A few weeks back, we were on our way home from a wonderful day at an all day event and Farmer's Market at Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center and were four hungry adults looking for good food. We searched for best places to eat near us and Mandola's Italian Kitchen came up in Odessa, FL None of us had ever eaten at a Mandola's Italian Kitchen but I can assure you, this will not be the last! You do not have to love Italian food to know when the food being served is excellent in every way. Everything we ordered was delicious from the perfectly cooked pasta to the fresh can't-get-enough bread and rich sauces. The flavors were authentic Italian cuisine, and the atmosphere was as happy, welcoming and comforting as grandma's kitchen. Something none of us can get enough of in these days. I've never seen so many young people at our wait; they all were cleaning and organizing everything around them for the next guests, while being attentive to those they were already serving. No one on their cell phones!!! Now that's a concept! Talk about bringing back "SERVICE!" Each spoonful of chopped Italian salad filled with kalamata olives, mozzarella cheese capicola with creamy Italian dressing, the special was a wonderful pasta with shrimp and homemade sauce, the ziti's with amazing flavorful tomatoey sauce to die for. Lentil sausage spicy soup was delicious, and the best thing was it ALL tasted homemade. We were there between lunch and dinner so it was not busy at all. This place is SOOO clean you could almost eat off the floor!!! Mandola's Italian Kitchen in Odessa is THE PLACE to book any birthday, family get-together, special occasion especially for families with children as THIS is a very CLEAN (especially the bathrooms) and SAFE FAMILY FRIENDLY restaurant with free ice cream for the kiddos. La Ciliegina Sulla Torta (the cherry on top- in Italian) was the Manager, Jeremiah Stringer, who had just taken over a month ago, who chatted us up asking if everything was to our standards. He said he was trying to increase foot traffic, so we put our collective thinking caps on and he wrote down every idea. When we were ready to order dessert, he graciously gave us a tasting I believe of all of their delectable deserts OMG!!! Can't say enough good things about this wonderful restaurant: CLEAN, Excellent tasting food, excellent attentive wait staff and great Management in Jeremiah. Here's hoping any of you who want a great meal out gives Mandola's Italian Kitchen in Odessa a try! read more

Mandola's Italian Kitchen 16080 Preserve Marketplace Blvd, Odessa, FL 33556 -- in front of Publix, just west of Suncoast Highway Heads up, it's a chain -- there are locations across Texas, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Maitland. This one's tucked in next to Jeremiah's Italian Ice. Bigger operation than it looks from outside: full bar, a gelato and dessert case up front, two pizza ovens working, and a claim that everything is made in house. Modern space, friendly staff, decor leans more upscale-casual than red-checkered-tablecloth. Full disclosure: all the sausage and pepper sandwich chatter lately put me in the mood, so that's what I went with. Served on what's basically a focaccia-style bread, and the first bite took me straight back to the Jersey Shore. Great sandwich, chatter justified. Wife had the caprese panino and subbed a cup of lentil soup for the fries -- her call, and she said it was the best lentil soup she's had, full-bodied even with some heat to it. Service here is its own animal. You're handed menus and seat yourself, then go order and pay at the counter, get your own fountain drinks, and everything gets run to your table when it's ready. No cc surcharge, which is more than I can say for some places. The counter transaction comes with the now-standard tip screen ambush -- I hit no tip for no service, since at that point none had been rendered. But Sarah came around to check on us, refilled drinks, offered boxes, and chatted about the food, so she earned the $5 we left after the fact. 10%, fairly. One complaint: the place was frigid. Bring a jacket. Good food, good value, a service model that takes a minute to figure out but works once you know Sarah's going to show up. We'll be back. read more

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Price warning - DO NOT ORDER GLUTEN FREE PIZZA. $$$$ This is my 3rd visit to Mandola's but first time ordering the GF Pizza. Don't do it. I paid $23 dollars for a what was even smaller than a personal size pizza. They upcharge for the crust $4 - which is higher than most places and for the size of it - they should really not even offer it at all. I got a topping added, which was another $3 and it was so lacking in toppings I questioned if they made a mistake. For this price, I could have gone to their sister restaurant down the street and gotten a full meal! Just overall disappointing. Only good reason to back would be the bakery and gelato but that's it. Also, there is no way to submit feedback to the overall company so that's a shame. read more

