We like to visit ML's for an extended family dinner every time we're in town. Good food, & really good service. Many of the portion sizes are HUGE, and even though the bruchetta is really salty, we can't seem to get enough of it. The salad is nothing special, but there's a long list of dressings to choose from. The menu is pretty extensive, so plan to spend a few minutes trying to choose. If you're looking for something smaller and closer to $10, there's not much to choose from, but there's plenty around $20. Thanks to the Yelp check-in special, we tried the fried calamari appetizer, and we were amazed at how good it was. It was hot & crispy on the outside, but perfectly tender on the inside. Too often calamari is tough & chewy, but this was some of the best we've had. The fried (not breaded) spinach was a cool garnish too. Definitely sign up or whatever to get on the mailing list. My father had the mailed coupon for a free entree & desert, so even though we were rediculously stuffed (& had a lot of leftovers), we tried the brownie ala mode (ice cream 'sandwich'), and it was definitely worth it. I was so full it hurt, but I couldn't stop until it was gone. Going to plan on saving room for this on the next visit. Most recently, I've had: The bbq ribs: good, but chicago's got better. The rigatone & sausage: HUGE and tasty, with just a nice bit of spicy in the sausage. The chicken parmesian(?) with rotini: great, juicy chicken breast, but I might prefer a different red sauce. read more

Mama Luigi's Restaurant - The pic doesn't do it justice. The plate is big, the fork is big, the pasta is HUGE. - Italian Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

Passed by this place for years and have never thought if coming in! What a mistake! Awesome food, Awesome atmosphere, Awesome wait staff! Had the tortellini, it was awesome! read more

Mama Luigi's Restaurant - Tortellini! Super delicious! - Italian Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

Just returned from Mama Luigi's Mother's Day Buffet. Our reservations were for the first seating at noon. Parking was crazy amongst the mini lakes in the adjoining lot because I of course was not early. Chaotic but fun once we were inside some awesome people watching to be had while waiting for the white clad Hostess to seat us. Luckily we were not a huge party and were seated in the dining room a 100 feet walk from the buffet line that boasted a plethora of Star Wars clad men and boys. I like to go in with 2 plates so I can sample everything. My husband loved the Garlic knots and the chicken and peppers. My favs were the Portabella Ravioli which were light and flavorful, the Italian sausage, stuffed shells, tortellini Alfredo (I'm a big fan of filled pastas) but the show stopper in my eyes was the Sunday Pasta with pot roast sauce which was slow cooked and fork tender and the roast beef. There was prime rib but the Roast Beast was off the chain! Flavorful, medium rare and sliced perfectly. Tender and juicy I LOVED it. Yes we had to wait for 2 items to be replenished but they were so quick on the turnaround. I don't eat desert but the tables all around us did and were delighted with the cannoli and eclairs. There were foods for pickier eaters at the end of the buffet; Mac n cheese, chicken tenders which was a great placement. It would be lovely for someone to organize the chaos in the initial buffet line as it felt like the line at a church supper. Our server kept the water and beverages coming. Smiling and kind they treated all graciously. Now in its 70th year it's clear that Mama Luigi's is keeping it current to meet its Customers desires. read more

Absolutely the best food and service hands down. And the amount of food you get is enough for dinner at home the next day: Italian food does not get better, I'll never go to Olive Garden or Buca ever again. I even reserved a Table for nine for Monday for my daughters birthday. read more

This is probably one of my favorite restaurants. It's been a tradition to come here with my family for every holiday! The atmosphere is really intimate and aesthetically pleasing. The food is a hit or miss at times. Most menu items are doused in wine which can be a restriction for those who don't drink. They have amazing staff and service. I love the bruschetta and bread appetizers they start you off with. read more

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Food was excellent I was starving and forgot to get a picture of our meals. My husband had the ravioli and I had some sausage and potatoes mmmmmm mmmmm couldn't even finish it because I ate to much bread lol read more

Mama Luigi's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Bridgeview, Illinois

