Mamma's Pizza

[prima]

What's your favourite pizza to order at Mamma's Pizza?
http://www.mammaspizza.com/

[bbbradk]

I've only ever had slices from them, they are horrible

[TorontoJo]

The Tuscany Tenderloin. I love the combination of the asiago cheese, roasted red peppers and caramelized onions -- the beef itself is almost superfluous for me (which is good, because they don't put much on there).

[prima]

thanks, TorontoJo. I'll order the Tusacany Tenderloin next time. Tonight, I chose my own toppings: Italian sausage, mushrooms, hot Italian peppers and rapini, with their free options of plum tomato sauce, oregano & fresh garlic. Best take-out pizza I've ordered in a long time. So much better than the walk-in slices.

[kwass]

Which Mama's did you order from prima? Because I agree, it WAS the best take out pizza ever and my go-to place for a long time, but then it went downhill.

[juno]

I'd also be intrigued to learn which Mama's outlet you ordered from. Because the one and only time I ever ordered takeout from Mama's - at Leslie and York Mills Rd. - the result was so dismal, so tasteless, such a total botch, that I swore never ever to order from any Mama's for the rest of my natural life. That was a couple of years ago. So I'd be interested to discover if my experience was merely an exceedingly bad day from one lousy franchise outlet. Indeed, ever since, whenever I crave pizza, I'll have it at a restaurant - to me, pizza invariably tastes best immediately out of the oven.

[prima]

I think Mamma's Pizza does vary from location to location, and probably varies depending on who is working. I don't know if I improved the pizza by ordering the option of fresh plum tomato sauce rather than the standard sauce, and adding fresh garlic and oregano. I like the current website design for online ordering. It's possible to order certain toppings on half the pizza. Other options include gluten-free or whole wheat dough, well-done, regular or lightly-done, thinner dough or thicker dough.

This is the Mamma's I've ordered from the most. I usually recognize the guys who are working. Last night, the guy who made my pizza was was someone who I hadn't seen or met before.

I had a disappointingly gritty slice at Bayview & Eglinton location a few years ago, which seemed to be the result of an employee not rinsing the spinach sufficiently. Over the last few years, I've been underwhelmed by most slices I've picked up at most chains (usually Mamma's or Pizzaiolo, occasionally Pizza Nova or Pizzaville) and I've noticed the made-to-order pizzas usually taste better to me.

I like restaurant pizza, but I also like take-out pizza. Most restaurant pizzas I've ordered in Toronto over the last few years have been thin crust or Neapolitan-style. Most thinner crust restaurant pizzas in North Toronto won't work when I'm craving a more doughy pizza. I was craving doughy pizza with substance last night, and wanted some leftovers for breakfast.

[Ediblethoughts]

Last time I ordered from Mama's it was meh compared to our usual order from Pizza Nova though I have no idea which location we ordered from. (As a side note, the veg lasagna from the Eglinton and Bayview location was very underwhelming---passable tomato sauce but only tiny bits of the cauliflower, broc, etc. they promise...)

[prima]

What's your usual pizza at Pizza Nova? I've never ordered a whole pizza from Pizza Nova. I've just tried the slices from the location near Lawrence Station. Maybe I'll order a whole Pizza Nova pizza to compare their pizza to the neighbourhood Mamma's, next time.

Do any pizza chains in TO serve good lasagna? (Not trying to yank your chain, I'm genuinely curious ;-)) I guess I'm not surprised that the vegetarian lasagna at Mamma's Pizza would be underwhelming, considering I can't even find good lasagna in recommended Italian restaurants with table service in TO!

[Ediblethoughts]

I usually order WW crust, tomatoes, artichokes, spinach, mushrooms and garlic. It's gooood. We rarely get a bad pizza. They load it on and it's very tasty.

Point taken on veg lasagna. Not that many places offer it so I jump when I see it. Phipps makes a good spinach cheese lasagna (not a pizza place). Pasta Perfection (if it even still exists) had a tasty one. Other than that, yeah, hard to find a good one. I think Cora's near High Park might have made a good ones some years back?

[prima]

Thanks! I'll try your Pizza Nova order next, but probably on the standard white crust.

Hopefully some other Chowhounds can suggest a pizza place that serves a decent veg lasagna. :-)

[Ediblethoughts]

That would be nice! Let me know how you find Pizza Nova.

[prima]

I do like that Pizza Nova includes a Nutrition Guide on their website. http://www.pizzanova.com/nutrition/nu...

[prima]

The Mamma's location at 3218 Yonge, north of Lawrence Station. I picked up the order.

I've bought quite a few slices at this location over the years. The made-to-order pizzas seem to always end up tasting better than the slices.

[magic]

I'm not a fan of Mamma's. I've probably only had it from a few locations, mostly from the Eglinton/Bathurst location. It's always awful. The last time I had it I swore would be my last. I intend to keep that promise to myself.

Does anyone remember the Mamma's that used to be in Yorkdale about 30 years ago? It's long since closed but sticks out as some of the best pizza I've ever had.

[kwass]

Actually the best Mamma's Pizza was the Mamma's which started it all. It was the takeout side of Monte Carlos on Eglinton close to the Allen

[magic]

I don't remember that location.

All I remember is Monte Carlo itself, which in its heyday was incredible. Basically the exact same piza as the Yorkdale Mamma's location I spoke of. Amazing.

I miss it.

(I believe Mammas' head office is still located in that location, where Monte Carlo used to be - in the upstairs section of the building.)

[kwass]

That's what I'm talking about...Monte Carlo in it's heyday. And as far as I know, that was the original Mamma's pizza, which then turned into a chain.

[magic]

Yes. That was incredible pizza.

Mamma's now compared to then, to me at least, is not the same product in any way.

[kwass]

I agree Magic! It doesn't even come close :(