Mamma Mia Two

For nearly 5 decades, Maria and Roberto Lombardo have satisfied Homestead, FL, locals with homestyle Sicilian specialties made with premium ingredients. Consistently upscaling their restaurant, ingredient quality, menu selection, and wine list has helped keep their place attractive and relevant to each new generation of guests over the years. Once a humble pizzeria, Mamma Mia Two has evolved into a vibrant trattoria, featuring authentic Sicilian spaghetti aglio e olio with anchovy and olives, shaved bottarga (dried tuna) over caponata, upscale seafood like branzino alla Livornese, and authentic Roman pinsa.

As their customer base has evolved in sophistication, so has their wine list. To make ultrapremium vintages more accessible, a dozen choices are now offered “by the glass.” These pricier vintages are precisely poured, electronically inventoried, and kept fresh for 30 days via argon-flushed wine dispensers. To keep his wine list vibrantly attractive, Roberto tracks monthly sales by both brand and variety. That way, if the popularity of particular wine styles (e.g., primitivo) grows, he can expand those choices, while gradually “pruning” less popular styles.

To keep their dining room contemporary, warm, and inviting, the Lombardos regularly reinvest in freshening their floors, walls, and seating. As demand for ultrapremium mixologist cocktails increased, they remodeled their bar to better showcase super-premium liquors. Replacing washroom tile and fixtures also keeps the decades-old restaurant feeling as fresh as newly opened competitors. To emphasize their dedication to fresh ingredients, they installed a fresh pasta-making station at the center of their dining room. The evening’s featured pasta shape is rolled from dough, cut, and cooked in full view of guests. Fresh sauces are also visibly cooked to order via an induction range.

By intentionally limiting dough quantities, the Lombardos guarantee that these unique, premium-priced “fresh pasta specials” sell out nightly. Scarcity and visual handcrafting help servers further elevate their guest appeal. Best of all, these higher margin specials more than cover the incremental labor while visually entertaining the room. By continually evolving their approach without sacrificing quality, the Lombardos continue attracting hip, young newcomers and established regulars alike!