Mamma Lena Trattoria Napoletana

Wow. Never knew this was here! Great little atmosphere, very small/quaint. It says on the door Reservations Required. We showed up without reservations (just party of 2), but early at like 530. The host was very nice/accommodating, and gave us a decent 2 top. Didn't know what we had in store! Food was fantastic. They brought out bruschetta as a free appetizer (complimentary as we were first time visitors). So amazing. Also ordered Calamari Fritti. Again, very well prepared. For dinner, I got chicken parm. One of the best chicken parm's I've had in the area. My wife got Pescatore, and for some reason she stopped talking for a bit ;-). The focaccia was phenomenal as well, and our host/waiter made sure we were getting everything down. OY, my Chianti was great too.We did disappoint him by not ordering dessert. My wife said she ate so much bread. He replied "but dear, bread is not cake". Point taken, and we'll try harder next time!Overall, amazing, and we're definitely going back soon (next time making sure we have a reservation)!

We're relatively new to the Germantown food scene, so when my parents recommended we check out Mamma Lena we had to try!Reservations only - you can either call or book online. I booked about 1 hour before we planned to get there and they responded quickly to our online request. It's a small place, probably only about 7 tables or so. David got the bolognese and I got the carbonara. Portions were HUGE! I would have liked more lower-cost pasta options on the menu (was feeling a fettuccine alfredo that day but there wasn't one). While the carbonara was good, I'm not a big fan of a ton of bacon/pancetta as the sole protein of the dish. The options were a bit expensive, but David said his dish reminded him of the pasta he had in Italy so that must mean it's legit!Our servers (who I think were also owners) were very nice, and we definitely appreciated that this was one of the only restaurants that gives you so many little freebies (bruschetta as an appetizer and bread with your entree!).I was also interested in the salmon lasagna so maybe I'll try that next time!

What a surprise of a gem! Best kept secret in Montgomery County! Each item we ordered was super delish! All so tasty and authentically cooked. I felt like I was in Napoli, Italy! After coming to Mamma Lena's, I feel like I've found Italy right in my own backyard and have no need to go to Italy now. Lol. One thing to note: the online menu is different from the in-person menu. I recommend both but if you go in person, you have to make a reservation. Don't forget to book ahead!!We had ordered:Pizza with artichoke and mushroomsChicken Madeira (a wine based sauce) with mushrooms and pastaEggplant Parmigiana with spaghetti And for dessert, who could resist the homemade Tiramisu (the BEST tiramisu ever) and the Torti de Chocolatti (chocolate cake). and don't forget to have an espresso!!The host and owner Giovanni was a real hoot and a sweetheart. He had us laughing and really enjoying ourselves. He is super hospitable and personable. We will be back. I want to have the seafood with pasta next time!

Great place to have a date night for sure! Family friendly too! The restaurant is small but makes up with food and their team. Family owned and the servers were great. Food was amazing, I got the boar sausage with pasta and it was amazing. Great wine selection also! Make sure to make a reservation if you plan to eat in but to go is a great option also! Worth a trip!

We were in the area for a tournament and my son wanted pasta afterwards so I found Mamma Lena on Yelp. The shopping center was a little sketch so I was a bit hesitant about going in. The sign on the door said they were only accepting reservations, but I think because of the time we were there, they were not busy at all and let us in. I soon found out how authentic this family run business was and the regular customers that patronize them. The food was good, but a bit pricey. They gave us bruschetta on the house. The owners were very friendly.

I never knew this place existed and I've been in the Germantown area for my entire life! I can't say enough about the service and warmth that you feel from the staff. It's a small space that feels homey and is well decorated. The pastas that we ordered were incredible and I completely forgot to take pictures. We ended our meal with tiramisu and espresso. It was the best tiramisu that I've ever had and I can't wait to have it again. I definitely recommend this place and I will be going back to try more items on the menu!

We were so impressed with this place recently we felt confident inviting friends who prize Italian food! They loved it!Food was phenomenal! In particular Mama Lena's special pasta dish featuring warm gorgonzola and pear stuffed mini-purses. Wow! Surprisingly multilayered flavor (rich and sweet notes) with perfect mouthfeel. The portion size was perfect (not too big and not too small) and sauce remnants on the plate were tempting bread dip. Yum!The dessert list is phenomenal which did not make decision-making easy. Pistachio cheesecake - never had it before but if you asked how I'd want it if possible - this would be it! To be honest, most anything with pistachios would be special to me, yet this recipe was top-notch. See photo. Chocolate covered spumoni ball. Wow! When split in half tableside, it becomes obvious that this is a serving for two. The chocolate ice cream portion was especially dark - not sweet. Loved it! See photo Service was top-notch. The small dining room is ably handled by the two men who add much to the dining experience. With lots of takeout orders, there was a steady stream of movement. Plenty of parking in front of the strip mall location.We'll be backPrice for two dinners, one side salad, two bottles of sparkling water, and two desserts totaled about $90 without tip.

Absolute gem. The food was exceptional and the service was warm and white glove at once. We loved it and are coming back. Small dining room with decor and wine added to the ambiance.

Incredible. So many locals mentioned it to me as must go to place and it was way above expectations! I'm not even a huge Italian food fan, but this was different. Like what I expect it will be like in Italy. Amazing service and amazing taste and just such an enjoyable experience. Will definitely be back lots.

First time takeout not delivery, but everyone loved their food. I got the meat lovers pizza (14") plus jalapenos. Boyfriend got Margherita (12") plus jalapenos. His dad got the triple seafood fettucine pasta and sister got the spaghetti & meatballs. LOVED it--all of us did. At some point I would love to get reservations and eat a full on meal there--apps, mains and dessert. I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough!