Mama's Pizza Italian - Tarboro

We walked in for our first visit, late afternoon on June 17th. The Latino man at front looked up from phone, glancing at me, them back again to his phone. The sign at entry simply stated to seat ourselves. So, we walked into the room on the right, looking for seating to comfortably sit 5. The area had such a strong chemical smell from ‘cleaning’ that I was hesitant to sit in that area but hopeful it would air out shortly. (We are approximately two weeks after moving to North Carolina and we heard a referral all the way from Greenville area to visit this establishment. Although, we were told it had been sometime frequenting this restaurant since moving away. That said, the two larger seating booths said reserved, so I walked back into the main area to ask an associate about sitting there since it was prior to dinner hours. The man at front still on phone. The Caucasian man in black shirt saw me standing, but went over to a booth across counter from food prep area and began talking. A Caucasian woman walked in my direction in food prep. area and I said, “Excuse me.” She grabbed a ticket and turned around and walked away. The man on phone at front of restaurant has yet to look up from phone again. I am now observing the man in a black shirt to be having what appears as a casual conversation with another employee at this booth and not actually customers. After waiting for several minutes, I urged my husband and son back out the door to where the other two members of our dining party were still in vehicle. Maybe this type of “service” is acceptable with a restaurant that has more than one party dining, (and that is giving ‘benefit of doubt’, considering based off appearances, we were the only at that time , but with lack of service, you’ll never even get an opportunity to win someone over with the food and you certainly will not have a ticket to ring through the register. If only the employees realized that their lack of service directly impacts their job security in the foreseeable future and the owners investment in making this business a success. Lack of service and attention to customers also goes hand in hand with lack of attention to food presentation and quality, as recently noted by others in their reviews of food presentation and quality. We went over to Highway 55, where we were cheerfully greeted immediately upon entering, observed lots of diners at the same hour, and had a very friendly and pleasant experience becuase of our amazing young server. Maybe lack of sales is why you have a recent review for skimpy filling in the sandwiches. The owners need to overhaul this business and quick, you can only ride so long on a “Good Name,” before word gets out that it is no longer good.

Great pizza and antipasto salad. Fast service and friendly staff. Quick on refills and requests. Parking: Lanes are a little tight but easy enough

The pizza was my style crunchy crust and good flavors

Sorely disappointed with what should have been an enjoyable takeout sandwich! Sausage, peppers, onions, with mushrooms and provolone on a TOASTED (which it was not) sub/hoagie roll is not supposed to be dry, even without the marinara they normally drown this sandwich in. The sausage should NOT have been twice cooked, the second time was by dropping it in the deep fryer to REHEAT it After they split it open! Dried out, tough, tasteless, with a grainy mouth feel. The veggies were still nearly raw. The cheese was thrown on top and slightly melted enough to stick only to the foil. What are they thinking?!?!?!? Everything should've been done on the flat top grill TOGETHER (sausage uncut w/grill marks on 4 sides, veggies grilled soft with caramelization marks from the help of a little olive oil, roll buttered, then face down on the grill to get a nice golden brown, crisp), with the cheese melted under the salamander, or a quick trip in the pizza oven, then wrapped with waxed paper, then foil. I was told Pete was from NY....trusted that's the quality I was going to get. Won't be making this mistake again. Adding a photo After I had to add butter to roll and toast it w/o sausage in it, then cut up the sausage just to make it easier to eat. Would've cut up a properly prepared one as well. Just my preference.

Delicious food! I haven't ordered anything from them that wasn't good. The Italian hoagie or turkey hoagie is my favorite. I love the pizzas, bacon cheese fries and the jalapeño poppers as well. Nice staff, peaceful atmosphere, good music. Great place to take the family!