Without a doubt the most boring Italian food ever. Who removed their spice rack? I've been to Mandola's 3 or 4 times but now I'm done. Food should have flavor and be an experience. Mandola's is boring no matter the cost. Even the olive oil they bring to the table was terrible. The patio was nice and the staff friendly but that is it. Ciao, Mandola's. read more

I've dined in before and had great food and service in the past. I picked up curbside tonight and the food was hot and ready at the promised time. An employee came up to the car as soon as I parked and the food was delicious! read more

Three stars for the food and service by the staff who brings food to the table. The problem with this place is the wait in line. Even if line is short there is an inordinately long wait. Cashier can spend 7-8 minutes just talking to customers. Manager will walk by and see a line waiting to order but won't open up the second register. Order taker needs to take order and spend less time talking to customers when there is a line. Manager needs to help take orders when he sees that there is a line. read more

I've eaten here three times and decided it's noe time for a review. The bright flags, deli style self serve appetizers and desserts in cases make you feel like you're in an Italian market. I do think the food is a bit pricey but the lunch specials are of course a better value. And may i add they have a happy hour Monday to Wednesday on appetizers and drinks. The first time I came, they compensated my meal since it took over 20 minutes to get it..they forgot and apologized. And they gave us slices of cake to try. Because of that, i thought they gave samples which they don't (after I asked today lol). The salads, soups, pasta, pizzas and sandwiches/paninis make up their menu and the desserts so far are delightful. And that's coming from a person who usually doesn't have a sweet tooth. The chocolate fudge cake is so good..the cake itself if moist and slightly dense but when mixed with the frosting, it's magical. It makes it so moist and rich but somehow not overly sweet. They have about 8 gelato flavors, cookies and about 5 cakes to choose from. Entrees I have tried: -pizza all meat: good crust that's thin and slightly crisp and chewy. Liked the toppings and they gave a good amount. The pancetta had a stronger flavor than I'm used to and didn't care for. 4* overall -panini with turkey: liked the bread and thought it was decent. Garlic fries were delish. 3.5* -bakec ziti: pasta cooked perfectly and there was plenty of sauce and mushrooms. Wish had more sausage which was the tastiest part. Sauce was flavorful as well. 3.5* -thr complimentary foccaccia: hard with bit too much olive oil the 2nd time but the 3rd time it was good..almost addicting. Soft with a nice chew and a bit dense with small air pockets throughout. (Authentic no clue.. but when i had focaccia in Verona, Italy, it was crisp and more airy and larger air pockets with delish toppings on it). Olive oil dip is fruity too. Overall I would return more for the pizza and desserts. Not a bad option of you're in the area read more

Had spaghetti and meat balls today .... the meat balls were excellent However, the spaghetti and sauce tasted like "spaghettio's" What can I say? read more

My favorite Italian food in South Austin! You can go in person and the atmosphere is fun. Great big outdoor patio. Or you can stoop by for a pickup (Dave waitting time by calling in your order). And you can find delivery services that will bring it to your home! I they even havve Italian ice cream, yum yum! read more

The Mozzarella was good but the gnocchi and chicken Parmesan weren't so good. The chicken Parmesan was burned and not much chicken in the breading and the gnocchi was a strange texture and the meat sauce tasted fake or from a can... the ambience was nice though! Maybe it was just an off day we will see. read more

This is the best Italian Restaurant I've been to unless you have been to Italy, which I have been back in the late 1960's! I used to watch Damian and Johnny on PBS a lot! They cooked some of the recipes that were handed down in the family and still use them today! I've been going to the restaurant ever since Damian opened the three in Austin, Texas! The food is always good and the people are so nice! They desserts are so good! I don't care to much for coconut or nuts but the Italian cream cake is my favorite! I've been there so many times I can't count! It is always great to see everyone in there! read more

