First time here. Sunday mid morning. All tables full. Bit of a wait but a comfortable seat was available. Staff was very friendly and engaging. We had two different "skillets" and they were awesome. Very substantial portions at a very fair price. If you require ambience this spot won't wiggle your ears but if you like heaping plates of tasty food served up by friendly folks stop on in.
(4)
Pastora Itzel E.
I will start by saying that my server was nice but she was I guess occupied because there were only two servers in but she kept checking up on me while I was deciding want to get in that's why I'm giving it 1 star. No I order a spicy chicken sandwich and I was expecting it to have flavor but when I got it after what it felt like forever probably 20 minutes for a sandwich it was so tastless that my 93-year-old almost disabled granpa could have cooked the better. So I was on a break from a training and had to leave because I had like five minutes left because they took forever and I'm about to finish the half that I could hit up that nasty sandwich and I find a hair on my fries so I tell the server and she close the manager he looks at it he starts laughing and says it's just cheese. NO SIR THAT WAS A HAIR. So I never asked for discounts I've worked in the industry but the least you could do is offer and not only a discount but upper to come my meal so he says he took my fries and then charged me $10 for a tasteless sandwich that has hairy fries. NOT HAPPY
(2)
Jorge A.
The breakfast menu is good, have not gone wrong there. However, the lunch/dinner items are not tasty. You can tell that the food is not made from scratch and is probably frozen. They do not let you sub out anything on the menu. We didn't want the soup and asked it we could have more rice instead, we got shot down. The service is slow. Real slow.... A table next to us ordered a ceaser salad with chicken and he waited almost 25 min for it. It was not tasty looking from my seat, not worth it.
(2)
Zajah O.
Horrible experience! NO SUBSTITUTIONS - wth?! You're quick to take my money if I just opt to not take the side at all but you'll deny me the option to substitute for something else. This is poor restaurant service and diminishes the customer's experience to be able to enjoy a personally chosen meal without limitations. What added to this sad experience was that we ordered hot tea and only got hot water, lemons and honey. Hot water became warm / cold waiting on someone to finally bring us tea bags. We will not be returning to this place. NO SUBSTITUTIONS = NO CUSTOMERS
(1)
Kristen H.
The food IS very good, and the prices are not that bad, BUT THEY ARE SOOOOO SLOW in terms of service.
(4)
Jenn M.
I called in an order for a typical breakfast (eggs, toast, bacon) and arrived late to pick it up. The service was so great that they made me fresh toast on the spot because they didn't want to send me off with cold toast. It's clear that the family take great pride in their business and I really felt like I was welcome...even on a $5 order ;) I cannot wait to go back to try their other offerings!
(5)
Danny D.
Best food in Tampa for breakfast and lunch. Love the staff and owners. Recommended to all!!!
This place has been here for years and I finally stopped in, killing time before my 10am appt. Plenty of space inside and they have much needed shades to block the morning sun from blinding its diners. The breakfast options were plentiful and rightly priced. The dining room is clean and orderly. I liked the fact that they had ample TVs with the news on for people who dined alone like myself. I ordered the special: 2 eggs, bacon, home fries and rye toast. All this for $4.55. The food was cooked properly, just lacked any pizzazz and flavor. That's probably my fault because this is not a pizazz place. It's a solid diner with well cooked meals. Stop in and give it a try. The staff is very friendly as well.
(3)
Lauren G.
First time here for breakfast. I got the NY Breakfast Sandwich which was good, but would have like the cheese melted instead of just put on right before being brought out. I will come back to try some other food.
(4)
Dave C.
One of my favorite places to eat - excellent biscuits and gravy. If you are super hungry, the hangover platter is as good as it sounds!
(5)
Michelle D.
Cute small family run diner. Delicious food at good prices, wonderful friendly staff, real cooking. I had Mama's omelette, added peppers, and it was loaded with real goat cheese and veggies. Don't come here if you need a quick bite, they cook from scratch and it takes time, but it's so worth it.
(5)
Sam Q.
