Mama Z&#x27;s Cafe

What an Awesome place w so much History. We used to come here and there would be lines out the…read moredoor. We started w their Awesome salad. So simple and so delicious. We had the special Fried Chicken and spaghetti w meat sauce. And don't forget the homemade rolls! Always a great experience here and the servers are great!!

A solid little restaurant. I've been told it's been around since the 50s! And had lots of history…read moreon the walls. The service was friendly and attentive. The food was alright, but I personally wouldn't be rushing back for it. The started salad and bread were both very tasty! I got the chicken raviolis - the raviolis were very large, stuffed good, but the dough was thicker and tougher than I prefer. The meat sauce was okay, but felt lacking some key flavors.

Make your own combo, spaghetti with meatball, lasagna & ravioli with meat sauce.

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Arkansas Restaurant hall of fame.....well deserved I might add!

Pastafina Italian Restaurant

4.4(384 reviews)

5.8 mi

Wonderful Italian food in a beautiful setting. The owner isn't new to the restaurant business in…read moreNWA but hasn't had a location for a while since selling his original building to others several years ago. He started with the Joe's Italian restaurant in Springdale on Hwy 412 which burned his next was on Wedington in Fayetteville. After he expanded in the area, he sold the business to others. They were unable to maintain his quality and have all closed. If you ever ate at any of the original restaurants you would remember the huge garlic rolls served hot to the table while you wait. Those are served here. They make going there worth the trip without having anything else. But, you're gonna want something else, believe me!!! The food speaks for itself. All servings are large and delicious. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful. This is a win-win experience.

Some friends treated me to a birthday dinner here. We sat outside, and they were busy as usual. Our…read moreserver was inexperienced, but he tried to make sure we had an enjoyable dinner. Food is quite good, starting with the rolls that I could not resist,,fluffy yeast rolls freshly baked. We had a chicken Marsala, piccata, and something else lemony. All were nice bright sauces and the portions were huge, meaning at least half went home with me and made a great leftover dinner the next night. Great dessert to celebrate the birthday! Probably the best Italian food in the area.

Chicken Parmesan

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Meomi and New York Sour

Isabella’s Italian

4.1(55 reviews)

7.1 mi

We had exceptional service and their food well exceeds their reputation. And don't even get me…read morestarted on the wine/ cocktails!

Food was all very good, the 16 layer lasagna and the Fruits De Mere Risotto were incredible! The…read moreCrispy Fresh Mozzarella Fra Diavolo flavor was good but kind of fell apart into a mess. The biggest disappointment was our server, he was kind but not very tentative and didn't mention any of the specials to us that we overheard from another table. Not to mention gave me Chardonnay instead of Sauvignon Blanc The lady serving water and bread tended to us more than our actual server. Overall will definitely go back though!

Seasonal burrata

Norwegian Salmon Dish

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Fruits de Mere Risotto. I should have snapped a pic before the cheese went on! So good!

Guido's Pizza - Tontitown

3.9(75 reviews)

0.0 mi

Guido's is a good pizza in a casual atmosphere that is comfortable and convenient on the main drag…read morein Tontitown. The fountain drinks are mixed well and the service is friendly and fast.

Always excellent pizza! The toppings are stacked! Great place to take a date. Sit around and have a…read morecold drink and a hot pie. HUGE salads! Best ranch dressing around. You won't be disappointed.

Inside

Pizza

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Inside

Bocca Italian Eatery & Pizzeria

4.0(190 reviews)

7.7 mi

We've given Bocca quite a few shots and we always walk away a little disappointed. I had the…read morelobster pasta (one of the more expensive pastas on the menu) and really didn't care for it at all. It lacked flavor and the lobster seemed a little over. There was no salt or pepper on the table and our waitress seemed to be put out that I asked for some (along with Parmesan to try and add flavor). The Caesar salad was great and I'd get that again. My husband got the steak special which came with their house spaghetti. The spaghetti that came with his steak was really good and I'd order that if I went again. It was a little spicy, which I loved! His steak was good. We have friends that absolutely love this place but I guess it's just not our cup of tea.

We recently returned home from a week-long road trip making a loop through NW Arkansas and NE…read moreOklahoma back to DFW. Bocca was our favorite restaurant of the trip! Both of our dishes (Rigatoni al la Vodka with sausage and Pappardella Ragu) were TOP NOTCH! The pasta was clearly fresh and the sauces were both perfect. The service was attentive. But the best thing was the fresh bread service with the butter and DELICIOUS roasted garlic. Everything was delightful and we'll gladly go again when we find ourselves in the area.

