HAMPTON BEACH -- Located right in the heart of the main strip, Mama Leone's in Hampton Beach has been the perfect little place for some traditional Italian eating for more than 30 years.

In the basement level of the Hillcrest Inn, the restaurant is cool with perfect lighting and classic Italian music to transport you to Italy.

Although now the restaurant is painted green and white and is decorated to make the customers truly enjoy their authentic Italian meal, Gus D'Angelo, owner of Mama Leone's, says it didn't always look this way.

"I was living in Hawaii and a friend called and told me about this place on Hampton Beach for lease. I leased it and fixed it up. This was just a cellar," he says.

D'Angelo has been in the restaurant business for 60 years, so he's no stranger to the trade.

"I went to Miami as a young boy. The only job I could get was a bus boy position," he says.

From there, he was able to learn the ins and outs of the business and found success in the restaurant business in Miami, Hawaii and California. And, for the past 36 years, he's found success at Hampton Beach.

At Mama Leone's they serve an array of Italian favorites. There's a vast selection of steaks, seafood, veal and chicken dishes.

"My favorite is the veal," says D'Angelo.

Breakfast dishes range in price from $3.25 to $7.95. Dinner meals at Mama Leone's range in price from $11 to $22. All dishes, breakfast and dinner alike, are large enough to fill even the hungriest eater.

"The food here is consistent. This is how we maintain our business. The clients end up coming back year after year," he says.

"We cook people very good food, we give the people plenty, and we charge a fair price," D'Angelo adds.

Mama Leone's accepts reservations in June and September, but not in July and August because of the busy traffic. In those months, they recommend sending a person from the party at least 30 minutes in advance of the desired eating time to get a table.

They are also wheelchair accessible.

The restaurant also only serves breakfast and dinner, not lunch. Breakfast is served daily from 7:15 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., while dinner is served from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Mama Leone's also does take out services.

They are located at 113 Ocean Blvd. and can be reached at 926-5576 or online at www.ilovemamaleones.com.