This place is definitely not your Americanized chain Italian restaurant. It's everything you want to see when you go somewhere authentic. Cool decor, authentic Italian groceries, fresh baked goods, and a busy loud environment! The atmosphere gets 5 stars, hands down. The food was okay, but not great. I wanted to love it soooo bad. My fettuccine Alfredo came out quick, but it wasn't hot. It was barely even warm. The Alfredo had lost all of its creaminess due to the temperature it was served at, so it was nothing more than mediocre. Since there is no server that comes to check on you, I just dealt with it and ate it. The focaccia was great, as were the baked goods we got. Fresh cannoli, a slice of cake & 2 cookies. The other issue is their lack of organization. We ordered and paid for the bakery items, then the woman proceeded to do other things instead of pack our order or tell her co-workers what we ordered. So 2 other nice employees asked us if we'd been helped, and they were super confused that we paid for things but were left standing there without service. Maybe the other locations have higher reviews for a reason, so I'll have to check them out. read more

Told me the takeout would take 20-25 minutes but was closer to an hour. They weren't organized in the process of their restaurant. They were not in an hurry or hurry to complete orders both sit down and take out. One worker wasn't compliant with Covid guidelines with her mask not worn properly. Will not come again or do any recommendations for anyone. Horrible service. read more

Absolutely disgusting treatment and discrimination. Tried to force my disabled wife to stand on line. She showed them her foot in a cast and they repeated that she must stand on a long line and could not sit while we ordered food. We left and will never come back. In fact, I am considering contacting City of Austin and filing a complaint with multiple agencies. read more

Enjoyed a wonderful lunch here yesterday. The ambiance reminded me of being in Italy. I observed The Manager walking around, he was in the kitchen, the charcuterie area talking with & instructing his staff...it was obvious he enjoyed what he was doing...the results were there! My Caesar salad, my Minestrone & my Pugliese Pizza were Superb! I introduced myself to the Manager, Justin. A delightfully personable individual who voiced his passion for the industry & the quality of his finished product...all the way to personally stopping by tables to greet his clientele. I'm Italian & I'm a New Yorker, I love this place...all the Great stuff you'll want & more! Looking forward to my return, so many Great choices, excellent presentation, Outstanding Service! A touch of home right here in Austin! Jim Palladino, CWO3 US Navy Retired read more

This was okay food, it was pretty bland. Service was good but definitely was unimpressed with the food. The Caesar salad was not very good and the pizza was plain. My husband had the chicken parmigiana and wasn't a fan. He said the Alfredo sauce was very plain as well. Just lacking in flavorful food. read more

The quality of the food here is excellent. I don't consider it the usual Italian restaurant. It is really more sophisticated. However, the setting is not sophisticated. You order in line and get a number and they bring your order to your table. They serve bread and olive oil before dinner which is very tasty. They have a variety of wines for those that want them. They have desserts as well. We go their regularly. read more

Rehearsal Dinner Review My wife and I had our rehearsal dinner at Mandola's. There are many choices in Austin, but we did not want to do a steakhouse, seafood, or Mexican food. We found Mandola's (close to venue and hotel), tried the food and quickly decided to choose them. Mandola's team did an absolutely outstanding and amazing job. Truly Fantastic! Throughout the entire process, Delia, was prompt with our emails back and forth and her communication was phenomenal. She made everything easy for us as we had to reschedule our wedding due to Covid. (Speaking of covid, they did an amazing job of separating tables and the entire staff followed all the recommended safety protocols the entire night). They created menus (based on our food and beverage choices) and added a welcome sign in front of the room. These were a fantastic touch as I had not requested either, so it was a great surprise and helped to bring it all together. Anna was so kind and helpful in helping me to rearrange the room before guests arrived ( everything was correct but we had last minute additions and subtractions). Many people mentioned to us how prompt and on top of everything they all were and that no one was waiting on drinks or food for any amount of time. It was also so thoughtful for the staff to box up some of the extra food to bring home. My wife and I ate it when we got back to the hotel from the wedding. It was clutch. We literally could not have been happier with how everything turned out. Thank you all so much! read more

I must insist that this is one of the best Italian places in Austin. I am married to an Italian food obsessed Chilean, and anytime I ask where he wants to go for some grub, Mandola's is his answer. I don't even have to bother asking now, we just head that direction. We can always find something delicious to fill our bellies with and a decadent dessert to top it off with. The wine is spectacular and the service is on par. One thing is that the dining area and bathrooms are always clean and well stocked. I can't stand eating in a place where it looks like no one knows how to wipe down a table or replace the toilet paper. Thank you Mandola's, for a consistently amazing eating experience! read more

