Nonna Lisa’s

June 24, 2016

A little slice of authentic Italy in Mackinaw City

Named after owner Joe Lieghio’s grandmother, is the place to go in Mackinaw City for Italian cuisine, woodfired pizzas, and some of the most unusual décor you’ll see at a northern Michigan restaurant. With recipes handed down from generations and friendly conversations breaking out easily between tables, Nonna Lisa’s is as much about social dining as it is about the food.

AMBITIOUS AMBIENCE

Head chef and general manager Gary Riggs worked at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island for 20 years before crossing the Straits to work at Nonna Lisa’s. The building that houses the restaurant is one of the oldest in Mackinaw City. “It was originally the Mackinaw City Greyhound bus station, then it was a furniture store, then Traverse Bay Woolen,” Riggs said. “My boss, Joe, acquired it 15 years ago, and he always had the intention to open a restaurant here. We started with one dining room and grew from there.”

The unique ambiance of the restaurant is part of its appeal. Riggs said the building already had good bones when Nonna Lisa’s moved in, with lots of wood, including the plank floors, and brick walls; Lieghio quickly adopted its existing rustic style and expanded upon the theme. “It’s very unusual woodwork, of cured, dried, and twisted wood,” Riggs said. “It’s very difficult to describe, as everything is custom-made.” The tables and chairs, all handcrafted hardwood, are accented  with juniper branches and arranged in groups designed to make it easy to converse and meet the diners sitting near you.

Larger twisted branches curve up from the floor and weave around the bar area, evoking a wilderness feel.

PERFECT PIZZA

As far as the menu goes, Lieghio’s goal was to bring real Italian food to Mackinaw City — but Italian food of a specific region. “We focus on northern Italian food, which starts with more of a garlic base as opposed to everything being red sauce,” Riggs said. “It’s also heavier, more hearty food, with a stronger emphasis on seafood.”

The Neopolitan-style pizzas are the most popular thing on the menu, Riggs said; this style of pizza keeps the ingredients simple and minimal, ensuring the focus remains on each flavor and doesn’t overwhelm the palate with too much at once. Nonna Lisa’s offers the Bianca (basil, olive oil, and garlic base, topped with Roma tomatoes and red onions), the classic Margherita (Roma tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and olive oil), and the Romana (same as the Margherita but with anchovies) as well as several other expanded versions. All of the pizzas are cooked in Nonna Lisa’s own wood-fired stone ovens for authentic Old World crispness.

The restaurant also just started offering a vegetarian menu this year. “I realized that a lot of people coming through here are vegetarian,” Riggs said, “so we’ve added things like the Vegetarian Tuscan Tour, which is eggplant parmesan, vegetarian lasagne, and fettucine Alfredo.” Rounding out the rest of the menu are Nonna Lisa’s classic spaghetti tossed with marinara or meat sauce; steak gorgonzola Alfredo served with fettucine and spinach; chicken saltimbocca alla romano with prosciutto and sage sautéed in butter and white wine; calzones and strombolis; and a familiar trio of sweet Italian desserts: tiramisu, spumoni, and cannoli.

ITALIAN SUMMER

With summer finally here, Nonna Lisa’s plans to make the most of the season. “On busier days in the summer, we’ll fire up our two smokers outside on the patio and have Italian-style barbecue with Italian marinades on things like ribs and chicken,” Riggs said. “I also deep-fry corn on the cob, and make an Italian potato salad, which has a vinegar and oil dressing as opposed to mayonnaise. It’s going to be good.”

Nonna Lisa’s is located at 312 S. Huron Ave. in Mackinaw City. For more information, call (231) 436-7901 or find them online nonnalisa.com