Exceptional service, food and atmosphere! Lots of seating in and in outside patio. Staff were friendly and helpful, always enjoy it here! The ciabatta bread was a little too toasty but other than that everything else was amazing! My favorite is the Mandolas Hero panini only served at lunch! read more

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True authentic Italian food! I have been seeing this place for a while and wanted to try it out so I decided to try it New Year's Eve for takeout and it was excellent! I'm not sure if the chef's in the kitchen or are Italian or not but they have those recipes down pet lol. Being Italian I really appreciated the joy of having real Italian food, including desserts! The chocolate cake was amazing! And the tiramisu was different, but it was actually very good! Next time I want to try dining in, but I am sure the food will be just as good as it was for takeout. The weight was only about 15 minutes for me to get my food once I called it in which was to be expected since it was New Year's Eve. The scene is like a regular restaurant seating with tables for any size party as well as our area too! read more

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This was our first visit to this Mandola's. We have been to the one in Oldsmar several times and really liked it. We do love the Chicken Marsala w/ trenette Pachino (noodles w Tomato sauce). For some reason though, this particular serving was quite small. The one we usually get was more than enough to share, but unfortunately not this one. I do like the flavor here, but the size for the price was greatly reduced. Everyone working was mostly nice. Mid eating though, they asked us to move to a nearby table that was previously occupied so they can fit a group at the table that we were at. I patiently moved though it was a bit of an inconvenience. read more

Mandola’s Italian Kitchen - Chicken Marsala w/ trenette Pachino (noodles w Tomato sauce) - Italian Near Me - Odessa, Florida

"Fast food but make it italian" is what this place feels like. Its okay, but the prices are a way to high for that they are. I went once but the experience wasnt very memorable and i would prefer to go to carrabbas or cook at home. Pastas is meh, but costs as much as other places. Pizza is greeaassy and also meh. This place generally too expensive for what it is. read more

Exceptional service and excellent food. If you're looking for mamas homemade flavor and a great atmosphere this is your place! There is something on the menu for everyone, a great beverage selection and can't forget about the coffee and desserts. Emma and Jeremiah went above and beyond to make or dinning experience perfect. This is a must visit!!! read more

I really like this place! Our meal started with focaccia bread with oil and herbs. That is free and included with your meal. It is delicious. I then had a mista salad, which was also delicious. I then ordered the spaghetti ortolano with grilled chicken which was also excellent. My friend had chicken piccata and a salad which she also loved. I love the outdoor seating area and it includes a small grassy area for kids to play. This place is very family friendly. It is half self serve, which I am not a big fan of, so you have to order your food at a counter. read more

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The food was honestly a 4* level, BUT the good value (especially for Italian food) and friendly and quick service elevated this to a 5* overall. The Margherita pizza and chicken piccata (not pictured since we ate it so quick haha!) were very good and filling. We also got 2 double chocolate chunk cookies that were good too. They were very friendly and it was a great experience. If you are looking for more affordable but still quality Italian food, definitely check this out. read more

Mandola’s Italian Kitchen - Margherita pizza - Italian Near Me - Odessa, Florida

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The food was outstanding and the service was unbelievable. Be forewarned that service is so fast your entrees may show up before you finish your appetizer. The open feeling is much better than being in a closed in setting and very enjoyable to see outside with all the windows. The menu and bakery has so many options many more visits are required to find your favorite. The lasagna and bread were delicious. The pizza has a light crisp crust and fresh toppings. I think the chicken cutlet was beat thin with a sledge hammer to ensure its crispness. This is the new Italian hot spot. read more