We love Mandolas. The food is excellent. Order before you sit. Beer wine gelato and delicious Italian pastries and cookies. Playground in the back and bocce on the side yard. Home run! read more

Mandola's Italian - Gelato Smiles - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

First timer here! The decor and food were amazing, and it's reasonably priced. There's plenty of room for large groups. We were brought bread with an olive oil seasoning dip to the table... that was delicious. My daughter had the "create your own" pizza and loved it. By the looks of it, all kids receive a free scoop of gelato. Definitely recommending and coming back to this place. read more

Employees were so nice. I'd never been here and they recommended an excellent pizza for lunch,the Florentine with a Caesar salad I also got some cookies and a piece of lemon cheesecake for later and a Italian cream cake slice for my mom. I am not a fan of coconut,so not my thing. My Mother however said it was the best Italian cream she'd ever had. My cheesecake was amazing as well. The cookies were def my fave. They had a almond flavor and looked like they had pine nuts on top. They seriously were awesome. My pizza covered in ricotta and fresh spinach and whole roasted garlic bulbs was so yummy. The crust a perfect chewy texture. The salad was great. Lite fresh. And the bread that comes with meals was tasty as well definitely a great lunch. Will return to try some pastas and the gelato bar. Most of all was the kindness off the staff. Very pleasant and professional. Thanks guys! read more

Mandola's Italian - So good. Not sure of their name. Delish little cookies! - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wish I could give 3.5. I've been a few times and they have some really great food. But at least two of those times they were out of one of the things I wanted to order. So that was frustrating. They also don't have a huge menu, so after a few visits there's not much left to try. At least from the main menu. There's also a deli of sorts, as well as a dessert and Gelato counter. It's a fun experience, with a playground in the back for kids. High quality, authentic food. read more

Ok cheese food . Overpriced for having to order your cheesy plates at the counter, get your silverware and be in a cafeteria style place. Plates are very greasy and they use a LOT of cheese , but is good if you are hungry for fat Italian style food. Did I mention is way overpriced? Yes, but again a place to satisfy your craving for very fattening food. Not a place I would die to come back to. read more

I just ordered food for the entire family for Valentine's Day and the portions were small and the food was expensive! Food was sort of good, but since the amounts were so small I was sorely disappointed. Only come here for the pizza and small Cesar salad, nothing else is worth the price. Also at 7:30, they ran out of their Valentine's Day special! read more

As always the food is good. But this evening the service was really poor. It was early for dinner and not busy at all. After we ordered and sat down, the two servers stood around chatting and didn't bring any bread. And, our salads were clearly visible on the service window. We finally got up and asked for bread and about 2 minutes later they finally brought it. Another couple of minutes before our salads were served. They were not doing anything else but talking. After we ate we went to the bakery counter to get dessert to take home. The only person working that area was focused on slicing meats and packaging them. After a few minutes another person came over to that area and started working on the cash register running reports or something because there were no other customers there. We finally decided to just leave and as we walked out the man who had been slicing meat said "have a nice night" so he knew we were waiting. I told him we would have bought baked goods if someone had actually helped us. He shrugged. read more

Had an incredibly relaxing, safe, delicious dinner on the patio last night!! Our family was a bit nervous about venturing out to a restaurant for dinner - but SO missed the food at Mandola's. I was greeted by several employees, all wearing the proper PPE, and another staff diligently wiping down the doors and tables - even the Manager came by to make sure everything was up to snuff! Our family sat outside, while 1-member went inside to order all our meals. Staff was responsive and diligent, and above all the food was just as tasty as we remembered. LOVE this restaurant! read more

So many choices! Casual dining- great location and best of all FRIENDLY and knowledgeable staff!!

