Milford (302) 422-2661 Dewey Beach (302) 227-3242
The Port of Naples at golden hour: fishing boats, Castel dell'Ovo and Vesuvius across the bay A square Sicilian pepperoni and sausage pie on the pizza counter at Mama Maria's Square Sicilian pie with ricotta, spinach and tomato, seen from above Spaghetti with clams, mussels and shrimp plated in the Mama Maria's kitchen Three meatballs in tomato sauce with grated cheese

Benvenuti · The La Ragione family, since 1985

Homemade Italian in Milford and Dewey Beach.

Homemade pasta, square Sicilian pies and the traditional Italian table, cooked by the same family in Milford since 1985 and on the Dewey Beach coast since 1993.

See the Menu Order Pickup Order Delivery

Two restaurants

Milford · in town · (302) 422-2661 Dewey Beach · at the beach · (302) 227-3242
Salvatore and Franco La Ragione in the Milford dining room, holding their Professional Citizens of the Year award

La nostra cucina · Our kitchen

Far from your ordinary pizza place.

Mama Maria's is named for our grandmother, Maria, and the kitchen still cooks the way an Italian family eats: homemade pasta and slow sauces, veal and seafood done properly, and pizza made from scratch in square Sicilian pans.

Brothers Salvatore and Franco La Ragione run both restaurants today, carrying forward the dream their father Giuseppe opened the doors on in December 1985.

Read the family story

  • 40+years in Milford
  • 2restaurants
  • 1family

Il menu · From our kitchen

What the family cooks.

Full Menu
Square Sicilian pepperoni pizza on a kitchen counter

Pizza Siciliana Square pan-style

Thick, golden crust baked in a square pan the old way. Cut into squares, built to share. Gluten-free pizza available too.

Spaghetti with clams, mussels and shrimp

Frutti di Mare Fruits of the sea

Clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari and lobster in white wine broth or our spicy marinara, served on a bed of spaghetti.

Chicken parmigiana with melted mozzarella and tomato sauce

Pollo Parmigiana Chicken

Chicken breast in tomato sauce under melted mozzarella, with spaghetti. Also Marsala or piccata.

Arancini rice balls on tomato sauce with a balsamic drizzle

Arancini Appetizer

Risotto balls stuffed with ground beef and peas, gently fried and served on a bed of our tomato sauce.

Tomato and mozzarella caprese fanned on a wooden board with basil and balsamic

Mozzarella Caprese Insalate

Alternating slices of tomato and mozzarella with basil, salt, pepper and extra-virgin olive oil.

Dal forno · From the oven

Cut into squares. Made to be passed around.

Our Sicilian pie comes out of the oven in a square pan with a thick, golden crust. Order it by the pie, or by the tray when the whole family is coming.

Pizzas & Specialty Pies

La nostra storia · Our story

A family's journey. A father's dream. A tradition that continues.

In 1979 our father, Giuseppe La Ragione, came to America to help his brother at a pizzeria in New Jersey. A friend brought him to Milford in 1982. On December 20, 1985 he opened a restaurant across the street and named it for his mother, Maria. Nearly fifty years later, his sons still run it.

Read the whole story

The La Ragione family standing in front of the La Ragione Building sign at the Milford restaurant
  1. 1979

    Giuseppe arrives in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

  2. 1982

    A friend brings him to Milford, Delaware. Salvatore, 16, follows.

  3. 1985

    Mama Maria's opens in Milford on December 20.

  4. 1993

    Mama Maria's opens in Dewey Beach on March 1.

  5. 2017

    After 30 years of leasing, the family builds its own center in Milford.

Le due case · Two homes

In town, and at the beach.

Hours & Directions

Two restaurants, two kitchens, two phone numbers. Please check which one you're calling or ordering from: Milford is the square orange one, Dewey Beach the round blue one, everywhere on this site.

Feste · Catering

Feed everyone. We'll bring the trays.

Catering Menu

Baked ziti, meatballs, chicken parmigiana, eggplant, salads and tiramisu by the tray, small or large, for the office, the reunion, the rehearsal dinner or the day after the wedding. We cater any event or private party. Call either restaurant for pricing.

Catering tray of baked ziti Catering tray of meatballs in tomato sauce Catering tray of eggplant rollatini Catering tray of seasoned salmon

Grazie · From our family to yours

To the Milford community and our Delaware beach community: thank you for supporting our family's business throughout the years. Every visit, every shared meal, and every celebration has helped make this journey possible.

We are deeply grateful to the generations of guests who have welcomed us into their lives and made Mama Maria's part of their own family traditions. And to every member of our staff, past and present: from our kitchens to our dining rooms, each of you has played a part in the Mama Maria's story.

We look forward to welcoming you for many years to come.

Salvatore & Franco La RagioneMama Maria's Italian Restaurant