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After an absolutely horrible food experience at Carrabba's on Feb 8th See: Carrabba's Italian Grill Lutz FL review https://yelp.to/_kk2g0bTJG My wife and I decided to try another chain Italian restaurant in the area - Mandola's Italian Kitchen in Odessa FL Damian Mandola, co-founder of Carrabba's Italian Grill, also founded Mandola's Italian Kitchen. Supposedly Mandola's has a non-compete clause that in order to operate in similar areas to where Carrabba's are located Mandola's can't offer standard table service where a waiter or waitress takes your order and services you throughout the meal and can only offer order at the order desk and then they bring your order to your table, or in the alternative you can get full service at the bar I can tell you long story short that the food was so much better and fresher than Carrabba's that we don't really care that Mandola's can't offer standard table service and there is no way we would go to Carrabba's now versus Mandola's as Carrabba's food has gone WAY down hill over the years Anyway My wife and I opted for full service at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and offered excellent service throughout I ordered the Chicken Piccata and my wife ordered the Margherita Pizza The focaccia bread they brought out 1st was piping hot and fresh with just the right amount of seasoning We decided to share our entrees. Both were very fresh and extremely delicious. The pasta side that came with the Chicken Piccata was also perfectly cooked To finish we decided to try one of there desserts and chose the Coconut Cake - A white cake layered with coconut, pastry cream & covered in meringue. The cake was $8.95 but it was definitely worth it. Very fresh and very decadent We will definitely be a return customer of Mandola's If you normally go to Carrabba's you should definitely give Mandola's a try read more

I called before hand to ask for gluten free options and was super surprised by the options. Sam was so polite and nice enough to explain the different options over the phone before coming in. When I got there she mentioned that she spoke on the phone and guided me to the best option for my order. We met with friends so had about 2 people total and all of us were impressed by our meals. I had gluten free penne with grilled chicken and it was tasty. The other employees were very nice and seemed to really enjoy their jobs. Can't forget about the gelato! I'm thankful for the cashier who helped me make a delish affogato. Definitely making it back in again. read more

My friend and I drove from Spring Hill to Odessa to check Mandola's. We found it TOO loud. Service as friendly enough. The food was disappointing. My friend order the egg plant parmesan. She hardly ate any of it. The eggplant look like it was just slivers and not attractive on the plate. The pasta had a watery sauce. I order spaghetti and meatballs, how bad it can be. I felt they were just frozen Italian meatballs heated. The sauce was bad, Ragu would have been better. read more

My family and I love to come here and enjoy the food, Today it just my daughter and I for a Father/Daughter early dinner and some Gelato. read more

Mandola’s Italian Kitchen - Salmon and Spaghetti with Sausage - Italian Near Me - Odessa, Florida

We stopped at this location for a different restaurant for dinner. We had never been at this location or any other one. So when we entered the restaurant we weren't aware we had to order our meals before we sat. We finally saw a small sign that said we needed to order first and pay before sitting. Noone came to us as we were just standing there. If it wasn't for my husband I would have walked out and not enjoyed everything we ordered. We finally went to the right and asked what do we need to do as we have never been here previously. The young girl only says you need to order first what would you like? We ordered Chicken fettuccine Alfredo and the chicken Piccata with 2 fountain drinks. The bread brought to the table is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Husband said the fettuccine Alfredo was alright. The chicken piccata with a side of spaghetti with marinara sauce was delicious. I don't normally get spaghetti sauce while we eat out but I can't wait to go back. All of the staff after the issue when we walked in was very attentive and friendly. The dinning area looks like an Italian brick building. We definitely will be back. read more

Really tasty food - I love the bolognese!! Prices are high for an order-at-the-counter restaurant, but I've gone back because the food is worth it. Ambiance can be a bit noisy as there are no separations between tables. Service has been good but I haven't been wowed by anyone. Dessert area is good - definitely try some Gelato! read more

Omg!! We finally made it here after hearing from my sister how great it was m and they didn't disappoint!! We ate at the bar with Holly as our bartender and she was so awesome!!! The manager was so pleasant and inviting. Our food was amazing!! Never going back to Carrabas again. We couldn't leave without grabbing some dessert. Look to delicious to resist. All in house made! Can't wait to go back!! read more

