By Norine Longo
Gino D’Ameglio loves his mother, Rosa. She is the inspiration of his restaurant, which is affectionately named Mamma Rosa’s, and which includes an area dedicated to her memory.
The D’Ameglio family entered into restaurant ownership when D’Ameglio’s father, Luigi, opened Luigi’s Tomato Pie Restaurant in Trenton in 1959. It served the area for 16 years.
In 1979, at the age of 22, Gino opened Mamma Rosa’s Pizzeria at the same Greenwood Avenue location, serving homemade Italian and American dishes until 1992. The restaurant has since moved to its current location in Hamilton, where it will celebrate its 10-year anniversary this year.
D’Ameglio said Hamilton is where his roots are, and refers to the new location as their “new little piece of Italy.”
“We feel that we have created an atmosphere and menu that are perfect for fine and casual dining,” he said.
D’Ameglio attributes the restaurant’s popularity and success to good food and service. He said the reason the restaurant has stood the test of time is due to his drive to be there and take care of everyone.
“I feel like the people who dine here are more our friends than our customers,” D’Ameglio said.
He said when he asks people, “How’ve you been?” or “How are you doing?” he sincerely wants to know how you’re doing.
D’Ameglio said he likes to operate his business like his kitchen. “This is like a house,” he said. “People feel like they are eating at home here.”
D’Ameglio said he takes pride in cooking, and at the restaurant they do their own breading, preparing and cooking. He said nothing is pre-made, and they don’t skimp on ingredients.
Mamma Rosa’s offers a menu featuring a variety of seafood, veal, chicken, pastas, tomato-pie style pizzas and an array of sandwiches. Most-requested items include veal and peppers, lasagna, eggplant, veal sambucca, gnocchi, shrimp and broccoli rabe, chicken formage, chicken parmesan and tomato pie.
D’Ameglio describes the eatery with two mottos that are frequently heard at the restaurant. The first captures the fusion of the environment and food saying, “Where fine and casual dining meet.” The second, he said is not complicated and refers to the quality of their items saying, “Simply great food.”
He said, “We’re definitely an out-of-the-way place worth finding.”
Throughout 2010, Mamma Rosa’s will pay tribute to customers and the community through a series of anniversary activities. They will host a Steinert High School choir performance on their patio June 9. The eatery will host a June 13 celebration with live music, featuring the band, Prosperity, for which D’Ameglio is the bassist. Joining them will be other local musicians. June 27, the restaurant will also host a charity event for Muscular Dystrophy with celebrity servers.
Mamma Rosa’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant offers deliveries and catering for all occasions. It is located at 572 Klockner Road in Hamilton. For more information, call (609) 588-5454.
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