This October 19 and 20, the Italian Festival will return to the Scottsdale Waterfront for its ninth year. The family-friendly fest will feature authentic Italian food, wine, merchandise, and more from Valley favorites like Pomo Pizzeria, Aroma Culinary, and North Scottsdale newcomer, Mamma Lucy, which opened in 2020. In anticipation of the event, I was invited to try the family-owned restaurant’s authentic Italian flavors and welcoming atmosphere.
The outside of the restaurant, located in an unassuming shopping plaza, doesn’t look like anything special. However, my mom and I were pleasantly surprised when we walked into a warm, open space with a cozy, family-friendly vibe. We enjoyed the casual, down-to-earth energy of the restaurant while reveling in its upscale decoration and design.
We were immediately greeted by the host and our waiter, Mark, who guided us to our table. I couldn’t help by notice that the entire restaurant immerses visitors in Italian culture, from t Italian programs playing on the TVs to soft Italian music coming from the stereo to the large painting of Italy on one of the walls.
The first thing we wanted to try was drinks. Mamma Lucy’s extensive cocktail menu includes spritzes like the Gin Spin made with Ford’s gin, Aperol, orange juice, Prosecco and soda water ($16); cocktails like The Smash made with Bulleit Bourbon, demi syrup, fresh mint, lemon juice and a big ice cube ($18); and a very large wine selection with wines like Pinot Noir Italo Cescon ($15 per glass; $58 per bottle). The restaurant also tailors its wine selections to your order. My mom and I opted to try one of their cocktails, The Luscious Lucy ($16), as a mocktail with strawberry syrup, basil, and lemon juice. It was very sweet, but not overpowering, thanks to the bitterness of the basil and lemon juice. This bittersweet sipper also typically includes Cointreau and Tito’s Vodka.
Dining and Cooking