My husband & I dined here on a Wednesday night. We ordered a nice bottle of wine and 2 fish dinners- Tilapia & Walleye. We waited a VERY long time. There was a noisy obnoxious table of 4 next to us. The one woman had a loud mouth. They kept talking about the man's birthday. The one waitress Bella spent most of her time at their table. When our food came it was horribly salty. The fish was ruined by all the salt. My husband ate his( he was hungry cause of long wait) but I could not. Bella never came back to check on us because of the birthday table. Finally I caught her attention- also the potatoes we ordered(twice baked) were just regular baked. She informed us they did not have the ones we ordered! So she asked if I'd like another dish. I order a pasta dish. By the time it arrived my husband was done eating. I ate alone but this was obviously microwaved because middle was very hot. She offered us a free dessert to go. We paid and my husband gave a generous tip. After we walked away I heard the obnoxious women laughing to Bella about my " salty food" & she went along with them. I went back in and told them it was none of their business about the problem with my dinner. My husband probably gave a better tip than them! I told them I waited patiently while Bella tended to them as my dinner sat there. They told me WE'RE GOOD CUSTOMERS HERE THATS WHY" Ok so if you're not a regular you get horrible service? I told Bella we won't be back. Awful. I hope these " regulars" are good enough customers they don't need us or anyone else with their horrible food/ service. Don't waste your time on this place!! read more

We were there for a banquet on Saturday, January 7, 2018. The room was small as there was another party in the same room but had a small 6ft divider between our party and the other. At first we were led to believe that soft drinks were included in the price but when we go there, they weren't. We ordered two pitchers of pop from the bar to bring back to our table. The bartender said to us ... "You know they are $9 don't you?" We got it any ways, but I can buy a case and a half of Pepsi in cans for that price. Big turn off right there. Pop costs next to nothing especially when it comes out of the dispenser. The bread they served with the soup was a bit burned on the bottom but when you dunk it in soup, it was soft. Our chicken was under cooked and looked "red" on the inside. Also, on the plate of family style chicken, most pieces were dark meat too .... very little white meat. Beef was okay but a little tough. Hubby said sausage & peppers were good along with the mashed potatoes and mostocolli. The ice cream appeared to have been scooped earlier that day and placed back in the freezer. You can tell it had melted a little and then frozen again. Parking was hard to come by and in my opinion, a lack of handicapped parking spots as my dad had to park in the back and walk. We had to park in the parking lot behind the business next door. For a banquet hall, there is not enough parking. They claim to pay their servers a decent hourly wage so they don't add on gratuity. They charged $16.99 per person which isn't bad ........... BUT .... here is the clincher .... they charge $3.50 person for set up and clean up. I have NEVER been to a banquet hall that charged for set up and clean up. I am surprised they didn't expect us to wash the dishes. Very unhappy and would never go back for a banquet. Hopefully they can start adding the soft drinks in the price. Who heard of a banquet not including soft drinks? Go somewhere else. read more

I'll say it now and I'll say it one million more times. This is my FAVORITE restaurant ever! One, I'm a sucker for Italian food but good Italian food? Will get me absolutely hooked. Not only is the food amazing, the service is absolutely beyond expectations. My boyfriend and I went there tonight for our anniversary and Caitlyn R was extremely pleasant and she made us both feel like we were at home. Didn't catch the name of the bus girl but she was very sweet and attentive as well. I've been here multiple times and I've never had a problem with a single thing. I've enjoyed every experience I have ever had at this restaurant. The murals on the walls are very beautiful and gives you something to look at especially as and artist like myself. They had a live band playing tonight as well and they were very pleasant as well even though we couldn't see them. Absolute 100/10 I will forever come to Mama Luigi's and I cannot wait to accumulate points on my royalty card!!! Keep up the amazing service everybody this place is truly a gem. read more

Driving by this place many times and checking their menu online, I'd been trying to figure out if it was a serious Italian restaurant, or just one of the many places in the area that specialize in funeral luncheons and serving oversized plates of mediocre food to people who don't know any better. It may take a few more visits to know for sure, but after one lunch visit I'm cautiously optimistic. The minestrone was deeply flavorful and obviously house-made, with simmered rough-cut veggies. The cheese sticks, while commercial, were fine, and were delicious dipped in the chunky, garlic-laden, bruschetta-type tomato sauce they provide to every table. The baguette-style bread was oven-warmed and of good quality. Finally, my salmon Caesar salad was credible. The grilled salmon portion was perfectly cooked, moist and flavorful, and the ample portion of chopped romaine was tossed with what I'm fairly sure was bottled dressing, but at least it wasn't overdressed -- just a nice light coating. The decor features stuccoed walls, hand-painted murals of Italian landscapes, along with lots of really nice (authentically old, not reproduction) vintage Italian travel posters. Overall I was left with the impression of a place with a competent kitchen that's at least trying to do a decent job of being a solid Italian restaurant with a competent kitchen. I'll need to come back to try a pasta or veal dish to know for sure. read more

