Mattina Bella
Backstory
For a million years this was a great old poor boy joint called Nathan’s. It was succeeded in the 1990s by a breakfast specialist called Judice's. It made way in 2007. for Vincent Riccobono, who with his family transformed it into Mattina Bella. He is a cousin of the man of the same name who runs the Peppermill in Metairie. Confusingly enough, Mattina Bella's Vincent managed the Peppermill before he opened this place. Echoes of the Peppermill (and even its predecessor, the Buck 49) appear here.
Dining Room
In Covington's delightful downtown, this is an old store with a pressed-tin ceiling, and antique, copper-topped bar and many large windows. The service staff is always on the run, especially on weekends, but they get it all done in a friendly way.
Why It's Essential
The name means "beautiful morning" in Italian. Breakfast is the specialty. A real breakfast, with eggs, pancakes, biscuits, bacon, and all the rest of it, made with excellent ingredients and a deft hand in the kitchen. And not just the basics, but egg dishes as complicated as those you'd find in the top brunch places. They also have a good, inexpensive lunch for people stuck at the parish courthouse.
Why It's Good
Breakfast dishes dominate not just the morning meal, but a good part of the lunch menu, too. They omelettes are fluffy, greaseless, and well-stuffed with an interesting variety of possible ingredients. The classic hollandaise-topped poached eggs could not be improved upon. Pancakes are the best in the area. Good hamburgers and sandwiches at lunch, and a smattering of Italian food.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>BREAKFAST</strong></em><br /> »Two eggs any style, grits or potatoes, multigrain or sourdough toast, bacon, sausage, ham, Italian sausage or Canadian bacon Low carb (three eggs, bacon, ham, or sausage, sliced tomato avocado)<br /> »Combo (two eggs, bacon, ham, or sausage, two buttermilk or multi grain pancakes)<br /> »Steak & eggs (7 oz New York strip, two eggs, grits or potatoes, biscuit or toast<br /> »Eggs Benedict<br /> »Eggs Sardou<br /> »»Eggs melanzana (poached eggs, fried eggplant, grilled ham, hollandaise)<br /> Poached eggs, smoked salmon, English muffin, hollandaise, capers<br /> »»Blue crab Benedict (sauteed jumbo lump crab, mushrooms, green onions, English muffin, two poached eggs, hollandaise<br /> <em><strong>Omelettes</strong></em><br /> Iron Man (egg whites, mushrooms, onions, tomato, bell pepper, avocado, salsa<br /> »The Bella (spinach, mushrooms, mozzarella)<br /> »California (mushrooms, avocado, Swiss)<br /> »Greek (spinach, tomato, calamata olives, feta, mozzarella)<br /> Western (ham, onions, bell pepper, tomato, sharp cheddar)<br /> »Florentine (creamed spinach, artichoke, mozzarella)<br /> Country Boy (bacon, ham, sharp cheddar)<br /> »»Roma (Italian sausage, onions, bell pepper, tomato, marinara, mozzarella)<br /> »»Jumbo lump crab (mushrooms, green onions, cream cheese & hollandaise<br /> Bacon avocado, salsa<br /> <em><strong>Waffles & Pancakes</strong></em><br /> »Waffles: Belgian, multi-grain, pecan, strawberry or blueberry<br /> »»Pancakes: Buttermilk, multi-grain, pecan, strawberry, blueberry or banana nut)<br /> <em><strong>LUNCH</strong></em><br /> <em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> »Spinach & artichoke dip, fried tortilla chips<br /> »Fried eggplant sticks, marinara sauce<br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> »Egg dishes and omelettes as for breakfast<br /> »Grilled chicken Bella salad<br /> Grilled shrimp salad<br /> Spinach salad<br /> »Abita fried chicken salad<br /> Covington fried shrimp salad<br /> »Caesar salad, with or without chicken or shrimp<br /> »Eggplant parmigiana, spaghetti marinara<br /> »Pannee veal, spaghetti marinara<br /> »Pannee chicken breast, melted mozzarella, spaghetti marinara<br /> Matthew's meatballs, spaghetti marinara<br /> »Italian sausage, spaghetti marinara<br /> »Hamburgers, several variations<br /> Grilled chicken sandwiches, several variations
Deficiencies
I wish they had better coffee (chicory blend, with hot milk). Sometimes, they do.
For Best Results
Be prepared to wait for a table on weekends for breakfasts, although that doesn't always happen. Know that their breakfast potatoes are basically brabants--fried cubes. Beware overflows of spinach-artichoke dip.
Bonus Ratings
3
Attitude
1
Environment
1
Hipness
2
Local Color
2
Service
2
Value