By Tony Adams
If you are out for a morning walk in Old Town Key West, and pause at the corner of Southard and Margaret Streets because the aroma of a savory sauce has caught your attention, look into the windows of Mangia Mangia to watch them make the pasta they’ll dish up at 5 PM when they open their doors to greet their family of loyal locals and visitors who keep coming back for more great Italian food.
Owners Heather and Michael Barnes have built a fine reputation for themselves since they acquired Mangia Mangia in 2005 from the Baron family who had opened it in 1989. They are not only known for their excellent cooking but also for their community service and their deeply rooted relationships with their neighbors and with their staff who seem never to leave. Heather says, “We have people working here who have been with us since we opened. Sometimes, it reminds me of the TV show Cheers. Some of our people have been here for 25 years!
In Key West there are two kinds of people: those who burn out and those who burn brightly. Michael and Heather are in the latter group, adventurous in the kitchen, adding new dishes like gluten-free pasta and zucchini pasta (Zoodles!) while keeping their crowd pleasers, including their legendary shrimp rigatoni and their “Quattro Formaggi” (Four cheese) pasta. In Key West, which enjoys an abundance of good restaurants, what makes Mangia Mangia stand out? Michael says, “I wanted Mangia Mangia to have a funky Key West style. We are keepin’ it Keyzzy.”
Heather grew up working in restaurants in Ocean City, Maryland where she met Michael. She had a career in education, and he was an MRI technician. As if running a successful eatery wasn’t enough, they have, since coming to Key West in 2000, raised a teen-aged son and a daughter who are both enjoying careers as young professional actors.
Mangia Mangia Pasta Café is your best choice in Key West for casual dining where freshness is the primary ingredient and the bold flavors of true Italian cooking await you.