The manager is a joke. Bridgette told me "I don't care" when I called to inquire on why I didn't receive salads with my entrees as stated on their menu. Spent over $ 70 for 3 meals, not worth the sub-par food and being treated like an insignificant piece of shit by their employees. Would not recommend going here. And to the owners, you seriously might want to consider reaching out to Restaurant Impossible - you could use the help. read more

I ordered the chicken parmesan and fettuccine Alfredo. Chicken parmesan was unbelievably dry and salty. The fettuccine Alfredo was also dry and basically flavorless. It's been a while since I've been to this restaurant and probably will not return. I was extremely disappointed. read more

Bad food, bad service, and not clean. The restaurant had mice traps in parts of the dining area which tells me that they have mice.

Food was really delicious. I had Mama's Sunday Gravy, with salad and bread. Our server, Bella was awesome!!! They have a large gluten free menu so that's another positive for this restaurant. Can't wait to go back again. read more

Good food, Great service. First time visit will definitely return. The Chicken parm was very good, homemade rigatoni was good but a little to el dente for my liking. vodka sauce was tasty. The stuffed shells were good but it's more of a bechamel filling then traditional ricotta but enjoyed it. the bread they bring to the table is fantastic. Huge portions and priced reasonably. The tiramisu was spot on. The only item we didn't like was the chicken vesuvio kinda missed the mark. The flavor profile seems off not really sure what it was missing just had better elsewhere. last but not least the waitress was fantastic. says Isabella on the receipt she was Super. in a time where you don't seem to get good service nowadays she was attentive, and upbeat. felt like I was invited into her home for a meal. Give it a try !!! read more

I work in the area. I've had lunch here several times and the food is ALWAYS delicious. Looking at the venue's aesthetics, I thought it would be a cool place to host my friend's upcoming bridal shower. So glad I did. Jim, the owner met with me and booked the main dining area for my event. He was sooooo nice! You can tell when you are dealing with good people. I could tell he was a good guy. On the day of the event, the room was set up the way we discussed. It was perfect. I was so excited. Everyone loved the space. The bride to be was very pleased. The service and food was impeccable. Very pleased. Everything tasted great! Our wait staff was awesome! I love Julie and Mary Lou! Everyone raved about their service. I felt they went above and beyond. There was a guy there that I didn't remember his name but he even let us use his Bluetooth speaker to play music. All were very accommodating. Many in our party have decided that they will be back. A few people from my group plan on hosting events here in the future. I hope this review also drums up additional business for this place. I will be back. If I had to offer any "even better if" suggestions, I would only say the hallway needs a plug-in room freshener where you first walk in the door. Otherwise everything is nice and modern and clean! A few guests also said that it was hard to find in plain sight with all of the red blending in with the surrounding area. So be on the look out! Northbound it's on your left on Harlem. Southbound on Harlem, you'll see it on your right. read more

One of my friends is a truck driver, so he was parked across the street and we went over here for drinks and appetizers. It was okay. My friend had an appetizers involving clams, which he wasn't very impressed by. Of course, it's hard to find good seafood in the Midwest. I had portabella ravioli, which was quite tasty. Between the two of us, I'd say the food, overall, was "A-Okay." That said, although the food was ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ , our waitress was delightful. We were her last table, and she was very explicit that we shouldn't rush. She gave my friend a wine recommendation that he liked so much he had a second glass. She was prompt, kept our waters full, and quickly corrected a mistake with the check. They get an extra star just because she was delightful. Funny note: Tuesday is Psychic Night! Specifically, the psychic who works next door comes over and camps out in the bar for a few hours. We were there on a Monday, but I still thought it was cute. read more

Always have a great meal! Also stop over on Saturday nights when Connie and Spencer are performing!! Makes for a nice evening!!