Mandola’s Italian Kitchen - Chocolate cake - Italian Near Me - Odessa, Florida

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Excellent. Calamri came out with thin sliced zucchini and I was disppointed because it looked like a lot of zucchini that I wasn't expecting (probably should have read the menu description). But the disappointment ended as soon as I ate one... perfectly prepared, nice compliment to the calamari. Salad with added salmon was great. Spaghetti with added sausage was also great. Al dente, good sauce. Bread with dipping oil also very good. Nothing negative except for the Tuscan Red house wine... any gallon jug wine from the supermarket would have been better. Friendly people, overall excellent for a quick meal. read more

3 things about this place: 1. There are same restaurants at different locations but the one in Odessa, FL opened not too long ago. Wanted to give this place a try but waited when they settled in for a bit. Very spacious and everyone was friendly and helpful. They have a special every day so definitely check those items out. 2. Ordered the garlic bread with mozzarella added and Baked Ziti were ordered. The orders came out at a reasonable time and portion was pretty good minus the garlic bread. 3. Garlic bread was very thin and you get four thin slices of them. Is it worth $5.50 with $1 additional for the mozzarella? Not in my opinion. Lacked the garlic flavor and the mozzarella was grated instead of the cheese pull mozzarella that most of us are thinking of. However, the Baked Ziti was cooked to perfection and the flavor was there. Had enough sauce and ingredients which made the dish amazing. Definitely recommend this item. Overall, I would visit this place again and try other items from the menu but the garlic bread was pretty disappointment. read more

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The staff at this location is super friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is fun. I would say this chain is something between a fast food restaurant and a sit down restaurant. You order at the cashier and then you're given a number and cups for your beverages. A waiter does bring bread and your meal to you, and also refills your drink if needed. I had the pollo alla griglia. The chicken was tasty, and the vegetables were nicely cooked. My dad had the eggplant parmesan and loved it. My mom had tonight's special and said it was very good. That being said, I would say the quality of the food here is similar to the Olive Garden. The food is good, but it's lacking the fresh and authentic italian taste. If you're looking for an italian restaurant that's tasty, quick, and family friendly, Mandola's is definitely a good choice. I will come back here for sure. read more

We love dining at Mandola's! Always a great experience. I had the artichoke and spinach flatbread! Emma was our server! She was very friendly, knowledgeable and was quick to respond to our requests!! We will be back again!! read more

The staff are the life blood of any establishment! This location has some great people working there and it brings me back every time! The food is great! Angel Hair Pasta with meat sauce and a side of marinara is my go to along with their minestrone! I have been told to try the Minestrone with chicken! Their gelato is fire. I recommend the strawberry with birthday cake! If you see me there don't hesitate to say hello! read more

Mandola’s Italian Kitchen - My 5th bowl of minestrone! It's pretty legit and I highly recommend ordering it! - Italian Near Me - Odessa, Florida

I've been here several times now and I'm really liking the set up. I like the wide open space, plenty of seating, and very clean. I also like how they set things up. You go to the counter order your meal and they hand you a number. Go and get your drink and find a table. A wait staff member will then set down some nice bread and a good tasting oil/herb plate. They do have some beer options, a self serve soda fountain and my favorite is their lemonade. In short order they deliver your food and it presents well, and most importantly it tastes really good. What I think is somewhat unique here is you get some decent Italian food which is not fast food nor do you need to sit and wait a long time. So if you want a quick service Italian restaurant this fits the bill. Will certainly be coming back here again. read more

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Fake Italian food. Avoid this place like a plague. You have to order your food at the counter. There's no wait staff. Whoever came up with this concept is an idiot. read more

Kind of a self serve place. Order at the front but you can eat in or out. Clams an linguine for me ...excellent! And hubby had eggplant. He was very happy with that. And don't forget the gelato...made right there! I will gladly return. Love the outdoor seating. read more

Cute enough vibe inside. There's plenty of seating but the tables all felt kind of close to each other? Based on the seating arrangements, don't expect a lot privacy for conversation at your table. The food was average. The red sauce just felt something lacking. The ice cream seems to be where this restaurant shines. The tiramisu ice cream was fantastic. I would come back for the ice cream, probably. read more

