Mamma Lena's Trattoria: Authentic Italian Dining in Ventnor City, NJ

Went with four people. All four loved our meals!! Pasta dishes are great, but the pork chop is amazing and the veal parm rivals the best around. We shared apps and a delicious beat salad. Highly recommended!! Byob too.

First time ever having heard of this restaurant, and very excited to be asked to go. Parking is difficult. Although the restaurant is located inside an apartment building, the parking garage is for residents only. Therefore, only street parking available for restaurant guests, and in the city of Ventnor, especially after 7 PM, and on a Friday, spots are extremely limited. Moving forward, we had a large party, and the restaurant was very accommodating and our server was extremely attentive & fun! The restaurant itself is quite romantic, dimly lit with candles, and a very nice atmosphere overall. For our table to share, we ordered the charcuterie board, stuffed figs wrapped in prosciutto, eggplant rolintini, and the burrata. While my entire party enjoyed almost everything, my favorite was the charcuterie and the burrata. I’m usually a huge fan of the eggplant however I prefer it sliced thin with less breading. I think everyone in our party ordered something different for dinner. I will insert photos, not sure which is which. I ordered the veal Parmesan on the bone for $68. (However, I would have preferred for it to come with a homemade pasta, rather than a generic pasta) If I’m being completely honest here, my veal could have come from my local pizzeria, that’s how unoriginal it tasted. It was pounded thin, which I like, but the breadcrumbs were so thick that it overpowered the flavor of the meat itself. The sauce and pasta were good. Nothing remarkable. Again, a homemade spaghetti would have really elevated this dish, especially in this price point. Our bill came to around $650, and that’s just for food as the restaurant is a BYOB. We did have a lot of food on the table I will say. I think there was eight of us. My final thought regarding this restaurant, I would recommend it, as I think it’s a fun, different and interesting place to see. And although i am glad to have went, I don’t think I personally would go back, however. I kind of am thinking of it as a, “been there done that“ type of situation.

Best Kept secret in Ventnor!!! Friends of ours that stay at 5000 building, took us for dinner! Wow!!!! Veal parm was amazing! I have to compare, sorry but it’s just as good as chef Vola Veal parm!!!! But bigger!!! Pork chop was amazing!!! Carrot cake was the best I’ve ever had! Figs stuffed with cheese!!! Chef came out & asked how everyone meal was!! Service was great! 5star! I highly recommend this restaurant!

Had to come check this place out since my wife used to work with Chef Dom and it did not disappoint. We came to celebrate my brother’s new job and everyone loved their meals. I had the veal parm which was delicious and a huge portion. The pizza and burrata apps were also amazing. Our server Kim gave awesome service and Chef Dom really made us feel special. We’ll definitely be back!

Mama Lena’s was excellent from start to finish. The veal chop Milanese was cooked perfectly—crispy, tender, and full of flavor. The seafood fra diavolo was just as impressive, loaded with fresh seafood and a bold, delicious sauce with the right amount of heat. Great food, classic Italian flavors, and a warm atmosphere make this a spot we’ll definitely be returning to. Highly recommend!

We were shocked that we had never heard of Momma Lena's ~ were invited by friends and absolutely loved every minute of this dining experience. A BYOB was an added bonus. The Service was attentive and courteous and very pleasant.

Absolutely amazing. Ambiance is spectacular, the food is super fresh, Chef Dom really knows what he is doing here! Maria is so nice and our server Tiffany was great! They are doing Italian at a high level, must try if you’re in Atlantic county! Thank you for having us! Must haves: Veal Parm Burrata Eggplant rotini Seafood pasta

I had the pleasant experience of dining here recently with a group of girlfriends who had lots to share with eachother. We greeted warmly, then seated once everyone arrived. The service was warm and we felt welcomed in this stylish restaurant overlooking the boardwalk and ocean. We brought our own wine and they immediately had glasses and an ice bucket to accommodate us. We looked at the menu and appetizers and entrees are ordered everything at the same time. Our table had the fig bombs with goat cheese and balsamic reduction, an antipasto board with fine cheeses and meats, and warm bread and olive oil to begin the perfect evening. The service was excellent, clearing plates as they became available and filling our water. The entrees we ordered were the veal chop, eggplant rollatini and Chicken Cacciatori. Everything excellent, and fresh. I appreciated that the dishes were not over salted, allowing us to adjust to our taste. Dessert was Chocolate Lava Cake, Berries and Pistachio cake. I highly recommend this little hidden gem as a new place to try. Parking is on Atlantic Avenue, and subject to availability. But worth every step to get to an amazing dining experience!