Dear Constant Reader, it's not every day we 'commission' guest reviews for CdP, but when it comes to reaching the parts your scribe simply cannot, then we send intrepid reporters with stout hearts and iron stomachs to do the deed. Dan Ogus took the road less travelled and ended up in North End. We salute him.
Mammalena by Dan Ogus
Having heard about Mammalena (apparently a franchise operation from Rimini) opening its doors in North End, and being an enthusiast of honest Italian grub, I was naturally keen to sample their wares. Being a little confused as to exactly where 45 London Road was, it turns out they've set up shop in a former KFC premises, an emporium I'm known to occasionally escape to for a secret fix of Hot Wings (which alas seem to have undergone a recipe change for the worse, not currently being the spicy on-the-bone guilty pleasure they once were)
Back to the task in hand...The Mammalena philosophy is to serve “genuine food”, as opposed to what ? Pretend food ? Maybe something's been lost in translation. Inside, the gaudy ex-KFC décor is still present, lending a fast foodie ambience to the place. Orders are taken by friendly Italian staff at the counter. The reasonably-priced menu consists of various pastas (Ravioli, Strozzapreti, Tagliolini, Tortellacci, Cappelletti), Piada (Italian Flatbread), Piadizza (a “thin crispy pizza-like food” ? So, when is pizza not pizza ?), Cassoni (similar to Calzone), and Gnocchi.
All the pasta dishes can be served with a variety of sauces including typical favourites Green Pesto, Carbonara and Bolognese. Going for the Gnocchi with Salmon Cream sauce, the medium-sized portion came promptly, but a little lukewarm for my taste. The salmon sauce was pleasant but improved with a liberal dusting of parmesan cheese and black pepper. Italian coffee was decent and strong but should really have arrived before the food.
Overall, a pleasant experience – I'd be very happy to visit again and try a different dish, maybe one of the pastas, or even the Piadizza “non-pizza”.
I wish Mammalena well ; North End's a difficult area of Portsmouth in which to open any sort of restaurant and I applaud Mammalena bravely standing out from the crowd. The future would seem to be in “genuine food”.
Mammalena : 45 London Rd, Portsmouth, PO2 0BH
Tel : 02392 178820
Website : www.mammalena.co.uk
Takeaway and delivery available.
Mammalena by Dan Ogus
| Photo courtesy of someone else! |
Back to the task in hand...The Mammalena philosophy is to serve “genuine food”, as opposed to what ? Pretend food ? Maybe something's been lost in translation. Inside, the gaudy ex-KFC décor is still present, lending a fast foodie ambience to the place. Orders are taken by friendly Italian staff at the counter. The reasonably-priced menu consists of various pastas (Ravioli, Strozzapreti, Tagliolini, Tortellacci, Cappelletti), Piada (Italian Flatbread), Piadizza (a “thin crispy pizza-like food” ? So, when is pizza not pizza ?), Cassoni (similar to Calzone), and Gnocchi.
All the pasta dishes can be served with a variety of sauces including typical favourites Green Pesto, Carbonara and Bolognese. Going for the Gnocchi with Salmon Cream sauce, the medium-sized portion came promptly, but a little lukewarm for my taste. The salmon sauce was pleasant but improved with a liberal dusting of parmesan cheese and black pepper. Italian coffee was decent and strong but should really have arrived before the food.
Overall, a pleasant experience – I'd be very happy to visit again and try a different dish, maybe one of the pastas, or even the Piadizza “non-pizza”.
I wish Mammalena well ; North End's a difficult area of Portsmouth in which to open any sort of restaurant and I applaud Mammalena bravely standing out from the crowd. The future would seem to be in “genuine food”.
Mammalena : 45 London Rd, Portsmouth, PO2 0BH
Tel : 02392 178820
Website : www.mammalena.co.uk
Takeaway and delivery available.
