DECEMBER 31, 2003
Count me among the curious who have gone to Mamaz on Demers Avenue in East Grand Forks to see what it’s like. After all, it’s a new restaurant in a familiar location, and it has a motto, “Expect something different.”
The evening meal I had there with Katy Mullen (KM) on Dec. 18 was different, all right. On the advice of Maria, the waitress wearing a Santa Claus hat, we ordered the special of the day—Indian Taco ($6.99).
“We sell a lot of these,” said Maria, as she brought us each a huge plate with mounds of chopped lettuce. She told us that Thursday was the day for Native American specials. Our entree was grounded with fry bread. On top of it, there was ground beef, diced tomato, onion and chili and grated cheese. To go on top, Maria left little packets of sour cream and taco sauce.
It was good eating and provided a lot of chewing, which I like. I was full by the time I got to the fry bread. But I tasted the fry bread and enjoyed it.
We looked around the restaurant that was formerly an Irish pub and before that an Italian restaurant. Now the decor centers on huge prints along the walls of wolves, panthers, cougars, zebras, leopards. That’s because Rachelle Weiss, the owner of Mamaz, likes wildlife. The restaurant has red, white and blue hanging lamps. It is divided into different areas for smoking and nonsmoking guests. Some of the divisions are created with brick archways and brick walls that seem appropriate for the theme of Mamaz. This is a place where you can buy dream catchers and earrings.
The Indian taco was different and good enough, but it would not draw me back. However, we returned to the restaurant for brunch on a Saturday in December, and I left with a feeling I would go back for breakfast—which is served all day. I ordered the first item on the breakfast menu—three pieces of bacon, two eggs and toast ($4.25). Coffee, which was good, is $1.25. The bacon was thick and done to perfection. It was crisp and free of grease. The toast was good.
I asked for my eggs scrambled. And scrambled they were—to perfection. All too often in restaurants, I am disappointed when I order scrambled eggs and get an egg pancake made from eggs that are mixed up ahead of time and waiting in a pitcher to be poured out and fried. You could tell these eggs were scrambled to order. They were fluffy and hot from the stove.
I was so intent on eating my scrambled eggs it took me a while to notice the breakfast pizza KM had ordered. This is a delightful concoction of eggs and nice melted cheese with a choice of sausage, ham or bacon—or all three—all on a crispy tortilla base. The breakfast pizza was nicely served on a plate with a twisted slice of orange as an appealing garnish. The pizza comes with another plate of hash browns and toast. All in all, a meal huge enough to satisfy your hunger for a week.
Mamaz has a complete breakfast menu and a lunch menu with burgers and sandwiches. The prices include french fries or potato chips. The dinner menu ranges from ribeye and sirloin steaks at $10.99 and $11.99, respectively, to chicken drummies for $6.75. Barbecued ribs are $8.99 and pork chop dinner is $8.25.
Weiss, the owner of Mamaz, has been asking opinions of her customers since opening her restaurant in November in East Grand Forks. She grew up near Mahnomen, Minn., and has had restaurant experience in Las Vegas. She promises there will be surprises as Mamaz gets established.
She has applied for a liquor and wine license. And she said Dec. 20 she was in the process of getting the paperwork taken care of and that she believed the license would help sales.
Besides the Native American foods on special Thursday, Mamaz features American, Mexican and Italian foods on other days. Weiss says she has Native American people who make the fry bread for her Thursdays, and people asking for it every day.
Mamaz is no longer in business.