Chicken Parm

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Complimentary bread

Renzo's Pasta & Italian Steakhouse

4.2(170 reviews)

7.7 mi

Service was slow for having 2 tables at lunch. Bread was stale. Food was okay. Table of 4 walked…read morein as we were endlessly waiting on our ticket. One lady had a walker. Took forever to seat them. Good ambiance.

The restaurant is simple and nice. Our server was very attentive and did a good job. She made great…read moresuggestions on the appetizers which we thoroughly enjoyed. We had the meatball stuffed portobello mushroom and ravioli. The mushrooms were 5/5 and the ravioli was 3.5/5. The marinara was a bit plain. Now is the issue. I ordered the 15 oz ribeye. What came to the table was a strip. I asked the server to check with the cook and he said it was a ribeye. I assure you it wasn't but offered to make another. I asked to see the steak he was going to make as a replacement which was another strip except it was worse than the first. Maybe it was a bad night or maybe the cook doesn't know steak cuts very well.

Minestrone Soup

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Italian Sandwich

Geraldi's

4.4(285 reviews)

8.8 mi

Garlic bread with artichoke dip was good. Good pizza…read more Pesto spaghetti was also good. Service was wonderful and we went in late and was well served

This is a small hole in the wall, not here for ambience! The pasta and sauces are made in house,…read morewhich is rare these days. We had the large antipasto dish, which was brought out at the same time as our entree . It had a good amount of food but the dressing (served in side) was not good to me. We loved the garlic buttered bread ! The lasagna was good, just not amazing. Maybe more seasoning? I added red pepper flakes which helped. I would send folks for the noodles and pizza...

Front dessert counter and register area.

Antipasto large portion. Ask for it before entree!

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Restaurant from the outside

Pizzeria Ruby

4.2(414 reviews)

4.6 mi

I had Italian sausage Bolognese, and halfway through traded it for my friends wild mushroom pasta…read more Both were fantastic, and had rich creamy sauces. The sausage was pretty killer, a tad spicy. The mushroom pasta had a tinge of lemony zest to it. Morels were deliciously panfried in butter. My favorite was the to go order for a third person though: pistachio Alfredo, a similar sauce to the wild mushroom pasta but a bit nuttier. Zero complaints with the food, and i look forward to the owners new location (pizza Lotties) that will be opening soon i hear. This place is dangerously close to five star perfection, if only it were not so crowded (locals know whats up) and it's also a bit loud. The open air kitchen is a nice touch but probably doesn't help with the noise. Imo good food for decent value and would be worth the wait (you can enter into the waitlist online which i will certainly do next time and probably opt for patio seating if possible) All in all very satisfied. This place has a cool menu that seems to evolve and explore the culinary arts. (I love that someone thought to make a sausage/pasta dish with Korean gochujang) I look forward to partaking in many future gourmand adventures here made possible made by such creative kitchen-bound artists

Not as wow'd this visit. We had about a two hour wait, though being able to join the waitlist ahead…read moreof time helped. We started with the pasta, which was the better of the two dishes, but it wasn't very hot; I'd still recommend it. The pizza was disappointing, the sausage (which wasn't cheap to add) had very little flavor and tasted more like ground turkey, and the sauce lacked flavor as well. The drink I ordered was so tart I had to send it back, but the waitress was very kind about it. Overall, I'd give it another shot, but this visit felt a bit overhyped.

Full house

Vodka pasta

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Capriccio Italian Restaurant

4.2(155 reviews)

9.0 mi

•$$$

We dined here as I wanted to try somewhere new to celebrate our anniversary. Overall, we had a nice…read moretime. Big shoutout to Macy (forgive me if it's Marcy, my memory is failing me there), who greeted us as the host, was our server, and was on bartending duty and made us a great mocktail as well. She made us feel very welcome and got us what we needed with a great attitude. As my wife put it, this place has "good bones." I liked the atmosphere and I overall enjoyed the flavor of the food. I had one of the specials, a steak and mushroom risotto. I was a bit saddened by the grey color of the steak, improper cook, and the rice was slightly undercooked, but I did enjoy the flavors and I wouldn't say they were far off from nailing it. Another gentleman, not sure if he was the manager or owner, checked on us as well and had a good sense of humor. Overall a good experience and we are definitely rooting for this place! I would love to dine here again to try more.