Holy cow!!! SO. GOOD. I had the basic Spaghetti and meatballs with a side Ceaser and it was great! Nothing fancy, but delicious. You order at the counter so there's no waiter to deal with, they have beer and wine available at two different places, unlimited free focaccia bread with oil and vinegar, you can't beat it. A TON of food for $19 read more

Mandola's Italian - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

We had one of the most horrific experiences at Mandola's off Wm Cannon last night. Ordered food online, arrive at one of many curbside parking spaces. There's TONS of unmasked people, in the parking lot, in line, eating. They're EVERYWHERE. I call the phone number to have my food brought out. Busy. I call again, 5, 10, 20 times. Busy still. By some chance I see an employee come outside and flag her down and ask her to bring the food out. She brings it right out, I check it, it's missing 2 things. I call back, still busy. Now, i'm forced to go in. The guy at the counter directs me to another lady, i ask why the phone is n't working and he says "oh we don't know, it just stops working sometimes and you have to call the main number and they can transfer you. we can't figure out how to fix it" UHHH OK. i get my two missing items and take off. this entire experience took 30 minutes when it should have taken 1 minute. it was horrifying. read more

Absolutely delicious Italian food in a simple but upbeat atmosphere. We had gnocchi, shrimp Alfredo and garlic bread and all was moth-watering my delicious. Highly recommended for an excellent, unpretentious meal that will leave you wanting more. read more

Always love the food here, but today had a minor customer service issue to which my wife informed the manager, Justin. He was extremely attentive and went over the top in response. No place is perfect so we were very grateful for the decisive, thoughtful response. read more

Cant go wrong here everything is pretty good entrees well served i recommend the lasagna n any of there salads n for dessert the italian cream cake or tiramissu are perfect. read more

Got some take out from Mandola's for dinner tonight. Always really easy to order and pick up. Glad they suggested the Thursday special...cannelloni fiorentina...Delicious! As was the spaghetti ortolano. Their chopped salad is one of my favorites as well. Unfortunately the staples like the spaghetti and meatballs and the focaccia bread were only OK. Not sure if it was just an off night but the bread seemed doughy and the spaghetti was skimpy with only three medium meatballs. Still will be back though...maybe just stick to the specialities. read more

Dear Mandola's - I am breaking up with you. You used to have one of the best Happy Hours in South Austin, and your recent overhaul has left me unsatisfied. What happened to half price select pizzas, appetizers and wine? You replaced it with 2 boring wines not half off, 2 pizzas, a couple of bucks off, and just a select few appetizers not at the same deal and not a showcase of your best selections. In addition, the last few times I have come in, the food has not been up to your usual snuff. The pizza lacks pizazz, the bread has become blah, the lasagna is lavishly priced for the quality, and the water, ice or cups taste more like bleach. I left saddened, with less money than I planned and still thirsty because after your preposterously priced Pinot Grigio, I did not want to drink bleach. When I asked your manager about the overhauled happy hour, he indicated you all thought it was too generous and wanted to be on par with Chuy's and other places. Striving to be on par with Chuy's is like the Miss America winner entering the Miss Ugly contest. You used to be fresh. You used to be cool. But now, you are just a volume Italian place sacrificing quality and value to cater to the Chuy's crowd. :( It is with heavy heartburn, a lighter wallet, and disappointment that I say, so long! Signed, Sad in South Austin P.S. If you should ever decide to return to your Happy Hour roots, give me a call. read more

We had a good first visit to Mandola's tonight. We went early to avoid the rush, but even at 5:15 it was getting crowded. The seating is plentiful - a big room where you order your meal, get wine, and dessert and coffee, a back room, and a patio. There's a playscape in back, but only a few tables close to it. We were hoping it would be family-friendly and were not disappointed. The back room seems to be the people-with-small-children area so that's where we sat. I had the gnocchi, my husband had the sausage and pepper panini, and the kiddo had meatballs. All were quite good. Our server ignored us until I spilled my drink all over my lap and I asked for help (a clever ruse!) but then brought some lovely bread. We also shared a post-dinner gelato, which was approved of by all. Just out of curiosity, why do servers give my one-year old child large metallic silverware and place piping hot plates right in front of her? Do other children not jab themselves in the eye with forks and pull spaghetti onto their laps? Just curious. read more

Food is great, customer service is awesome...great environment to sit and enjoy friends read more

