Owner shares passion for Italian cooking

Italian cooking is in Christina Kumbara's blood. The New York–born owner of Mama Mia Italiana's, Kumbara said her family has been cooking the same Italian recipes for generations. She grew up cooking and eating Italian cuisine in her parents' restaurants in New York.

"It's a passion. I enjoy it," Kumbara said. "I enjoy seeing people happy with the food."

So it is no surprise Kumbara has enjoyed some success cooking Italian food and owning restaurants herself. Since moving to Texas in the 1980s, she worked in and owned several Italian restaurants in the Humble area before opening the first Mama Mia in Humble eight years ago. She and her husband, John Fernandez, opened their second location in August at FM 2978 in the back of The Woodlands.

Kumbara said she is always in the kitchen overseeing each recipe. Among the more distinctive dishes are the chicken penne a la vodka, salmon Florentine and seafood pasta Pescatore. Mama Mia offers other Italian favorites, such as chicken Marsala, chicken Florentine, spaghetti and meatballs, and lasagna, as well as calzones, sandwiches and veal.

"All of these are my parents' recipes," she said. "We just continue the legacy."

Customers can also enjoy more than a dozen varieties of pizzas made with homemade dough and fresh Wisconsin cheese. Kumbara also said the restaurant's "world famous" garlic knots—homemade bread with garlic, olive oil and parmesan cheese—are "to die for."

With summer on the horizon, Kumbara said, she changes the menu to provide lighter meals served on beds of salad. Salad options include the shrimp avocado bliss, strawberry salad with grilled chicken and bacon, spicy southwest chicken salad with roasted corn and black beans, and a grilled steak salad. All salads are served with homemade dressings, and the restaurant also serves a cold pasta salad.

"With Italian food, summer is heavy, so we change it up a bit," she said. "[Customers are] still eating steak and chicken. It's just over a bed of salad instead of pasta."

Since opening in The Woodlands location, Kumbara said, the restaurant's business has grown and she believes success will continue as more development continues in the back of The Woodlands. The ExxonMobil development and future expansion of FM 2978 could also bring future growth, she said.

"It's got great potential," she said. "The back of The Woodlands is still growing. More restaurants are moving in, so as long as there are shops and restaurants, [customers] are coming."

However, while there may be several eateries for customers with a taste for Italian cuisine, Kumbara said, it's the food and the passion that sets her restaurant apart.

"Our recipes have never been deviated," she said. "They've been passed down from generation to generation, and we continue this legacy in fresh, homemade food."

Chef Recommendations

• Chicken Penne ala Vodka: Grilled chicken, sun dried tomatoes, penne pasta served in a creamy, pink vodka sauce $12.95
• Salmon Florentine: A grilled salmon filet served with a florentine sauce, mushrooms, roma tomatoes in a garlic cream sauce over a bed of pasta $18.99
• Seafood Pasta Pescatore: Mussels, clams, scallops and crawfish served with a spicy diablo sauce over pasta $18.95.

Customer Comments

"They have the best rolls in the world." - Sharon Zarruk

"It's a very warm, relaxing atmosphere. She knows her customers by name, which is really nice. And it's also nice that it's not a chain. The Woodlands has so many chains." - Shannon Geer

"I usually get a pineapple or vegetarian [pizza]. She does a very good job with those. The crust is fantastic." - Nasin Bell

Salads For Summer

For restaurant goers looking for a lighter Italian meal over the summer, Mama Mia features several salad options served with homemade dressings.

• Shrimp and Avocado Bliss: Served with an avocado ranch dressing $13.99.
• Strawberry Salad with Grilled Chicken and Bacon: Served with a house vinaigrette $12.99

Mama Mia Italiana's , 30420 FM 2978, Magnolia, 936-647-2809, www.mamamiaitalianas.com

• Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Fri.-Sat. v11 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Sun. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.