I really like this restaurant chain. If you don't know, Mandola's Italian Kitchen is a small but growing Italian restaurant chain that has locations in Texas and Florida. They have a location in Odessa, FL (not Texas) and it's comfortable and friendly and clean. You get a menu from the hostess, learn what the day's special is and order with the cashier (get a number). Then go and select a table and wait for your food. It doesn't take long, even when it's crowded. The food is hot, smells terrific and looks appetizing. I had the lasagne. My wife had the short-rib special. My mom had the eggplant parmigiana. My aunt also had the short-rib plate. We also had the fried calamari and zucchini appetizer. All was really tasty and plentiful. The tomato sauce is my only (small) issue. It lacks a certain sweetness that I am used to but it is good. Otherwise, this chain is doing wonders with their food selections. The staff here is attentive, fast and on the money. Come out to Odessa, FL and check out this place. You won't regret it. read more

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To start with the employees are super friendly!! The atmosphere was quiet but fun, and the way they have decorated the place is super festive!! The food was absolutely amazing and the bread that they bring out in the beginning is to die for!! This was my first time coming here, but I will definitely be making this a staple!! read more

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DELICIOUS! The food at Mandolas is amazing from the savory mozzarella to the sweet gelato it's all great. The service is great,the super kind waiter's and waitresses give you everything you need,and I always feel calm when I'm there the vibe is just super chill the ambience is great the tall ceilings make it feel not cramped and kinda open air. Side bar: they also have amazing daily specials This is an opinion review read more

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What a great experience tonight! At first I didn't know what to expect, but we were greeted so warmly and they helped guide us along! And then, the food! Even my teenage son was impressed! A very nice man chatted with us for a bit and checked on us, Milton. Great Hospitality!!! We WILL be back! read more

We decided to try this tonight for the first time. We didn't know much about the place. We were very fortunate to get our order in and get a seat quickly, as it did become very busy shortly after we arrived. You have to place your order before sitting. There is a bar and an area to buy desserts. They brought bread to our table right when we were seated. The bread was okay, the oil was very "flat" tasting without much flavor. The bread seemed like it had been soaked in oil and the combination left an aftertaste. My husband's salad came out and it was okay, the croutons were very hard, almost stale. When our main course came out, we were unimpressed. My salad was $13.50 and despite having sautéed veggies on top, it was definitely not big enough for $13.50. My husband's pizza was okay, but the crust left a lot to be desired. The atmosphere reminded me of a food court, and it would be a great place for families with younger children. That would be fine, but the prices are very high for a place that has an atmosphere of a food court. read more

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I was looking forward to trying this place. It's very close and I work from home sometimes late. I could run over between zoom meetings and even planned to recommend it to other coworkers. Well I changed my mind due to they charge you for ordering a carryout. I had not noticed the .99 "packaging fee" added to my bill. So if dining in, they make you get up and go place your order and have the nerve to charge you for a container to put their food in, if picking it up. Think that's greed!! read more

This is a tough one for me because I wanted to like, but as soon as we walked in to realize you serve yourself basically it was a being of an epic fail. The restaurant is pretty cool inside. Almost on the verge of feeling like a Disney restaurant. The hosts was great but did not good a good job explaining what we needed to do. The register peeps had no idea about the menu and what was good after many questions. So we just went with what we liked at others. We had to walk around the place holding a number looking for a table. No help! My wife ordered the chicken marsala, which was pretty good. I ordered the eggplant Parmesan, which was really an eggplant. Mush completely disgusting nothing fried about it. Nothing crispy about it and almost taste like baby food like I said pretty disgusting so I brought this to the attention of the manager yeah, most people don't like it. I said, so why do you serve it or not change it up?? She not my monkey not my circus. Lol. You can't get table service because they don't offer it. You get your own condiments and drink but they still want you to tip. Net net, it's ok. More in line with an Olive Garden vs a Carrabba's. I would pick Olive Garden over this place for the sheer fact you get service. Btw it's more expensive and they don't have half the staff. read more

