Mama’s on Main

Beautiful interior. Warm, stylish, and intimate—though a little tight on space. The food mostly delivers. The vodka rigatoni is unreal—rich, balanced, and absolutely the star. The thin mint martini surprised us in the best way, and both the Caesar salad and olive appetizer were solid wins. Wine list? No complaints across the board. The miss: the chicken parmesan was dry and lacked flavor, which was disappointing given how strong the rest of the menu is. Service was inconsistent. We’ve had better attention sitting at the bar than in the dining room, which happens. But our server, Tara, was noticeably short and disengaged—minimal interaction, no thank-you, no “have a good night,” and clear attention given to other tables. It stood out. Bottom line: despite the service hiccup and the miss on the chicken parm, I’d come back—specifically for the vodka rigatoni. That dish alone earns a return visit.

Went for the first time last night after being on the short list I had for Cincy restaurants and it did not disappoint. Immediately walking in, Mama’s has a fun and weird charming aesthetic. It was a great vibe for if you were doing a more dressed up dinner experience or equally if you were more casual and wanted a bar dining experience. The decor made me want to know the back story behind every choice and was so interesting. We got the focaccia, arancini, limone with chicken, ragu bolognese which was a special, and then tiramisu and affogato for dessert. Everything we had was very good and the portion sizes were perfect to experience a lot without feeling totally overloaded on pasta. The espresso for the affogato was sooo good. Would love to go back in the warmer months with their cute upstairs patio.

Atmosphere is cute, but it's kinda cramped. Food overall was okay. Calamari was good, but very tiny portion for the price. We both got chicken parmesan. Presentation was nice but food wasn't that great and was cold. Broccolini had a good flavor but was cold. We got tiramisu, it was delicious. Overall wasn't worth $100. I wouldn't come back again.

The atmosphere and the food combined made for a great Summertime dinner! The food was delicious and the cocktail/drink selection was good, too! One of the highlights truly is the setting and the energy created by the establishment! It’s a lovely space! The service was a bit slow and could’ve been better, but I have only been one time so it could have been a fluke! Overall, it is a great Covington dinner spot, and I highly recommend for anyone who likes Italian!

Mama's restaurant offers an exceptional dining experience. Their Caesar salad is unparalleled, distinguishing itself from other establishments. The ambiance is notably sophisticated, making it an ideal setting for a romantic encounter. We thoroughly enjoyed the meatballs, which were delectable, followed by the superb bread. The quality of the Italian cuisine compares to that prepared by my esteemed friend, Rose. The bread was exquisite, and the Chicken Parmesan was outstanding. The waitress provided excellent service. Learning about the owners' history and the decor's inspiration added a unique touch to the visit. The meticulous attention to detail, evident in elements like the varied serving plates, was impressive. Overall, a commendably executed culinary experience.