In the summer of 2019, food lovers were once again able to enjoy a true taste of Italy when Mamma Lina’s opened their restaurant on Albany Road in Roath.
The original Mamma Lina’s opened on Clifton Street in 1996. Owned by Lina Intriglia who moved to Wales with her three sons from Reggio Calabria, Italy in 1990, the restaurant became a firm favourite and was regularly fully booked.
Five years after opening, Lina had to close the restaurant for personal reasons. All three of her sons were chefs themselves and Massimo had his own restaurant in Manchester.
Moving back to Cardiff, he and Gianluca Pandolfi a close friend of the family from Italy who had also moved to Wales with his family, decided to open their own restaurant, not in Cardiff but in Newport.
Six years ago, Mamma Lina’s opened in Rogerstone, Newport. Employing family members and using the same traditional recipes previously used in Cardiff, the restaurant was an immediate success.
Within twelve months of opening, they needed a larger venue and moved to the 160-seater restaurant on Tregwilym Road. The restaurant has now won multiple awards and is frequently fully booked.
Last year, Massimo and Gianluca made the decision to open Mamma Lina’s in Cardiff. After an extensive refurbishment, the 50-seater restaurant opened on Albany Road in the former Zio Pins location.
Gianluca’s brother in law and experienced front of house manager Marcello Celestini is the manager of the restaurant and Massimo is in the kitchen. Retaining their focus on serving traditional Italian favourite pizzas and pasta dishes and providing the very warm welcome for which Mamma Lina’s is renowned, it has quickly gained a very good reputation and received many fantastic online reviews.
“We pride ourselves on using fresh local produce, special ingredients imported from Italy and our family recipes to create the extensive range of authentic Italian dishes we serve to our customers,” explains Marcello. “We love welcoming new guests to the restaurant and those returning who enjoy their visits.”
To book a table at Mamma Lina’s please phone
02920 490075 or email info@mammalinascardiff.co.uk
