I'm not sure what Clevelanders expect price-wise. To me, this place was bargain basement cheap (in terms of price). But a little above average in terms of quality and service. The dinning room had nice, Italian flare. And the servers were all responsive and helpful. The pizza was fantastic! Nice, NYC-style crust cooked to perfection. I really couldn't have asked for more out of a quick pizza stop. read more

See all

My wife and I eat here almost every time we come up to Cleveland. The lasagna is my favorite dish. We have always had good service. The parking, however, is quite limited. I noticed that several other reviewers wrote that the servers were rude. I didn't perceive them as rude, but rather as I'd expect in an old Italian restaurant started by a native Sicilian. To me, it adds to the restaurant's character. read more

Overall disappointing experience. This is a well established restaurant in Little Italy with many awards on the walls. We sat in a windowless room with gray paneling on the walls and stained ceilings. Lack of any ambiance or sense of history. Service was great and they were busy. We ordered the garlic toast, salad with cheese, large pizza and cavatelli with meatballs. Garlic toast was thin like toast, seemed stale and over buttered with a sprinkle of garlic. Salad was skimpy on the lettuce with a couple olives and a tomato slice with little cheese. Pizza came out first which they warn you about on the menu. That's fine. It looked good but was overall very bland. The cavatelli was a disappointingly small portion with watery and not well seasoned sauce. Noodles were properly cooked but served cold (which is weird because it came out so long after the pizza-again it said this on the menu but just not sure what was so special about this that it took that long) and the meatballs were more breading than meat. Disappointing experience. read more

Mama Santa's - Large pizza - Pizza Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

See all

Simple, delicious, fresh, and quick service! Order anything on the menu and I promise you won't be disappointed! My dad and sister get pizza every time and I always get their pasta. I love their marinara sauce! read more

The pizza was over cooked and not as good as I was told. Service was good. Ambiance was pleasant. read more

Homemade pasta was excellent. The house sauce was delicious. Portion size for the spaghetti & sausage was on the skimpy side. $2.50 for a can of pop is excessive. read more

My first visit here. Fabulous!! The service could not be better. My server was a young man (I'm old so anyone is young to me) tall thin guy. He was so nice and did such a good job. I had fettuccine Alfredo with mushrooms. It was so yummy and large portion size! The bread came first and it was baked fresh and I could have eaten the whole thing for my meal! Then I ordered a side of meatballs and sauce. Yum!! read more

See all

One of the worst pizza's I've ever eaten. Dominoes is actually better. Dough was a frozen crust brought in. Does not raise at all. Sauce and toppings had no flavor, cheese was very low quality. Should not be called an Italian restaurant at all. read more

Authentic, family owned and simple menu. Not pictured were the mozz sticks and a lettuce salad. One regret, not getting the cheese on the salad! We heard good things about the pizza so got one with plans on taking it home. Would order again. Next was the ravioli and the waitress recommended we do 1/2 cheese 1/2 meat which was perfect. My husband got the casa di spaghetti and we enjoyed the thicker noodle. Last, my mom got the "signature dish" of the cavatelli and that may have been been winner. Make sure to order under the handmade noodle section! read more

See all

Don't know how this place has been open for so long. Seems like the people in little Italy Cleveland don't know that pasta isn't supposed to be dry and flavorless. Homemade they call it. If what they meant by homemade is made at a home with no quality ingredients than yes it is homemade Would avoid this place if possible. Pizza is decent but would probably be better ordering from dominoes or any other fast food pizza chain. read more

Reasonably priced food but very average. When we left at 9 on a Saturday night they were cleaning up and the place was empty. Given bread plates but had to ask for bread after food was served. Veal was VERY thin without much taste. Waited until check was offered before I could ask for another beer. Food was ok but not special...Just OK read more

Mama Santa's - Veal Parmigiana - Pizza Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

The pizza is probably their best item tasty sauce and crust. My homemade pasta wasn't drained enough so there was too much water on the plate, the sauce was bland and meatballs were decent. The Alfredo had no flavor it tasted like just cream. Antipasto salad the dressing had too much red wine that was overpowering. The bathroom was so clean it was impressive. Overall hit it up for pizza but their entrees lack flavor so I'd skip them. read more

Very good food! Service was fine We all had a Parmesan dish and a salad. My chicken Parmesan was very good and a generous portion. I thought it was a great value as well. I had two large pieces of chicken and a side of penne. I liked the red sauce, which had an authentic tomato flavor. We started with some basic mozzarella sticks and each got a salad. The small antipasto was not impressive, though. I much prefer these nostalgic, old world Italian ristorantes to the trendy new places. It had real charm and character. Would definitely come back and try more. I was impressed with the menu read more

Great food and good service! I love their pizza so much that it is preventing me from trying other things. Their salad is very fresh and tasty too. read more

