Description: This restaurant was a 2-minute walk from my hotel, located on Calle Recoleta between Retiro and Jr. Pumacahua, virtually opposite the beer company in Tahuantinsuyo. Although this doesn’t serve your typical Peruvian food, it does give you a cheap alternative if you are craving some more familiar food.
I found prices here very affordable, especially in comparison to similar eateries located more centrally around the Plaza de Armas, which is less than a 10-minute walk away. When you consider these restaurants, the prices offered by La Mama Pizzeria are virtually half. Plus, there is the added bonus of being able to see your pizza made in front of you. There are approximately 15 pizzas to choose from, including three vegetarian, and you can even design your own if they have the ingredients available. For a family-sized pizza (eight pieces), the average price is between $5 and $6.
Other than pizzas, there is a wide selection of burgers and sandwiches, and even pastas, starting at less than $1. For me, though, the best thing about La Mama Pizzeria is the set menu lunches, costing only $0.70. For this you get a soup for starters, a large portion of meat stir fry and rice for main course, and a fruit juice. You really can’t complain! Each day there is a different set lunch menu, except for Sundays.
The only downside I can think of is that the service could be of a slightly higher quality, but with this I am being picky! While there was no faulting the speed at which the food reached your table, nor the friendliness of the staff, it took at least 30 minutes after finishing to have your plates cleaned away and to have the bill. The easy solution to this, as I found the second time I ate here, was to walk to the front counter, where the pizzas are made, and this seems to speed the process up no end.
Although I am not sure of the exact opening times, it was always open at 9am in the morning and was still serving past 10pm. I have a feeling that hours are even later at the weekend. The restaurant can get busy, especially Friday and Saturday nights, and during the set lunches. Even so, there is always ample seating, especially at the back of the restaurant, where you will find some locals fixated to the TV, which always seemed to be showing Animal Planet.
If you are looking to save a little money and venture away from the tourist traps found more centrally, then you could do a lot worse than choosing to eat here. Unfortunately, I do not have any more contact information for the restaurant, but please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
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