4 /5 Afshin Afshar-Ghasemlou: On a weekend drive through Novato, we stopped for lunch and chose Mamita.
We have visited Novato many times, so I was surprised I hadn’t heard of Mamita before. I found out it opened just three or four years ago.
The owners, Shah Bahreyni, Peter Paul, and chef Bernardo Robles, started Mamita to highlight the flavors of Oaxaca and Puebla. They focus on fresh, local ingredients, grill prime meats over oak wood, import spices from Oaxaca, and make their own corn masa. The restaurant also has a bar with a variety of tequila and mezcal. Its casual atmosphere has made it popular in Novato.
Mamita has many positive reviews for its tasty dishes, and we decided to try the Chicken Enchiladas. First, we shared an Elote, which is wood-grilled sweet corn topped with Queso Fresco, lime, and Chipotle Aioli. We also had Queso Fundido con Chorizo, a traditional dish with melted cheese and chorizo sausage. Both appetizers were excellent. When the Chicken Enchiladas arrived, they were flavorful, but I had already filled up on the appetizers, so I could only eat one of the three on the plate, and my partner could only manage one as well.
The service was excellent, and we left wanting to come back again. return.