It delights me to overhear a table nearby mine when someone exclaims what a sweet place this is or how friendly its people are. I am very biased in my silent agreement with them; this place has been the reason dishes don't pile up in my own sink.

Never do the smiles of greeting from a host or hostess, or the enthusiastic "OK' what's for lunch?" from Eileen fail to warm me to the core. I'd love to claim that I get special treatment in this regard, but I've been told by folks that have just discovered Mama's that they are amazed at the congeniality and familiarity that they, new comers, are given.

While the food may be the reason for it being packed on certain nights and very brisk at lunchtime; the real reason for the success of Mama's has to have something to do with the family that all of its participants become. I love Mama's, and the food's great too.