About 10 years ago, things began to change on Twelfth Avenue South.
Ominous iron bars gradually disappeared from store windows. New trees were planted and old-fashioned lampposts were erected along the road. Soon the street boasted a bevy of unique salons, shops and boutiques.
In 2003, the north end of the re-christened "12South" corridor nabbed its culinary anchor when a mob-themed Italian joint called Mafiaoza's opened its doors. Given good word-of-mouth and a killer location (just minutes from Music Row and several of the city's top universities), the restaurant continues to flourish.
While the spacious main dining room caters mostly to families and couples, the bar and outdoor patio attract a rowdier, more diverse clientele. Young professionals rub shoulders with fresh-faced college students, scruffy musicians (plus their eager groupies) as well as older neighbors who love to support their thriving borough.
Business is booming most nights and weekends (they're closed on Mondays), but the bar at Mafiaoza's has become notorious for its Tuesday night two-for-one specials. This includes beer, liquor and the restaurant's delicious thin-crust pizza by-the-slice (although, sadly, not the vast array of inventive specialty pies).
Not surprisingly, the promotion is tremendously popular. Doors open at 4 p.m., and within an hour the place is usually packed to capacity. Space is especially sparse in the cozy indoor bar, primarily due to the limited number of high-top tables, booths and barstools. The sprawling covered patio, which is heated and insulated during cold weather, offers plenty more room for those who flock to the watering hole.
As the night progresses, it can be difficult to navigate through the increasingly dense crowd. Naturally, as patrons become more inebriated (which can happen quickly when the drinks are cheap), they're less inclined to realize that others would like to get past. In most cases a simple, "Excuse me," will do the trick.
For an optimal evening, we recommend chatting with the hostess and requesting outdoor seating. The estimated wait time for a table can vary from 30 minutes to several hours, but often it's less than they tell you it will be. Get a drink from the bar in the meantime! Doing so promptly is often a challenge, but the friendly, black-clad bartenders do their best to serve on a first-come, first-served basis. We noticed that speaking up in a polite yet persuasive manner speeds up the process.
When a table finally does become available, you'll encounter welcoming servers with informed opinions about the food and helpful advice in regards to their impressive wine list (which is not part of the two-for-one special).
Bottom line, the bar at Mafiaoza's offers a lively experience in a pleasant environment. Factor in a refreshingly varied crowd and undeniably good bargains and the result is the most dynamic, engaging Tuesday night out in Music City.
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