Mandola's Italian Reviews

Mandola's is a good place for lunch or an early supper: part restaurant, part bakery, part grocery, the decor is simple with tables and wooden chairs, with two eating spaces and a small outdoor patio. Good salads and pizzas. It's hard to leave without buying a gelato, a cookie or pastry--everything looks good. This location is not too far from UT (a couple of miles) and close to several state offices. Parking nearby, but it can be hard to find something close to Mandola's because there are several other restaurants in the same area. Go around the block inside the Triangle and park next to the Office Max or on one of the interior streets.

Shared fried mozzarella with excellent red sauce, we loved the complimentary bread and oil but you have to ask for it. I enjoyed my spaghetti n meatballs, friends both liked their cheese ravioli and pasta with fresh tomatoes n garlic n shrimp. Servings don't look huge but are quite generous when you get in there, I brought half if mine back as leftovers. Didn't get a dessert this trip.

This place has delicious New York style thin crust pizza. It is the perfect mix of cheese and sauce, the cheese is not a disgustingly inch thick like some places. And their side salads, the Insalata Mista, are also delicious. They also have exceptional common Italian dishes & a vast array of bakery items.

There is a good ambiance, the place is kid-friendly and has a good gourmet selection. The gelato is yummy. The pizza and the salads are very good and authentic.

We had business in the area so dropped by Mandola's for a takeout antipasto salad. Always good. It's prettier served on a platter in the restaurant but we had to get home. But it still tasted just as good. And of course what trip to Mandola's was be complete without their tiramisu? An perk of to go is sampling their gelato flavors until your order is ready. The cannoli cinnamon flavor was excellent today.

What we liked: the gelato; the fresh bread with dipping oil;the chicken Parmesan was fried perfectly and the chicken was moist (without sauce) What we did not like: eggplant parmigiana (it was like a steamed eggplant with a little stuff on it), the carnivore pizza, their red sauce, the chocolate cake (it was dry); the eclair (dry). We had two servings of fettuccine, one was cheesy but didn't have enough cream; the other just had some cream.

A friend recommended this place for dinner and are we ever glad they did! It's very informal, so if you're looking for a quiet, romantic date spot, this isn't where you want to go. If you want good Italian food with mouth-watering desserts, you should consider this little gem. The location on Guadalupe (in the Triangle) has three sections: an outside terrace, an inside quieter section, and the main section that is the loudest. When you arrive, walk to the inside section that has the display cases for food where they have their menus. Stand in line and wait until the next available cashier beckons you over (like waiting in an airport check-in line.) You place your order, get a table marker, and find your own table. Be sure to pick up silverware and napkins on your way; they're not on the tables. There were four of us, and everyone tried different items, but we all agreed the food was delicious. First, a waiter brought us a basket of soft bread, cut into squares, and served with a plate of yummy garlic and spice-infused olive oil. It was outstanding! The four of us ordered their eggplant Parmesan, lasagna, tortellinis with vegetables in a cream sauce, and a salad. Servings are not huge, but big enough to satisfy; there are take-home containers available for guests who would like to enjoy their leftovers later, and we did that with the generous lasagna, the only dish that wasn't finished at the restaurant. The desserts looks like they were made in Heaven, and there were several that we wanted to try. Unfortunately, we were in quite a hurry and had to leave right away, but we thought next time we'd start with the desserts and take home the entrées. We really liked the casual atmosphere and shelves with a tantalizing array of Italian food items to browse and select to prepare at home. We will definitely return when we have more time to enjoy dessert and to check out the Italian foods to cook at home. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our delicious, but too short, meal and look forward to returning soon.

This is not a typical Italian restaurant with great table-side service. Your order your food at the counter and they bring it out with food runners. Food is simple but still good. A nice option for a family. You can walk around the store to select your beer, wine, beverage then order your dinner. There's also a gelato/coffee bar for afterwards but, again, you have to order yourself and pay again. All in all though, it's a nice option with a different vibe.

The food at Mandela’s Italian Market is fresh and tasty. Complimentary focaccia greets you at the table. You can order Gnocci, Lasagne, Pizza and other traditional dishes. Their desserts are amazing, especially their pignoli cookies and coconut cake!

The atmosphere of Mandolas was really cool. It felt like an Italian restaurant with an open kitchen. Walk-in, grab a bottle of wine order your food at the register and find a seat to wait on some good food. Meatballs were fantastic, wine was pretty good too.

I always feel welcome here. They deliver high-quality, authentic Italian cuisine. I like the small grocery section, as well.

another Italian place. Food is quite fine; energy and crowd are (as in many places in Austin) pleasant and energetic.

My son and I had lunch here. We started with fried meat balls and calamari with zucchini. Delicious! The marinara was like Mama used to make. I had egg plant parmigiana and my son had pasta alfredo with shrimp. Both were very good. We had enough left over to feed my wife and daughter for their dinner. I'll be back.

We are regulars ~ meaning twice a month for several years ~ in the Gallaria Rt. 71 location. So yesterday after attending opening day at the annual Holidays' Armadillo Bazaar, we headed to the closest Mandola's for pizza...Guadalupe. AMAZED at the differences - We served ourselves after over 5 minutes of watching our 2 pizzas sit, waiting for a server; the crust was burned on one pizza, but mostly they were tasteless. The sauce is always excellent, cheese was scrimpy as were the meatballs and artichokes. The entire experience left us scratching our heads and wondering if they were truly a "sister location" of the Mandola's in Bee Cave. We hope you get your act together, it is a shame to waste your potential.

Billed as a super Italian place, it turned out to have mediocre food. The place was packed so this may have been an off night

It should be a zero star, I’ve come for years, but tonight the quality was horrible. The little obnoxious ferrite at the cashier stand, taking out, was rude and refused 4 times to give me a thimble of Mariana sauce for my dry chicken parm, only when I refused the entire order was he willing to go fetch a small portion. The manager tried to explain that it’s how the chef prepares it, dry chicken parm and a hair net of pasta, but he’d try to fix it. What a most terrible experience, overall terrible food, seems Mandola must be closing down.