My husband and I were going for just appetizers until the waiter told us about their specials. Our…read morewaiter was Alex, he was exceptional. He had a great personality, was a wonderful server and took care of us the entire time. The food was excellent, I had the special shrimp in a white wine sauce, linguine noodles with cherry tomatoes. My husband had the steak special, a grilled, nice sized ribeye with tiny mushrooms on top, risotto and asparagus. They were both so good. We highly recommend Capriccio's!

Restaurant

Fresh pasta being plated to perfection in the kitchen -- every dish is made with care just before it reaches your table.

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Mocktail

Renzo's Pasta & Italian Steakhouse

3.5(51 reviews)

3.6 mi

First time here , and I have to say we will be back. I ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce and…read moreangle hair with a side of Alfredo sauce.....DELICIOUS My friend ordered a caprese salad, that had basil, pesto and balsamic, absolutely delicious. She ordered spaghetti with meatballs, she shared a meatball, o will definitely order mine next time with the meatballs. I also think I'll try the portobello mushroom with the meatball for lunch next time. Until next time.. Oh by the way our waitress Rebecca was great

Why haven't I reviewed this place, I swear I have!! It is amazing!! Sometimes it takes a few…read moreminutes to get seated but it's worth the wait. The food is amazing!! I'll have to attach pictures from previous dining experiences as I didn't take pics tonight thinking I'd already reviewed! Tonight I had the Seafood Trio with Alfredo sauce instead of marinara! You always get to choose your sauce! My husband ordered a filet with shrimp and it was perfectly cooked and delicious! Thoroughly impressed!! Please try this place!

Easy to find, next to #PlanetFitness.

Fabulous staff just happened to be one of my Sunday school kids.

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Maria's Lasagna

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Summer R.

261

2

18

9 years ago

I grew up knowing this family and eating at this restaurant with my parents. And now I bring my children here and enjoy the food, conversation and memory making with them. The food is classic Italian, the setting is old cafe style and the people are caring and genuine. Mama Z {Zulpo} created a lasting tradition here in Tontitown and I am proud to have been part of that, as well as part of carrying that tradition on to new generations. read more

Below Z.

1

2

0

15 years ago

We have eaten here since it opened. Consistently good. Simple fare. Restaurant is passing clean. We have never gotten sick. Their Preserves available on site are a little thin and syrupy BUT they are very flavourful! They take good care of you if they're not really busy. They even made my Tea "recipe" for me! Lemon-lime soda and tea. We have had Italian from coast to coast. Mama Z's is top ten. read more

Amberlee G.

0

1

0

2 years ago

Service was above the normal. I felt like I was at home with my family. Food was amazing. Fresh and homemade. Like Grandma did. The atmosphere was relaxed and felt right. Will definitely come back and recommend to everyone!! The grape cobbler will make you want to slap your mama!!! read more

Al G.

0

1

0

2 years ago

Love that it's still run by the family. The service was top notch. Our waitress took time on a busy night to explain anything we wanted to know. The food was like nothing else we have ever had. Fresh and homemade!! Try the grape cobbler!! It will surprise you!!! read more

Bo H.

1

163

2

3 years ago

The fettuccine and lasagna was absolutely the best we have ever had! We were passing through and glad we stopped! We will definitely be back!! read more

Amberlee G.

0

1

0

2 years ago

Service was amazing! Atmosphere made me like I was at home and part of the family. Food is fresh and homemade. Grape cobbler is fenamiol

Aaron B.

3

9

2

14 years ago

A family favorite. Everything is made in house. 1/2 orders are still almost to much. Consistent for 20+ years in an almost diner feel.

Lisa N.

0

1

0

6 years ago

These hours are incorrect. Closed Sunday and Monday Tuesday- Saturday 8am-2pm and 4pm-8:30pm read more

Jeffrey W.

0

5

0

9 years ago

Outstanding Italian food. Great place to eat. You will not leave hungry!

mARIA a.

0

5

0

17 years ago

best place to eat, in townitown. great food, great price. great cafe.

