Mama Knows Best: Introducing the All-Day Italian Dining Culture at Uptown Mall's Mamma Mia.

The best way to enjoy an authentic Italian meal is to do exactly what Italians do, enjoy it at your own leisurely pace and let time roll by without a care in the world, one tasty bite and satisfying course at a time. Now you can do exactly that and indulge in a hearty Italian meal too...at Mamma Mia.

Just think of it. Authentic and rustic Italian dishes paired with memorable drinking moments with friends from morning all the way to past midnight, it's the Italian way. And it's this uniquely Italian dining and drinking culture that one can experience at Mamma Mia, now open at BGC's Uptown Mall. The authentic home-style cuisine and the drinks, from an extensive selection of fine Italian wines to handcrafted cocktails, will make you want to stay just a little while longer...

Located at Uptown Mall in BGC, Mamma Mia offers diners authentic Italian cuisine down to the Italian vibe for a hearty dining experience. With Chef Salvatore de Vincentis (R) at the helm, you'll be speaking Italian after a few tasty dishes and a few cocktails at Mamma Mia. It's the perfect spot to enjoy an Italian meal without the hurried pace.

Inside Mamma Mia, the predominant earthy and wood tones are accentuated by marble and colorful tiles, just like a typical neighborhood Italian cafe with an Italian mom's touch. And it's the kind of place that encourages you to linger and stay and enjoy the Italian vibe. "We want our clients to not only to savor our well-loved Italian dishes, but also to experience the typical dining practice in Italy, in which eating and drinking can extend to very long hours," explained Giulius Iapino, president of Rigatoni Corporation, the company behind Mamma Mia. "Not your ordinary Italian restaurant, Mamma Mia welcomes diners to stay as long as they want while enjoying good food and drinks all day and all night," added Giulius Iapino. The inspiration behind Mamma Mia comes from his childhood travels to Italy, recalling fond memories of seeing patrons at their favorite restaurants for the entire day. "For breakfast, they would sip their espresso for hours, then for lunch, they would have fresh pasta, and then come nighttime, they would have drinks while listening to some music," shared Giulius Iapino. "That is something I have not seen yet in the country; the Italian restaurants here offer either food or drinks only. We want to introduce that kind of Italian dining culture to Filipinos; that kind of set up where you can stay, eat and drink for a long time and that is perfectly ok," added Giulius. 

Once you settle in at Mamma Mia, leave it to the staff to make you feel right at home. "Mamma Mia will take care of her customers just like a cool mom holding a spatula on one hand and a bottle of wine on the other, would, with a big hearty smile," promised Giulius. "She's the mom who is the life of the party, while providing good food and good company," added Giulius and you get the picture. Why not start with some cocktails? And why not. At Mamma Mia, you'll experience a warm and cozy vibe that gets even better with a few drinks. And just like your favorite film, The Godfather (L) is one cocktail you can't refuse, with its smooth blend of Amaretto di Saronno and Scotch Whisky garnished with an orange wedge. Craving for gin instead? Go for the Gin And It (R), with Vermouth Rosso and gin for that perfect tipple to get you in the groove. 

Other must-try cocktails at Mamma Mia include the Aperol Spritz (L), a light and refreshing concoction with Aperol, Prosecco and Seltzer. Or go for the seductive Sicilian Kiss (R) with its Southern Comfort and Amaretto di Saronno blend garnished with an orange slice. You'll want to take your time with the Sicilian Kiss...

Enjoy your meal the way the Italians do, with tasty appetizers. Start with Mamma Mia's refreshing Caprese (P 450) with fresh cuts of creamy mozarella di buffala and juicy tomato slices topped with basil leaves and drizzled with nutty olive oil. The deceptively simple dish is just packed with so much flavors, it's the perfect way to begin your dining experience at Mamma Mia. The richness of the cheese is tempered by the tart tomatoes, rounded out by the clean notes of the fresh basil and nutty olive oil. Just perfect. And your Italian mama at Mamma Mia won't have it any other way.