Tasty grilled chicken with veggies. You order first at the counter like a fast food/casual eatery and get a number, but they bring everything to the table. I would definitely order it again, flavorful chicken and good amount. No loud music, good for conversation/lunch meeting. Lots of parking right outside. Helpful cashier, chef and waiter/floor manager and they were all happy to answer questions and assist. read more

Mandola’s Italian Kitchen - Grilled Chicken with veggies - Italian Near Me - Odessa, Florida

Really not a fan of Mandola's. I used to live across the street and being from NY, I couldn't wait for an Italian restaurant to open within walking distance. It was super underwhelming to be honest. The food is subpar. The atmosphere is super cool and unique and the place is always packed. I like their drink options and how they how specials each night of the week. The staff is always super friendly. I went a few times and got something different each time thinking it was just the dish that I didn't like but I just cant give too many stars because to me, it just doesn't taste like authentic Italian food the way I was expecting when I heard they were opening. read more

I love the concept. Yes you order in line, find your own table and the food is brought to you. Staff is extremely friendly and the food is great. So if you're expecting to be waited on like a customary place where you are seated, place your order, get served and pay at the end of your break then this may not be the place for you. But if you're open minded and accept a different spin on your mean experience I'd highly recommend this Mandola's. I personally have only had great experiences and means here. The staff is over the top friendly and accommodating. read more

Mandola’s Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Odessa, Florida

We love this place! Such a great neighborhood spot that never disappoints. We love the laid back atmosphere and music that plays while you enjoy your meal. Our favorites are the garlic fries and complementary foccacia. We always look forward to going back! read more

Mandola’s Italian Kitchen - Lasagna and pizza - Italian Near Me - Odessa, Florida

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I've been to this restaurant a few times now, and honestly, the manager is the biggest problem. I actually saw him yelling at a customer, which is unbelievably unprofessional. What makes it worse is that I barely even see him doing his job most of the time -- he's hardly ever around, and when he is, he's just sitting or talking instead of managing. So why is he being so tough on everyone else when he can't even do his own job right? It's frustrating to watch, and it makes the whole place feel tense and unwelcoming. I'd really like to speak to whoever's in charge above him because this kind of behavior shouldn't be acceptable. And No one speaks English its pretty odd being in a Italian restaurant and all i hear is spanish. I had a terrible time here there was hair in my food, the floor was covered in cheese, and the music was way to loud it was like i was at a concert. The management needs to change, If the owner is reading this you have some fixing to do here in Odessa. I have overheard some conversations from the kitchen area that felt very unprofessional and inappropriate for a workplace setting. It made the whole atmosphere uncomfortable for customers like me. read more

Day 1: Glad I ignored the negative reviews and tried the place anyway. Yes, you order from a counter and grab your own non-alcoholic drink, napkins and silverware. Everything else was pretty great. I tried the lunch menu...carnivore pizza and a side Caesar. They bring delicious, warm focaccia bread and seasoned dipping oil to the table while you wait gor your order. Pizza was thin crust, great red sauce (I generally don't care for most red sauces) and delicious salad. They originally thought my order was "to go" but when they realized I was eating in, they didn't just dump my salad from the to-go container into a bowl, they made a fresh one. You can see everything going on in the kitchen. Pastas and pizza dough made in house and it's wonderful. Supposedly the chicken marsala is the best around. I plan to find out next visit. Day 2: Tried Mandola's again, this time for dinner. Not quite the same as the first experience, atmosphere slightly different, not sure why. Different staff, different vibe. The Italian chopped salad delicious. I had the Chicken Marsala. The chicken portion was delicious. It was paired with linguini in a tomato-based sauce. Very lightly coated but not what I was expecting. I didn't look at the menu, ordered based on a recommendation. I would have preferred the pasta plain with the chicken on top and the pasta covered in marsala sauce. On the way out, we also ordered a cannoli and tiramisu. Both delicious. They have plenty of samples of desserts to help you decide. Probably won't visit here again on this 4-day trip but will definitely visit again when I'm back in the area. read more