Dish Cult Dines: Let Mamma Dough take care of you

You can’t miss the door to Mamma Dough Brixton, front and centre in between the bustling market roads and train stations. Walking in, you’re warmly welcomed by the attentive waitstaff, shown straight to one of the rustic wooden tables and provided with a short, simple, and enticing menu. The good vibes were instantly commanded with a playlist of undeniable hits, ranging from ABBA to Amy Winehouse, Shania Twain and Dolly Parton during the length of our visit.  

Little touches like the old Italian wine bottles as water carafes and hand-written specials on chalkboards make Mamma Dough that extra bit homely.

Born and bred in South London since 2014, Mamma Dough has made a name for themselves, enough to stretch across five areas of London now, priding themselves (rightfully so) as a friendly neighbourhood restaurant. The true magic of Mamma Dough is their walking of the fine line between a casual catch-up spot for families and friends, and a  romantic and intimate space to impress a date or celebrate a special moment.

The menu omits the likelihood of being overwhelmed, neatly divided into starters, sides, sourdough classics, vegan pizzas, and dessert – all inspired by traditional Italian flavours and ingredients. The team prides their food on being made from the best ingredients they can find. “We love anything local and seasonal, and truly believe that ‘fresh is best'”. 

Ease into things with some sharing cheesy garlic breads, mixed olives, burrata heart or a light salad before diving into the heavier side of the menu. We were too excited and started things off with a wood-fired creation immediately. Our top picks were The Devil (renowned and the most ordered menu across the restaurants) and a vegetarian selection, the John O’Goat, both on a gluten-free base from Boccocini bakery for an extra crisp crunch. 

Mamma Dough’s menu has a dedicated vegan section, as well as offering all pizzas with a vegan cheese substitute. Or, if you’re dining with kids, any pizza can be made at half the size for the little ones. Every kind of diner has been thought of and well-catered for.

Mamma Dough’s most ordered pizza, The Devil, is a take on the classic meatlover’s blueprint, packed with salami calabrese, onions, dry chilli flakes, mozarella, and the real kicker, nduja. Don’t be discouraged if spice is not your thing, The Devil offers the perfect punch for those looking to work on their spice tolerance. And if you’re more of thrill-seeker when it comes to the Scoville meter, Mamma Dough’s table chilli oil will be your best friend; we added a healthy dose and still went back for more just to include it on every delicious bite. 

On the other end of the spectrum, Mamma Dough are killing it with the veggie options. The John O’Goat starts with a tomato base, and is then packed with mozzarella, goat’s cheese (both of which can be turned vegan), caramelised onion, kalamata olives, and walnuts for a crunch. Once all melted together in the wood-fired oven, even omnivores won’t be disappointed with the absence of meat.

Our best secret tip of the day was to order up large when it comes to Mamma Dough’s dipping sauces. Perfect for those last pieces of crust, dipped straight into MD’s fresh pesto or creamy garlic mayonnaise – this is the way pizza is meant to be eaten!

It wouldn’t be an authentic Italian experience without a glass of wine or two with dinner. Keeping in theme with the curated dining menu, the drinks list keeps it classic and simple, selecting only the very best to choose from, making your job a lot easier. We opted for cocktails this day – a strong margarita, best enjoyed on a sunny London day. Though there are plenty of spritzes, dessert martinis, and specials to select from. For those off the booze, a Sicilian lemonade is your best pick.

We can’t dream up a better combo than a couple of wood-fired pizzas and cocktails to soak up the evening sun with. For a fool-proof evening out, Mamma Dough is an ol’ reliable.