I found a new breakfast place. Yay! Finding good breakfast places is hard. I do the fast food thing (Burger King, Mickey D's, Taco Bell, etc.) when I'm in a hurry. They're cheap, but you get cheap food. I'm ok with Denny's and IHOP, but I'm not crazy about the "chain" feel. I tend to gravitate to small Cuban shops because I like the coffee and I prefer the "home made" feel. There are a couple of breakfast gems in this category, like Nicki's and Garden Grill. I'm happy to add Mamas Kitchen to this list. Mamas is a down to earth place with a nice breakfast menu. They do lunch and dinner, but I've only been here for breakfast. I came in during the week, and it wasn't busy. There was an assortment of senior citizens milling around, which tells me the food must be good. One peek at the menu, and I smiled. Pancakes, breakfast pitas, burritos, and sandwiches, a "Heart Attack Omelet", yay! I'm trying to eat healthy so I was glad to see they has a "Lean Mean" omelet with Turkey and egg whites. I subbed the cottage cheese with bread because I'm not THAT committed. I like this place, and I'm coming back. I'm a fan.
(4)
Christina C.
Large helpings for surprisingly healthy tasting breakfast. I thought this would be the type of place where everything is soaked in butter (which I was kind of hoping for). Other than the English muffins being buttered, I didn't really see the butter. I got the Eggs Benedict with grits. They actually gave me butter so I could add it to the grits myself. The grits are exactly what you would expect from this place, not fantastic, just meh. The Eggs Benedict were good, with a homemade sauce. My mom got eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and english muffins. She enjoyed it all, but again the hashbrowns didn't taste like they had any butter. Either this place cooks everything in a healthy way or somehow they make it taste healthy (which is good or bad, depending on what you are looking for). Even though from the outside this place looks a little run down, the clientele are all very nice. Tons of families come here and by 10 a.m. on a Sunday there is a wait for a table!
(3)
Mahdy S.
I'm just happy to see that Tampa still has a few old fashioned diners like this one around. Mama's kitchen, to me, appears more old school from the outside then it does inside. I didn't ask why, but their seems to be a lion theme all around the restaurant which is evident by the numerous wall portraits inside and around the establishment. Pretty cool. I was here with a friend for breakfast on a Saturday morning. It started to fill up around 8 am, but that didn't seem to phase the wait staff, who seemed to handle the large crowd with ease. We had two servers check on us periodically and both were efficient. Standard breakfast menu items. Don't expect anything too creative. Ordered a cheese omelette (Swiss cheese) w/ egg substitutes. Taste was ok, but didn't feel like I was eating too heavy which is a plus. I'll be back for breakfast, but not before I try a few other places first.
(4)
Malissa S.
We tried eating here for the first time last week and we were pleasantly surprised! Everyone who was working was incredibly nice:) The menu is huge and it has so many choices, no matter what you're in the mood for- you'll find something. I had the Greek burger and it was DELICIOUS!!! My boyfriend had the fisherman sandwich and he really loved it. I had alot of trouble deciding from all the good choices though. I can't wait to go again and try some of the sandwiches and salads and dinner selections. Great place!!!! Very cute and clean inside too:)
(5)
David J.
Food was good service was good and descent sized portions for the price.........im stuffed
(4)
Samantha B.
This place gives you tons of food and I have to say they are really good! I don't understand why the rating is lower than 4. These people are crazy!!! Lol.. This place is honestly really good. I enjoyed eating here and getting to experience the food options on the menu. I left feeling super full and satisfied...
(5)
Ben O.
Solid diner food, good service, and nice specials add up to a solid four stars for Mama's Kitchen. There's even a colorful mural on the back wall: veldt, sandy hills, and mountains -- the biscuit recipe might use that foreshortening. I'm sorry, that was a terrible pun, but it distracts me from the fact that the table is set with "Artificial Dairy Product Coffee Companion" and some generic ketchup. A five-star diner would have real Heinz ketchup. To their credit, they do have half-and-half for those who ask for it, so don't be shy about asking. I saw both bathroom doors opened prematurely by other patrons who didn't realize the bathrooms were in use. Either people aren't using the locks or they're not working. Either way, caveat minctor. I loved my veggie skillet with three eggs sunny side up in a row on top of the long food-boat. Set sail for nom! And on our way out, we redeemed the Foursquare special: a free order of bacon cheese fries (in our case, to go, with bacon on the side).
(4)
Beth D.
After driving by every morning on our way to work, my husband and I decided to give Mamas Kitchen a try Sunday morning around 11am. They were very crowded, and practically every table was taken. That being said, the service was so much faster than any other 'Sunday morning' breakfast place. It isn't fancy, but for cheap food it was pretty dang good. I probably would have give it 4 stars, but there was an unidentified floating object in my drink. We got three breakfasts and two sodas and the bill was only $20.
