Mama Mia!

Tonight the food group went out to Lisa Shroeder's Mama Mia. We went in with high expectations -- after all, Schroeder also owns Mother's and we all do love that. This is billed as an unauthentic red sauce Italian joint -- the place you might go to in New Jersey with plaid tablecloths and filling, unpretentious food.

We started with a bottle of Chianti. Really lovely. Then appetizers of spinach (not really an appetizer, but hey), calamari, caesar salad, and fried zucchini. Everything was good, but the zucchini was incredible -- a very light, almost tempura-esque batter, very lightly fried so it was no longer raw, but still crispy, delightful. We then got a number of entrees: chicken piccata, veal marsala, gnocchi (sp), cheese ravioli, veal franchese, pasta with vodka sauce. I thought the veal dishes, particularly the marsala, were really incredible. (they use a cruelty-free veal -- does that make it taste better? I'm not sure). The gnocchi was great too. The pasta was fine -- but nothing to write home about.

A couple of us got coffee and desert - zappole (beignets) and panna cotta. Most of the table swooned over the panna cotta, and the coffee got good reviews.

The portions weren't huge, but there was plenty of food -- I took about half of mine home. Service was attentive, and almost affectionate. After all that, it came out to $34 per person before tip, or $40 with an okay tip. I'm looking forward to going back!

SW 2nd & Washington
(in the old Elephant & Castle location)

posted by vj @ 9:42 PM