BUCKHANNON – Upshur County residents may have heard rumors that Mama Mia Pie & Pasta, which specializes in authentic Italian food like pizza, pasta and more, is opening a restaurant in Buckhannon. The rumors are true — Mama Mia is coming to Main Street.
Robert Behzadi, owner of Mama Mia Pies & Pasta in Elkins, has extensive experience making hand-tossed, stoned-baked, thin crust New York-style pizza and a vast variety of Italian pasta dishes. In fact, Robert said he has made more than 1 million pizzas and more than 1 million Italian dishes so far in his life.
“I will soon be opening a Mama Mia’s Restaurant in Buckhannon within a few months,” Robert told My Buckhannon. “It will be located right across from the Upshur County Courthouse on Main Street in Buckhannon.”
He said he moved to Elkins and opened Mama Mia’s Trattoria Roman Pizzeria & Restaurant there with the hope of retiring. Along with his family, he also has Mama Mia’s restaurants in Rome, New York and Florida. He added the Buckhannon location will feature the same menu as the Mama Mia’s in Elkins, including pizza, lunch specials, appetizers, soup, salads, hot and cold subs, sauces to go, pasta, calzones, Stromboli, pepperoni rolls and desserts.
Even though his original plan was to retire, he said he decided to open a Mama’s in Buckhannon because of his many wonderful customers who live in and around the Buckhannon area.
“They have been inviting me to come to Buckhannon, so they do not have to drive so far to enjoy Mama’s foods,” Robert said. “I am happy to open up in Buckhannon and offer authentic Italian food.”
Food at Mama Mia’s is not only authentic, but many items are also handmade daily.
At Mama Mia’s, he makes the pizza, Stromboli, pepperoni roll and calzone dough fresh each day. Garlic rolls are a favorite at Mama’s and are served warm with only stone-pressed virgin olive oil and lots of freshly sliced garlic.
Sauces, which are also made fresh daily, include tomato sauce, Marsala sauce, piccata sauce, Alfredo sauce, meat sauce, meatball, red or white mushroom sauce, marinara sauce and white or red clam sauce. These sauces are also available to go by the cup or bowl.
Dining at Mama’s is casual, but elegant. The décor is Italian-inspired and music always brings to mind a relaxed, Italian ambiance.
Popular menu items include hot antipasto, which features spicy shrimp, clams, mussels, meatballs and sausage in garlic, olive oil, extra fresh oregano, piccata sauce with calamari and anchovies; eggplant rollatini; and chicken wings with your choice of plain, mild, hot or BBQ sauce.
At Mama Mia’s, pasta is cooked to order – angel hair, fettuccini, linguini, spaghetti or penne.
Mama’s also offers a West Virginia favorite – a pepperoni roll stuffed with pepperoni, Romano and Mozzarella cheeses.
So, Robert is asking everyone in Buckhannon to keep their eyes open and their stomachs ready – it’s finally going to happen! Mama Mia’s will be opening soon in Buckhannon, offering residents the opportunity to enjoy authentic Italian pasta, pizza, seafood and many other tasty dishes.
“See you soon in Buckhannon!” he said.
Those folks who simply cannot wait to enjoy Mama Mia’s can visit the Elkins Restaurant located at 121 Third St. They are open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Additional information is available by calling 304-637-5858.