This little Italian place at the Triangle" is our go-to restaurant for lasagne, eggplant parmesan, and pizza. The bottles of wine are on the pricey side, but you can take home whatever you don't drink. There's a big basket of yummy homemade bread to snack on while you're waiting for your meal, and delicious herbed oil on a plate for dipping. We were delighted to find live music there last weekend when we stopped in for dinner. The trio even played "Happy Birthday" for a family seated nearby! Patio seating means there's always a table available but we like to sit inside. Great desserts and gelato, too. You can't go wrong.

While visiting family in Austin, we went to Mandola's for dinner. It is decent food prepared in a homestyle manner versus gourmet; reasonably priced and tasty. I lived in Italy for 2-1/2 years and thus I would not call this "authentic" Italian. However, as "American-Italian" it is a good choice. The portions are large enough to share between two; they provide complimentary bread and olive oil which are also very good. The sangria (not an Italian thing, by the way) was good but pricey - $14 for a carafe which filled three small wine glasses.They have family portions as well as individual, so you can feed many people for a decent price if everyone is amenable to eating the same thing.The desserts are excellent. Note that this is not a dinner where you are served at your table (i.e., not romantic). You place your order at the cashier and they bring it to your table. You help yourself to napkins, flatware and drinks from the soda fountain. Ample free parking is available in a nearby structure.

Mandola's is enjoyable every time I go there. We have been enjoying meals there since the day it opened over ten years ago and have never been disappointed. We recently had lunch there. I had the baked ziti with a small salad. Very enjoyable. The service is excellent. I highly recommend Mandola's

We stopped here for lunch after a visit to the LBJ Presidential Library. We weren't quite sure what to expect with "Market" in the name, but my sister had highly recommended it, so we had faith. It does have a market, but the restaurant part is definitely much bigger. You can read the menu while you wait in line to order at the counter/cash register. Then you take a seat, get your own silverware and drinks, and your food is brought to your table. The wait for our food seemed reasonable, and perhaps even a little shorter than we'd expected for as crowded as the restaurant was. My vegetable sandwich was seasoned well with a good mix of flavors, although it had a little too much cheese and not enough vegetables for my personal taste. Like my husband's Caprese sandwich, it was a little too messy to hold in your hands and eat, so I ended up eating it with a fork and knife. The pizza was a thin crust pizza that pleased my youngest child, while my other children loved the huge pile of meat on their Italian sandwiches. The fries were only so-so, and our side salads surprisingly had inconsistent amount of dressing (leaving some kinda soggy), but the bread and dipping sauce that we were served while waiting for our food made up for it. The other two people in our group had eggplant parmigiana and a very generously sized chopped salad with tons of fresh ingredients. We were quite satisfied with our lunch and could have gone home happy at this point. But we stayed and talked long enough to make room for dessert instead. We sampled cake, cookies, and gelato and every single bit was worth the calories. The cookies were rich and flavorful. I loved the chocolate chunk cookie the most. Cakes are obviously made from scratch with great flavors and texture. The gelato didn't live up to what we had in Italy, but it was definitely one of the best we've had in the US. While I recommend Mandola's, I highly recommend you save room for dessert!

The salad I had was like a mixture of things, not appetizing. The hot bread on the other hand was delicious. One expects the main food to be appetizing and not just teh bread.

Mandola's is quite a large restaurant with an outside dining area too, together with a shop. It is not a sophisticated dining experience, but it is fast, quite cheap and pretty good food. I opted for chicken Parmesan and it was both generous in size and of good quality, and freshly cooked and served. If you want a pretty decent, low-cost Italian meal in Austin then this is certainly a good place to go. and just to support other reviewers, it is very child-friendly and so a great place for a family meal - the ice-cream bar looked absolutely amazing, and was very popular.

When there for dinner on 7-20-13. Our group ordered 4 entrees. The first three came out and they were barely lukewarm. The lasagne was almost cool in the middle. The pizza had been sitting on the counter for a while and was not hot and the Chicken Parmesan was barely warm. After tasting the three meals we decided to send them back. I got up, went to the counter, and requested the manager come to our table. He never showed. After another 5 minutes, I asked a server, who was walking by, to get the manager and finally he showed up. By then, after about 10 minutes, the 4th meal arrived. It was piping hot. The manager apologized and took the three meals back. He had a new pizza made and heated the other two dishes. They all came back really hot. But, the Chicken Parmesan was now dried out. I was told that the pizza was good but the other two meals were just OK. Not what we expected from Mandola's. The manager did give us other desserts without cost. Overall, it was not a good experience and a doubt we will be going back.

Casual place with nice atmosphere. Aside from the restaurant they also have a store with Italian goods, an anti-pasti counter, and a dessert area with baked goods and Ice cream. When I lived in Austin I would occasionally pick up a pizza and salad here after work. Both were consistently good. They offer gourmet toppings for their pizza which is nice.

We stopped by for lunch and enjoyed our meal. The food and atmosphere in this place is superb. Before we visited Austin, I looked up this restaurant online and decided to try it. We weren't disappointed. There is quite a wine selection here as well as a bakery with delicious pastries and ice cream. Be sure and give this place a visit if you're ever in Austin.

There were 6 in our party two 3 yr old twin boys, their parents and granddad and his lovely wife! Mandola's has charm, a variety of menu choices for every one in the family and an atmosphere conducive to the mayor and a city councilperson as well as two toddlers who were closer to bedtime than the nap they refused to take. The frozen sangria was great. We enjoyed the Calamari and Zucchini appetizer. They accomodated our younger patrons by splitting the Pollo all Griglia without a charge. The Chicken Parmesean wasn't the greatest but good. The hit was the Pizza Pugliese which was outstanding. We'll return and we probably order several to go around. Quick, fast, pleasant a great location in the Triangle north of the UT campus between Lamar and Guadualupe. We love visiting our grandsons and we also look forward to returning to Mandola's!