(3)
Jennifer C.
This is a cute little restaurant with a fairly sized menu that can cater to almost any palate. I went for their breakfast and can only speak for that. I had their taco skillet with was really big, my husband had their meat-lovers omlete which was also pretty good. I have to say this place is pretty cheat (we didn't even break $20), and the waitress was fast/efficient. If you are looking for a good breakfast joint, my friend you must stop here. Please let me know how their lunch/dinner is!
(4)
Tim S.
A great, well lit cafe. Friendly staff and big portions and comfortable seating. A great breakfast option with no wait time. I'm definitely coming here from now on.
(4)
Brooke K.
I found this place online. I loved the name and the menu looked great. I love omelets, but usually don't like most of the standard ones offered on menus, so I love that this place has so many different omelets. My husband and I went at about 1PM on New Years Day. It was pretty steady but not slammed. The waitress brought us our drinks right away but then took about 10 minutes to come back and take our order. She didn't write it down, which always makes me nervous. About five minutes later she came back with a pen and paper and asked for our order again because she had forgotten most of it. The food took quite a while to come out. I got eggs benedict (I should have gotten an omelet!). Eggs benedict is one of my favorite things and Mama's Kitchen has homemade hollandaise sauce that I wanted to try. The sauce is way too salty. My husband agreed and he rarely thinks anything is too salty. The prices were good, but the food wasn't good and the service was poor, so I was really disappointed. At the end of the meal my husband found a small metal shard in his food. It wouldn't have killed him, or even hurt him, but it's still never fun to find stuff in your food. I wouldn't mind trying the place again since it's so close to our house and has such a cool menu, but I don't think I'll be able to talk my husband into returning.
(2)
Mike S.
Another very good "home-cooking" diner/breakfast place. Dropped in for a quick breakfast, which was served quickly, well-cooked and at a low price. They offer a very extensive breakfast menu with many egg variations, omelets, skillets, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, sausage, etc. The lunch menu also looks good, offering both standard diner items and some more adventuresome option. I also like strong coffee and have to say theirs does not approach the West Tampa cuban/expresso octane, but good flavored and presented immediately. Sometimes a fast cuppa on a cold morning is extra delicious.
(3)
Brad D.
I'm here almost every weekend for breakfast/brunch or whenever I roll out of bed. Service is friendly and fast. Typical Greek diner food. My only complaint is the bad coffee and fake creamer. If you ask nice, they will bring you real cream from the kitchen.
(4)
Will C.
There is a phrase, "Hole in the wall"; it accurately describes Mama's Kitchen. If you were driving past this restaurant, you could very easily mistake it for a Tax building or some sort of office. Once you find it, however, you will never forget where it is. Everything about this place defines "home cooking". I have had a number of meals in this place, ranging from Philly Cheesesteaks to Chicken Alfredo, and I am 100% certain that they hand make nearly everything in the place. The cheesesteak had hand chopped meat and freshly sliced vegetables, the sweet Marinara is made (never canned), the coleslaw is just as good (if not better) than Mel's Hot Dogs' slaw, and all of their cream sauces are made from scratch with real cream. The people are all incredibly friendly and willing to cater to your every whim. Just recently, I asked for some Arnold Palmer Iced Tea (Iced Tea with Lemonade mixed in) after not seeing it on the menu. My waiter (who was also the owner) said "Not a problem" and came back with a freshly mixed batch. I was impressed, as most restaurants just give you a funny look if you ask for something they don't know. As long as you can describe what you want, and they have the ingredients, Mama's Kitchen can and will make it. Unfortunately, Mama's Kitchen does close at 8 PM, so you can't enjoy this really good food later at night, but if you do get there later in the day (around 7-ish, in my case), they will not kick you after if it's after 8. My table was there until about 8:50 PM and they were still bringing us drinks and asking if we needed anything else. These people work hard for your money, and you still pay under ten dollars for most of the menu items. This is a very good establishment. I'd go so far as to say it's the best diner in Tampa Bay. With great food at greater prices and the greatest service I've had in years, to not try them is only a disservice to you.
(5)
Axis S.
