Feel at home at Mamma’s Italian Restaurant, Redcliffe

MARIA Ciancio feels truly at home in the family’s restaurant, so when customers arrive for dinner she feels as though she’s hosting a meal at her place. They don’t call it Mamma’s for nothing …

Mamma's Italian Restaurant owners Maria and Danny Ciancio. Photo: Dominika Lis

MARIA Ciancio feels truly at home in the family’s restaurant, so when customers arrive for dinner she feels as though she’s hosting a meal at her place.

It’s not called Mamma’s Italian Restaurant for nothing and it’s been that way for more than 35 years — 12 at Woody Point and 23 at Margate before they closed to make way for a proposed residential and retail development.

Maria and husband Danny took a year off before the Redcliffe waterfront and their loyal customers beckoned.

“I never cried as much as I did when we closed Mamma’s,” Maria says.

“I missed the people, I missed the cooking too because that’s my life. When I stopped, I would get up at 1am or 2am and would be cooking. By 6am, I would have so much food (prepared).”

So, about a year ago they bought a building on Redcliffe Pde, gutted it and meticulously transformed it into an elegant restaurant perfect for celebrating life’s milestones or simply enjoying a night out.

Mamma's Italian Restaurant at Redcliffe. Photo: Dominika Lis

Mamma’s reopened in November and it’s hard to know who’s more excited — Maria and Danny, or their customers.

“I feel myself, I found myself again. It feels like I’m in my own environment,” Maria says.

“People say thank you for reopening, it’s unbelievable.

“We’ve been very busy and we appreciate every moment that we spend here.”

The couple have pushed aside any worries they are getting too old to handle the demands of running a restaurant and take great pleasure in making their customers happy.

When she can escape the kitchen for a few minutes, Maria, will come out and say hello to her guests.

“It always gives me so much joy to be with the people,” she says.

There’s regularly three and four generations of families in the restaurant. Maria remembers many parents as children when they first started coming to Mamma’s.

“I know everyone on the Peninsula and everyone knows Mamma,” she says with a smile.

“The secret is we don’t change the chef every day because I’m here every day. I love people and people love to be with us.”

The menu is a mix of old favourites and new dishes, with options for diners with allergies or other dietary requirements.

Mamma's Italian Restaurant at Redcliffe. Photo: Dominika Lis

MAMMA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Address: 69 Redcliffe Pde, Redcliffe

Phone: [phone]

Opening hours: 11am-late. Takeaway is available from 4.30-6pm

Visit: Search Mamma’s Italian Restaurant on Facebook for more information