The best manicotti I've ever had in my life. I'm Italian and know true home made Italian. I've been coming here for years!! This is a true family owned restaurant. Service is exceptional, the Chianti is like velvet, the meatballs literally melt in your mouth, and you can't go wrong with anything you order here, especially the manicotti and pizza! read more

Very cozy Italian restaurant cranking out awesome simple Italian food. Service is always so nice, all the food is super hot so you know it is freshly made. Love the interior, it's so cozy and comfortable and has great vibes. The spaghetti and meatballs are so good, the homemade spaghetti was cooked perfectly al dente and picked up the sauce very well. The meatballs were well seasoned, well cooked and went great with the pasta and sauce. Also, their prices are really cheap for how much food they give you and how good it is. read more

Mama Santa's - Spaghetti and Meatballs - Pizza Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

So, for a Little Italy restaurant Mama Santa's is NOT what I would imagine. The place was pretty busy with lots of families and so we figured that this must be a hidden gem. We were led to a room that had no windows, no ambiance - just a bunch of tables with checkered tablecloths in a dark paneled room. The menu was pretty plain and the food was even plainer! We ordered an antipasto salad to split and the chicken piazzioli and the cavatelli and meatballs which the waitress said is their most popular menu item. All the dishes were super small and salty. We should have gone with a pizza but I noticed many saying the pizza was just mediocre so I thought we should try something else! I think pizza would've been the safest choice. Although the food and ambiance were sub par the wait staff was friendly and accommodating. But just not a place I'd try again! read more

See all

The pizza is very delicious. The smell alone brings to into the restaurant. You know the difference between a pizza shop and a pizzeria. The staff was very friendly. read more

Mama Santa's - Pizza Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Old school Italian at old school prices. If you go in knowing what to expect, Mama Santa's is a gem. Lasagna and garlic toast are a fav!

Our favorite restaurant in Little Italy! I feel like family when I am there. We love the pizzas and cavatelli with meatballs. We could eat the cavatelli every week. read more

The service was good. However, the fettuccine alfredo was the worst I've ever had. It was like noodles with cheese whiz.

This place is the most authentic I've been to (next to my nonna). Classic Sicilian cooking with a family feeling. I had the chicken parm with homemade fettuccine and it was excellent. Felt like I stepped into a Sicilian families home. Everyone was very friendly. Will definitely come back. read more

This is a charming old style Italian restaurant without many frills. The decor is very basic but the menu covers a lot of territory. The menu includes soups,salads,pasta, sandwiches, pizza, and desserts. The service is good and the food better. Chicken cacciatore is old style half a chicken, vegetables, and pasta. It was a big , tasty meal. The wine selection is pretty basic,but the pours are generous and it is what you'd get eating with the family. My companions enjoyed their meatballs and pasta. None of us had room for dessert, nor room for some of the famous pizza. The prices were very reasonable and will make another visit possible. read more

Decided to eat at this place in Little Italy with friends because we saw the long line to get in and decided to give it a try. We got a regular cheese pizza, one with sausages and mushrooms , and then a variety of different pastas. The flavors were authentic and the food was definitely old-school Sicilian style. Reasonably priced. Depsite the flavor, I wasn't too impressed with the presentation and amount of food on the plate. No garnishes, or any extra effort put into the presentation. Despite the good flavor, the overall look of the food wasn't the most enticing. read more

Not many places open on Monday night in Little Italy but thank goodness Mama Santa's was. Old school decor, I'm guessing it hasn't changed much since it opened in 1961. Simple menu, very reasonably priced. Had the homemade pasta with meatballs, and veal scallopini with spaghetti and pesto sauce. Note that "spaghetti do casa" is handmade but it is not shaped like normal spaghetti, rather more like a thick doughy fettuccine noodle. read more

Mama Santa's - Veal scallopini with spaghetti and pesto sauce - Pizza Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

See all

Ok this is some of the best Italian food I've ever had. Friendly staff , very nice interior classy let's say. I could taste the cheese and the noodles and the sauce great even flavors. read more

See all

I wrote the first review for this place, and in it I mentioned that I am often sitting in California. thinking about Mama Santas. Well, here I am again. I know that grandma makes the pasta, and I am here to beg everybody in the family to get her secrets. We need this exact same pasta de casa for the rest of time. Whatever magic she is putting in there, get the secrets, pass them down. I wish I was her granddaughter! Stay old school! Don't change! (Well, a window in the main dining room could be nice.) read more

