Mamma Mia Bistro

For the past few months, we have been hearing the buzz about a very Unique Mother – Daughter Italian Restaurant on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. I had known of a few Italian Restaurants and one in particular that had been there a long time. However, I had also been told this was a newer Italian restaurant that has only been open for about a year. After doing a little research, I found Mamma Mia Bistro a quaint little restaurant located almost directly across the street from the Wilton Manors City Hall. They are open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30.

Doris and I had arrived a little early so we could walk around Wilton Drive and check out some of the new additions to the dining scene. As we entered the restaurant, we were promptly greeted by Federica, the owner, who graciously allowed us to select our table since we were the first to arrive. She presented us with the menus and a formidable wine list. Shortly after being seated, she came over and took our drink order, a bottle of Italian Sparkling Water. We asked her what she recommended, and without hesitation, she said you must definitely enjoy and savor her mother’s meatballs. So, it was only logical that Doris and I ordered the meatballs for our appetizer. After we ordered, Doris commented to me that the moment we walked into the restaurant she smelled the familiar aroma of meatballs swimming in gravy. Federica hit it out of the park with that recommendation! Those meatballs were absolutely incredible, tasting almost identical to my Italian grandmother’s Sunday offering. They were large, tender, moist, and absolutely delicious. The sauce was marvelously prepared held together well and did not break, the sign of a properly made Italian gravy.

Onto our entrees, Doris ordered the Lasagna which is a Mamma specialty. This was a pure treat every bite was better than the last, so delicate yet filling. The lasagna is even better than what I had read about in the reviews. I had initially planned on ordering the marsala however after Federica brought over the specials, I being a sucker for anything with Orecchiette and sausage went with the Orecchiette with sausage in a lite sauce. My dish was absolutely magnificent.

After such a wonderful meal it was only natural to go to the dessert menu. Several of the desserts are house-made. Doris went with the Rum Baba, made with real rum and beautifully presented. I went with the Gelato, a mix of pistachio and amaretto which is not house-made but is made by a local friend who makes and sells it on a truck. Both desserts were absolutely delicious! Our recommendation is that you make sure you save room for dessert because if you don’t, you’ll miss out on a Very Good Thing. Doris had a cappuccino which was uncharacteristic of her but being that everything was so Italian, she felt that it was a fitting homage to the Spectacular Mamma-prepared meal.

After dinner, we spoke briefly with Federica, the owner, who confided that her mother has no formal culinary training and that this deliciousness is her mother’s home cooking, which undoubtedly has been in their family for generations.

Now this goes back to my old adage – you don’t need a piece of paper to tell you that you can cook. So many people lay back on a certificate or diploma and claim to be Chefs. Sure, there are several other Italian restaurants in the area but none of them has Federica’s Mamma or her family recipes.