I like homestyle Italian food. Sauces without too much heat, lots of pasta, fresh-tasting thin-crust pizza from hot ovens, and sweet tiramisu, the Italian cheesecake-style dessert. Casa Mia Restaurants, a local chain with seven locations in the Puget Sound area, including Puyallup and Lakewood, provide this experience that they call New York Style, at a very reasonable price in bright, clean, friendly restaurants.
We went in for dinner and had a great time, loved the food and did not break the bank. Sunday through Thursday are “All You Can Eat“ spaghetti days, eat-in, for $6.99. The serving was very large and we didn’t order more, although if we hadn’t ordered so many other things, we might have.
We also ordered lasagna – flat noodles, mildly spiced, baked with meat and cheese and tomato sauce ($12.99), Chicken Parmigiana, chicken breast baked with pizziola (pizza-style) sauce and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese served with a salad of iceberg lettuce, grated mozzarella cheese, and sliced black olives and Italian dressing ($14.99), and an Eastern Italian-style submarine sandwich served on a soft bun with three meats, two cheeses, tomatoes and lettuce and splashed with Italian dressing, served with Minestrone soup which was loaded with vegetables and herbs ($8.50). This reminded me of my college days when these “Grinders” were a Sunday treat. We also ordered a small fettucini with butter and cream sauce ($8.99), delicate but filling; garlic bread ($2.99); and Tiramisu, flavored with coffee and chocolate ($3.99).
Servings were generous, with lots of sauces and cheese. Warm things were served hot and chilled things were served cold. I have had pizza there in the past and it was always crisp and loaded with toppings.
The restaurant has plenty of seating at tables and at a counter facing the kitchen. The bathroom was clean and bright. We enjoyed ourselves and really liked the food and service. Call ahead for carryout.
IF YOU GO
Casa Mia
7304 Lakewood Dr. SW. in Lakewood (in the shopping mall at the corner of Lakewood Drive and South 72nd Street)
253-473-0400
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

Carolyn Augustine, a freelance restaurant writer, writes the Senior Eats column for Senior Scene.