I first discovered Mama Mila's (https://www.mamamilasmafia.com/) a few years ago when I walked into one of my favorite antique stores in Columbia, TN. When I opened the front door, I was immediately hit with a fantastic aroma wafting through the store. The lady at the counter said, "it's a new Italian restaurant on the third floor, doesn't it smell amazing?" It did, indeed. I had the opportunity to try their food one day while visiting at lunch time, but when they relocated to their own building I had not been able to visit, yet. My husband and I were recently in the area and knew we had to go for dinner.
One of the things I love most about Mama Mila's is its authenticity. The owner and her employees are friendly and you feel like you know them more than you actually do. Family photos of the owner and her family adorn the walls, your food is served on beautiful dishes that were once the wedding dishes of a friend's grandmother, and you just feel welcomed. Mila is big on hiring and supporting women in the workplace (check out her website for more on her "Girl Mafia." She even has a little shop inside the front door that supports local small businesses. It's obvious that she loves her community. Everything on the menu looks amazing and you can't go wrong with anything you order. I decided on the cheese ravioli and my husband got the "Augi" which was penne pasta with their homemade creamy tomato parmesan sauce (aka "crack" sauce.) Mila was raised learning how to make Italian dishes from scratch from her grandmother which is reflected in every bite you'll experience in her restaurant. The number one thing you have to have before you leave is a big piece of her homemade focaccia bread. It's made twice a day in house and you will leave with the desire to return immediately just to have more of her amazing bread. It is the BEST! If you're anywhere near Columbia, Tennessee Thursday-Sunday, be sure to stop by Mama Mila's. I recommend going at an unconventional meal time, like 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. on the weekends because her food is so good that people pile in when it's lunch and dinner time. It's worth the wait no matter what time you arrive!
