Mama Leones - every visit is a special treat!

Mama Leones is one of a number of Italian and Mediterranean style restaurants in Sarasota and the surrounding area. A sparkling clean, open and airy atmosphere with 4 dining rooms, a bar and lots of windows, this will be a restaurant and meal that you’ll remember.

Mama Leones is an outstanding Italian Restaurant. The service is top notch. The food is delicious. For a fine Sarasota dining experience such as this, the menu prices are very reasonable and the servings and extras are generous!

I have dined at Mama Leones frequently and have sampled a number of their Italian specialties, which have become personal favorites. The menu is wide ranging enough to make it hard to decide on what to order.

Let me give you a rundown on the Mama Leones experience: upon being seated, your server will take your drink order. Now if you get seated before 6 p.m. you can take advantage of 2 for 1 happy hour drinks. (I always do that!) In the meantime you’ll receive a basket of fresh, warm Italian bread and olive oil dipping sauce, so you can dip and munch while you peruse the bill of fare.

A nice touch at Mama Leones is that with a number of dinner entrées off the regular menu (not the “early bird” menu), not only do you receive a fresh, cold and crisp green garden salad, but also an order of Mama’s Bruschetta, an Italian appetizer bread, topped with olive oil, garlic, plum tomatoes, basil and oregano. It’s their own recipe and it’s very yummy. Another appetizer that I have enjoyed is Mozzarella Caprese, which is fresh mozzarella cheese with tomatoes, basil and olive oil. The mozzarella is so fresh and milky that it melts in your mouth! Mmm!

Now, those were the easy choices; the appetizers! But the real big job is ordering the main course because there’s so much to choose from. I can tell you from personal experience what my favorites are: Veal or Chicken Parmigiana. Both entrées are large servings that also come with a side of your choice of pasta. The veal and chicken are perfectly cooked, topped with Mama’s homemade marinara sauce and mozzarella and parmigiana cheese. Did I mention that you can really get full on a delicious meal such as this? You can!

Another delicious dinner is Pollo Scarpariello; roasted chunks of boneless chicken breast with red, green and yellow peppers, mushrooms, onions and herbs and served in a large pasta bowl. You also get a side dish of your choice of pasta with this dinner entrée. This is truly not only a delicious meal, but a filling one as well.

Other recommendations from those I’ve dined with at Mama Leones include: Penne Aurora, which is made with chopped asparagus, baby shrimp, shallots, and garlic in a pink sauce, over penne pasta and Rigatoni alla Vodka (yes Vodka!), which is made with imported prosciutto, onions and fresh tomatoes in a creamy vodka sauce. Friends rave about that one!

The menu also covers other Italian specialties like: Ravioli, Manicotti, Stuffed Shells, Lasagna and Pizza, with the sauce, toppings and dough prepared fresh daily. You’ll also find Filet Mignon, Rack of Lamb and Mama’s Seafood on the menu at “market price.”

Desserts? They have all the Italian specialties on the menu that you would expect, from Cannoli to Spumoni.

There’s even a nice selection of grinders on the menu, which are 10” New England style subs, served hot or cold on an Italian sub roll, that are priced from $6 - $6.75. They’re served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Order ahead and pick them up to take to Nokomis Beach for a picnic lunch at the seashore!

In any case, make sure you come hungry; after all, that’s how Mama would want it!

For its sparkling clean Mediterranean atmosphere, top notch service, delicious food and reasonable prices, Mama Leones, in Nokomis, is one of my favorites of all Sarasota Restaurants and my overall favorite Italian Restaurant in the area.

There are two locations. I’ve dined only at Mama’s in Nokomis and it’s this one that this review is based upon. There’s also one in Venice. Reservations are accepted only for parties of 8 or more.

Directions to Mama Leones in Nokomis: From Sarasota drive south on U.S. Rt. 41 to Nokomis. Mama’s is on the east side of Rt. 41 at 2300 Tamiami Trail North. You can also take I-75 to the Osprey/Nokomis exit, S.R. 681, and get off 681 and on to U.S. Rt. 41 at the Osprey exit. The restaurant is a couple blocks north on the right. (941) 918-9799 (941) 918-9889.

Venice Location: 1266 Jacaranda Blvd, (941) 496-9148

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