One of Omaha’s favorite pizza joints was born on the other side of the river. It was started by Lou Pantano and Yano Falcone after they the converted the old Riviera Club in Council Bluffs into Mama’s Pizza and Steakhouse in 1974. Located at 901 South Omaha Bridge Road, the restaurant quickly became known for its pizza. After the building burned down in 1982, it doesn’t appear that a new Mama’s Pizza was ever rebuilt in Iowa.
That pizza recipe, however, made its way to Omaha after childhood friends John Howell and Greg Kean partnered with Lou and Yano to open Mama’s Pizza at 715 Saddle Creek Road in 1976. The friends had been operating the Big Tramp Lounge in the same building before converting it to a pizzeria.
While the original restaurant had a more extensive menu, the new location in Omaha focused primarily on pizza using the same recipes as the original location. All of its sauces were homemade as was its Italian sausage and the meat was ground on-site.
The Mama’s on Saddle Creek had two rooms, its soon-to-be famous red shag carpet on the walls, a small game room and seating for 125. In a food review in the Omaha World-Herald in 1976, it was said to be equal to or better than any pizza shortly after it opened.
By 1980 the business was struggling despite the recognition from the newspaper. Jack and Rose Harwood bought the business that year. They calculated that its business doubles during softball season so they sponsored 15 teams in 1983. Jack said that he sponsors his customers and he didn’t lose money the previous year despite a number of rainouts because they were at his restaurant anyway.
The Harwood’s retired around 2000 at which point they turned the business over to their children. Today Mama’s has grown to four locations: the original on Saddle Creek, a second at 156th and Pacific in 2006 and a third in La Vista at 96th and Giles in 2013 and 168th and Cornhusker Road.
Until 2024, Mama’s was family-owned. Even so it remains just as popular as ever with its crisp, sturdy crust holding generous toppings. The original location is no stranger to hosting large events from family and team gatherings to birthday and office parties. Renovations inside removed the shag carpet and made it resemble a sports bar than a lounge. Perhaps just as popular as its award-winning pizza are its homemade onion rings and ranch. Among the accolades are the Best of the Big O Pizza Parlor by The Reader, Best of Omaha by Omaha Magazine and the Omaha Choice Awards.
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