So good! We all enjoyed this fabulous stop! Fresh bread and herbed olive oil where placed on our table and soon the food (ordered at the counter) began arriving! From the special if the day, thinly pounded chicken with salad on top to fresh soups and gnocchi it was all delicious. And then there were the desserts. We all enjoyed the gelato (raspberry and lemon were voted the best). Definitely coming back here again!

Had lunch with a co-worker the other day and the place is still a great place for Italian food. Service is quick, even with a line, but the parking can be a hassle. Don't let that bother you.

This could be overlooked from the road. An Italian market with food and tables. Food was excellent, we stumbled upon this place late and were pleasantly surprised. Stand in line to order, food brought to table with a number posted so waiter can find you, wine served. Bread and olive oil were excellent, salad fantastic, indoor and outdoor spots for cafe, in a shopping area. We all had pasta that we enjoyed very much. Worth a stop for Italian food lovers!

Just pop in there last night for a quick simple meal. It is simply what I would call an Italian Deli. You go to the counter and order and the food is brought to you. The place was packed even on a Sunday night and the food was simple but delicious. Great find for a simple unpretentious taste of American Italy

I really, really want to love this restaurant. It is in my neighborhood, it is relatively inexpensive, and the food is decent. There are pros and cons, but the real reason I just hate it is that you have to stand in a long winding line to order your dinner. By the time I get to the register to order, I am just grumpy, and no amount of warm pasta and decent wine can improve my mood. As for the pros and cons: Pros: It is moderately priced, even cheap, for Italian food and the food is decent to quite good. There is a good selection of cheap to moderately priced wine of good quality. There is a lovely outdoor patio. Cons: You have the feeling you are in Walt Disney's version of an Italian restaurant -- a long line winds through Italian "groceries" - cans of tomatoes, fancy pasta, and whatnot that are probably never sold, as well as copies of the owner's PBS series cookbook. The line can take 20-30 minutes. There is no opportunity to sit down, no obvious way to get a beverage while you are waiting to order your meal. It is located in a mixed-use housing area and it is always crowded. When we placed our order and went to sit down, every empty table inside the place - on a Tuesday night - was marked "reserved," so we had to eat on the patio. That was fine, but 5 or 10 degrees cooler and it would have been quite unpleasant. The gelato is not as good, too my taste, as most other choices in Austin. In general, you get the feeling that they want to be a successful chain restaurant, not a great place for a meal.

I was in the area with my mom and wanted to try something different. She had lasagna and I had shrimp scampi. We each had leftovers to take with us. I was able to do s little Christmas shopping - bought cookie tin and chocolates while there. We will go back when in area.

I stumbled upon this charming Italian Market and Eatery while exploring Austin. I opted for their Monday's Special: Chicken Capriccioda with Fettuccine. It was heavenly. Service was friendly and fast. What a great find! I'll be back! Cheers Texas🍷

I ate here with my daughters while visiting them in Austin, our bill was a little high for the three of us. The food was okay it wasn't spectacular but it wasn't horrible either. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the staff was very friendly. Honestly though not much really stood out about this place it seemed very popular but with all the choices in Austin I probably wouldn't go back.

Everyone I know who has been here loves this restaurant/Italian market. The servers are bustling constantly, and smells and sounds of the open kitchen are amazing. Go on a Friday so you can have the shrimp scampi. The balance of the flavors is just perfect! We have never had a bad meal there.

Usually love the Mandolla Fam places. Very clean, nice atmosphere. Food ok. Ordered pizza, ravioli and gnocchi. Would rate it a 3 on scale to 5. Husband ordered chicken piccata. That was really good. Liked the complimentary bread. Wouldn’t go back.

Two of us from out of town and one from Austin after a long day at work went for a nice dinner out. Cute grocery department that your wander through to place your order. As we decided on what wine we wanted with dinner were offered nice size samples. I choice the frozen sangria. Perfect for a hot summer night. Had the eggplant parmigiana. Plenty for leftovers. Browsed the desert counter and got some fabulous deserts for later. Quaint spot in a nice neighborhood. Had a farmers market in the square. The service was very good from bringing extra bread to even making some oil and spices to take home with left overs.

First time at this restaurant. The location is in a quaint area with lots of shops and restaurants -- and the restaurant itself is also very quaint and authentic. The food is reasonably priced and we liked that they had an array of gelato to choose from for dessert. Service was also quick. My wife had eggplant parm and loved it -- but I had chicken marsala and it was incredibly salty. I read some other reviews that also mentioned the salty marsala, so it's apparently the way they always make it. I'd go to Mandola's again in the future, but I'd order something else.

William Cannon location, curbside. Terrible, and we will not return. Caesar salad dressing was off. The spaghetti and meat ball tasted like a left over. The bread was not fully cooked. Forgot desert, tiramisu. Empty bag, no cake? I called, spoke to manager. He actually said “ yeah the bread comes out like that sometimes “. I asked for refund of missing desert, and gave him info on baking. Serving uncooked bread was insulting. I am waiting on refund.....

Visited 2016-09-07. Had bowl of minestrone and half a light pasta dish, fedelini pachino. Both were tasty and large portions. Bread was fresh and hot. Ended with a mix of pistachio, raspberry, and vanilla gelato. Wow. Great place for lunch.

