Mama's Food Shop

(212) 777-4425

200 E 3rd St (at Ave. B)
New York, NY 10009 40.7227 -73.9832

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Neighborhoods: Alphabet City, East Village, Downtown

Hours:

Mon-Fri, 5pm-10pm

Sat-Sun, noon-10:30pm

Price:

$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

Cheap Eats

Cuisine:

Southern, Californian

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Mama's Food Shop

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Portraits of mothers cover the walls at this appropriately named East Village spot. Mismatched tables and chairs make for a lovable afterthought of a dining room; one that's close enough to the kitchen that you can hear the cooks hacking away at chickens during prep time. Mama's clientele is extremely loyal--regulars are greeted by name. – – The Food – Mama's serves up overflowing plates of Southern-style comfort food. Though any marginally competent home cook could whip up a meal of comparable quality with ease, Mama's food is undeniably tasty. And the low…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
If you like your food piping hot, you'll need to zap it in the restaurant's microwave.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The decor is great and includes random portraits of Mama's of all shapes, sizes and colors and homey mismatached tables and chairs.”
  2. “Mamas is good for fried chicken or a veggie plate-big portions and no frills (yet cozy/warm) seating.”
food quality
82.58000373840332% positive
  1. “I've been searching for a place to get good southern, comfort food.”
  2. “have had better, crispier, juicier chicken; the meatloaf is too dry for them not to have gravy on the premises; and the salmon is also dry and tasteless.”
  3. “It is a great deal, for around $10, you have a real big "pile" of food on your plate, and that includes a beverage.”
  4. “The long list of sides includes great favorites (like mac n' cheese or mashed potatoes) and some new ones with a twist (broccoli with whole pieces of roasted garlic or cous cous).”
  5. “Although the price was very reasonable, the pre-made food was hard as rock and it's mostly served cold.”
  6. “The baked chicken and mashed potatoes are really good, but the service stank.”
  7. “The food here is excellent and portions are huge.”
  8. “was excited to go to Mama's for the first time, and I did love the portions and liked the food, but I honestly would rather spend an extra couple bucks and have the food made to order (lukewarm fried chicken ends up tasting so/so) and be waited on.”
  9. “The food is tasty, especially the mac n'cheese.”
  10. “Maybe it was the cold weather outside that was drifting into the restaurant as the food is right by the door, but no one should have to eat a cold dinner.”
  11. “cheap, good food and good music”
  12. “The food wasn't that good.”
  13. “And the reason the food is cold is because you're supposed to heat it up yourself!”
  14. “We now have two great Southern style comfort food spots in the neighborhood, mamas & grandma Birdie's!”
  15. “If you want good cheap grub, go to any cuchifrito in the city, or hit up the outer boroughs for some decent comfort food, where the space is clean and sanitary.”
  16. “went into the buffet style ordering counter, got my plate and was surprised when I bit into a cold plate of chicken and sweet potato.”
  17. “The portions are large, the salmon is the best I've had in the area (very plain but- gasp!”
  18. “Mama's has the most delicious meatloaf and mashed potatoes.”
  19. “Great food in a great area”
  20. “great place to get your soul food fix.”
  21. “great food, huge portions”
  22. “I've heard the mashed potatoes and the macaroni and cheese are the best anywhere, but the vegetables are so good I've never gotten anything else.”
  23. “good confort food”
  24. “do you love friend chicken?”
  25. “Otherwise, everthing has always been yummy.”
  26. “Mamas is good for fried chicken or a veggie plate-big portions and no frills (yet cozy/warm) seating.”
  27. “First of all, Mama's is not a soul food joint; just a place that serves rich, tasty, well-seasoned, home-style food.”
  28. “The food is so good that you will want to eat every.”
  29. “The food is truly one of the best bargains in the city.”
  30. “The mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, brocolli were good but the chicken was dry and cold, no good.”
  31. “The food is really tasty especially the smash potatoes.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This might be a good place if you just want to grab some fast take-out that taste no better than MacDonalds.”
  2. “great place to get your soul food fix.”
service
80.0% positive
  1. “Staff can be a little rude.”
  2. “Service is fast and attentive.”
  3. “The baked chicken and mashed potatoes are really good, but the service stank.”
  4. “best customer service ever”
  5. “Probably not a place to go with a huge group of people although I went with 5 other people and we were lucky to score the big table.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Mamas is good for fried chicken or a veggie plate-big portions and no frills (yet cozy/warm) seating.”
  2. “Although the price was very reasonable, the pre-made food was hard as rock and it's mostly served cold.”
  3. “Probably not a place to go with a huge group of people although I went with 5 other people and we were lucky to score the big table.”
  4. “cheap, good food and good music”
  5. “If you want good cheap grub, go to any cuchifrito in the city, or hit up the outer boroughs for some decent comfort food, where the space is clean and sanitary.”
  6. “The portions are large, the salmon is the best I've had in the area (very plain but- gasp!”
  7. “great food, huge portions”
  8. “was excited to go to Mama's for the first time, and I did love the portions and liked the food, but I honestly would rather spend an extra couple bucks and have the food made to order (lukewarm fried chicken ends up tasting so/so) and be waited on.”
  9. “You get whopping big portions.”
  10. “The food here is excellent and portions are huge.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “The long list of sides includes great favorites (like mac n' cheese or mashed potatoes) and some new ones with a twist (broccoli with whole pieces of roasted garlic or cous cous).”
1 Star Rating: Poor

