Mama Alvino's Pizzeria — Restaurant in Aurora

A friend highly recommended Mama Alvino's to me, and especially recommend the calzone. So I went to dine in, and ordered the original calzone. It was ok. Not great. Not terrible. Simply "okay". I'm from the Philly/New York/New Jersey area, so I am very familiar with excellent Italian food, especially pizzas, calzones, and strombolis. I mean I have literally eaten calzones/strombolis at over 100 different restaurants in the Philly/New York/New Jersey area. And just about anywhere that I've ordered calzone/stromboli, it's been unbelievably delicious! Mama Alvino's calzone was not unbelievably delicious. I know that the dough is nowhere near as the dough that they use back east. It was a little "cakey" instead of being crispy and chewy at the same time like it is back in the east coast states. Most places use the exact same dough for their pizzas and strombolis and calzones. So I'm concerned that if I went back to Mama Alvino's and ordered pizza, it would have the same kind of crust with that same slightly cakey texture. The service was super great and everyone there was very happy and friendly and really nice to me. And I love the atmosphere in the restaurant - lively and busy and clean, but not in the least bit upscale or pretentious or trendy - none of which I like. The furnishings and decor was super basic and practical, which I much prefer. I felt very much comfortable and at home there at...

A few things I would like to say about some of the reviews I read on here. The owner is not a she, it is two men. There is not just one chef or cook or whatever you want to call it, it changes daily and nightly. If you want a pizza like you used to have however many years ago ask to have it made by Rich or Stan. The sauce on the pizza is not the same sauce you get with your calzones or pastas. The sauce on the pizza is very plain. But that's the point. This pizza place just tops it for you. They don't do anything to the ingredients like sautee the mushrooms or whatever but like I said that's the point. It's natural and will be consistent every time you order. The calzone and pasta sauce is the best. I've never found better. Most marinaras are watered down or really thin. Same for the garlic bread you get with it. Which is even twice as good as cheese bread. Personally I don't like the spaghetti but the Ravioli is so delicious. The prices may seem high but when the places where ingredients come from prices go up so does the restaurants. It's a family owned restaurant not a food chain, give them a break. They are very generous when it comes to toppings. I've order from Dominoes and Papa Johns too many times where I have to order extra cheese to get a normal amount and extra jalapeños to get more than three. I love Mama's and crave it...

Must add water. I have heard really good things about this place... but I must say... I did not experience it. The place is big and staff is friendly and attentive. I ordered a mini 8" Pizza with pepperoni and a small canzone with meatball and jalapeño. The pizza had a crispy bottom but it was covered in so much flour and tasted like a cardboard store bought Pizza. Generous amounts of pepperoni and cheese did nothing to fix the overbearing taste of the crust. They cook their pizzas on screens... there is no need for that much flour. Try cornmeal. I was excited to try the calzone...until I opened the box! Being from NY the calzones I'm used to are smothered in garlic butter and parmesean cheese. This one was served dry... with a heaping helping of... flour. The marinara sauce on the side was really good... spicy. Much better than the ketchup they served on the pizza. The meatball was subpar at best. There was definitely a generous amount of toppings and mozzarella, although some of the meatball was actually barely cut up... But there was no ricotta in my calzone either. I pulled it apart looking for a hint of ricotta or impastata... nothing. Disappointed to...