go home “full and happy”
By Chef Alessandro Di Maggio
Mirko Pasta is more than just a chain of Italian restaurants: it’s a Restaurant Concept. It was created by Mirko Di Giacomantonio after his experience with Figo Pasta. Mirko’s idea was to create a place where people can feel at home and also experience the best original Italian food and service.
After the first location was born, at 2 South Main Street in
Watkinsville, Mirko continued and created several more locations. Some of them, including the one in Watkinsville, were taken over becoming Franchising, while two of them, (situated in Buckhead, 4233 Roswell Rd and Marietta, 1281 Johnson Ferry Rd in Atlanta respectively managed by Carlos, Rodd and Roxana) are owned by Mirko himself. He also owns an establishment in Atlanta where he produces fresh and dry pasta every day for all the restaurants. What makes the difference is indeed the fact that all the pasta is ‘home and daily made’.
Some circumstances brought Mirko to the decision to buy the Watkinsville location back, this time with Chef Alessandro Di Maggio as a partner, and bring great renovation, a better service and a bigger menu to a place that, under the Franchising management, was losing a lot of its attractiveness. The result was immediately evident: Mirko and Alex kept the majority of the existing staff, being a guide for them and literally transforming the place from a “cashier kind of fast food” to a real, warm and welcoming restaurant.
Alessandro was born in the 70s in the Southern Blue Coast of France with Italian origins. Cooking is a passion for Chef Alessandro and every ordinary recipe has to become special.
Alex has been collecting experience in Italy and all around the world. Working in the kitchen since he was 14, he considers himself very fortunate to work, be able to create and spend most of his life doing something he really loves: The Art of Cooking.
Today Alex (as all his friends like to call him) is the co-owner of the Watkinsville location but he also works in the other two restaurants in Atlanta as a Chef. The partnership is the result of years of friendship and collaboration. Alex is also known in our ‘big family’ as “Ratatouille” or the “Cheesecake Maker.” He is indeed the keeper of the secret recipe of the best cheesecake ever: nobody knows what the ingredients are, but everybody LOVES IT!!
The new menu, larger and richer (but still simple as Italian cuisine is) includes dishes that people love: from fresh Salads to Lasagna; from every possible combination of Pasta & Sauce to Seafood or Meat Entrees. All of the dishes are cooked with care and attention and with affordable prices for everyone. We also have Gluten Free Pasta for those who need it or like it. Here you can find a large selection of good wines, both foreign and local beers and real Espresso Coffee and Cappuccino.
We provide weekly specials and events which include $1 glass of Sangria every Thursday, $1.75 draft beer on Wednesdays and Half Price on the Bottle of Wine every Monday. We also have kids menu, take-out and, most important, Catering Service with no-delivery-charge. This means that customers can call, order from our Catering Menu, and choose if they prefer to pass by and pick it up themselves, or have it delivered to their homes with no extra charge. For special or big events such as Weddings, we can also provide ‘Service at the table.’ For these kind of events, ten days – notice is enough for us to get organized and provide whatever our customers need.
The manager Bella and her assistant Alexandria will be more than happy to welcome you, make sure you will experience the best service and go home “full and happy.”
I have been working in the kitchen since I was 14 and I really feel fortunate to work and to
be able to create and spend most of my life doing something I really love: The Art of Cooking. Chef is co-owner of the Watkinsville location.