Wait in line to walk up to one of two ordering stations. Place order, pay for order, get drinks, get number, and find table. It was fairly crowded on a Thursday, but tables were turning over quickly. Service was amazingly quick, with bread/oil brought almost instantly, followed by salad and entrée. Decent selection of traditional Italian food. I thought that the Lasagna was better than average. The Italian wine selection was extremely good. Better off getting a bottle or carafe to avoid having to get back in line. The restaurant is fairly typical for a casual Italian restaurant. It is nice that are separate ordering stations for café drinks and desserts. My only complaint is parking. The restaurant does not have a parking lot. It is located in a nice commercial/apartment complex with very limited open parking (several 10 minute only spots). If you are lucky to caught someone leaving one of the two hour spots or limited parking garage spots, like I did, you are in good shape. Otherwise, you are out of luck. Like much of Austin, it is advisable to park properly or you may have your vehicle towed.

I saw the comments about lines but did not understand you stood in line to order. Once we figured that it was very good meal at a very good price. Now we have to find another night to try some other items.

When in meetings across the street in DSHS, this is a welcome. A very popular place during so go early or later. Great menu but you can ask for a lunch portion if not on lunch menu. Daily specials 7 days a week. The lunch comes with soup or salad and bread, the dinner will not. good prices. Even though gets full the servers get your food fast. save room for dessert.

Had some reservations about waiting in line to place an order. It was a bit strange finding a table. The young lady taking my order was excellent and very helpful in the midst of a chaos. Had to keep asking about bread. It finally arrived after dinner was handed to us...yes, not served. My lasagna was excellent. The cannoli for dessert looked better than it was. Good shell, but the filling was too dense and heavy. I'd avoid a weekend if I return.

My wife and I have dined at Mandola's many times but I have never actually reviewed it...I think. Anyway, if you're looking for consistently good Italian fare at reasonable prices then give Mandola's a try. We especially enjoy the garlic fries, cruda salad, and minestrone soup. The pizzas and dessert bar are also very good. My one disappointment while on our last visit two weekends ago is that they no longer offer fresh made sangria. Your only option now is the mediocre slush machine product. Too bad.

The best casual Italian dining in Austin without the air fares. The Old World Italian Market says it all. Walk in, grab a Menu and order then pick a place to sit. The just drop in for coffee or a meal or a snack atmosphere comes highly recommended as price's are very very reasonable. Broad menu with many choices and options. You really need to pay attention to the daily special menu specials next to the walk up register.Their specialty salads, breads, meats, gelato, fresh baked Italian baked goods and great coffee (decaf and regular) bar are to die for. Caution; "This place is additive and there is no cure." Things start with fresh warm focaccia bread and seasoned olive oil. This is baked and prepared on premise as all things here are made from scratch including their mozzarella cheese and outrageous Italian desserts - best Zuccato in Austin. My only problem is their Italian sausage is to hot with it's Mexican pepper flavor. Master Chef Vittorio

This place is a real find in a world overrun with Joe's Crap Shack (there is NOT a party always going on), Olive Garden, Apple-bee's, etc...They actually MAKE the FOOD there, not "make" the "food" there, OK? The prices are very fair - and you may say "hold on there, Hot Tub! It is kinda pricey!", well, look at the portion size, Cochise, OK? Now it is NOT Buca de Beppo with their gigantor sized platters of spaghetti and whatnot - you might be able to wold down a main course if you really try, but order an appetizer (fried Squid, baby!), get a good sized main course and SPLIT it with someone you can tolerate, and then go get down on the gelato - very good gelato - and the gelato gal is very generous with the portions if you are not snippy...ahem. Their beer is cold and they will sell you 12oz Moretti's (Red or Green) for US$3.33 per if you buy 3 at a time - which I will do all day. Go to some doucher bar and pay US$4.50/$5.00 per! Real Deal! I like htis place and they seem to care about what you think and want you to return. I like this location as well as the Guadalupe store. These are the only two I have been to. I like Carrabas...I LOVE me some Mandola's Market!

Interesting atmosphere-openish kitchen with small grocery section as well as a little bakery area and a grab and go section. There’s outdoor seating as well as indoor. There’s seating within area described above as well as a separate dining area. They had a couple of short kid tables near the window. We pulled one up right next to our table which was near that area. Food is ordered at a counter and brought to you. We were there on a Wednesday so it came pretty quickly. Average Italian comfort food.

When a old world Sicilian woman visits Texas and gives a thumbs up to your sauce, your arrancini, and your pizza, you KNOW you are doing it right! Delish! Gives my hubby a little flavor from home. :)

We are an italian family (expat) living in tx, we got there by luck and we love it. Definitely not your typicalAmerical-italian restaurant; food was good almost like in italy. Good quality pasta, good pizza and the best was the ics cream, try the pistacchio, rarely you find it so good.

Not a huge selection. Ordered lasagna, which was ok, n fettuccine Alfredo, which was good. Desserts were pretty good, would go for that than the food. gotta try the gelatos.

We are new to the area due to my employment relocation and I pass Mandola's twice a day. One weekend we decided to have our afternoon meal there. It is the best Italian I have ever had. Mandola's is clean, the staff is wonderful, and the food is made fresh. We tried spaghetti and meatballs. I have been told their lasagna is to die for. It will be my next choice when I return.

Order from menu but extra stuff like silverware and get on your own. Bu t its really nice place, great location. Food was great as we well. We will come back.

Our actual conversation after realizing that the pizza lunch special was considerably larger than those served at the other locations: Me: "The additional two inches of diameter actually creates a much larger amount of pizza because π r²..." Mrs. K.: " No honey, pie are round." My wife always gets the pizza lunch special. It comes with either soup or a choice of Caesar or mixed salad for $8. I usually get the lunch special fettuccine Alfredo and a salad for $9.50 + $1 for the optional prosciutto, mushrooms and peas. The fettucine is very good and a perfect serving size. I have a real gripe about huge pasta servings. In Italy, pasta is just one course among many and the serving size reflects that. Save room for some of their great gelato. Kids get a free small gelato. The Mandola family is typically Italian. By that I mean they love families and kids. They have smaller tables for kids.They provide fully equipped changing tables in both men's and women's bathrooms.

