Mamma Lucia — Restaurant in Fairfax

Mamma Lucia -- an Authentic Slice of Heaven in Fairfax From the very first whiff of fragrant Italian herbs wafting through the air of Fair City Mall, I knew Mamma Lucia was going to offer an extraordinary dining experience. Nestled at 9650 Main St, this gem of Fairfax, VA, has quietly crafted some of the most authentic and delicious Italian dishes I've ever tasted. The star of the show is their pizza. Perfectly balanced with a robust tomato sauce with just the right hint of sweetness and topped with the most indulgent, bubbling cheeses, every slice of their pizza promises a journey straight to the cobblestoned streets of Italy. It's not just the freshness of the ingredients that set Mamma Lucia's pizzas apart; it's also the perfect execution of thin yet substantial crust with those sought-after, slightly charred edges that only a masterfully maintained oven can produce. If you think it can't get any better, let me tell you about their Chicken Parm Sub, a stunning symphony of crispy, tender chicken nestled with a generous helping of marinara and molten cheese, embraced by a fresh, soft sub roll that somehow holds it all together without surrendering to sogginess. Every bite is a testament to the love and years of perfected technique in Mamma Lucia's cooking. Part of what makes Mamma Lucia a veritable institution in Fairfax is the warm, familial service that completes the dining experience. On a recent visit, I was heading back home to South Carolina and wanted to share this culinary joy with a friend. Mamma Lucia prepared two magnificent pizzas, intentionally undercooked and uncut, ready for me to reheat at home. Her understanding of my request and willingness to adapt was heartwarming. These pizzas survived the journey flawlessly and baked up into golden, cheesy perfection that transported my friend and me right back to Mamma Lucia's welcoming establishment. Mamma Lucia is, without a doubt, the crown jewel of Fairfax's dining scene. It’s not just a place to eat; it’s a destination for those who appreciate a meal prepared with passion and precision. I am immensely grateful to Mamma Lucia and her exceptional team for not just a delightful dining experience but for bringing a slice of Virginia’s finest pizza to my home. To all pizza enthusiasts out there – this is as authentic and delicious as it gets outside of Italy. Mamma Lucia is the best pizza place in...

To be clear: this place is in a mini-mall type area with just the movie theater. It probably serves fine for people going to the theater and wanting to grab food quickly before or after.

I got a whole pizza with extra cheese and pepperoni, a whole pizza with mushrooms, onions, and olives, two slices with onions, anchovies, and olives, and a Greek salad. I ordered takeout and the checkout process was smooth and quick.

Overall, the pizza is alright if you buy a whole pizza and bad if ordered by the slice. The salad is ok.

If you buy by the slice, it's premade cheese pizzas, sitting under heaters, reheated and with toppings added. The toppings are not well integrated into the pizza and it doesn't come out well. It might depend on the number of other customers whose consumption might cycle through the premade pizza and give you something fresher. But when I had it, the "ordered-by-the-slice" slices were pretty bad.

If you get a full pizza it comes out a little better. But the dough does not stand up to the cheese and gets pretty soggy. The mushrooms used are canned, work very poorly for a pizza, and should be avoided. The flavor of the pizza is otherwise fine.

The salad was unremarkable.

Nothing about any of the items we are seemed aligned with other reviews remarking on the amazing salads or pizzas.

Compared to other places, I would not recommend this place for takeout or as a specific destination. The price is too high for pretty low quality. I would guess it would work ok if you order a whole pizza as part of going to...

While at counter waiting for my food I noticed an employee filling up the chopped tomato bin. He emptied the container using his bare hand, instead of putting a glove on, or using a spoon/spatula. I was appalled, and was speechless. After arriving back home, I called, and talked with the manager. Needless to say, her tone was loud, and said they couldn't wear gloves, but they wash their hands at least 1,000 times daily. I politely mentioned that in this day, and age with germs, etc. he could have used a utensil of sorts. She wouldn't let me get a word in, and instead of thanking me for letting her know, and saying she'd talk to them, she went on the defensive, told me to call the Better Business Office, as she'd been in the business 30+ years. She went on to say that if she went to a restaurant, and they were wearing gloves, she wouldn't eat there. I finally just hung up, as she wasn't listening or willing to accept anything I had to say. My pizza was cold, and the soup...