Mafalda’s on Nottingham Way in Hamilton is a small, cozy, friendly Italian spot with a mellow ambiance
. The soft lights and cool background provide a perfect background so you can chat while having your meal.
The VOICE visited Mafalda’s on a Sunday night. Things were quiet. Waiter Juan Rodriguez, said: “The reason it is pretty empty at the moment is that we had multiple parties earlier in the day.”
With all the options on the menu the winner was White Butterfish, with green beans and roasted potatoes.
The service was fast and the fish arrived steaming, covered in a white creamy sauce with pieces of artichoke surrounding it. The texture was good, and the artichokes added a extra flavor to the creamy sauce.
The potatoes were hot and crisp, nice and golden brown. The green beans were sauteed with aromatic chopped garlic cloves.
Rodriguez said of the dish, “The White Butterfish special is one of the most ordered by customers here. Even those that are not sure about it they end up liking it very much.”
Mafalda’s has reached out 4 of 5 stars on Yelp with 43 reviews where customers not only have said how satisfied they were with their dishes but also about the staff and especially the owners.
Cheron C. from Trenton, NJ wrote in her review on Yelp: “Incredible food, my favorites are the fresh raw oysters on Friday’s and the Caesar Salad with homemade dressing and pesto! Calamari here is always great! The best Tiramisu I’ve had in a long time. The owner Anthony is a great host who goes above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and satisfied during your meal.”
Mafalda’s is run by Mike Lettara and his cousin Anthony Maimone, a former Mercer Student. Mike comes from a long line of local restaurateurs. He is the grandson of Mike and Matty Lettera who started the Yardville Hotel in the early 1980’s, opened a deli and the Keg Restaurant in Chambersburg and have two pizzerias in Bordentown and New Hope, PA.
According to their website, the restaurant is named after their grandma, and some of the family recipes that have been handed down and are featured at Mafalda’s include Sunday gravy, chicken Caccatori on the bone, home-made Crepe manicottis, home-made spinach bread, gourmet pizzas and chicken Rabettela.
Another strong point is the good portion size and reasonable prices for the style and quality of food. Mafalda’s is BYOB and allows both reservations and walk-ins and has plenty of lot parking. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 4pm to 9pm and offers catering and other packages.
Mafalda’s is a great local find.