Delicious food, great atmosphere, all staff outstanding! super nice and attentive. .oh and the desserts amazing good cheesecake yummy and almond cake oh well all desserts delicious!.. Strongly recommend. .we"ll be back.

We waited in a long line but it wasn't bad. The line moves fast and you can look at some of their products for sale while you wait. The food was out fairly quick and the waiters were friendly.

Having spent a lot of time in Italy, I am qualified to say that this is an authentic Italian trattoria. The caesar salad was crisp and lightly seasoned. The lasagna was hot and delicious. The house chianti was generously poured and good. The cannoli was freshly made and yummy. The service was excellent (place the order at the cashier and it is delivered to the table). Follow-up was twice to see that everything was good.

Had a team dinner at Mandola's. Great neighborhood with outdoor seating. Line up, order, and wait for your food. Lots of great things on the menu and very reasonable. Staff is attentive and food comes out quickly and with love.

Stop by looking for pasta and was amaze with all the things that have from Dessert, Gelato, Pizza, Pasta and meat area. Wonderful place for family or couples to sit and enjoy the atmosphere.

Food is tasty but not clean enough. Flies are everywhere on outside sitting place. Very poor way serving Wine with normal glasses. Not that cheap but ok. Fast service. Cordial staff. Ok ambience even inside. Neatness to be improved. More Veg is available. Bread is good

Went there for dinner Saturday Night. My daughter told me that it was a great place to eat. She was right. Charming place, We sat in the back, but it has a nice outdoor sitting area with a fountain too. We ordered Calamari & Zuccini, Eggplant Parmiggiana, Fedelini Pachino among others. The house red wine was very good and the bread so good. Great service . The gelato was to die for. Also it has a bread, deli area and fresh pasta area too. So don't miss this Italian eatery . It is wonderful.

This is a great Italian food stop. Our order or a few pizzas and salad was great. A family friendly place that had a real baby changing table and complementary diapers in the bathroom. Ha! Awesome!

Mandola's has good italian food but nothing wow...I ordered lasagna and it was pretty average..It wasn't expensive, I'd say we had a good value for the food...This place close really early, so we had to rush to finish our dinner...All in all, nothing out of the ordinary italian restaurant...

I really dislike leaving a bad review, but the food was so bad, I feel I have to let others know. This was - far and away - the worst Italian I have ever had. I got fettuccine Alfredo with what was supposed to be chicken on top. The pasta itself was fine. The Alfredo was nearly nonexistent, stuck to the noodles and had zero taste. A bowl of plain noodles would have been better. The “chicken” was more like jerky. I could not even cut it with a knife. I attempted to eat it, but when I finally got a piece in my mouth it was even worse than it looked. I was embarrassed to even say anything to my friend dining with me. It was terrible. I’m not even sure why they served it. How in the world does this happen? It has been over a week, and I still can’t believe I paid for this meal. I never send anything back, and I don’t think restaurants even care, so I just stopped down the road and ate again. This place is WOW bad. Still shocked. Inedible is not a term I throw around lightly, but my meal was inedible.

Stopped here for lunch and we were thoroughly impressed with everything we ordered! I had the minestrone and the mista salad. The minestrone was delicious, but the salad was the star...mmm, such a fresh, amazing flavor. My husband had the carnivore lunch size pizza. Also, very delicious, especially the sausage. His pizza came with a choice of soup, salad, or fries. He chose the fries which were plentiful and tasty. They were served with a dipping sauce which we weren’t sure what it was, but we both liked the taste. We were served a basket of delicious focaccia bread and the olive oil/pesto brought out to dip it in in was outstanding! I can’t say enough about how we enjoyed our meal here. The flavor of everything was incredible! The cost of everything was also pretty amazing (see receipt in pics). I had a small serving of gelato for dessert (it’s not on the bill), and it too, was delicious. I highly recommend this place and look forward to enjoying it again on our next trip to Austin.

We had wanted to eat here for a while and unfortunately we were very disappointed. Red sauce was nothing special and the chicken parmigain seemed like a frozen breaded cutlet with a little sauce. Wine selection is not good, which doesn't make sense for an Italian food restaurant. The chopped salad was very good though and so was the service...

Anytime my hubby and I get near The Triangle in Austin near lunch or dinner time (in fact, any time we are in Austin), we head to Italian Market. Over the years we have ALWAYS been able to depend on consistently great Italian food whatever we order. No matter what day of the week or time of day, there is always a line to order. Don't worry; they have their act together and it moves very fast. Their portions are very generous, and their pasta is superb. Wish they would open one like this in Houston, instead of the "knock-offs" by other family members.

Italian food at it's very best. Service makes you feel like family. Lasagna seasoned perfectly. Mozzarella Garlic Bread is heavenly. We both accented with a Mista Salad. Just a perfect lunch venue.

My family and I love this place! Excellent pizza, succulent spaghetti, and tasty appetizers. Service is always friendly. Our daughter always finishes her meal with some of their yummy gelato.

The food was very good- traditional Southern Italian. I had the lasagne - huge piece- enough to share or take home. It was very rich and flavorful with good sauce. My husband had the tortellini which had a nice creamy texture as a filling and topped with Alfredo sauce. We really enjoyed the focaccia and olive oil served with the meal. And topped off the meal by sharing a piece of coconut cake-yum! Only complaint and it is minor was the Caesar salad was a little over dressed and a couple of brown leaves. But I still loved it and wish we had one in our town!

Saw the sign driving by and stopped in. Glad I did. Reminded me of the market/restaurants I saw when in Italy. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I had the special of the day, Chicken Marsala with side of pasta. Scrumptious! Had a few crunchy parts I loves. Not too big a serving, just right. The bread very reminiscent of what you get in Italy. Definitely will go back!

