From its unassuming exterior, Hot Mama’s Wings looks like your everyday neighborhood barbecue joint. But on the inside, the restaurant, which opens this Friday just in time for Super Bowl Sunday, has something a little more to offer to Eugene — homemade, soul-filling food in a casual, but cool environment, the type of restaurant that big cities like Portland and San Francisco thrive on.
But the pictures of Animal House, the Oregon Country Fair and Spencer Butte that decorate the walls, the chart of seasonal produce detailing the monthly fare, and the tables made from reused wood scraps indicate that yes, this restaurant is wholeheartedly and most distinctly Eugene.
Michael Marzano, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife, Angie, saw Eugene as the perfect location for his vision of a wing joint.
“Eugene needed one,” he said. “We’re going to be really unique.”
Marzano, who grew up in Eugene, said he never had a place like Hot Mama’s Wings to hang out at or eat.
A few years ago, when he moved back to Eugene, he saw the opportunity for his restaurant. So, he got in contact with head chef and general manager Joel Poston, who also grew up in Eugene, about his idea.
Poston, who has cooked in everything from fine dining to casual eating, hopes to give Eugene high-quality food in a laid-back environment.
“We’re a casual, hip cafe,” Poston said. “You can get a beer and a cocktail or the full gambit. It’s homemade, but casual fare.”
What will likely appeal to Eugeneans is the restaurant’s focus and dedication to sustainability. All of the meats and most of the produce are locally bought and hormone-free; 90 percent of the menu is gluten free; and the restaurant also offers gluten-free bread options.
Not only is the food sustainable, but the restaurant is too. From the tables to picture frames, the lighting and the heating system, nearly every aspect of the restaurant is sustainable and energy efficient.
The “community table” that sits in the middle of the restaurant is made out of wood from a reclaimed bowling alley in Portland. The lighting system was designed by EWEB, where Angie Marzano works part time.
Michael Marzano said sustainability is important to everyone involved in the restaurant’s creation.
“Why buy new when you can reuse?” he said.
On top of all this, Hot Mama’s Wings hopes to serve to a variety of restaurateurs, from vegans and vegetarians to carnivores and sports lovers to families with small children, all for low prices and what sounds like a drool-worthy menu.
“The food is really casual,” Poston remarks as he lists off a variety of food, such as burgers, salads, sandwiches and 12 different types of wings.
Marzano said he hopes to see a good mix of people and Eugene residents at the restaurant. The restaurant, he said, is how he is giving back to the community he grew up in.
“The theme is basically Eugene — combining all my great memories from growing up here,” he said.
For college students, there’s a lot to like in a place like Hot Mama’s Wings. For a student buying dinner and a drink, Marzano estimates a meal would cost around $15. With low prices, two TVs featuring sports channels, and free Wi-Fi and plug-in access, Marzano hopes students will make the 12-block trek from campus to come check it out.
“It’s worth it,” he said. “Come see the real Eugene.”
Hot Mama’s Wings opens this Friday, Feb. 4 at 10:30 a.m. It is located on 420 W 13th Ave. It offers takeout every day, but does not offer delivery.
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