Best Italian Restaurant in San Luis Obispo

Q: Where are you located?

We are located in San Luis Obispo, CA at 570 Higuera St #130

Scratch-Made Italian Since Day One

Chef Nicola's Kitchen in Downtown SLO

Every sauce is slow-simmered, every knot is baked fresh, and the Fettuccine Alfredo is still prepared right at your table — just like Mama taught him in Bari.

Our Story

From the Kitchen

Catering and Party Platters

Planning a gathering? Give us 24 hours and we'll handle the food — from party platters to full catering for any occasion.

Order Catering

The Dining Room for Your Next Event

Our banquet space is ready for birthdays, rehearsal dinners, and team celebrations — with a full Italian menu and the same warm hospitality every night.

Reserve the Space

Born in a Kitchen in Puglia

Chef Nicola Allegretta has been cooking since he was two years old, standing beside his mother in Bari, Italy. Everything on your plate traces back to that kitchen.

I went to Mama's meatball for lunch and I really liked it. One of the reasons we picked it is that they have a fairly wide range of items, and Osso bucco is one of my favorite Italian dishes. There was more than enough food, and I left some room for dessert. The tiramisu was good, even though the w

E T.

I recommend making a reservation for Mama's Meatball on Higuera Street in advance, as it's one of the top three best Italian restaurants in San Luis Obispo and can get quite busy (we saw people being told that they wouldn't be able to sit without a reservation on a Friday night). They start you off

Meagan M.

What a delightful restaurant! Our Waiter, Jaime, is such a professional, very friendly and thoughtful person. The atmosphere was perfect for time with close friends, dates or just to Treat Yourself. And the Food was refreshing delightful and fresh, great quality ingredients. Someone shared their sa

Christopher P.

Truly a local gem of a restaurant….we recently had an extended family get-together for dinner, and chose Mama’s Meatball for their delicious Italian food. We had a comfortable table near the back. Service was great — very attentive, helpful and accommodating staff, and they were on top of everythi

N S.