The place has a nice Italian market vibe going and I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately the service and food under deliver, and by a long ways. The bread was greasy to the point my 4 year old would not eat it (a first), the plates were dirty, the staff was busy (in an uncrowded restaurant) and not attentive (we had to finally grab side plates off the counter ourselves after waiting for them), our first order was wrong and the acoustics are a bit too noisy. But the real reason to avoid is poor value: as an example I ordered the large pasta and left the restaurant hungry. The portion of the pasta would be comparable to a medium dinner salad plate with a thin layer of pasta. While I've seen people say this better than Olive Garden, Boca, etc., the quality here is no better, if not worse, but the portions do not satisfy as both those outfits do. If you are looking for Italian I would suggest several of the smaller Italian establishments in the nearby.

This evening's adventure started out with their lovely bread and oil/herb combo for dipping. This part of the meal is always heavenly! Salad came next, a Mista salad that had lots of nice fresh veggies including celery, onions, tomatoes, and olives in nice fresh lettuce. The dressing was just enough to make it flavorful while you could still taste and enjoy the veggies (impressive since most restaurants want to drown your salad to the point where you couldn't tell if the veggies were fresh or wilted for a week, so kudos on keeping it light enough to know the salad was fresh while making it flavorful enough to enjoy). This evening I wanted something a bit different so I ordered a side of sausage and peppers along with a Vegetarian Panini (I'm a carnivore but have had this sandwich several times since I am impressed w/ the way the veggies, cheese and bread they use come together to make for a wonderful blend of flavors (and some interesting textures too). The sandwich, as usual, was excellent. The sausage ...meh. It was a bit hard and dry- to the point it was kind of hard to cut - but had a good flavor. There were lots of sauteed peppers and onions accompanying it and they added to the flavor nicely. Dessert was hazelnut and tiramisu gelatos. The flavors are pronounced with the creaminess of what has to be a huge milkfat content just adding to the perfection of this amazing dessert. It was extremely crowded and noisy when I first went in, but I decided to eat inside anyway ... I'm usually a patio kind of gal but it gave me the opportunity to watch the kitchen and staff in action during a busy evening. The kitchen was well run and the folks doing the cooking and prep calm and efficient. The oversight was also good with the Manager being actively involved in evaluating the meals and getting them picked up to be served to customers very quickly. Food hit the table hot and fresh. The servers were very efficient also (almost too much so as several grabbed for one of my dishes that had been put aside to take home ... I decided it made more sense to box it up rather than sit there like a mother hen defending the chicks LoL). The restaurant offers a gluten free bread for the Paninis (something I did not know until this evening). I didn't get it as I love the nutty flavor w/ the veggies but this is good for the folks who need this kind of thing. One thing that did detract from the experience this evening was flies. I expect them outside, but the persnickety little pest(s) were very active and necessitated covering the food I was not working on w/ a napkin (which is what probably prompted the servers to think I was done w/ it and try to take the plate away). All in all, another really good meal, phenomenal dessert and nice evening out.

I love this restaurant and when I travel to Waco I try my best to stop by. The food is awesome and their wines are great. Great service and it's hard not to stop by and get some sweets on the go! I have eaten at higher end Italian restaurants and I think this rates right up there with them.

Stopped in to dine twice while visiting in Austin and was not not Disappointed. The potato salad, Italian grilled chicken and garlic fries are a must try. Dont forget to try the gelato!

Since we've got moved to Austin from Europe, we wanted to taste authentic Italian food. We stumbled on this restaurant on the Internet and made up our mind to give it a try. So we got there at lunch time on the last Saturday and ordered one pizza pugliese and spaghetti ortolano. During our binge eating by the ice cream stand, the young owner guy came to us and gave us two free ice-cups as a gift.  From that moment a middle aged, small and stocky Mexican waitress frowned at us pouting her lips as if we did something wrong to her, which offended our eyes. I was of two minds about whether to ask her for some ice cream with this free cup or just to go back home. Even though her unprofessional attitude already ruined our day, we tried to forget about it and just think about the young guy's kindness. After all, we ordered some ice cream and one small cappuccino. Her face finally lit up with joy as soon as we ordered coffee and payed the bill. In my humble opinion, her behavior wasn't that smart or classy at all and we were so disappointed to get that kind of bad treatment. Nevertheless, we don't want this great Italian restaurant to look bad. Because there were also other kind, friendly employees who know better how to deal with customers, not to hurt their feelings. Except this jarring experience, everything was fine and the food we ordered were excellent. So we are still willing to come here again.

I don’t think Mr Mandola would eat here. The fettuccine Alfredo was cold and tasteless. It’s fast food Italian. Very self-serve. Had to ask for silverware, napkins, more olive oil and to go containers. It was loud. Nothing special.

So, I'm currently sitting at Mandolas and have been waiting on my sandwich for 50 minutes now. I've mentioned this to two people and still nothing. I could understand this if it was a busy evening but it is Wednesday at 1 pm. I've seen people come and go and honestly this is terrible. I love the Mandolas in Lakeway and it is a constant meeting place for business but after this I will never visit or recommend Mandolas again. Shame because Ive been a loyal customer for 6 years. If you are in the area just go to Flying Saucer, Galaxy Cafe, or make the trip to the Domain.

If you want real free authentic pasta and dishes that really came from Italy the Mandola's is the place for you. It's kid friendly,casual,very reasonably priced and they have top quality food. The Gelato (italian Ice cream) is amazing as are their other desserts. The pizza is great too. My family goes there all the time. One of the highlights of Austin Italian food.

Down home authentic Italian meals! This is no Olive Garden it's better and not to mention the desserts! I would totally visit Mandolas again when I'm in ATX!