06/09/11

Never again for me

by bomberpete

Used to love the fried chicken here. Four years ago you got three juicy pieces, two great sides and lemonade for under $11. Last night I paid $13.60 for ttwo dry pieces of chicken and one decent, one cold side and no drink for $13.60, plus the place is falling apart.

They're coasting on the hipsters who don't know any better. Haven't these people heard of competition?

4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/27/07

good stuff

by chowchic

I live in the neighborhood and we've been coming here for a couple of years now. The food and service is very homey and we love it. I have to say though, I another place opened up a few blocks away called "Birdies". Small spot that specializes in Southern Style Chicken. It's named after the grandmother of one of the owner's, cute. What I like about it is that it also caters to vegetarians, many of our friends are. We now have two great Southern style comfort food spots in the neighborhood, mamas & grandma Birdie's! Cool!

  • Pros: good food
  • Cons: busy
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/17/06

best customer service ever

by foodmaniac121

went here to dine friday nite and was surprsied to see the way the staff treated their customers. I fel like they really wanted me to be there. Not to mention the food suggestions made were perfect.

  • Pros: food, customer service
4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/19/06

good confort food

by urbanlegend

Mamas is good for fried chicken or a veggie plate-big portions and no frills (yet cozy/warm) seating. Service is fast and attentive. Not crazy about the mashed potatoes though-it always seems too salty. Otherwise, everthing has always been yummy. A great place to get your soul food fix.

  • Pros: Big portions, great service/staff
  • Cons: salty mashed potatoes
2 Star Rating: Below Average

06/14/06

Don't recommend delivery

by egaliardo

Maybe it's better in the restaurant - I've never been - but the delivery is kinda crummy. Lukewarm, greasy food and vegetables sit in a pool of oily water that leaks through the bag. I won't order again.

The Details on Mama's Food Shop

Place Categories:

  • great confort food
  • not recommend place
  • really good mashed potatoes
  • huge portions
  • great mac n cheese
  • not recommend mama
  • too dry meatloaf
  • tasteless salmon
  • fast customer service
  • cold food
  • clean space
  • good music
  • cold chicken
  • love friend chicken
  • really good baked chicken
  • great decor
  • best macaroni
  • great favorites
  • rude staff
  • best bargains
  • good cheap grub
  • brilliant solution
  • cold plate
  • yummy everthing
  • great southern style comfort food spots
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