About Us

Sammy Carini

Sammy Carini 35 years as an executive chef, CIA culinary Graduate. Former 16 years, Executive Chef of Old Venice Restaurant. Certified Food Manger. BMH Italian is now a family run business as Maria's brother, born in Santa Lia, Sicily. We've been in the restaurant business for over 50 years total and have a great understanding of what great food is. Great products and meticulous detail to recipes. We long to maintain high standards in quality that can be experienced by taste and experience.


Maria Sardina

Maria Sardina, more widely known as “Mama” to her fond customers, was born in the small fishing village of Porticello, near Palermo, Sicily, where she grew up cooking alongside her mother and cultivating an interest and skill in cuisine at a very young age.  In 1956 she immigrated to the United States, first living in Chicago, then Buffalo, before settling in San Diego in 1966.  In the late 60s, Maria opened Milano Restaurant and Deli.  A longtime resident of La Mesa, she also worked at the La Mesa fixture Mama Lina’s—the deli formerly housed in the building BMH now inhabits—for many years.  Additionally, Maria took her old world methods and natural intuition for food to the upscale restaurants of the Gaslamp, working at Fio’s in 1997, then Aqua Blue in 2000.  In 2005, Maria co-opened BMH Italian. Maria is pleased to offer her customers a taste of her native Sicily with her signature recipes lovingly prepared in the traditional style.

 
 
     
 

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  We have served La Mesa for years. We offer a variety of special homemade Italian dishes to choose from, all made fresh every day.  
- Catering
- Imported Italian Foods
- Special Deli Sandwiches
- Fresh Baked Breads
- Homemade Ingredients
- Dine In or Take Out