Mandola's Italian - Time for our monthly stamp class...always ready to learn something new... - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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HOLY CANNOLI! After several months of blind anticipation, the Mandola's Italian Market in my neighborhood opened it's doors for business yesterday. I'm delighted! I've been a big fan of the Mandola's location at the Triangle for many years, and was ecstatic when I saw that a location was coming to my hood. Last night's dinner did not disappoint. Where to begin? How about Happy Hour! (M-F 3-6pm. See photo for HH menu) Half price apps and pizzas, beer and wine. We had an appetizer, a pizza and a quartino of the house red for under $18. It was rad! The food was near perfection. We ordered the Fritto Misto, a combo of zucchini fries, arancini, and fried mozarella. Arancini are risotto croquettes with prosciutto, peas and fresh mozzarella served with a bowl of marinara. Everything was crispy, golden-brown and delicious without being the least bit greasy. Heaven! We ordered the Pugliese pizza, with house-made sausage, mushrooms and shaved sweet red onions. The only gripe I have is that the sausage on the pizza had some gristle. That's not cool when there's only a small amount of sausage on the pizza to begin with - it should all be meat and yummy flavor. Honestly, this is the first time I've experienced gristle in Mandola's italian sausage, and I've eaten several sausage & mushroom pizzas over the years, as well as purchased link sausage from their deli case. However, I'm holding back that 5th star until I'm able to conduct further research at this location to make sure that problem is corrected. ;o) After dinner, we were unable to resist the lure of the pastry case and took home 2 pieces of cake and 2 cannoli. OMG, the cannoli were a spiritual experience! Here's what I mean: Ben Franklin once said that beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. When I bit into the crispy shell of that cannoli and the hint of cinnamon, the creamy mascarpone filling with its infusion of orange and chocolate, and the crunchy pistachios hit my mouth - I understood deep down in my soul what Ben meant. It was a perfect bite; so much flavor but not too sweet. My man ate his in 3 bites. I made mine last, and each bite was as euphoric as the last. The cakes, while artful, paled in comparison. I could go on and on because there are gelato, coffee, grocery and deli case components that I haven't even touched. The environment is very family friendly, but more than that it's a place for everybody. There are a few little "kids tables" scattered throughout the restaurant. There's a big patio with a surrounding stand of trees, featuring a bacci ball court, and a nearby playground where mom & dad can take their glass of vino while junior plays off dinner. I foresee myself spending several happy evenings here, and that suits me just fine. read more

Mandola's Italian - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I am literally baffled by the reviews for this place. It is not a restaurant, it is a cafeteria. The entire experience was just awful. If you like paying for DIY Italian much as you as you like sitting in ketchup at McDonalds you probably love this place. I literally had to go to the bussers station and clean off the chairs at our table. That was after spending 25 minutes waiting for one woman to order her food at the counter. Yep counter service for an Italian restaurant so what that means is: if you get a drink or a glass of wine and you want another one... you have to wait in line again. We had 3 orders of chicken parmesan and a caprese salad. 2 of the chicken parms came out I'm serious in 6 minutes, we hadn't even located where we could pick up our own silverware, napkins or appetizer plates and we hadn't even served ourselves water yet. Now I make chicken parm at home and if it's fresh it can not be done in 6 minutes well I must be mistaken because not only was it done but it was burnt! Oh yeah then the caprese salad came out. Now I bet your thinking "well, what about the third chicken parm"? Us too! 25 minutes for that one probably because it had to thaw. Chicken parm was pounded thin and tasteless. Red sauce was watery and basic store bought ragu. Caprese "salad" was 4 thin smashed tomatoes, 4 wilted small leaves of basil and then 6 hard slices of mozzarella? Those numbers don't even ad up! "Oh well how did that taste" u ask? Hmmm well let me get up from my seat yourself table again and go to the serving station and find generic store balsamic vinegar and then trip over the toddlers playing on the floor while walking back to the table and make it taste how ever you want! It's that easy! Plastic salt and pepper shakers where on the table though. I guess that's why they have so many people working. Gotta make sure the salt and pepper is stocked so people can choose their own adventure at the cafeteria. Skip it. Hard pass, 2 bites it was gross, we left with our plates and wine glasses full. read more

