Mamma Vittoria on Smith Street Collingwood is a family run Italian restaurant with an authentic and homely atmosphere. The cobble stone walls and large wood fired pizza oven visible from the dinning area filled my heart with warmth the moment I walked in.

A large painting of THE Mamma Vittoria, who is still alive and kicking and regularly seen mingling with customers, hangs on the wall. The painting is rather Mona Lisa-esque, with an all-knowing and hospitable smirk, and eyes that follow you as you eat her humble food. The piece appropriately stands beside hanging garlic.

I should mention that spaghetti bolognese does not have a permanent place on their menu but if you call prior to request, it can often be provided. A tip: call and make sure they have it when you go – it’s totally worth it.

The mound of bolognese mixed through pasta was plentiful and the taste was wondrous. Mamma Vittoria makes their own pasta, and though more like linguine than spaghetti, it was delicious.

From a sauce flavour viewpoint, this one was onto it. A beautifully rich and developed flavour, with a big tomato kick and sweetness to counteract. I sensed a slow cook for this one, and lots of love. The seasoning was perfect. The consistency of the meat was great – the clump sizes varied which made each bite a wonderful surprise and the overall texture enjoyable.

The portion size was perfect for my liking and there wasn’t much to criticize apart from the fact that I would have preferred a finer pasta. But I’m not complaining, this was a special bolognese. Bravo Mamma, Bravo.

Price: $24.80
Score: 16+

Note: dishes which score 16+ are contenders for the title of Melbourne’s best Spaghetti Bolognese. All scores above 16/20 will be disclosed at the end of the year long taste testing once the winner is revealed.