Old school Sicilian restaurant in the heart of Little Italy! I stopped by with a friend with the hopes of getting a pizza and we were both satisfied by the quality as well as the price! Together we shared a medium size pizza with pepperoni and sausage as well as their mozzarella sticks appetizer for just $20! Not that bad at all! The only downside is parking kinda stinks, since it's Little Italy you're going to have to park a little bit away and walk, but at least you get to check out all the cool spots! I will also say, service wasn't that great, it wasn't bad, but our waiter did bring us our food before our drinks, which was a bit odd. I will say though, they were just one person serving many tables on a busy Friday night so I'll cut them some slack, but it would've been nice to see another waiter around so they weren't so pressured, definitely would help increase customer service! read more

Mama Santa's - Outside - Pizza Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Not impressed with this Italian restaurant at all. Nothing exceptional or wonderful here. The pizza was subpar the salad was subpar. I won't be going back. read more

Mama Santa's - Pizza Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

See all

Great, authentic , homemade Italian food. Pasta made on premises. Meatballs, tasty and light but hearty. The bread!!!!! Crusty outside fresh inside. Smack in the midst of the restaurant scene on the hill. This is a can't miss. Best pizza in town. Service is neighborhood friendly. Casual kitchen atmosphere. Pick your noodle and add some meatballs my friend. It doesn't get better than this. read more

Mama Santa's - Pizza Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Our server, Nancy, was friendly and very helpful. I can't say enough about their gluten-free pizza -one of the best crust that I've had. I will go back for other gluten-free options that they have as I do have celiac disease. My only comment to the restaurant is maybe add a few more pizza toppings? I'll still come back though. read more

really good simple no nonsense food. really love the homemade pasta! service is very very good. delicious and unpretentious. I love coming here! read more

Old school Italian food done right. I had the chicken Parmesan since I was pretty hungry and it was very good and came with a nice side of spaghetti. The staff is very friendly. This is a family run restaurant and they make you feel welcomed. They were pretty busy on a Monday at lunchtime. I would come back if I were in the area. read more

The pizza, service and the hospitality was really, really top notch here! From the owner and the other staff, we truly felt the welcoming family vibe here as soon as you stepped into the door to the time you left. In business over 60+ years says a lot. We enjoyed the fried zucchini, pizzas and the homemade pasta we took home to go. Everything was served fresh and hot. The sauce on the pizzas was perfect. Parking is available in the rear of this restaurant but we got here early enough and got a spot on the street. Highly recommended. read more

See all

I can't believe the positive reviews of this place. As if the bad service wasn't bad enough they double downed on the bad food. I was so excited to try this place coming from out of town. A couple friends recommended it for their pizza and "home made" pasta dishes. I couldn't have been more disappointed. Waited 35 mins with three hungry and bored kids for a sub par pizza. No apology from the horrible waitress and she was rude as soon as we were seated. Try another place for Italian food read more

The pizza is so so good. It's like the cheesy, oily goodness, almost like the pizza you ate when you were a little kid? Very nostalgic. The lasagna was a bit too meaty for my taste, not enough pasta. But still decent. The staff is SUPER friendly though. Very quick service. We came for an early dinner ~5:15PMand we were seated immediately. We left by 6:15 PM and there was a line out the door!!! So definitely be prepared for that because people obviously love the place. I'd definitely come back for the pizza. read more

Mama Santa's - Pizza Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

See all

Stopped by Mama Santa's with a large group on a Saturday afternoon. We tried several pasta dishes, but the standouts for me were the sausage pepperoncini pizza and the homemade mozzarella sticks. The ambiance is warm and inviting and the service was top notch. Highly recommend! read more

Mama Santa's - Mozzarella Sticks - Pizza Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

See all

My husband I ate here many times and got take out quite a bit while our daughter was inpatient at UH. It feels like family when you come here and everyone is so nice and friendly. The food is delicious and authentic. We've tried so much on the menu and have never ordered something we didn't love. My go to meals are the meatball sub (only $6.95!), the cavatelli (yumm sooo so good!), and the antipasto. My husband always orders the tripe and raves about it. They also have good selections for wine and beer and you can't beat the prices. This is a staple of little Italy and you haven't enjoyed all that little Italy has to offer until you walk through Mama Santa's doors. They also have some cool old photos hanging up from Sicily that are neat to see. Every time we are in the area, we stop in! read more

The gluten-free pizza was absolutely delicious! The crust was crispy in all the right places, and substantial enough without being too chewy. And the crust was also milk-free and had no corn flour; I struggle to find pizza that I can eat, let alone that actually tastes good. This was a big win for me! It's a casual, modest restaurant, a lot like some of the places I went regularly to in NY years ago, before I had to give up gluten and dairy. No fancy trappings, no pretentious fuss, just fresh ingredients, reasonable prices, and attentive servers. My friend enjoyed his ravioli, too. That didn't have to be gluten-free. read more

Homestyle Italian dishes served how your grandmother used to make them. Good sized portions at great prices in the heart of little Italy in Cleveland. Solid choice for family outings. read more