MamaTori's Brings Gourmet Italian to N. Babylon

When it comes to fine Italian food, tradition comes in delicious packages.

At least it does at MamaTori’s, North Babylon’s latest entry into gourmet foods serving the surrounding area.

Located at 1142 Deer Park Avenue in the Sunset Plaza shopping center just north of Southern State, MamaTori’s is quickly earning a reputation for keeping the tradition of fine foods alive -- for lunchtime drop ins and for two-working parent families wanting to bring a home-cooked meal to enjoy.

“So many times today, both parents are working and working hard,” says proprietor Victoria Gargano. “My intention in opening MamaTori’s is to provide home cooked meals for families like that. Prepared dinners. Pastas. Everything cooked on the premises.”

The response has been immediate for the eatery, which is celebrating its grand opening. Gargano’s already has a number of repeat customers, and has quickly fit into the community. “The customers are great, very welcoming!“ she said. “They tell me about the area, they suggest where to send menus. They bring me plants for good luck.”

The name comes from a shortening of Victoria -- a family tradition, Gargano said. “My father had a pizza place in Brooklyn and named it after his mother, MamaDora’s,” she says. “Nowadays, if you shorten Victoria, you get Tori. So it’s MamaTori's.”

That’s not the only tradition at the gourmet deli. Gargano’s incorporated family recipes for such items as pasta sauce and lasagna -- and family recipes from her chef, Michael LoBasso, who she handpicked because of his passion for food. “Michael’s an inspiration,“ she declares. “He cooks with a passion, and brings a lot of creativity to his job.” That goes not only for his own special recipe for chicken marsala, but for featured dishes of the day, such as a crusted chicken with almonds and cranberries.”

As a gourmet Italian place, Mamatori’s features such favorites as freshly made sausage and fresh mozzarella. But with a full catering menu, customers will find everything from steak sandwiches and heroes to bakery items, a coffee bar and a ‘grab and go’ case.

Though she insists on a gourmet experience with the finest ingredients, it’s all priced for the average customer, Gargano said. “This is not a place to splurge, it’s an every day place -- we have customers come in every day already.”

Customers like Diane, who works in the shopping center and has made visits to Mamatori’s a regular thing. “I’m 100 percent Italian and I shop here,” she says. “So you know it’s good.”