Peg and I had visited the Washington State Fair on Saturday. We really enjoyed the fair, but traffic was almost unbearable. In trying to return to Tacoma, we were forced to drive almost to Sumner. Since we were out in that direction my thoughts turned to my wallet. I had a gift card for Mama Stortini’s. I no longer knew what it was worth, but I knew we were driving to Renton on Sunday for a play. I thought driving back from Renton and visiting Mama might be a good idea.
Sunday turned out to be a horrible day to drive to Renton. We saw rain, mists, and results of two car accidents from the Fife curve of I-5 until we turned off at Federal Way for 405. We saw a friend’s directorial debut at the Renton Civic Theatre and only had a light rain driving from Renton to Puyallup. We were afraid we would run into massive traffic in Puyallup, which we had experienced the day before. This was the last weekend of the Washington State Fair. Mama Stortini’s relocated years ago from University Place to Puyallup (just across the Puyallup River from Sumner). They also have restaurants in Kent and Federal Way. We parked our car and stopped at the reception desk to ask about the value of our card. We had a one hundred dollar gift card and we were determined to use it.
Mama Stortini’s is an upscale version of Joe Stortini’s Joeseppi’s, which is located in Tacoma’s west end. Our waiter was Brian W., who did a great job for us. He had a great sense of humor and joined Peg in a silly photo Op. Brian chatted with us as we ordered. My two glasses of Shirley Temple had plenty of the ungodly sweet maraschino cherries that I love. Peg enjoyed a large glass of pinot grigio. I had a sip . . . it was good, but it was no Shirley Temple.
We had a table by the window and Mama was had a number of appetizer and plate specials to counteract the customers was probably driven away by the traffic to the fair.
The crab cakes were excellent. The orange sauce was a perfect counter point to the lemony/tarter sauce that accompanied the cakes. The curly Parmesan cheese on top made them extra special.
Our zucchini sticks would have been ideal with a glass of beer or two to sip while watching a winning Seahawks game. As it was, we didn’t have a beer, and the Seahawks lost miserably. To make matter worse, we had the sticks boxed up to take home and then forgot them on the table.
The last time we had French onion soup was during a lovely weekend in La Conner. The bowl we shared at Mama’s wasn’t quite as good, but darn close, and cost considerably less. When we sat down for dinner, a small plate of French bread was delivered with a tomato sauce and tiny spoon. The small slices of bread were perfect for our onion soup. We devoured the bread by dropping the chewy slices into the onion’s hearty broth. It was the perfect antidote for the dismal weather.
I ordered fettuccine with sautéed prawns, but was brought rigatoni. When Brian saw my confusion he realized there was an error. When I originally ordered I forgot to ask for whole wheat pasta. I asked a very young server to ask for whole wheat if they had it. She had no idea what I was talking about and translated it to “gluten free.” Brian soon returned with fettuccine. I was disappointed, but didn’t want to complain. For me the fettuccine was over-cooked. I like my pasta with some “tooth.” The prawns, however were very good.
I didn’t know that Italian restaurants serve as much salmon as is available on Mama Stortini’s menu. I checked out several Italian restaurants in New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. Only one (Carmine’s in NYC) featured a salmon main course – SALMON OREGANATA. Peg chose a salmon appetizer that was way past excellent. I only had one bite . . . okay, two. It was crispy, but still moist. When we return I will have two of that salmon appetizer and forget the fettuccine. For dessert Peg had raspberry cheese cake, while I had key lime pie. Peg had requested pecans with her salmon and we still had enough left to pour onto our desserts.
It wasn’t a perfect Sunday, the Seahawks lost, driving in the rain was horrible, but we enjoyed the play in Renton and really enjoyed the service and dinner at Mama Stortini’s. With the tip our hundred dollar gift card was gone. But we will always have our memories of a wonderful Sunday in September.
Try taking the bus to the Fair.$1 for seniors and no hassles driving or parking.
Locations leave from Tacoma Mall, Lakewood and South Hill.
I am not a Pierce Transit employee, just a happy-bus-taking-to-the-Fair rider.
Jean,
Good pointer. I came to the same conclusion for next time. This time I had a parking pass and two tripods, and a bag of cameras to schlep, which would make bussing a bit more awkward.
