Tigrane Seydoux and Victor Lugger wanted people to experience the warmth and authenticity of Italian trattorias. They wanted to showcase Italian ingredients, all coming from small Italian producers, served at affordable rates and at beautifully designed spaces. To bring it all under one roof, they opened Big Mamma in 2013. 

Their biggest footprint is in Paris, where the group currently has 8 trattorias and one night market. Paris is known for its love for food and is home to some of the world’s most talented chefs, pâtissiers, and chocolatiers. Elite restaurant chains have made their mark in Paris, with the city being home to 10 Michelin star restaurants. In a city that attracts food lovers from the world over, and local cuisine that's considered to be among the finest, opening a chain of Italian restaurants, with each garnering great repute and popularity is no mean feat. Tigrane and Victor’s restaurant chain should be on your bucket list of places to eat in Paris.

East Mamma

Big Mamma - East Mamma, Source Facebook

Big Mamma’s first trattoria in Paris, East Mamma was opened in a 32-year-old Corsican restaurant that no one wanted to buy. It is tucked away in a long and narrow space in the Main-d’Or passageway. With brick walls and old stones, coupled with the imagination of the owners, East Mamma was transformed into a lavish Parisian restaurant. The food is an ode to all the things they love and includes wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, fresh and hand-made pasta and amazing Italian ingredients. Don’t miss the truffle pasta! They also have a selection of 180 wines to enjoy. 

The menu changes every month depending on seasonal arrivals so there’s always a lot of variety to be found at East Mamma. 

Where - 133 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75011 Paris

Timings - 12 pm to 2:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 10:45 pm (Monday to Wednesday)
12 pm to 2:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 11 pm (Thursday and Friday)
12 pm to 3:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 11 pm (Saturday)
12 pm to 3:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 10:45 pm (Sunday)

Ober Mamma

Big Mamma- Ober Mamma, Source Facebook

The amazing interiors of Ober Mamma consist of frescoes and mouldings and were there when the place was inherited by the restaurant chain. The Italian chain was able to install two wood-fired ovens where they make their delicious Neapolitan pizzas and decadent lasagnas. The open kitchen and dining room is run by a squad of Italian brothers and the bar is run by Flavio Pellegrino, who pumps out cocktails laced with liqueurs. A greenhouse, skylight and an indoor tree complete a near-perfect restaurant. 

Ober Mamma is one of Big Mamma’s marquee establishments. The place is always full and you will hardly see a day go by when there’s no queue out front. 

Where - 107 Bd Richard-Lenoir, 75011 Paris

Timings - 2 pm to 2:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 10:30 pm (Monday to Thursday)
12 pm to 2:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 10:45 pm (Friday)
12 pm to 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm to 10:45 pm (Saturday)
12 pm to 3:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 10:45 pm (Sunday)

Pink Mamma

Big Mamma- Pink Mamma, Source Facebook

Big Mamma’s extravagant and friendly 4-floor location. The meat at Pink Mamma is prepared in a Firenze style with the carpaccio styled steak being a popular option. Their wine selection is incredible and features vintages from old Tuscan hotel cellars. The fourth floor has a glass ceiling which adds a nice touch to Pink Mamma’s atmosphere. Pastas, pizzas and veggie options are available aplenty too. 

Where - 20bis Rue de Douai, 75009 Paris

Timings - 12 pm to 2:15 pm and 6:45 pm to 10:45 pm (Monday and Tuesday)
6:45 pm to 10:45 pm (Wednesday to Sunday)

BigLove

Big Mamma- BigLove, Source Facebook

Two things separate BigLove from Big Mamma’s other joints in Paris. The first is the big glass door at the entrance. The second, and perhaps a slightly more important one is that BigLove is Big Mamma’s only all-vegetarian restaurant. Any plate of food that you order at BigLove will have generous fillings of seasonal produce brought directly from the chain’s producers. Lucia and her team have created an eclectic menu that features an envious ensemble of dishes like French toast with whipped cream and blueberry coulis. A tough place to order because every single dish jumps out of the menu. 

