Mama Louise Restaurant

Offering Authentic Italian Food Prepared With Love

There is nothing like a home-cooked meal, especially if the recipe has been passed down and perfected through generations. Mama Louise Restaurant is one place where you can have that experience without pulling out your own pots and pans and heading to the kitchen to try to prepare fresh Italian dishes.

Mama Louise welcomes families big and small to share a meal or take advantage of daily specials. Live music and events are also a mainstay at Mama Louise, enticing a loyal crowd looking for a great place to gather, unwind or share a special occasion.

Mama Louise Restaurant

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Dr. Phillips resident, chef and owner of Mama Louise Restaurant Joe Esposito is no stranger to the kitchen. He learned to cook watching his mother and began working in his uncle’s restaurant at the early age of 9.

“I honestly thought that was what every kid did,” Joe said with a chuckle. “I didn’t realize that they actually went out and played baseball.”

But he loved it, and the restaurant business became his passion. Joe said he would not have traded that experience for the world.

Every Sunday, Joe’s extended Italian family would gather around the dinner table at his childhood home to enjoy his mother’s famous sauce, meatballs and specialty lasagna. It was these recipes, and many more, that inspired him to pursue a career in the restaurant industry.

Though he went to culinary school, it was not necessarily to become a chef; he was more interested in learning about kitchen operations. He already knew that the kitchen is the heart of the restaurant. If it is not run smoothly, then the restaurant cannot be a success. But that does not mean he has not become an accomplished chef in his own right.

Mama Louise Restaurant pays homage to his mother and her tried-and-true recipes. His promise to her many years ago came to fruition when he opened the doors to her namesake restaurant in 2015. Since then, it has become a favorite dining destination for locals and area visitors alike.

“When my wife and I travel to Italy, we always go to the concierge and ask ‘Where do the locals eat,’ because there, I know, is where we will get the most authentic food,” Joe said. “That’s what I want for Mama Louise. I want it to be where the locals eat when they are looking for great food at an affordable price. I want this to be a place where people come with their families and enjoy a great night out.”

Joe insisted that his goal is not to have an atmosphere of fine dining, but fun dining. It is not uncommon for Joe to leave the kitchen and walk around the dining room, greeting guests to make sure they are having a good time and enjoying the food and atmosphere. In fact, he takes that commitment so seriously that he will immediately take food back to the kitchen and personally prepare a dish that a customer may have mentioned he is not entirely happy with. His philosophy is that a mistake is an opportunity to do better.

“I like to talk to people, especially the kids and the older guests,” he said. “I love it when I see people bringing in their mothers and grandmothers, it really warms my heart, because it reminds me of my own mother.”

And just like his mother, Joe is adamant that everything is made fresh in his kitchen. He tries to locally source his food, especially fruits and vegetables. And he also carefully picks his kitchen staff.

“My kitchen staff are chefs, not just cooks,” he said. “Also, they are part of the family. In fact, they wear white chef jackets that say ‘Family.’”

Joe sports a chef shirt that says “Son.”

“We all have a commitment to producing the best quality and authentic food as possible.” Joe said, who shared that just like his mother’s food, what comes out of his kitchen is made with love.

Though there is an extensive menu filled with Italian-inspired cuisine, some items stand out, such as the lasagna, which was Joe’s favorite recipe of his mother’s. Also, he makes one-half pound meatballs that are served on a bed of lettuce. A wide variety of soups, salads, appetizers, pizzas and even a children’s menu are sure to appeal to every guest’s fancy. But patrons should save room for an espresso and creamy slice of cheesecake or tiramisu that are made in-house from scratch — a perfect ending to a delicious meal.

In addition to menu items, Mama Louise offers a newly launched raw bar, featuring oysters, shrimp cocktail, clams and a seafood salad.

Joe understands that a great dining experience is complemented with entertainment. That is why every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, guests can enjoy live music. However, every night has something special going on, like daily happy hours from 4-7 p.m., including two-for-one cocktails, draft beer and house wine and a complimentary hot and cold buffet in the bar only; Monday, when children age 12-younger eat free with a paying adult; Tuesday, when patrons buy one pizza and receive a second one free; Wine Wednesdays, when with the purchase of a bottle of wine, guests get their second bottle half off;  and Thursday’s Mama’s Night Out that includes Ricky Silvia performing all the “old mob hits” from Frank Sinatra to Dean Martin to Louis Armstrong with a little Rodney Dangerfield thrown in along with an extended happy hour from 7-9 p.m., a hot and cold buffet, and live music. The restaurant also offers full banquet facilities with no room charge.

“I feel truly blessed, and I know my mother would be proud,” Joe said. “Not only are people coming back, they are bringing their friends and family members. I honestly feel this is your restaurant as much is it as mine!”

Mama Louise Restaurant is located at 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd. in Orlando. For more information, call 407-345-1000 or visit www.mamalouiserestaurant.com on the web.💓