Mama Mila’s — Restaurant in Columbia

If you can't wait to meet a restaurant owner with an attitude, then this restaurant is your chance. Meet Mama Mila! And don't worry if you can't pronounce her name right. She'll correct you. And if you read her responses to other reviewers and somehow sense that she is extremely demeaning to her critics. Well you're wrong. She's not condescending. She's just Italian.

Her dream-come-true restaurant is set in a rickety warehouse with a very thoughtful--wait for it--cafeteria layout. Never mind if the bathroom doorknob falls off and startles the occupant inside. It's just character. It might be difficult to navigate between the packed tables to get your own silverware, your own drinks, and your own togo boxes, but what should you expect? If you have to ask for something like extra napkins, Mama Mila might remind you of the inconvenience that causes, but at least she'll give you a couple. Never mind that you were reassured by the greeter before paying at the counter & leaving a big tip that you would be well taken care of at your table. Even if no one takes care of you, you should be grateful. This is a small business after all. Why should any of that matter anyway? Mila's is about the food!

Yes, the food. It's all in the sauce. That's why if the pasta-half of the dish tastes like it came from a box, don't worry. It was made in Italy. And if the flavorless meatballs taste like nothing more than what the name suggests--well that's what you ordered. So be happy and enjoy!

This isn't some corporate restaurant chain. This is a family-owned restaurant. An Italian family. If you call about the extra fees for things like tap water that were discretely added to your bill, well how dare you question the boss. It's just the authentic Italian experience. Forget that the person taking the order didn't let you review it or repeat it back to you, or courteously let you know about the fees. How could you not have known before you paid? Can't you read? Unlike customer service the corporate way, Mama Mila doesn't want to listen to you. She'll talk at you and over you instead. And if you thought that was all--Mama Mila delivers even more--she tells you before hanging up that she's been recording the call. Perhaps she can't get enough of listening to herself talk. And why would she need your consent to record your call anyway? Didn't you read the url? Mama Mila's Mafia. You...

TLDR: I drove ten hours to eat here as often as possible for a week and I’d do it again ASAP. Everything was everything I hoped it would be, and then some.

So I went to visit my family, who go to Mama Mila’s and they love it but sometimes they hate it cuz things sell out, it’s “far away” and whatever. But I follow the MM socials and drool over it so I made a plan to try some part of every item on the menu the week I was visiting.

The Breakdown: Saturday: Fat Tony, seafood rigatoni, and cheesy focaccia; to go, the carrot cake, strawberry crackle cookie, and cheesecake Sunday: foolishly went somewhere else Thursday: chicken Cesar with fingerling potatos and Marcantonio; to go: the pistachio cake, forrero rocher cake, ans chocolate cheesecake Friday: lunch: Nunzio and Mila with a whipped coffee; dinner: Guido with sausage, and Gia; also, tiramisu Saturday: rigatoni and Gemma; tiramisu and whipped coffee to go Honorable mention: the piece of focaccia on every plate

Everything was so good, ok? But let me focus this review so it’s not a dissertation of every single thing. My favorite was the Nunzio, which is basically a plate of everything I ever want: rich, creamy crack sauce cut with a little acidic tomato, perfectly made penne, generous portion of their homemade sausage—juicy and garlicky with the perfect amount of pepper—cooked with that nice char which is echoed by the roasted peppers and onions. And then the soft F*ING focaccia, ok?? I just literally need access to that focaccia every day. The things I’d do with it. Do yourself a favor and buy it or go there and eat it cheesy or plain or dunked in the remnants of your plate. It’s like the aperitif that resets your mind for more food. Like dessert or whipped coffee. If you’re lucky enough to be around for the tiramisu like I was, here is my advice: don’t be a baby. Get there early, buy more than one, and plan to do it again the next day. If I lived there, it’s what I’d do because I’m a fat menace.

Literally everything was fantastic. I’m so mad I missed one day eating there because so many Italian places are like that joke about Mexican food—it’s the same ingredients put in a different sequence. Mama Mila’s dishes all have their own homing beacon that makes it stand out as the thing, as they say, your heart’s gonna crave.

Bonus tip: go in their bathroom...

Folks! I have found a gem in a desert!

Mama Mila’s in Columbia,TN.

This place is the real deal! My wife and I went for dinner and we were not disappointed. The building is an old converted garage. There is some outdoor seating but plenty of indoor seating if the weather is too……whatever, for you.

You order at the counter, but this is not a fast food joint. This is homemade, legit, Italian food, just like Nona made. (No, Mama Mila is nowhere near the age of a Nona). They have a one page menu with the entree’s and just a few sides on the back. While you are waiting to order there is a cooler with a ton of desserts. (I cannot give a review because, shamefully, I didn’t try any. 😞)

My current wife had the Tortellini special. Cheese tortellini, shrimp, bacon, smoked Gouda cream sauce. It was very rich and the flavors blended together well. A lot of people steer away from smoked flavors but this was just right as the other flavorings blended well to give the cream sauce a nice balance.

My wife’s current husband, me 😉, had The Guido. Which is their version of a spaghetti bolognese. I also added sautéed mushrooms. The first couple of bites were good but nothing jumped out at me. That third of forth bite, was when thing really started to open up. I think it was because I was getting more of the beef flavoring in my bites. Now, from what I could gather the secret to this sauce was in the meat. (I could be wrong but this is just my best guess) I am not sure if they season the meat while they precook it before it goes into the sauce but whatever they do to it, they shouldn’t stop.

They also have an item called “Crack Sauce” hind sight is 20/20 and had I done a little more research I would have gotten that this time around. That will be what I get next time.

They are only open for dinner on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday which I believe is incredibly smart as it creates a want and not a “oh else can go there anytime.”

If you are in Middle TN make the effort to drive to Columbia, TN and check out their downtown area and grab food at...