Mama Z's Cafe - italian - Updated September 2026

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Pastafina Italian Restaurant

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(384 reviews)

Wonderful Italian food in a beautiful setting. The owner isn't new to the restaurant business in…read moreNWA but hasn't had a location for a while since selling his original building to others several years ago. He started with the Joe's Italian restaurant in Springdale on Hwy 412 which burned his next was on Wedington in Fayetteville. After he expanded in the area, he sold the business to others. They were unable to maintain his quality and have all closed. If you ever ate at any of the original restaurants you would remember the huge garlic rolls served hot to the table while you wait. Those are served here. They make going there worth the trip without having anything else. But, you're gonna want something else, believe me!!! The food speaks for itself. All servings are large and delicious. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful. This is a win-win experience.

Some friends treated me to a birthday dinner here. We sat outside, and they were busy as usual. Our…read moreserver was inexperienced, but he tried to make sure we had an enjoyable dinner. Food is quite good, starting with the rolls that I could not resist,,fluffy yeast rolls freshly baked. We had a chicken Marsala, piccata, and something else lemony. All were nice bright sauces and the portions were huge, meaning at least half went home with me and made a great leftover dinner the next night. Great dessert to celebrate the birthday! Probably the best Italian food in the area.

Hammontree's Grilled Cheese

4.3

(730 reviews)

"Your restaurant is so good. The lady waitress was nice. My…read moregrilled cheese was 10/10." Declan 8yrs old. Dad- Italian stallion- 7/10 Only because I tasted the olive and I'm not a fan of olive. But other than that it was good. Mom- caparese melt- 9/10 Only because it had too much pesto for my liking. The vibes were chill the waitress was very nice. Our kid is on the spectrum and is hard to please sometimes but he loved it he even tried his dad Italian stallion and gave it a thumbs up. We will be back next time we are in AR. Thank you!

Driving through Fayetteville, I had to stop at Hammontree's Grilled Cheese. I've seen this place…read moreall over the internet for years, so it finally made the list. First impressions were a bit mixed. The restaurant was quiet, but the floors were noticeably dirty, and the restrooms were just okay. Nothing outrageously bad, but definitely not as clean as I would expect for such a slow night. The service was probably the biggest disappointment. Our server wasn't rude, but she wasn't particularly welcoming either. She took our order, dropped off the food, and brought the check without ever really checking back in. There were only three occupied tables in the restaurant with three servers working, so it wasn't like they were overwhelmed. One thing that really stood out was that every employee in the dining room except the bartender had headphones either in their ears or hanging around their necks. It gave the impression that customer service wasn't much of a priority. I started by ordering a sweet tea, only to be told they don't have it because they brew their tea in-house and "can't add sugar." That explanation seemed a little odd. I switched to a Coke instead, which turned out to be one of the flattest fountain drinks I've had in a long time. After a few sips, I gave up and just drank water. Now for the part that really matters: the food. We ordered the Kids Rookie grilled cheese and the Big Dog from the kids' menu, along with the Cheebacca and the Brie's Company. We also couldn't leave without trying the Blueberry Grilled Cheese for dessert. The only real miss on the food side was the chips. They were stale, cold, and almost rubbery. Honestly, they were some of the worst house chips you could possibly have. The sandwiches deserve a much better side, or they'd honestly be better off taking the chips off the menu altogether. The kids' meals were an incredible value at only $5 each. My 5-year-old couldn't decide between a grilled cheese and a hot dog, so he got both. The Big Dog was excellent--hot, juicy, and grilled just long enough to get those perfect char marks. The Rookie was exactly what you'd want for a picky eater: simple, cheesy, and well made. The Cheebacca ($12) was packed with sharp white cheddar, house cheese, bacon, pulled pork, grilled onions, and a garlic cilantro sauce on sourdough. Every ingredient complemented the next, and nothing overpowered the sandwich. Easily one I'd order again. The Brie's Company ($12) was the surprise of the meal. Grilled apples, Brie, Gouda, caramelized onions, and fig jam on sourdough sounded adventurous, but it absolutely worked. Sweet, savory, rich, and balanced all at once. If you're willing to step outside the traditional grilled cheese, this one is worth trying. Then came dessert. The Blueberry Grilled Cheese ($7.25) combines mascarpone, cream cheese, fresh blueberries, and honey between slices of grilled pound cake. It sounds unusual, but somehow it's fantastic. It's one of those desserts that makes you question why you've never had it before. Awkwardly delicious in the best possible way, and absolutely worth ordering. Overall, Hammontree's is a place where the kitchen is doing almost everything right while the front of house leaves quite a bit to be desired. Cleaner dining areas, better service, and replacing those terrible chips would easily push this into 4 star territory. As it stands, the food absolutely lives up to the hype, but the overall experience holds it back. If you're passing through Fayetteville, it's still worth stopping in. Just skip the chips, order one of the specialty grilled cheeses, and don't leave without trying the dessert.

