Buttons Undone
Pants at a Glance
- scene: All Euro, no trash; Simple decor evocative of the South of France; tourists and locals alike ( It's Soho)
- sip: Rosé all day
- savor: Calamari; truffle pizza; raviolini; affogato with strawberries
- sit: You could bring a date here and then maybe over to Sixty for a drink; small group of couples, or of course your sister
- spend: $$$
- address: 323 West Broadway
- phone number: (646) 964-4641
- website: www.mamonyc.com
Mamo has a very European vibe, serves ( mostly) Italian food, and is located on West Broadway in Soho- sound familiar? Thankfully, Mamo has more soul and charm than Cipriani Downtown, and lower prices. Originating in the South of France, Mamo is the type of place you want to sit for hours with friends, nibbling on fresh, homemade dishes and running through bottles of rosé, perfect for Soho. There is an authentic emphasis on hospitality at Mamo, and everyone we encountered from the hostess to the owner was friendly, efficient, and relaxed, and we felt like we were living La Dolce Vida.
We went to Mamo on the type of night where most people would opt to cancel their plans and make a date with Seamless- a rainy Monday night. The bottom level of Mamo was completely empty, and I am not sure exactly what they have in mind for that space- whether it is meant for late night or light bites, it was not happening on that evening. Upstairs was warm and buzzing, and after some of the many rosés on offer, I was too. I love the menu at Mamo- it has a million dishes that I want to eat, and every bite that we tasted was expertly prepared with fresh, high- quality ingredients and a little something different to set it apart. The truffle pizza is hard not to like, but my favorite of the starters was the calamari, cut into strips and served with a bright pesto. The artichoke salad was also up my alley, filled with a lot of the ingredients that I like to shove into any salad I make. Daryl and I both had excellent classic pastas (vongole, arrabiatta) but it was the truffle raviolini that was the real star. These itty bitty pillows of creamy truffle heaven are a naughty little treat, really rich and flavorful. Lamb chops were simply done and presented, but seasoned well and cooked to the proper doneness.
Dessert saw two more classic dishes- a giant tiramisu and a strawberry “affogato” that paired warm strawberries with vanilla ice cream for a light(ish) summer time treat. Mamo is a no-brainer for a quick dose of Europe below Houston Street.