Wow! Huge portions of the BEST local Italian in Chicago! Cool atmosphere for a casual to better dinner, prompt smiling service, and REALLY GOOD food in too large portions, seriously, order one dish to split! Thank you staff of Mama Luigi's! read more

Great small family restaurant they are mainly for events and catering which we have had there and went very well and priced great as well. They have a bar and lounge area as well. Would definitely go back ! read more

Yes please. The best bread basket and salad options to start an amazing meal. Family feast at its best.

I come here for the excellent food. I come here to be the joack strap of support for the Ed Hill Band. I come here to watch the cute bartender hustle his bustle from one end of the bar to the other. But when Mama Luigi sings, I forget everything!! Yah, baybee! read more

I recently wanted to entertain an out-of-town customer in a location where we could talk, have fun, and be in a family-owned/family-style environment. We ordered four appetizers and full meals. The service and food were great, and we also had fun. Thank you Mama Luigi's Restaurant for showing us a good time at reasonable prices! read more

I've eaten here many times over the years. My brother even had his wedding here. I'm a fan of the place in general. If you are under 60, you will be the youngest person in the joint, but service is great, food is solid, and portions are huge. This review is for the bar area. Every Single Friday - all day long - all drinks and appetizers are 1/2 price FOR THE LADIES. I never knew this. Stopped here with a friend after work for a drink. The bartender was awesome - and makes great martinis! She told us about the 1/2 price deal. I am amazed! Any drink - 1/2 price. Any appetizers - 1/2 price. Our bill for 2 appetizers and 5 martinis was $24. I plan on making this my after work Friday wind down place. Oh - and they have video poker machines - so you can get your gamble on!! The cosmo and french martini - - 2 thumbs up!!! read more

My wife suddenly passed away and I was in a rush, and not knowing where to have her after services dinner someone suggested Mama Luigis. The people at Mama Luigi's could not be more accommodating. The management / owners were so nice, the food was excellent, and we had one server, I believe her name was Marry Lou, who was expecting 20 people, but wound up serving over 30, but did not miss a beat. I would definitely suggest this for a great meal. P.S. The chicken Parmesan was the biggest hit but the lasagna was great too. o read more

Excellent choice for dinner....large portions and the food was very good. We were there on a Sunday and the music was excellent...listen to Ed Hill knock it out with his guitar playing....great place,great people and great music. read more

How could I have missed out on this restaurant's very unique take on Bruchetta for so long? This alone earned the other star back for this place. Unlike having a chunky consistency, their bruchetta is just a flavorful, but has a smooth and creamy texture to it. It is a bit hard to explain, but trust me when I say it is delicious. Fortunately, they sell it by the jar as well, so I was able to enjoy some a few days later as well. read more

Mama's is a no-frills Italian restaurant on South Harlem. Mama has been open since 1948, so that's saying something. I am guessing by looking at the crows that was there that Mama has a lot of repeat customers, old faithfuls. That's usually a good sign. For entree, I had the mixed meat & cheese raviolis. The marinara sauce was pretty darn good, but not the best I've had. The ravioli? Ok. Lots of times you can judge an Italian restaurant based on how their Minestrone Soup is. I hate to say it, but Mama's soup was average. The service was excellent. I think our server's name was Nick. I may go back, but there are other and better family-owned Italian restaurants closer to home. Sorry, Mama, the meal wasn't bad by any means, and I hate to cheat, but I may have to go to the neighbor girl's house for Italian next time. read more

Another decent meal at Mama's. Again, mostly older crowd all of which were probably part of their frequent diner program that provides them with monthly coupons ensuring their return. I had the veal with mushrooms and a lemon butter sauce and it was really good. It came with a side of pasta, which was delish since I love red sauce. Our waitress was awesome and I really felt like she enjoyed her job and wanted to be there. Refreshing. That bruchetta is still out of this world. Yummy! read more

Mama Luigi's has that authentic Italian cuisine that is rare to come by in the Chicagoland area. Has been a classic installment in the south suburbs for decades. Time-honored Italian recipes that go back 70+ years, make for a great dining experience. Staff is always friendly and efficient. read more