This is the second time I've eaten here and the food has always been very good. Quick service and friendly staff. I would recommend this place to anyone who loves Italian food. 😋

One of my favorite places to eat in Austin! If you think Austin only has great barbecue, then you are wrong! The atmosphere is lively, delicious Italian food and desserts from heaven.

Awesome panning called dirt Pig with Italian potato salad. Heaven. It was served quick with fa cacia and dipping oil. Good food priced well. Would come again when I'm in Austin. Then there are the cannot an gelato. . . .

I love eating here! They have delicious Italian recipes with the right seasoning to it! The environment is really nice and inviting!

We eat on Friday when their shrimp is on special Sorry forgot the name of the dish my wife's favorite and it it is very good. I had lasagna which was good. Deserts the Cannoli and Gelato are great.

Homestyle Italian cuisine- panini, pasta, pizza, salads and fresh hot bread with a dipping oil, plus delicious cakes, coffe and gelato. We had a dinner and came back for lunch the next day. Great, causal atmosphere, convenient portion sizes, large food selection, great prices, a perfect place to get a fresh meal while your travel. Reminds me of an Italian deli in New York.

It was our first time trying out this Italian restaurant. The staff was so friendly, food tasted so fresh and delicious. The vegetables pasta was heavenly. The complimentary bread and seasoned oil were also very tasty. The bread was so soft and tasted very good with oil. Beer also tasted special that my husband had a second glass. Since it was our first time, they even gave us 4 complimentary cookies. That was very sweet of them. My girls enjoyed them a lot. We will definitely come back here. Thank you!!

Crowded. No reservations. Busy times at least a 25 minute wait in line before ordering. Order at a cash register and then find a table at which to wait for food. One pasta dish cold with congealed sauce. One pasta dish hot. Cold pizza. Sit outside or inside. Disappointed.

There are not many good Italian restaurants in Austin. This, however, is a good casual one. Good pasta, good pizza, good sandwiches. Fries with garlic/parmesan are terrific. Gelato is tasty. Cookies and desserts are delicious. Coffee, very good!

8 of us met after a meeting, everyone enjoyed their food. Ask for free bread basket, it's great. Cheese bread was tough, it must've been reheated. Good calamari. Very good spaghetti n meatballs, pizza looked great, as did shrimp fettuccini. Chocolate cookies were great, chocolate cake was good, coconut cake was pretty good.

Is Mandola's in the Triangle a restaurant or a market, the answer is yes, but more of a restaurant than market. This confusion has kept us from enjoying this Austin mainstay for several years. You order from the counter from a menu at the counter or from the daily specials. You pay upon ordering, get your number, get your drinks and utensils, or find a table. Shortly thereafter, a very nice server will find you will delicious bread and olive oil for dipping. As Peyton would says, my chicken parm "tasted so good" as did my wife's meatball panini. With the panini, you are offered the option of substituting a salad or soup for the potato salad for a $2 upcharge. I am going for the Italian Wedding soup next time. Get there early to find a place to park, avoid the long line ordering, and to find a table. Great atmosphere, great location, and many delicious offerings from the market.

Delicious food, great service & kid friendly! We will be back! We had 2 margarita pizzas, lasagna & a one fettuccine alfredo & 4 fountain drinks which totalled $58, that's comparable to any sit down dinner we go to. The food was fresh & the pizzas were cooked in a brick oven, so had a great taste! The bread & oil they serve before the meal was also delicious. Our food was out within 10 to 15 minutes. We didn't eat all our food because we wanted desert. Our kids both ordered a small gelato which was $3.50 each & my hubby & I had a canolli for $3.75. All wss delicious. There is also a play area for younger kids & a kids menu. I would recommend this place!

Excellent Sicilian salad (eggplant, olives, capers, etc.) was excellent. Just the Italian fix the doctor ordered.

The food is wonderful yet casual, the desserts delightful, but our favorite is shopping in the market area!

Took our son & room-mate for dinner on a Thursday. Had to get used to ordering like "take-out" but the food was wonderful, service was quick, and the desert counter was out of this world. Plus there are gluten-free products, so we'll return with wife/mother too!

Made a return trip to Mandola’s Market in the Triangle section of Austin, Texas. This Italian restaurant is located in a nice/vibrant mixed commercial/residential development. Went a bit early due to limited nearby surface parking. I found out from an earlier trip that there is a five level parking not too far away. Mandola’s is like an Italian Pei Wei. You stand in a queue for one of the cash registers, place your order, get a number, find a table, and wait for your meal to come out. I got the tried and true Lasagna and was not let down. It was very good. Skipped a salad but got the Calamari/Fried Zucchini appetizer. This appetizer is enough for 3-4 people. They a have a decent selection of Italian wines to compliment your meal. Good food at a reasonable price. The facilities are basic but quaint. Nice place for a business, special event or family gathering. They offer desserts and other items at separate counters.

We have eaten at Mandola's in the Triangle as well as Mandola's on Wm Cannon. The food is good but not outstanding. The Pizza is their best offering. The crust is very good and the options are varied. The salads are not exceptional and the pasta items not very varied. We enjoy getting the bread with oil as we wait for our meal. The place is kid friendly, the gelato delicious and there are some Italian grocery items for sale.

This is my third time eating here. Grab a menu, then a table. Make your selections and go to the counter to order. The meatballs are the fantastic and super moist. The chicken Parmesan is the best I've eaten anywhere. All the pizzas are great too. The cheese stuffed ravioli are sooo good! If you like Italian come here you won't be disappointed.

Flavorful pasta dishes, perfectly cooked but don't overlook the dessert case. Their italian cream cake is phenomenal! The cream cheese frosting is smooth and creamy and the cake is fantastically moist. I"ve tried many of their cookies and haven't gone wrong yet.