This was my first experience with Italian food in a restaurant here in Austin and being the first I was floored and heavily disappointed, with this restaurant... First placing the order, being disabled along with my Father with knee issues we stood in line waiting to place an order for over 35 mins. The checkout lines are not seamless and they are also disorganized selling wine and other drinks put a large bottle neck on checking out. One improvement would be to have one line for wine and other drinks and the other just to place an order and go i.e. express lane. This idea would make the long line shorter and quicker making less frustrated customers. Second the area in front of the order pickup area was extremely slippery with oil, myself and brother almost slipped and fell, this area should be maintained every now and then to prevent accidents. Last but not least the food, having a craving for eggplant parm my Father, Brother and I ordered this meal and to be honest it seemed like it came from a frozen Banquet Meal from Walmart. It was served cold and bland, the only item that was warmer was the bread which was good.. Overall I am very disappointed of my overall experience with Mandola's restaurant and hope changes occur so they can count on my return. read more

Why in the world is this place only getting three stars? I didn't make it Mandola's other locations because of the distance but now that it is South side I will be going here often. So back to my three stars question, I am not sure, but I definitely had a four star experience. I love that I can shop for wine while in line and looking over the menu and standing in line, I am a fan of the multitask. We got a bottle of Pinot Noir and ordered our meal, found a seat and not long after we sat got a basket of yummy spongy bread. I wanted to talk to my husband, ask him how his day was, but the whole time I was visually shopping. Hey look at that bread, oooo I need that cheese, did you see the Gelato? It took everything for me not to grab a basket and start shopping. But then our antipasti plate came, loaded with cured meats, cheeses, olives and peppers stuffed with prosciutto and other delicious things. Honestly two people could make a meal off of this thing it is huge! I ordered the pesto sauce over flat pasta with grilled chicken, it tasted fresh, I would have added a little more garlic myself, but then I am kind of a garlic head. I tried a bite of the chicken and pork tortellini, it was lovely, all creamy and cheesy, and once again I had plate envy. Mental note: get that next time. The service was good, a waiter came by a few times to ask how we were and if we needed anything so no complaints. Mandola's, thanks for finally getting down here to the south side. I will try not to start shopping mid-meal, but I cant make any promises. read more

Why did I go there on a Friday night after work? That was a serious lack of judgment. It was 4/8. I think this location is new. They could use a bit of fine tuning with the folks who were taking orders. That lined moved so slow I could've driven home and back in the time it took me to get there to take my order. That's when I found out why. The lady who helped me would stop after getting peoples drinks (from the beer drafts) and chat up her coworkers. Umm.. don't you see the line? Anyhow, adding more registers or getting more a disciplined employee on the orders would help. I have waited in line at the Triangle location but never for that long (and that was during lunch hour). Anyhow, I believe I wrote a review of the Triangle location where I mentioned that their pizza was seriously good. I debated pizza and in the end decided to try the pasta. Mistake. It wasn't as good as the pizza so I'll be sticking to pizza. I got the basil and cherry tomato one. It wasn't that it was bad... it just wasn't as good as the pizza. I also picked up a piece of some raspberry cake with white frosting. I'm not sure what that white frosting was made of but it wasn't whipped cream as I thought and also wasn't very good. It wasn't butter cream either. I suspect it was lard... it had no flavor and my stomach was sorry I ate any of it later. All in all, I'd say don't go on a busy Friday if you don't like lines, order the pizza (trust me) and don't get that raspberry cake. read more

I am from Houston, but I went here with my boyfriend and was very pleased! I asked for the half portion, but because it was the weekend, they said no. I have Ulcerative Colitis and have found that for me, it is much easier to just eat smaller meals. I explained this to the cashier and he worked with me, by letting me order the same thing just on the kids menu! LOVE!! We also ordered calamari as a starter and it was delicious! You don't have a server here, but they bring you out your food pretty quickly! Also! For all of you moms of babies out there, they have a very nice set up in the bathroom for you. Instead of the yucky plastic changing table, they have a real cherry wooden table! Below they have all different size diapers, wipes, baby lotion, baby powder, and Lysol to spray it down before and after! Can someone say AMAZING?! read more