Page 56 - Waves June

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E S T A U R A N T

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by: Tom Valliere & Charlie Bresenhan

Highlighting Galveston’s Best of the Best Dining Experiences.
#1 Waves Magazine Requested Article!

bright creative murals by local artist Gabriel Prusmack, this
place exudes charm and atmosphere.

Originally opened in 1983 by Sal Melilli with his wife Teresa
and son Carmen in Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula, the
business thrived until it was completely destroyed by hurri-
cane Ike in 2008.

“That building was supposed to be bulletproof”, said Car-
men. After Ike “the only thing left was the roof and the sign
and the scavengers stole that”

Sal passed away in 2007 just
before Ike. After the hurricane,
Carmen took a job managing
a League City Pizzeria and his
Mama Teresa’s mother retired and returned to
New York.
Flying Pizza After the Creole restaurant

Bistro LeCroy caught fire in downtown Galveston and closed,
o not let the name fool you. Mama Teresa’s is Carmen approached the owner of the historic building and
much more than your average pizza parlor. With negotiated a deal. “I thought it was time to put my mom’s
Dfriendly table service and a full menu of Italian name back up in lights.” After installing the pizza ovens and
dishes, it is one of the island’s best Italian restaurants. It’s renovating the kitchen, Melilli contacted Gabriel Prusmack
casual, warm and inviting dining room is reminiscent of to put on the finishing touches after seeing his work decorat-
a place you might find in New York’s Greenwich Village. ing the Sherwin Williams store on 61st street. The resulting
With the original brick walls, worn terrazzo floors and murals are spectacular highlighting the original Crystal Beach
restaurant, our Galveston cruise ships and the iconic plea-
sure pier.

Of course, a restaurant is about food and Mama doesn’t
disappoint. His mother’s family is from Northern Italy where
cream sauces dominate, his father from Sicily where the

56 | Waves Magazine | June 2019 Issue