Italian food has long been one of my favourite meals, whether it is tasty pasta, delicious pizza or some gelato, one thing I know is that the Italians know how to make amazing dishes. I certainly experienced this during my visit to Mamma Luciana’s on Florida Road.
Located along the bustling Florida Road in Durban’s Morningside suburb you will find this Mamma Luciana’s branch. The brand that is Mamma Luciana’s was born out of the owner’s love for Italian food which was given to him from his grandmother who too ran an eatery.
During our visit we were welcomed at the door and shown to our table, although the classic alfresco styled dining experience is offered with their outdoor tables, my visit was met with bucket loads of rainfall so we thought it were best to dine indoors this time round.
The team has done a superb job with their styling and décor; there is a real sense of Italy in this restaurant. The wallpapers and murals depict classic Mediterranean eateries, along with the aroma, it was evident that we were in for an Italian treat.
Their menu was vast and included an array of pizzas, pastas, chicken and fish dishes. Many of the names were meals I had not heard of, so I did appreciate that every meal had a description of what to expect. This certainly made my choice a bit easier.
Upon much internal deliberation, I opted for the Chicken Parmigiana. This is a crumbed chicken breast served on alfredo tagliatelle. It was topped with Napoli sauce and mozzarella and baked in their wood fired oven, the dish was finished with grated parmesan.
My friends and I tucked into our meals whilst the gentle music played in the background. My Chicken Parmigiana was creamy and flavorsome; the chicken itself was juicy and tender. It reminded me somewhat of a chicken cordon bleu, which is a personal favourite of mine.
We were all full after our meal, which itself is a massive compliment to the team as we were quite famished arriving. Despite this, the three of us decided that we had to try the classic Italian dessert of tiramisu; we shared a portion between ourselves. The tiramisu came with ice cream and we were pleasantly surprised by the generous portion, something we were delighted to see.
The dessert was beautifully presented and was also delicious, the perfect way to end our lunchtime visit.
Although I have only visited the one branch, I would expect the same high standard from their Glenashley and Hillcrest branches.
The Mamma Luciana’s restaurant on Florida Road was certainly a treat and I did feel that I got that all important Italian experience.
The Menu at Mamma Luciana’s on Florida Road
As you may have guessed, virtually all of their meal offerings are of Italian descent. You can expect their dishes to have the quality flavours and wonderful presentation that will forever be associated with dishes from the region.
Although their menu is quite large, it is subdivided into their starters, salads, pasta, pizza, mains and desserts. This clever, yet simplistic way of dividing up their menu makes it easy for a customer who doesn’t wish to sift through pages of dishes if they know exactly what they feel like.
For my visit I wasn’t quite sure what I felt like eating, so my time spent reading the English descriptions under the meals made my choice an easier one.
A dish that certainly got my attention was the Honeymoon Pasta, it was a seafood dish which was surrounded by a swan-shaped cover. There were a few customers who purchased this and it definitely turned heads.
The restaurant do offer corkage fees for those who wish to bring their own drinks as well as a cakage fee, which is whereby customers can bring their own desserts with at their discretion.
To view their Menu online, click HERE.
Mamma Luciana’s Florida Road is located on 48 Florida Road, Morningside, Durban. For more information, call 031 303 3078 or visit www.mammalucianas.co.za/florida-road today. Here is their location on Google Maps. Also follow them on Facebook HERE and on Instagram HERE.