Updating previous 4-star review (Left it below as reference): It started well - I was in a good mood with good company. I'll never get that hour and change of my life back. Congratulations, you've achieved my single 1-star review for 2013. Sunday. Tables 95% full, no one standing/waiting, we sat at a clean booth & smiled at each other. The night before had been excellent, and while no real hangover there was definitely a bit of soreness and "just want some eggs." 46 minutes (got bored, started a timer about 10 minutes in) for eggs that showed up cold. Aside from being cold, the food was hastily and poorly prepared: Hashbrowns were greasy and burnt, eggs unevenly cooked, roll for my breakfast sandwich was untoasted and torn/cracked. Burnt, weak coffee. During all this my companion barely kept me from bailing and finding anywhere else... Ella's is 3.2 miles away. Three Coins is just 2.7 miles. Yelp's app is very good for "anywhere but here" moments. Look, there's a Burger King Right Over There... Behind me the table took the largely absent Blonde(tm) waitress to task, and her shrill protestations that it was the kitchen that was slow rang hollow. Slow kitchens serve hot food - if the meal arrives cold, it's the server. We took the hits and survived, and came out of the meal with an agreed upon protocol for "Go. Just Go. Now." What doesn't kill you... We were starving, however, so the food was eaten quickly. My check and card were processed in a lightning quick, stunning display of efficiency. 20% as a good-bye kiss, and then leaving, never to return. I refused to let my date (oops, let's see if they read these...) pay, as I wouldn't voluntarily let anyone I care about (yikes...) spend money here. ----- 4/2012:Solid, well-done breakfast and Greek favorites. ProTip: Get the breakfast burrito, but swap out gyro meat and feta for the sausage & cheddar, and add some spinach. If you're more traditional, Nick's Sandwich is simply the best breakfast sandwich I've had in years. Friendly, quick staff. Kitchen that rarely gets behind, but when it does it's not bad, maybe 7-10 minutes and not 25-30 like some places when slammed. Coffee could be brewed a bit stronger, but then I like espresso so I'm far from the norm on that. Best experience: Power out for 15 minutes. We walk in just as the power comes back on, Sunday morning. Fresh coffee for everyone gratis, and then it's head down over the cooktop and orders flying out -- not 'hurry up' food, *good* food. Atmosphere is simple: It's a diner. And a damn fine one.
(1)
Antonio C.
Breakfast joint with standard breakfast options. Food was decent and fairly priced.
(4)
Adam P.
Good quality diner. Very friendly service and inexpensive. Good location.
(4)
Robin W.
BREAKFAST ........... best part of the day when you start out at Mamas. Okay who can mess up breakfast really (although I have had it happen) but not here. I got the early bird special, which is a choice of 3 pancakes or/ french toast , eggs and bacon or sausage. I got the french toast and bacon. YUMMMMM is all I can say. Their portions are very generous on large plates I have never left hungry. We ate dinner here last night and the booth behind us ordered breakfast. I over heard the gentleman explain the french toast was the best. Then I woke up this morning smelling the french toast from the night before and had to go back. I was not disappointed ...... have I found a neighborhood favorite spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner??!! I think so.The dinner which was also fantastic and huge ( I had the pot roast and took 2/3 home I could not eat all of it. and it too was delicious) try this place out I know you will be back.
(4)
Linda B.
Been going to MK off and on for several years for occasional breakfast. had two pretty rough experiences but the rest were OK. Those two times it seemed that the servers were poorly trained or just not good. Overall it's fine for a quick basic breakfast. The coffee is pretty weak so I just get water and pick up coffee elsewhere.
(3)
Nathan S.
If you're looking for a small homey diner, this is it. Great food, great service, and a great price!
(5)
Bev P.
we had lunch here yesterday,, while waiting for a car to be serviced.. wonderful place,, great food... I would recommend this restaurant to anyone...
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
John K.
First time here. Sunday mid morning. All tables full. Bit of a wait but a comfortable seat was available. Staff was very friendly and engaging. We had two different "skillets" and they were awesome. Very substantial portions at a very fair price. If you require ambience this spot won't wiggle your ears but if you like heaping plates of tasty food served up by friendly folks stop on in.
(4)Pastora Itzel E.