We have been going to Mama Luigi's at least twice a month over the last year. We had not been there in many years for a friend's wedding reception. For an Italian restaurant, we were extremely pleased with the Barbeque Ribs and the Prime Rib (served on the weekend). The main dining room is intimate and you can actually carry on a conversation. There is a bar area with tables, live entertainment on the weekends and the new legalizing video games for those who like a more lively experience. We do need to try more of the traditional dishes, but it is hard to deviate when you really end up with your "favorite" entree. read more

This restaurant is a great addition to the community. Although they've been there for many years I'm grateful they still are. The staff is awesome and friendly. The food is amazing. I look forward to many, many more years of going there!!! read more

Went this past Sunday April 1st for dinner and I decided to have the Prime Rib as it was the weekend special, my wife and daughter ordered the Cheese Ravoli and my son the Lasagna. I should have stuck with my gut and ordered pasta of some type as the prime rib although cooked perfectly was just bland and un inspired. The double baked potato was a 2 star at best. That being said the ravoli and the lasagna I tasted were very good and would come here again for that, but nothing that ventures outside Itallian cuisine. read more

I can't believe this was my first time here! Great restaurant! Even my picky husband LOVED the stuffed shells! I would come back just for the bread and bruschetta on the table. It was wonderful with the aroma of fresh basil and the smooth texture of the tomatoes. JUST DELICIOUS! Can't wait to come again and bring friends. read more

Great find in the Bridgeview area! Nice atmosphere, large tasty portions, fare prices and easy parking in the attached lot.

We are first timers and will be back every time we're in the area. I'm vegan and the pasta and marinara sauce was wonderful and a huge portion! The bread and bruschetta they brought out before the meal was delish. They also bring a bowl of butter and parmesan cheese, which my husband enjoyed. He had the lasagna and said it was the best he ever had and such a huge amount. He said it beats his ex wife's Italian family recipe hands down. The prices were very fair for what you got. I also had the minestrone soup which was good and my husband had the beef lentil which he loved. The service was 5 star and so was the food. Must return soon. read more

Mama Luigi's is, without a doubt, my favorite restaurant for real home cooked Italian food. When my mother and grandmother passed away, I really missed our Sunday dinners together. While no one will ever be able to duplicate their wonderful sauces and special pastas, Mama Luigi's has come closer than any other restaurant at which I have dined. So much so, that it has become my weekly stop for my traditional Sunday dinner, (although it doesn't always happen on a Sunday anymore!). The nice thing about their menu is that they also offer plenty of dishes for people who are less inclined to order Italian food. This makes it great for people like me who love Italian food to bring along anyone for dinner, knowing that they will be sure to find something on their menu that they will enjoy. Anyone who knows me also knows how important it is for me to feel welcome and at home in a restaurant. To say that the crew at Mama Luigi's has adopted me would be an understatement. They always make me feel right at home, and their servers are always excellent and friendly. The management is also very creative in offering special promotions, and their "Royalty Rewards Card" is a must have if you are a regular as it provides many wonderful coupons and extra offers. They are also well equipped to handle small parties right in their dining room, and they have a full service banquet hall for everything from larger birthday parties to weddings. I sincerely hope you have a chance to visit Mama Luigi's, and I hope that you enjoy it there as much as I do! read more

And I thought Mama Luigi was just a popular internet meme from an obscure early 90s Saturday morning kid cartoon. "That's Mama Luigi to you Mario." read more

This was my ideal Italian restaurant experience. My family of four ordered the fried appetizer plate which came with fried mushrooms, mozzarella, and zucchini. All three were delicious. The entrees also came with soup and both types were great. The entrees came and they were massive, I am a young male and I can normally eat a ton of food but i could barely handle mine. I ordered the chicken and shells combo which was great, my family also ordered the lasagna, chicken in olive oil, and a spicy penne pasta. All of these entrees were big enough to split and they were all delicious! I would recommend this restaurant to any family looking for a place to eat, it's not the fanciest of restaurants but it was delicious and massive portions which are my biggest two qualifications! read more

One of my favorite local haunts. The food and the atmosphere are both as good as it gets. I've been eating here for roughly half my life, and I intend to continue doing so. read more