Darwin and Matteo Gattini began when they were little boys helping their dad, Antonio, in the pasta restaurant he founded in Lake Highlands 26 years ago. Now their father, born in Italy, has retired and they’re making plans to move MoMo’s from its longtime home at Forest and Greenville to a new spot, closer to Texas Instruments.
Friday, April 27th, waiters will serve the last Insalata Alla Momo and Tortelli Di Spinaci at that location. “We’re hoping to open at our new site within the first week of May,” Darwin told me, but with construction and inspection being an uncertain art, it could be mid-May.
“There’s not enough parking here,” said Darwin, explaining the change, “it’s a busy shopping center.” When they move into the former Top Cat restaurant, the décor will be “much nicer” and they’ll be “running a leaner business,” he added.
The current space has seating capacity for 85, while the new spot can seat 60 inside and 20 on the patio.
“We’re aware of people wanting to save money in this economy, so we’ll still have our BYOB policy. We’ll try to make it nice, but not too cool, so that you don’t feel out of place if you aren’t dressed up. It’s a family restaurant, and many of our regulars say we’re like their second home or their own living room.”
The new location, 8989 Forest, is between the library and TI, near Sheba’s Ethiopian Kitchen and around the corner from O’Riley’s Billiards. Groups can choose a long banquet bench seating 22 or an 8-top half circle booth, and the Gattinis made sure to install their signature fireplace in the new location.