I will start by saying that my server was nice but she was I guess occupied because there were only two servers in but she kept checking up on me while I was deciding want to get in that's why I'm giving it 1 star. No I order a spicy chicken sandwich and I was expecting it to have flavor but when I got it after what it felt like forever probably 20 minutes for a sandwich it was so tastless that my 93-year-old almost disabled granpa could have cooked the better. So I was on a break from a training and had to leave because I had like five minutes left because they took forever and I'm about to finish the half that I could hit up that nasty sandwich and I find a hair on my fries so I tell the server and she close the manager he looks at it he starts laughing and says it's just cheese. NO SIR THAT WAS A HAIR. So I never asked for discounts I've worked in the industry but the least you could do is offer and not only a discount but upper to come my meal so he says he took my fries and then charged me $10 for a tasteless sandwich that has hairy fries. NOT HAPPY
(2)Jorge A.
The breakfast menu is good, have not gone wrong there. However, the lunch/dinner items are not tasty. You can tell that the food is not made from scratch and is probably frozen. They do not let you sub out anything on the menu. We didn't want the soup and asked it we could have more rice instead, we got shot down. The service is slow. Real slow.... A table next to us ordered a ceaser salad with chicken and he waited almost 25 min for it. It was not tasty looking from my seat, not worth it.
(2)Zajah O.
Horrible experience! NO SUBSTITUTIONS - wth?! You're quick to take my money if I just opt to not take the side at all but you'll deny me the option to substitute for something else. This is poor restaurant service and diminishes the customer's experience to be able to enjoy a personally chosen meal without limitations. What added to this sad experience was that we ordered hot tea and only got hot water, lemons and honey. Hot water became warm / cold waiting on someone to finally bring us tea bags. We will not be returning to this place. NO SUBSTITUTIONS = NO CUSTOMERS
(1)Kristen H.
The food IS very good, and the prices are not that bad, BUT THEY ARE SOOOOO SLOW in terms of service.
(4)Jenn M.
I called in an order for a typical breakfast (eggs, toast, bacon) and arrived late to pick it up. The service was so great that they made me fresh toast on the spot because they didn't want to send me off with cold toast. It's clear that the family take great pride in their business and I really felt like I was welcome...even on a $5 order ;) I cannot wait to go back to try their other offerings!
(5)Danny D.
Best food in Tampa for breakfast and lunch. Love the staff and owners. Recommended to all!!!
(5)Steve E.
You've got to love a place called Mama's Kitchen that's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday - Saturday from 6am - 8pm, and Sundays from 6am - 3pm. Mama's can be found on Florida Avenue about two blocks north of Busch Boulevard. Just look for all the cars parked outside. This is a real home cooking, family-style restaurant, serving their combination of Greek, Italian, and American cuisine for very reasonable prices. There is a separate menu section for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and although I've only been there for breakfast I do want to go back and try some of their other offerings later in the day. The restaurant is amazingly very clean, and the service is fast and on point given the number of meals they are cranking out. For breakfast on the weekends you may have to wait for a table, but during the week I've never had any issues slipping in for a quick meal. Breakfast is the traditional eggs served with hash browns, home fries, or grits, and your choice of toast. They offer all different kinds of meats from bacon to sausage to steak to pork chops. Mama's also serves up about a dozen different three-egg omelets, or you can build-your-own if none of those options appeal to you. They also have a staggering list of waffles, pancakes, French toast, breakfast sandwiches, and skillet meals. Breakfast for me is usually a Greek Omelet with a half-order of biscuits and gravy. On the weekends I'll splurge and order the Eggs Benedict when I have a bit more time. At lunchtime the menu switches over to a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, and wraps, with a lot of Greek and Italian specialties mixed in with your standard deli sandwiches. For dinner, bring on the burgers -- Lots of them! Plus seafood dinners, classic Italian entrées, and standard comfort food specials. I like the diversity of the menu, the quality and quantity of the food, the friendly people, and the affordable prices. Give them a try!
(4)Steve C.
This place has been here for years and I finally stopped in, killing time before my 10am appt. Plenty of space inside and they have much needed shades to block the morning sun from blinding its diners. The breakfast options were plentiful and rightly priced. The dining room is clean and orderly. I liked the fact that they had ample TVs with the news on for people who dined alone like myself. I ordered the special: 2 eggs, bacon, home fries and rye toast. All this for $4.55. The food was cooked properly, just lacked any pizzazz and flavor. That's probably my fault because this is not a pizazz place. It's a solid diner with well cooked meals. Stop in and give it a try. The staff is very friendly as well.
(3)Lauren G.
First time here for breakfast. I got the NY Breakfast Sandwich which was good, but would have like the cheese melted instead of just put on right before being brought out. I will come back to try some other food.
(4)Dave C.
