started as a labor of love for William and Mata Rodopoulos. The couple had opened a pizzeria in Massachusetts (about 20 miles north of Boston) in the late 70s and Mata worked diligently to perfect her recipes. She made her own bread and pizza dough, and used only the freshest ingredients in her dishes. In 1980, the Rodopoulos family moved to Anniston, Alabama, following the couple's daughter and son-in-law who had relocated here. Almost immediately, Mata wanted to open another restaurant.
Many people warned her that opening a family-run restaurant which served filling food, such as pizza, oven grinders, gyros, and sweet Greek pastries would fail, as it was the era of salad bars and all-you-can-eat brunches. Nonetheless, Mata was adamant; she was going to open a restaurant and it was going to be successful. She kept the decor simple (a few tables, a jukebox, paper plates), the ingredients fresh, and the prices reasonable.
Mata's Greek Pizza
has been named Best Pizza in Alabama by various journalists. Many days there is a line of folks waiting to get in and order. There are children who have grown up eating Mata's pizzas, spaghetti, and sandwiches. And the restaurant is still family owned and operated to this day.