welcome Prosecco or soft drink, mamma’s starter board and bread basket, bottomless pasta, three daily changing desserts, and an optional espresso.

The daily mix of freshly made hot and cold delicacies, including meat, fish, cheeses, baked, and deep-fried goods, was a great teaser for our taste buds. Though I didn’t note every item we had, we eagerly devoured each delicious element in front of us.

For unlimited pasta, we had the Bigoli Cacio e Pepe, deliciously creamy with a kick of ground pepper. The Rigatoni Al Ragu’ Di Coda Ella Vaccinara, with its rich and succulent slow-cooked oxtail ragu, was another highlight. However, the table’s favourite was the Rigatoni All Zozzona; the saltiness from the pork brought out all the flavours perfectly. We met the current mamma, who was sweet and full of life. She even gave us a complimentary dish she had been cooking in the window – Pasta e Patate. This dish was the definition of comfort food and the best of the night. Since we were stuffed, they kindly boxed it up for us to take home.

After a breather, we were surprised by a joyous cheer from mamma and the staff, who sang and cheered with a tambourine while holding desserts with a sparkler candle. This surprised all of us, especially the birthday girl! The desserts were incredible: a thick and creamy strawberry cheesecake topped with sweet strawberries and cream, a fluffy and decadent tiramisu, and our favourite, a divine salted caramel panna cotta. Despite being very full, the silkiness of the panna cotta mesmerized us and left us wanting more.

They finished off by offering us coffee, which I declined, but others accepted. They then surprised us with a shot of limoncello, a lovely end to a rich and scrumptious evening. I believe Silvia had a wonderful birthday dinner.

I’m looking forward to our next La Mia Mamma’s visit! The staff and mamma were so attentive, and we felt warmly welcomed. The food was incredible, and I can’t wait to try more dishes from their menu!