Mama's Cafe — Restaurant in San Antonio

When rating restaurants, there are 3 criteria. Food, Service and Cleanliness (Google has it as Atmosphere) So if all 3 are as expected, or par for the course, I will rate the restaurant 4 Stars. If one of them is below, the other 2 need to be above to pick up the slack. That is my standard.

So, apparently this place is a local icon in the area. I love places like this but tend to be disappointed at their lack of attention to detail and usually care for Cleanliness. NOT MAMA'S! The cleanliness and atmosphere is what really makes this place shine! As we are walking in, an employee was sweeping in the parking lot, it was just small trash that was blowing around, but that is usually a good sign that the inside will be clean as well. It definitely was. When I sit down at a table I have a tendency to rub my hand across the table to see how clean the table is. This one was clean. Then I look around at the legs of the tables and chairs to see if they are clean, they were. Then I look in the backs of the booths where I can see to see if they actually sweep all the way to the back, they did. Then, the biggest test of all, the restroom. This restroom was so clean that Bucee's could come and take lessons from how clean it was. Not really but it was as clean! Smelled good too. Cleanliness atmosphere could not be better.

Food, I was disappointed. I just ordered the special and it was fish and chips. Which consisted of 4 fish sticks and a small order of fries. I expected more. The food did taste good and was hot and fresh, so maybe that was is a little bit on me but it was the special of the day so I expected it to be at least a little, ya know, "special".

Service, it was very good. Sierra out waitress was very personable and smiled a lot. She was friendly and light hearted. Checked back with us often, including that crucial 3 minute window after dropping the food off to make sure that everything was ok. It wasn't her fault that my special wasn't special and she was so nice that I didn't want to complain.

I DO recommend Mama's Cafe. I will be going back to try a different...

Despite a full banquet area and a moderate lunch crowd, my only relatively poor comment was slightly waiting for my water to be refilled. This was not because of poor service, merely due to a shortage of staff. I did notice a notice looking for applicants however and what appeared to be staff coming in during my meal, looking as if it was a last minute schedule change perhaps?

My choice was Papas Breakfast, consisting of chicken fried streak over hash patty, two eggs and two pancakes. I have to say this was a perfect portion. The steak sat on a crispy hash brown patty and had just enough gravey to cover the steak (I despise when they drown it, as other places do) and I have to shout out how my eggs were perfectly cooked. Normally when I ask for over medium eggs, I get either a over fried egg or very runny whites (which is gross). But, they were perfectly cooked with no runny whites and a deliciously runny yolk surrounded by firm whites. The pancakes were of perfect size, not too large and not hard button ones. They were fluffy and thick and the maple syrup actually tasted light and fresh, as if just harvested. Normally, most places just give you commercially processed maple syrup, dark, thick and heavy. Being from WI, if you've never had freshly harvested maple syrup, it's very light in color, almost amber looking and lightly sweet taste. My waiter Juan was exceedingly professional despite his expanded service area. He did apologize for any delays, but it was absolutely not necessary.

All in all it was a pleasure to eat at Mama's Cafe. I appreciated the focused menu approach. When a restaurant sticks to what they do best it's a win all around for both the staff and its customers. I'll definitely be returning! All and all I...

As you may know Mamas has new mgmt after Covid and Ive got bad news for us Fried Mushroom lovers...They are no longer the same as the YUMMY made u wanta go there just for 'em mushrooms of the good ol Mamas of yester yr😥 These might even be frozen but all I know is I will no longer be buying them! Saaad day for me and my family who have enjoyed them for decades! Also BEWARE of the "packaging materials" charge they will try and add to ur bill for the carry out boxes!!! Yeah who does that in TX have yall EVER seen that on ur take out order? Its only seen on ur receipt with the breakdown so CHECK IT and tell them u want it credited back like I did 2.31 they tried to charge me? Im pretty sure its fraudalent and they dont tell u anywhere on the website or menu about it hmmm but im checking into it, must be LaLa mgmt now cuz thats how they roll in Ca😡 Well from 5 star to 1 star for the "New" Mamas good riddance! A 2ND VISIT BY MY DAUGHTER AND GR DAUGHTER 2/14/24 DISCOVERED THEY HAVE MADE AN ATTEMPT TO BRING BACK THE MUSHROOMS OF MAMAS HOFBRAU FROM BACK IN THE DAY BUT NOT QUITE GOT IT AND CHARGE 14.00 AN ORDER NOW!? THEIR VERY LIMITED MENU IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND THE FOOD ORDERED CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN, SALAD, AND POT ROAST WITH MASHED POTATOES WAS ALL HORRIBLE AND THE PRICES ARE OVER THE TOP A LEMONADE WAS 8 BUCKS! CK CAME TO 100.00! GOOD TRY NEW MGMT BUT STILL A GOOD RIDDANCE TO YA! AND IMMA POST A PIC OF THEIR SO CALLED MASHED POTATOES TO GIVE U AN IDEA OF THE LESS THAN FRESH MADE TO ORDER FOOD OF THE "REAL" OLD MAMAS FROM MY CHILDHOOD...THOT IT WAS A RED LOBSTER BISCUIT🤣ANOTHER SaTown LAND MARK,PIECE OF YESTER YR NOSTALGIA RUINED BY NEW MILLENIAL MGMT 😭!!! DONT WASTE UR...