One of my favorite places to eat - excellent biscuits and gravy. If you are super hungry, the hangover platter is as good as it sounds!
(5)Michelle D.
Cute small family run diner. Delicious food at good prices, wonderful friendly staff, real cooking. I had Mama's omelette, added peppers, and it was loaded with real goat cheese and veggies. Don't come here if you need a quick bite, they cook from scratch and it takes time, but it's so worth it.
(5)Sam Q.
I found a new breakfast place. Yay! Finding good breakfast places is hard. I do the fast food thing (Burger King, Mickey D's, Taco Bell, etc.) when I'm in a hurry. They're cheap, but you get cheap food. I'm ok with Denny's and IHOP, but I'm not crazy about the "chain" feel. I tend to gravitate to small Cuban shops because I like the coffee and I prefer the "home made" feel. There are a couple of breakfast gems in this category, like Nicki's and Garden Grill. I'm happy to add Mamas Kitchen to this list. Mamas is a down to earth place with a nice breakfast menu. They do lunch and dinner, but I've only been here for breakfast. I came in during the week, and it wasn't busy. There was an assortment of senior citizens milling around, which tells me the food must be good. One peek at the menu, and I smiled. Pancakes, breakfast pitas, burritos, and sandwiches, a "Heart Attack Omelet", yay! I'm trying to eat healthy so I was glad to see they has a "Lean Mean" omelet with Turkey and egg whites. I subbed the cottage cheese with bread because I'm not THAT committed. I like this place, and I'm coming back. I'm a fan.
(4)Christina C.
Large helpings for surprisingly healthy tasting breakfast. I thought this would be the type of place where everything is soaked in butter (which I was kind of hoping for). Other than the English muffins being buttered, I didn't really see the butter. I got the Eggs Benedict with grits. They actually gave me butter so I could add it to the grits myself. The grits are exactly what you would expect from this place, not fantastic, just meh. The Eggs Benedict were good, with a homemade sauce. My mom got eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and english muffins. She enjoyed it all, but again the hashbrowns didn't taste like they had any butter. Either this place cooks everything in a healthy way or somehow they make it taste healthy (which is good or bad, depending on what you are looking for). Even though from the outside this place looks a little run down, the clientele are all very nice. Tons of families come here and by 10 a.m. on a Sunday there is a wait for a table!
(3)Mahdy S.
I'm just happy to see that Tampa still has a few old fashioned diners like this one around. Mama's kitchen, to me, appears more old school from the outside then it does inside. I didn't ask why, but their seems to be a lion theme all around the restaurant which is evident by the numerous wall portraits inside and around the establishment. Pretty cool. I was here with a friend for breakfast on a Saturday morning. It started to fill up around 8 am, but that didn't seem to phase the wait staff, who seemed to handle the large crowd with ease. We had two servers check on us periodically and both were efficient. Standard breakfast menu items. Don't expect anything too creative. Ordered a cheese omelette (Swiss cheese) w/ egg substitutes. Taste was ok, but didn't feel like I was eating too heavy which is a plus. I'll be back for breakfast, but not before I try a few other places first.
(4)Malissa S.
We tried eating here for the first time last week and we were pleasantly surprised! Everyone who was working was incredibly nice:) The menu is huge and it has so many choices, no matter what you're in the mood for- you'll find something. I had the Greek burger and it was DELICIOUS!!! My boyfriend had the fisherman sandwich and he really loved it. I had alot of trouble deciding from all the good choices though. I can't wait to go again and try some of the sandwiches and salads and dinner selections. Great place!!!! Very cute and clean inside too:)
(5)David J.
Food was good service was good and descent sized portions for the price.........im stuffed
(4)Samantha B.
This place gives you tons of food and I have to say they are really good! I don't understand why the rating is lower than 4. These people are crazy!!! Lol.. This place is honestly really good. I enjoyed eating here and getting to experience the food options on the menu. I left feeling super full and satisfied...
(5)Ben O.
Solid diner food, good service, and nice specials add up to a solid four stars for Mama's Kitchen. There's even a colorful mural on the back wall: veldt, sandy hills, and mountains -- the biscuit recipe might use that foreshortening. I'm sorry, that was a terrible pun, but it distracts me from the fact that the table is set with "Artificial Dairy Product Coffee Companion" and some generic ketchup. A five-star diner would have real Heinz ketchup. To their credit, they do have half-and-half for those who ask for it, so don't be shy about asking. I saw both bathroom doors opened prematurely by other patrons who didn't realize the bathrooms were in use. Either people aren't using the locks or they're not working. Either way, caveat minctor. I loved my veggie skillet with three eggs sunny side up in a row on top of the long food-boat. Set sail for nom! And on our way out, we redeemed the Foursquare special: a free order of bacon cheese fries (in our case, to go, with bacon on the side).
