Now that you have been back at school for a few weeks, perhaps you and some friends are looking for an opportunity to get out of town for an afternoon and try some different food while away. A good way to meet both of these goals is to try out Ma-Fia’s, one of the areas only Italian restaurants, which can be found in downtown Opelika beside the tracks.
When you first arrive at Ma-Fia’s, you will find that the restaurant is a little dim because it is in the middle of a downtown building block and thus lacking in windows. Fortunately, the restaurant’s interior designers took full advantage of this by creating a cozy and rustic styled interior with walls covered in vintage Italian advertisements, and this setting is formal but still comfortable as well as potentially romantic.
Ma-Fia’s is titled not only as a “ristorante” but also as a “pizzeria.” However, you probably do not want to drive all the way to Opelika for pizza when there are closer options, and besides, it is the Italian cuisine that really makes Ma-Fia’s stand out.
When you first see the menu, you may be surprised and a little confused to see that the menu’s titles are all Italian. If your Italian is a little rusty, it is ok because, to many customers’ relief, the descriptions of the dishes are still in English.
Mafias does have antipasti, or appetizers, to order, but be warned that you may want to save room for the main entrees because most are plenty big and very rich. If you do wish to order an appetizer and try something authentic and a little different, both the Arancici and the Bruchette are well-prepared at Ma-Fia’s
You cannot possibly have a good Italian restaurant without of course good insalate or salad, and Ma-Fias has certainly met this goal with around half-dozen different great salads to choose from. Ma-Fia's Caprese is a tasty choice with basil-pesto and chunks of buffalo mozzarella added in, and if you are a fan of sweet salads, the Strawberry Salad is a must-have combining goat cheese and candied almonds with the strawberries for a great taste.
When studying the menu, you might notice that the main entrees are divided between Primi or Secondi which is English for first and second. This is because, traditionally, Italians would first eat pasta as a first course which would then be followed by a meat or fish. No one is stopping you if you have the appetite to eat two main courses, but at least in the states, no one is actually expecting you to eat and pay for that much food.
Any of Ma-Fia’s pastas are good, and they do an especially good job with their raviolis. In addition, you can never go wrong with the house’s special. Also, do not be surprised if the menu looks different on your second visit. Ma-fia’s assistant manager, James Shiflett, said “We tend to evolve gradually” and “to rotate new and exciting items.”
Finally, if you do have room for dolci or dessert, you should probably go with another Italian classic: Tiramisu. Shiflett said his goal is “for every person who walks through our doors to have a wonderful dining experience in a unique environment,” and Ma-Fia’s is the kind of restaurant that can just do this.
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