Remember to take your time, and savor each flavorful bite and refreshing sip. They say Rome wasn't built in a day, so why waste a hearty and satisfying Italian meal with haste. After a few more cocktails, order up the next tasty starter...

The Melon and Pumpkin Wrapped with Prosciutto al Forno (P 425) features deep-fried melon and pumpkin wrapped in prosciutto for that sweet and savory combo that just pairs so well with wine or cocktails. The sweetness of the melon and pumpkin are complemented by the sharp and salty hints of the prosciutto for another delicately balanced starter. The distinct and contrasting notes somehow come together releasing a burst of flavor with each bite. It's the kind of starter I imagine Don Fanucci would enjoy after collecting his protection money to "wet his beak" with some wine. 

And there's more. The Italian Bacon and Meatballs Bomb (P 375) is another tasty starter with flavorful meatballs wrapped in bacon with spicy marinara sauce and topped with ricotta cream cheese served with pickled red onions. If that alone doesn't already sound good, go ahead and have a bite...


The savory meatballs get a flavorful kick with the bacon for a double dose of meaty goodness. Have another glass of wine or another cocktail, and this dish is gone and done.

With a brick oven that's fired up all-day at Mamma Mia, you can expect some seriously good pizza. Like the Mortadella E Pistacchio (P 595), a mildly sweet, nutty and savory cheese-based pizza with mortadella, a soft luncheon meat-like Italian pork sausage drizzled with pistachio cream sauce and sprinkled with crushed pistachio for rich flavors. It's a unique blend of flavors that you can only find at Mamma Mia, and that rustic crust with the perfectly blistered charred layer makes this pizza stand out. The crust is also filled with mozzarella, so don't set it aside before giving it a bite. And you'll go for another. Mortadella and pistachio. And it works. Perfectly. This one's a personal favorite.

Time to order another round of cocktails and one more pizza...


The Crema Di Tartufo with Prosciutto Crudo (P 585) combines a nutty and indulgent truffle cream sauce for the base topped with egg and mozzarella and strips of prosciutto in another flavorful blend. 


Grab a slice and let the egg run, spreading evenly on the other slices for rich flavors. As you pick up a slice, strings of gooey mozzarella stretches high up, and you know this one is also packed with flavor. And use your hands. Don't worry, the Italian mama at Mamma Mia would definitely approve.

After pizza, why not have some pasta? At Mamma Mia, that's the way to go. The Spaghetti Alla Carbonara (P 365 Solo/P 1,350 Family) is prepared the classic Italian way, with fresh eggs and Parmesan, a dash of black pepper and crisp strips of Italian pancetta. Rich and creamy with just a whisper of salty notes from the Parmesan and pancetta, it's prepared, plated and presented just the way it should be without the frills. Pure, simple and honest, and satisfyingly filling, this one's another favorite at Mamma Mia.

But there's more to Mamma Mia than pasta and pizza. Mamma Mia offers a full range of menu items for lunch and dinner or anything in between, from antipasti to bar chow and savory mains...


...like the Porchetta (P 750), a classic Italian roast pork roulade served with creamy mashed potatoes and a side of salad. Tender and juicy pork capped with crisp crackling, order up another round of cocktails or wine. You'll be staying just a little while longer at Mamma Mia...


Perfectly roasted, the Porchetta is best enjoyed hot and fresh off the ovens. One crisp bite followed by another, and Mamma Mia gets another thumbs up with this dish.

Mamma Mia has so much more to offer, and a return visit is a plan worth implementing soon. And here's an even better deal. Mamma Mia is offering a 30% discount off your bill from November 22 to December 22, 2017 as their holiday treat guaranteed to make you stay just a little longer as you hang out with friends and family over a sumptuous Italian style meal.

But don't end your meal just yet without Mamma Mia's tempting desserts...

...or indulgent Homemade Gelato (P 120 Regular/P 200 Big). Mamma Mia opens at 11:00 am all the way to 1:00 am, but if you want to stay longer, and you will, operations will be extended as long as diners are still around. Stay for coffee. Or another cocktail. Or a bottle of wine. There's no need to rush. Not at Mamma Mia, now open at Uptown Mall...