(4)Beth D.
After driving by every morning on our way to work, my husband and I decided to give Mamas Kitchen a try Sunday morning around 11am. They were very crowded, and practically every table was taken. That being said, the service was so much faster than any other 'Sunday morning' breakfast place. It isn't fancy, but for cheap food it was pretty dang good. I probably would have give it 4 stars, but there was an unidentified floating object in my drink. We got three breakfasts and two sodas and the bill was only $20.
(3)Jennifer C.
This is a cute little restaurant with a fairly sized menu that can cater to almost any palate. I went for their breakfast and can only speak for that. I had their taco skillet with was really big, my husband had their meat-lovers omlete which was also pretty good. I have to say this place is pretty cheat (we didn't even break $20), and the waitress was fast/efficient. If you are looking for a good breakfast joint, my friend you must stop here. Please let me know how their lunch/dinner is!
(4)Tim S.
A great, well lit cafe. Friendly staff and big portions and comfortable seating. A great breakfast option with no wait time. I'm definitely coming here from now on.
(4)Brooke K.
I found this place online. I loved the name and the menu looked great. I love omelets, but usually don't like most of the standard ones offered on menus, so I love that this place has so many different omelets. My husband and I went at about 1PM on New Years Day. It was pretty steady but not slammed. The waitress brought us our drinks right away but then took about 10 minutes to come back and take our order. She didn't write it down, which always makes me nervous. About five minutes later she came back with a pen and paper and asked for our order again because she had forgotten most of it. The food took quite a while to come out. I got eggs benedict (I should have gotten an omelet!). Eggs benedict is one of my favorite things and Mama's Kitchen has homemade hollandaise sauce that I wanted to try. The sauce is way too salty. My husband agreed and he rarely thinks anything is too salty. The prices were good, but the food wasn't good and the service was poor, so I was really disappointed. At the end of the meal my husband found a small metal shard in his food. It wouldn't have killed him, or even hurt him, but it's still never fun to find stuff in your food. I wouldn't mind trying the place again since it's so close to our house and has such a cool menu, but I don't think I'll be able to talk my husband into returning.
(2)Mike S.
Another very good "home-cooking" diner/breakfast place. Dropped in for a quick breakfast, which was served quickly, well-cooked and at a low price. They offer a very extensive breakfast menu with many egg variations, omelets, skillets, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, sausage, etc. The lunch menu also looks good, offering both standard diner items and some more adventuresome option. I also like strong coffee and have to say theirs does not approach the West Tampa cuban/expresso octane, but good flavored and presented immediately. Sometimes a fast cuppa on a cold morning is extra delicious.
(3)Brad D.
I'm here almost every weekend for breakfast/brunch or whenever I roll out of bed. Service is friendly and fast. Typical Greek diner food. My only complaint is the bad coffee and fake creamer. If you ask nice, they will bring you real cream from the kitchen.
(4)Will C.
There is a phrase, "Hole in the wall"; it accurately describes Mama's Kitchen. If you were driving past this restaurant, you could very easily mistake it for a Tax building or some sort of office. Once you find it, however, you will never forget where it is. Everything about this place defines "home cooking". I have had a number of meals in this place, ranging from Philly Cheesesteaks to Chicken Alfredo, and I am 100% certain that they hand make nearly everything in the place. The cheesesteak had hand chopped meat and freshly sliced vegetables, the sweet Marinara is made (never canned), the coleslaw is just as good (if not better) than Mel's Hot Dogs' slaw, and all of their cream sauces are made from scratch with real cream. The people are all incredibly friendly and willing to cater to your every whim. Just recently, I asked for some Arnold Palmer Iced Tea (Iced Tea with Lemonade mixed in) after not seeing it on the menu. My waiter (who was also the owner) said "Not a problem" and came back with a freshly mixed batch. I was impressed, as most restaurants just give you a funny look if you ask for something they don't know. As long as you can describe what you want, and they have the ingredients, Mama's Kitchen can and will make it. Unfortunately, Mama's Kitchen does close at 8 PM, so you can't enjoy this really good food later at night, but if you do get there later in the day (around 7-ish, in my case), they will not kick you after if it's after 8. My table was there until about 8:50 PM and they were still bringing us drinks and asking if we needed anything else. These people work hard for your money, and you still pay under ten dollars for most of the menu items. This is a very good establishment. I'd go so far as to say it's the best diner in Tampa Bay. With great food at greater prices and the greatest service I've had in years, to not try them is only a disservice to you.
