ML’s Italian Life Cafe and The Cellar

Location: Blairsville, Ga

I have actually done a review on this restaurant before; however, because we had only had desserts at this new location, I thought it only fitting to review again. This new location has brought a few changes and adjustments to both the atmosphere and menu choices, but after today, I do believe I like this one even better than the old. 

The desserts are still some of the best you can find, and because they are made fresh daily, the choices will vary from time to time. However, each one is decadent and served with the utmost class and quality. The coffee is delicious, perfectly balanced in strength and sweetness, and the atmosphere, in which you dine, is incredible. 

This new location actually has two parts. If you park in the downtown square, you can easily walk into the upstairs cafe. However, we are a little biased to the downstairs, “Cellar,” as it’s named for its basement locale. A simple walk around the building and down the steps will take you there. Complete with brick walls, low-lying ceilings with exposed beams, and the smell of a fresh ground brew, this place makes you want to grab a good book or good company, hold a cup of joe in hand and stay a long while. 

The quaint seating arrangements, black tablecloths and rich place settings in the “cellar” type surrounds make you feel you’ve just stepped into another time and place. Everything we ordered was absolutely incredible. Our party of four chose the Five Cheese Tortelloni, Italian Wedge, Chicken Wrap and Pasta Sorrento. All the portions were huge, and Oh. My. Goodness. I cannot describe to you the palette delight! The tortelloni was stuffed with mozzarella, fontina, Parmesan, grana padano and Romano cheese, topped with a house made marinara, and served with your choice of meatballs or sausage. My husband chose both. I didn’t taste the sausage, but the meatballs were to die for, so rich and flavorful. 

The Italian Wedge was beyond what I could have imagined with the ginormous serving. The savory baked balsamic chicken was a perfect blend of deliciousness with the Gorgonzola cheese and applewood bacon. It is normally served with blue cheese dressing and tomatoes, but as I attest both, I opted for a side of the Italian with feta cheese and a side of the garlic Parmesan. I don’t which I liked better. I could not believe how much I enjoyed this, because as much as I like salad, it’s not a “top of the list” choice when it comes to entrees, especially when indulging in an Italian cuisine. Yet, this day, I am so glad I “preferred just a salad.” 

The chicken wrap was just as large and tasty, as was the Pasta Sorrento. There was so much food, we almost opted out of dessert. However, the chocolate peanut butter brownie pie with a side latte called our name out a little too loudly to be ignored. My husband and brother-in-law devoured that yumminess while my sister-in-law and I sipped a cup of delicious Vanilla Nut Latte topped with caramel. It was a perfect ending to a perfect meal. 

We so enjoyed this new, inviting location that, had it not been we had other things on our agenda that day, I believe we could have sat around enjoying the atmosphere and good conversation until dinner time rolled in. We will definitely be back again and again. 

Oh, one more note to mention…they also have fresh pressed olive oils and balsamic vinegars. There are samples to taste, and you can even “sample” these with your entrees. I did try the White Coconut Balamic Vinegar with my chicken, and it tasted just like the best coconut chicken I’ve ever had. These are available for sale as well, and there were several Italian and French imports from which to choose. 

Check out more here on their website.