Venesian Inn

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What an Awesome place w so much History. We used to come here and there would be lines out the…read moredoor. We started w their Awesome salad. So simple and so delicious. We had the special Fried Chicken and spaghetti w meat sauce. And don't forget the homemade rolls! Always a great experience here and the servers are great!!

A solid little restaurant. I've been told it's been around since the 50s! And had lots of history…read moreon the walls. The service was friendly and attentive. The food was alright, but I personally wouldn't be rushing back for it. The started salad and bread were both very tasty! I got the chicken raviolis - the raviolis were very large, stuffed good, but the dough was thicker and tougher than I prefer. The meat sauce was okay, but felt lacking some key flavors.

Coyle’s Family Restaurant

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Gone here multiple times, the food here is always great! The flavors of the roast beef reminded me…read moreof my mom's recipe so much. The service was kind and so friendly as well. The ambiance is welcoming and so cozy. I enjoy sitting in the patio area when it's summer time, as it feels fresh and warm. Thank you so much for this great food!

I believe that the last guest at a restaurant should receive the same service and courtesy as the…read morefirst guest. We arrived shortly before 8:00 pm Friday night. We didn't realize they were closing at 8:00. We were sat, usual procedure. We ordered an appetizer and our food. Enjoyed the fried mushrooms. Our dinner came, it was great. They turned up the lights and the barrage began. It seemed attentive at first, then got really annoying. We're closing the salad bar, do you want anything from it? Can I get you anything else? Can I get you to-go drinks? Are you ready for your ticket? Here's your ticket. Is there anything else? Can I take any of your plates? At that point I'm done. Take all the plates. I'm not enjoying this anymore. As my husband was calmly explaining that if you let us in the door, we should be allowed to eat; I'm fuming and paying the bill and stomping out, because I can't be contained when I'm upset. I just shouldn't talk. When we first walked in the door, if they'd told us that they're closing soon, fine! We will just go somewhere else! No problem. We've both worked in restaurants and hated when guests walk in at closing! The food is good. I'm sick at my stomach about how we were treated. Hubby said we would be back. He might be back alone.

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Highly recommended. Food is always wonderful…read more Waitresses are all very cheerful and give great service!

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I've been wanting to try the last few times I was visiting the area and I've finally made my way…read morehere and it was just what I expected and hoped for! I had asked the employee what they would recommend and how it works and he recommended the fruity which has pineapple in it and I was sold. Ordering was quick and the restaurant was clean and easy to find a seat. The food came out promptly. The salad was very flavorful and filling and on a wonderfully soft croissant. The Mac and cheese was ok, I would probably try some other sides next time through. I like the touch of the cookie that comes a a little surprise treat. Lastly, they happily cleaned up my place as I was getting up to go. Everyone is very friendly! Looking forward to returning when I'm back in town once again.

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Mel's DIner

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I took my 89 year old friend from the nursing home to get out to eat. They got us a table that…read morewould accommodate her wheelchair. I helped her with the menu with a good variety of foods to choice from. Portions were large. In some ways I wish they had senior size meals as she was only able to eat half wasting half. She did enjoy and most of us took home left overs. I forgot about my discount card till I got home. Darn cause there were 4 adults on one ticket. Only thing was my daughter and I both wanted a prime rib and they only had one left and it was 5 pm in the evening. So my daughter let me have that one. She ordered something else. Only thing baked potato had large black spot in out side end. Steak was a little tough. Should had stuck to medium rare instead of medium. Was I took my 89 year old friend from the nursing home to get out to eat. They got us a table that would accommodate her wheelchair. I helped her with the menu with a good variety of foods to choice from. Portions were large. In some ways I wish they had senior size meals as she was only able to eat half wasting half. She did enjoy and most of us took home left overs.

This place is a good diner. Standard diner atmosphere and look. But it is made very clear that they…read moreare not fast and that is simply how it is going to go. It WILL take quite awhile to get your food. Ive been twice and with less than 6 others in there, took over an hour.

T & T Diner

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