About us

Mama's on Washington Square was started in 1951, as a family-owned and operated ice cream business. In 1969 the ice cream shop was expanded to a restaurant offering an innovative menu of sandwiches, salads, and omelets. It did not take long for Mama's to become a city favorite.

Any day of the week one would see lines of customers waiting to enter the little restaurant and see everything being prepared up front in the display kitchen. Breads, fresh fruits, cheeses, meat, pastries of all kinds were there for customers to gaze at. Our desire was to serve our community and we devotedly provided the city with a menu and style which can only be described as uniquely San Francisco.