Where - 30 Rue Debelleyme, 75003 Paris

Timings - 12 pm to 2:30 pm and 7 pm to 10:45 pm (Monday to Thursday)
12 pm to 2:30 pm and 7 pm to 11 pm (Friday)
12 pm to 3:30 pm and 7 pm to 11 pm (Saturday)
12 pm to 3:30 pm and 7 pm to 10:45 pm (Sunday)

Mamma Primi

Big Mamma- Mamma Primi, Source Facebook

Drawing inspiration from Rome’s Monti neighborhood, Big Mamma introduced Mamma Primi, a little family village of sorts. Handmade ravioli can be paired with any of the 30 Italian wines or every single tonic made in Italy at Mamma Primi. Funky lunches and cool dinners can be enjoyed at this swanky restaurant. Also, if there is ever a terrace in full bloom in Paris, it is Mamma Primi!

Where - 18 Rue Boursault, 75017 Paris

Timings - 12 pm to 2:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 10:45 pm (Monday to Wednesday)
12 pm to 2:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 11 pm (Thursday and Friday)
12 pm to 3:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 11 pm (Saturday)
12 pm to 3:30 pm and 6:45 pm to 10:45 pm (Sunday)

Pizzeria Popolare

Big Mamma- Pizzeria Popolare, Source Facebook

If you ever crave a perfectly made margherita in Paris, just like the ones you will find in Napoli, head over to the Pizzeria Popolare. The 250-seat restaurant recreates the magic of Napoli in the middle of Paris with their authentic pizzas made fresh using San Marzano tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella, all of them in two three-ton ovens. Along with the pizzas, you can relish their house-made Italian ice creams, pints of lagers, ales or a nice IPA. Their bar, among the biggest in Paris, houses 500 different drinks and cocktails by Alberto Sinibaldi. 

Similar to Ober Mamma, Pizzeria Popolare has a long line of people waiting outside their front door every day. The place seats a decent number of people, and yet, the queue outside shows just how well they make their pizzas.

Where - 111 Rue Réaumur, 75002 Paris

Timings - 11:45 am to 2:15 pm and 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm (Monday to Wednesday)
11:45 am to 2:15 pm and 6:30 pm to 10:45 pm (Thursday and Friday)
12 pm to 3:15 pm and 6:30 pm to 10:45 pm (Saturday)
12 pm to 3:15 pm and 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm (Sunday)

Libertino

Big Mamma- Libertino, Source Facebook

Big Mamma’s Libertino is a great combination of modern and yesteryear culture. On one side is an impressive kitchen where delicious food is made every day. On the other side are flashbacks of pastries and other desserts that you gorged on in your younger days. The menu has dishes meant to be shared, like the ultra-thin and crispy Roman pizzas, or the 16-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder. Libertino is delightfully retro and yet has some modern touches in its food. 

Where - 44 Rue de Paradis, 75010 Paris

Timings - 12 pm to 2:30 pm and 7 pm to 10:45 pm (Monday to Thursday)
12 pm to 2:30 pm and 7 pm to 11 pm (Friday)
12 pm to 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm to 11 pm (Saturday)
12 pm to 3:30 pm and 7 pm to 10:45 pm (Sunday)

Bar No Entry

Big Mamma- Bar No Entry, Source Facebook

Hidden inside Pink Mamma is this Italian speaksey, No Entry. A cosy cocktail bar that showcases Italian pleasures through twists on classic cocktails. The book-like menu, trained mixologists and sexy shakes all add to the charm of this suave ambient bar. Sneak a peek, look for No Entry’s door when at Pink Mamma, and you won’t leave in a hurry. 

Where - 20 bis Rue de Douai, 75009 Paris

Timings - 7 pm to 1 am (Monday to Wednesday)
7 pm to 2 am (Friday)

La Felicità

Big Mamma- La Felicità, Source Facebook

8 kitchens, 9 chefs, 3 bars and lots of love is what La Felicità consists of. Big Mamma’s huge food market smells of Neapolitan pizzas, hamburgers and other delicious food. Take a stroll and leave with a happy heart after devouring pralines and cookies, fantastic cocktails and artisanal beers. Everything is 100% homemade at La Felicità, which is also a place of party and music. 

Where - 5 Rue Eugène Freyssinet, 75013 Paris
Timings - 9 am to 12 am (Sunday to Wednesday)
9 am to 1 am (Thursday to Saturday)

Big Mamma’s French adventure doesn’t end in Paris however. They have restaurants in Lille, Lyon and Bordeaux. Outside of France, Big Mamma has a presence in London with 3 restaurants and Madrid with another 2. The Italian chain is on its way to becoming a European restaurant powerhouse and we are here for it. 

Header Image- Big Mamma, Source Facebook