Mama Mia’s Filipino American restaurant sits directly opposite Moody Air Force Base at 5913 Bemiss Road. Owned by Mia and Jim Alba, the saffron colored building flanked by potted palms and evergreen cypress formerly housed the Thai Orchid restaurant, Mia said.

Jim said that when they purchased the building, everything was painted pink. Even the large wall mirror that makes the main dining room seem twice its actual size had a coat of pink paint over it, he said. They scraped it all off, and now the mirror shines like a diamond in the sun.

The restaurant is named for Mia—her nickname is Mama Mia—which misleads some patrons into believing it’s an Italian restaurant. In deference to the public, Mia and Jim serve Italian food one day a week. Wednesday’s lunch menu includes Italian favorites like spaghetti, lasagna, fettuccine, and pizza, Mia said. And that’s the key to what makes Mama Mia’s special, i.e. they go out of their way to make customers happy.

The restaurant serves a buffet lunch including authentic Philippine cuisine, dishes like marinated Adobo Pork and Chicken, Kaldereta, Pansit, Lumpia or Philippine egg rolls, and others. The buffet menu changes every day, Mia said.

Their American entrees include thick and juicy hand-made hamburgers, 18 inch Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches made with either beef or chicken that are big enough to serve two, fried catfish, Teriyaki-style sirloin steak, chicken and shrimp Caesar salads, and that’s just a small sample.

Mia’s other nickname is the Omelet Queen, Jim said. Their omelet menu includes a shrimp omelet made with shrimp, mushrooms, onions and cheese, a Hawaiian omelet with ham, tomatoes, pineapple and mushrooms, and an Italian omelet with a quarter pound of Italian sausage, chopped green peppers and cheese. Omelets can also be made to order.

Mia is also known for her home-made, hand-shredded hash browns, Jim said. They were voted Best in the Northwest by food critics when she owned her own restaurant in Seattle, Wash. They also offer standard breakfast fare like buttermilk and blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, French toast, oatmeal, etc. They serve breakfast a la carte all day.

Assistant Chef Joe Pack keeps things flowing in the kitchen, Jim said. Mama Mia’s delivers to Moody AFB and the surrounding area. The cost for delivery depends on how far they have to travel, Jim said. They also cater private parties and can seat up to 100 people, he added. Mia said they don’t serve alcohol because it would spoil the family atmosphere.

The restaurant’s one year anniversary was Dec. 19, Mia said, and they celebrated with live music, karaoke, and some special dishes. A whole roasted young pig was served with the traditional native Philippine lechon salsa or sauce, she said.

Jim worked as a financial management specialist for the federal government until retirement. He said he and Mia met when they both lived in Seattle, Wash. She owned a restaurant and he played bass in a band. They decided to join forces. They originally planned to move back to the Philippines after retirement, but instead, bought a house in Lowndes County from a friend of theirs.

Jim and Mia said they both love the South Georgia climate. Friends of Mia’s familiar with her cooking kept asking why she didn’t open another restaurant and when the time was right, she decided to stage a comeback. The results are gratifying.

On Friday and Saturday evenings, they offer live dinner music from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by karaoke. Mia said she enjoys seeing the children of her patrons learning how to sing by participating in karaoke nights. One of Mama Mia’s regulars on karaoke night, Julie Guess, even wrote a song about the restaurant based on the George Jones hit “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” It’s called, “He Stopped Eating Here Today.”

Specials include free drinks Monday through Thursday with the lunch buffet and on Friday and Saturday evening with the steak and buffet dinner for all military personnel with a military ID card. They also have a Monday and Tuesday night hamburger special—half off the second hamburger.

For more information, call Mama Mia’s at (229) 247-9458.