Thanks for sharing . . . my new slogan, “Take the bus . . . you don’t have to cuss!”
Don
GREAT picture of Peg!!!! ?
Nan,
Don’t worry. I got her permission. I loved the photo not only for her expression, but the waiter Brian’s efforts as well.
Don
One of my most favorite restaurants and has been since Joe Stortini first opened it years ago.
Thanks for writing, Joan.
We thought at first is was less expensive than Joeseppi’s, but we went wild with the appetizers. Actually, both Mama Stortini’s and Joeseppi’s serve good food and the prices are affordable.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
I believe Joe Stortini has no connection to this restaurant in Puyallup anymore. He sold the location and name to the people who run it now. Joe owns and operates out of Joeseppi’s on the west end of Tacoma. (He was my favorite teacher at Wilson years ago.)
Sharlene,
Thanks for writing. You are correct. There is no other connection than Mama Stortini’s began as Joe’s restaurant in University Place.
Don
“Mama Stortini’s is an upscale version of Joe Stortini’s Joeseppi’s,”….seriously??? .. ROFLMAO!
I wouldn’t say that a CHAIN RESTAURANT with locations in Puyallup, Kent and Federal Way are “upscale versions” of Joeseppi’s, lol! …In fact Joeseppi’s isn’t really much like the original restaurant that opened at Windmill Village in University Place over 25 years ago (and was subsequently sold and moved from U.P.) I actually feel it is better. We’ve been begging Joe to move Joeseppi’s back here to University Place (along with many other loyal fans of his North Tacoma restaurant).
Chris,
Mama Stortini’s seems nicer, and has a view and you don’t have to walk by the kitchen and staging area to sit at a table. Our salmon appetizer was just plain excellent. True they don’t offer Joe’s Sicilian Sausage Soup, but the French Onion Soup made up for it. I think Joeseppi’s is fine just where it is, however. When relatives visit from out of town they ask, “Can we go out to dinner at Joeseppi’s?”
Thanks for sharing.
Don
Glad you had a good experience. Can’t say that I have in the 3 times I’ve been in that restaurant. Bad service, bad food, and some very young person at the desk who apparently has a problem with retirees. It’s almost like the original restaurant was sold off to a corporation with no history in the area and no soul. The menu changed, the recipe’s changed and the people changed.
The old Mama Stortini’s in University Place was totally different. They had great wait staff, great food and drink and great atmosphere. Joe Stortini’s Joeseppi’s in Tacoma carries on that tradition with friendly staff, great food and welcoming atmosphere.
Debt Free,
Good wait staff is hard to come by. A month or so back, someone didn’t show at Chambers Bay for breakfast, so they couldn’t open at eight. They delayed until 9:30 when someone else could come in. By then we had gone somewhere else and had mediocre food. At Mama Stortini’s the wait staffer took us to a booth. We declined and requested a window table. She had to go back to find out what to do. When we refused the table she showed us to, she had to run back to the welcome desk. There was only one other customer there for dinner leaving every table open. It should have been a no-brainer, but things changed when a more senior person sat us where we chose to sit. The waiter Brian was worth his weight in gold to a place like Mama’s. There was one little mix up, again a younger staff person. My fettuccini was well over cooked, but I really wasn’t hungry any more – the prawns were fine. Brian would have made it good, regardless. I hate to send food back to the kitchen, but a good server always wants the customer to enjoy themselves. Some people just don’t get it. People vote with their feet. Not happy, they leave and don’t return or tell others about their disappointment. Brian saved Mama a customer and we went away pleased, and happily full. You are correct about Joeseppi’s. The staff is excellent and the food tasty. We’ve learned to order just what we know is really good. Joe is always friendly.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Don
What was the name of the restaurant in that location prior to Mama Stortini? We were trying to remember but no luck.
Dan,
Anton’s? I think they are the same people who have the café inside the nursery on Pioneer – https://thesubtimes.com/2018/08/15/antons-cafe-restaurant-review/
Take a look.
Thanks for asking.
Don
I believe it was Anton’s. There were for many years. Used to be quite a nice dining experience, not that it isn’t now. It was in the “old fashioned” (like me) night “clubby” style.
Sharlene,
They are still around. Here’s our review:https://thesubtimes.com/2018/08/15/antons-cafe-restaurant-review/
Don