(5)Axis S.
Updating previous 4-star review (Left it below as reference): It started well - I was in a good mood with good company. I'll never get that hour and change of my life back. Congratulations, you've achieved my single 1-star review for 2013. Sunday. Tables 95% full, no one standing/waiting, we sat at a clean booth & smiled at each other. The night before had been excellent, and while no real hangover there was definitely a bit of soreness and "just want some eggs." 46 minutes (got bored, started a timer about 10 minutes in) for eggs that showed up cold. Aside from being cold, the food was hastily and poorly prepared: Hashbrowns were greasy and burnt, eggs unevenly cooked, roll for my breakfast sandwich was untoasted and torn/cracked. Burnt, weak coffee. During all this my companion barely kept me from bailing and finding anywhere else... Ella's is 3.2 miles away. Three Coins is just 2.7 miles. Yelp's app is very good for "anywhere but here" moments. Look, there's a Burger King Right Over There... Behind me the table took the largely absent Blonde(tm) waitress to task, and her shrill protestations that it was the kitchen that was slow rang hollow. Slow kitchens serve hot food - if the meal arrives cold, it's the server. We took the hits and survived, and came out of the meal with an agreed upon protocol for "Go. Just Go. Now." What doesn't kill you... We were starving, however, so the food was eaten quickly. My check and card were processed in a lightning quick, stunning display of efficiency. 20% as a good-bye kiss, and then leaving, never to return. I refused to let my date (oops, let's see if they read these...) pay, as I wouldn't voluntarily let anyone I care about (yikes...) spend money here. ----- 4/2012:Solid, well-done breakfast and Greek favorites. ProTip: Get the breakfast burrito, but swap out gyro meat and feta for the sausage & cheddar, and add some spinach. If you're more traditional, Nick's Sandwich is simply the best breakfast sandwich I've had in years. Friendly, quick staff. Kitchen that rarely gets behind, but when it does it's not bad, maybe 7-10 minutes and not 25-30 like some places when slammed. Coffee could be brewed a bit stronger, but then I like espresso so I'm far from the norm on that. Best experience: Power out for 15 minutes. We walk in just as the power comes back on, Sunday morning. Fresh coffee for everyone gratis, and then it's head down over the cooktop and orders flying out -- not 'hurry up' food, *good* food. Atmosphere is simple: It's a diner. And a damn fine one.
(1)Antonio C.
Breakfast joint with standard breakfast options. Food was decent and fairly priced.
(4)Adam P.
Good quality diner. Very friendly service and inexpensive. Good location.
(4)Robin W.
BREAKFAST ........... best part of the day when you start out at Mamas. Okay who can mess up breakfast really (although I have had it happen) but not here. I got the early bird special, which is a choice of 3 pancakes or/ french toast , eggs and bacon or sausage. I got the french toast and bacon. YUMMMMM is all I can say. Their portions are very generous on large plates I have never left hungry. We ate dinner here last night and the booth behind us ordered breakfast. I over heard the gentleman explain the french toast was the best. Then I woke up this morning smelling the french toast from the night before and had to go back. I was not disappointed ...... have I found a neighborhood favorite spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner??!! I think so.The dinner which was also fantastic and huge ( I had the pot roast and took 2/3 home I could not eat all of it. and it too was delicious) try this place out I know you will be back.
(4)Linda B.
Been going to MK off and on for several years for occasional breakfast. had two pretty rough experiences but the rest were OK. Those two times it seemed that the servers were poorly trained or just not good. Overall it's fine for a quick basic breakfast. The coffee is pretty weak so I just get water and pick up coffee elsewhere.
(3)Nathan S.
If you're looking for a small homey diner, this is it. Great food, great service, and a great price!
(5)Bev P.
we had lunch here yesterday,, while waiting for a car to be serviced.. wonderful place,, great food... I would recommend this restaurant to anyone...
(5)