By  Lisa Bolivar

When people go to Brusco’s Italian Restaurant they say they are not going out to eat, they are coming home to Momma Brusco’s cooking.

Located at 1380 South Federal Highway in Deerfield Beach, Brusco’s has a family atmosphere and loyal patrons such as the Weimer’s, who have been dining there for more than 30 years.

“Momma is the best cook ever,” said Marge Weimer of Deerfield Beach, who has been dining there with her husband, Bob, almost since the restaurant opened its doors in 1972.

“It’s one of the 10 best places nobody knows about; it’s one of the best kept secrets in Broward County,” she said.

Weimer likes the eggplant parmesan, and said it is “awesome.” Bob Weimer swears by the chicken française.

Main courses are under $20 and feature dishes such as baked ziti for $10.95, seafood dishes such as clams in red or white sauce for $15.95 or mussels marinara for $12.95.  Calzones stuffed the way you like them run $8.95 and pizza – both American and Sicilian – are enough to feed an army and cost from $9.95 to $13.95. Specials change daily.

Desserts are sinfully sweet and delectable. From Spumoni, $2.95, to Lemon Sorbet and Cannoli ($3.25), they are a sweet ending to any meal.

I tried the veal piccata, large medallions lightly breaded in a tart lemon and caper sauce, an appetizer of mussels in a red sauce (sweet and saucy), spaghetti and meatballs and some garlic-laden rolls. The food was tasty and satisfying.

But the best testimony is from the people who keep returning to Brusco’s. Kathy Jacobs dines there at least once a week and has done so since 1986.

“The eggplant parmesan— it’s awesome, it is the way she prepares it, you are eating eggplant and you know it,” Jacobs said.

Rita “Momma” Brusco, 73, who was born in Italy, opened the restaurant in 1972. Her son, Frank, now runs the place. Frank Brusco said the restaurant is his mother’s “pride and joy, she loves the people, she loves to cook. She’s tied to the place.”

Momma’s energy is amazing. Peek into the kitchen and watch her juggle multiple dishes, baking this, lightly breading that, serving it up. She smiles ear to ear and explains she can’t really visit because she has people to feed — crowds of them.

“She runs circles around the younger guys,” said Frank.

Saying the restaurant features home cooking Italian-style is not a cliché if you ask  newcomer Tom Verzi of Lighthouse Point, who recently moved to South Florida and has returned to the restaurant several times in just a couple of weeks.

“I walked in here and felt like home,” Verzi said.