REVIEWED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAGarema Place is packed with cafes, and on weekends they are packed with people. Mama’s Trattoria has seen some of the others come and go as she continues to serve up delightful Italian cuisine to the faithful, year after year. The interior wooden arches and interesting artwork adorning the walls add a dimension of old-world charm to the space and work to separate the dining areas, making it an ideal venue for group bookings. Papers and magazines sit beside the front counter where you can sit at the window with a coffee and watch the activity in the square. With outdoor tables spreading across the pavement and an interior reminiscent of a rustic village trattoria, you will feel right at home amid the cosy hubbub of activity.
The lunch menu departs from your average Italian cafe with interesting options like the frittata del giorno (Italian-style vegetarian omelette with seasonal fillings served with salad) and Mama’s polenta (homemade grilled polenta topped with sauteed vegetables in roasted sauce). For dinner start with the eggplant stuffed with rice, herbs and cheese and baked with mozzarella and a tomato sauce. Follow with the penne al pepe (penne pasta with strips of beef, mushrooms and spinach in a creamy green peppercorn sauce). Finish with a panna cotta, sticky date pudding or simply a few scoops of gelato.
Shelley Hepworth, October 2006