Mama Carolla's Old Italian
(317) 259-9412
1031 E 54TH St
Indianapolis,
IN
46220
39.8511
-86.141
Neighborhoods: Meridian-Kessler, Central Indianapolis
What People Are Saying About Mama Carolla's Old Italian
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short
The tone inside this rambling stucco villa with its green vines and red geraniums is defiantly old-world. The weekend regulars who crowd the bar, sipping on sloppy martinis until their names are called, don't seem to mind the wait. Mama Carolla's doesn't veer far off the path of mainstream Italian fare, offering classic dishes like pasta with clam sauce, cannelloni and whatever ravioli or lasagna the cook has in mind that evening.
User Reviews
James2000
June 10, 2009
I took my wife to Mama’s last night and had such a great experience I thought I would get online to write a review. It was are first time to the Restaurant and being that I have worked in the service industry for many years before earning my degree I put myself at the mercy of our Server. I asked him for a wine recommendation. I was looking for a good Pinot Noir and they had 3 or 4 to pick from. I took the servers recommendation on the Chehalem Pinot Noir. It was excellent and reasonable. Then I asked for a appetizer and he suggested the artichoke fritters witch were amazing! Now it was time for the main coarse. I went with the special veal cannelloni and my wife had the chicken rigatoni. We shared our entrees because they were both so excellent. We did not finish our food because we decided to save room for desert. Our serve recommended the tiramisu and just like everything else he recommended it was amazing. My wife and I will definitely be returning and if you are thinking Italian you should check it out.
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lmsarbach
May 14, 2009
I was told I couldn't pass up a meal at Mama Carolla's...so after living in Indy for almost a year, I tried it. Unfortunately, I tried it ona special occassion....my husbands B-day. They knew it was a special occassion but never acknowledged it. They sat us by the front door where people kept going in and out all night and where we received a blast of cold air each time. This also happens to be by the fireplace as well. I know...fireplace, sounds romantic....NOT! This is the congregating point for all patrons waiting to be seated. Therefore, they were standing right next to our table. Quite frankly, this restaurant was not at all what we expected and we could have easily gotten up and left and they would never have known as the service was also not that great. Chairs were uncomfortable and it was so loud that we had to move closer at the table to have a conversation. Save your money....this place is pricey too, service is bad and definetly no romantic!!
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happyjbelle
May 02, 2009
When trying a new italian restaurant, I generally order a basic pasta dish with tomatoes and olive oil. (Quality of food can be masked if it is smothered in cheese, marinara sauce or loaded with spices.) The tomatoes were under-ripe and were reminiscent of soggy cardboard (as are all under-ripe store bought tomatoes - nothing at all like a ripe roma or home grown tomatoe from the garden. Even canned tomatoes would have been better in this dish). I was quite disappointed with my entree especially because this is a very basic italian dish. Having said that, sampling other entrees at the table - most were quite tastey and the asparagus appetizers were wonderful. The bread was okay - not bad but we have had much better; the salads were small - but ample food overall. The other 3 diners in my party enjoyed the food. As for atmosphere, many reviews called it quaint and romantic because it was an old house converted into a restaurant. Well, I am from Bloomington Indiana where most non-chain restaurants are in converted old homes. And this atmosphere can be more intimate and more romantic unless you have to follow your server through a maze of people waiting and also have to make your way through them to use the restroom and to leave. Plus, you are seated at a table where you are just as close to your date as you are to the people at each of the tables around you. We had to lean into each other to hear what the other was saying. The wait staff seemed more frustrated than rude. Tough working conditions having to weave in and out of everything. Prices were very reasonable.
read full reviewThe Details on Mama Carolla's Old Italian
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Outdoor Dining
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
In bar only
