UWS’s Wildly Popular Pizzeria Mama’s Too Explores a Sandwich Spinoff

Cult-favorite UWS pizzeria Mama’s Too is getting into sandwiches

Upper West Side’s wildly popular pizzeria Mama’s Too is looking to expand into the sandwich business. On Wednesday, the square pie joint will offer up meatball parm sandwiches starting at noon and until they sell out, and if it all goes well, owner and pizza maker Frank Tuttolomondo tells Gothamist that he may spin sandwiches off into its own business.

The $9 sandwich will only be offered on Wednesday for dine-in customers. The meatball parm features pan-fried beef meatballs; a sauce made with tomatoes, carrots, and rosemary; and slightly-burnt mozzarella, all of which is sandwiched in focaccia made at the pizzeria. Other options like roast pork with broccoli rabe, chicken parm, and jamon iberico with cheese and peppers, may appear later. Mama’s Too plans to update customers about upcoming sandwiches on its Instagram page.

Mama’s Too opened in December 2017, and quickly became known for its modern and innovative slices like the caramelized onion and mushroom, and the zucchini with Kalamata olives. Times critic Pete Wells said Mama’s Too’s pizza was some of the best in the city, and the pizzeria is part of a growing trend of roni cup pepperoni pizzas taking over the NYC pizza scene.

In other news:

— Barneys signature restaurant Freds has seen a drop in customers due closing sales at the department store.

— Eater New York editor Serena Dai will talk about the future of Chinese food and drinks in America, at the Museum of Food and Drink, on Thursday, along with author Derek Sandhaus and Junzi Kitchen chef Lucas Sin.

— Fast-casual salad bowl behemoth Sweetgreen is opening on Bowery today.

— New York magazine critic Adam Platt says chef Alfred Portale’s new namesake restaurant doesn’t quite live up to his tenure at Gotham Bar and Grill, but it is still very good.

— Time Out points to an influx of modern diners that opened in NYC in 2019.

— Word: