Our Story




A Family Tradition of Authentic Italian Cuisine
Ma Raffa’s began with a love for family and food that spans generations. In the early 20th century, Nunzio and Nunziatta Raffa emigrated from Messina, Sicily, to New Bedford, MA, bringing with them the treasured recipes of their homeland. By the early 1950s, word had begun to spread about Ma's cooking. Nunziatta—the original "Ma Raffa"— found herself preparing her signature spaghetti & meatballs for her daughter’s friends on break from work at the local New Bedford mills. The daily lunch line at the Raffa house soon got so long that Ma began charging 25 cents a meal. When she eventually gave up the daily ritual, her enterprising 22-year-old son, Attilio, saw an opportunity. He decided to take his mother’s beloved recipe and open an Italian restaurant dedicated to serving simple, delicious food.
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With the help of his brother-in-law, Armand "Rick" Riccardi, Attilio opened the doors to Ma Raffa’s. Initially, the menu featured only two dishes: spaghetti & meatballs, and meatball sandwiches. However, the restaurant quickly became a local favorite, especially for late-night bites, and it wasn’t long before pizza was added to the menu. The thin-crust pizza style, for which Ma Raffa’s is now famous, was born out of necessity. With orders piling up, the dough had to be rolled thinner to cook faster and meet demand, creating the crisp and flavorful pies that customers love today.
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Throughout the decades, Ma Raffa’s has been a part of the community’s fabric, with several locations opening across the South Coast. The most iconic and long-standing location remains today at 85 Rockdale Avenue in New Bedford. Ma Raffa’s has become more than just a restaurant—it’s a place where families gather, friendships grow, and memories are made. Long-time customers, dedicated employees, and even marriages between cooks & waitresses are all part of the story that makes Ma Raffa’s special.
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Still owned and operated by the Raffa family, we proudly serve the same recipes that Nunzio and Nunziatta brought over from Sicily, including our signature red sauce that hasn't changed since those first bowls of spaghetti in Ma's home kitchen. For over 60 years, we’ve been honored to bring our traditional Italian comfort food to the South Coast community, and we look forward to many more years of sharing meals and memories with you.
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Welcome to Ma Raffa’s —where tradition, family, and flavor meet.
Remembering Our Beloved Founder
Attilio J. Raffa 1934-2015

"If all else fails, just keep smiling" -Attilio
Attilio Raffa's enduring memory is the heart and soul behind everything we do at Ma Raffa's. An adventurous and hard-working entrepreneur, Attilio built this restaurant alongside his wife, Lucille, with whom he shared over 60 years of love and partnership. Together, they turned their passion into a welcoming space for friends, family, and the community.
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Known for his infectious smile and cheerful whistling, Attilio had an extraordinary gift for connecting with people. He was a consummate family man who believed in building strong communities, and those who met him were drawn to his warm, friendly nature. He loved people, and people loved him right back. His legacy of joy, dedication, and hospitality lives on in every dish we serve and every smile we share.
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We invite you to join us in honoring his memory and celebrating the spirit that continues to make our restaurant a place where everyone feels at home.