Every time I go to Austin, I try to eat at Mandola's. restaurant and market, you can buy breads, meats, cheeses to take home or eat your favorite pizza hand made fresh to perfection! Beautiful salads and pastas, and a lovely choice of Italian cookies, cakes, and gelato. The focaccia bread is amazing!

First time there today but it won't be the last! I was a bit put off by their ordering your food at a counter process, but it proved to be very efficient and you still receive a lot of table service. They began by serving a large basket of foccasia bread with the most flavorful dipping oil mixture I've ever tasted. My wife and I shared a chopped salad which could have been a meal by itself it was so large and contained so many interesting extra ingredients. We then shared a sausage pizza which was thin crusted and baked exactly the way I had requested. As I looked around I saw many other items on the menu being enjoyed and all looked delicious. In fact we ordered a chicken with vegetables and another prepared parmigiana style to go. We intend to return soon to try one of their luncheon specials...spaghetti and meatballs or sausage with either a side salad or choice of soups for a mere $9.

The kids could not decide between pizza or pasta and I didn't not want to spend $100 for dinner. We order at the front , and immediatley got sat and brought bread and herb and olive oil. Delicious! Our food was not expensive and was a lighter portion compared to Olive garden but the experience was much better in my opinion because it's quick and they also have a small market that you can explore. Gelato is available also and a small bakery, also a small meat market. Plenty of drink options and wine. Overall great experience.

This place called “italian restaurant” it’s just a big prank for American people, a lot of them say “I’ve been in Italy a lot of time so I’m qualified to say that this is authentic italian cuisine” but what the heck? 😂 I’m Italian from Sicily, I don’t know EVEN HALF of the recipes that are in this restaurant. Dishes are just a proof that how much ignorance there is in places like this or the famous Olive Garden. Before opening a italian restaurant you should study for real our colture. If you don’t want to, stay in silent and cook your cheeseburgers which is probably the only thing you can cook without spoiling anything

Have not been to Mandola's in a while. The food was as good as I remember. I especially enjoyed dessert afterwards.

I was hoping for so much more. The Bruschetta for starter was good. Really tasty tomatoes. And I had the spaghetti with meatballs for entree. The pasta was way to salty and the meatballs blend. I had the gelatos for desserts. I hoped they would have more variety in flavor. I tried the marshmallow and the raspberry ice cream, they were both very good. The concept of standing in line and buy/ order your food at the counter is not really my thing. I feel that turns the meal to more fast food concept.

This restaurant has excellent Italian dishes, the best focaccia bread of any restaurant we've eaten at, and very reasonable prices. It is not fancy, can be somewhat loud, but has a fun market type atmosphere. I love the Eggplant Parmesan, salad and bread. We always have plenty to take home.

Unique place...lots to look at and treats to try. A counter with Italian desserts galore to choose from and gelato. I recommend the Spaghetti Ortolano with grilled chicken, Chicken Parmesan, and the Fettuccini Alfredo. All were good. The Mandola Chianti pairs well. Parking is difficult. Go early to find parking -- if possible. A great area to walk around afterwards and sightsee the shops and surrounding.

This pizza is amazing, the crust has the right consistency of chewiness and crispness with a brick fire taste...all toppings and ingredients are top quality. My family favorite in the area--by far!

Visited 2017-05-02 at 1730. Enjoyed two Mista salads and Fedelini Pachino with grilled chicken. All was fresh and tasty. We've visited several times, and the high quality food continues. Staff was professional and attentive. We were served promptly. Overall, this continues as one of our favorite restaurants.

Everything on the menu that we have tried is good. They have a bakery in house as well as a deli. Some of the bakery items are really good. The Canoli for sure and the Italian Cream Cake. The zucchini with calimari is wonderful

I love this place. Shrimp scampy is terrific. Save room for gelato! Casual atmosphere, market feel. Dont skip this terrific place!

Stopped in for a quick lunch. Excellent food and service. Atmosphere was great as well. Desserts looked great but we were so full we didn't have room.

Yummy, different. You have to know what you want to eat or risk holding up the line. You are handed a menu in line and then when a cashier is ready, you tell them what you want. They give you a number and you take it to the seat you pick yourself. I'm not sure who this benefits; I just found it quirky. You do fetch your own silverware as well. The food was decently priced, delicious, and good portions, so that's what's really important. Parking is a bit of a challenge, but it's Austin, so that's expected.

A bit more casual than I expected (my wife picked it), but a truly delightful experience. Realized we had been there may 10 years ago BEFORE the area around it (now known as The Triangle) had been become an "it" place for folks between our children's and our grandchildren's age. Parking was sparse but available close. We had walked in found menus and a table and waiting. Finally asked someone and discovered the procedure was to get in a long line to order, sort of cafeteria style, but very much more upscale food choices. That was when it clicked we had been there before. The staff was helpful and it was fun to chat with other customers while in line, all in all everyone was quite friendly.

Hard not to like this place. All the dishes are pretty similar to what your Italian grandmother would have made at home. Services is fast and they make you feel welcomed.

Wonderful food. I ordered the lasagna & loved it. Great pastries & gelato also. Will definitely go again.

The line to order might be long but it was worth it. The food came out quickly and tasted excellent. We ordered the fried mozzarella and bruschetta to start and spaghetti and meatballs as the entrée. The price was great and it was fresh and delicious. Will definitely come back.

This was my first visit to Mandola's but not the last. I ordered the daily special which was Chicken Capricciosa with salad and fettuccine in a tomato cream sauce. The chicken was tender and delicious with the salad on top. The fettuccine was very good also. The complimentary foccacia bread with herb oil was delicious. They don't have sweet tea other than bottled peach flavored sweet tea which was very tasty. The prices were comparable to other restaurants. The service was fast and friendly. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Mandola's serves very good Italian food and is definitely worth a stop. I didn't have any dessert but the ice cream case and cake case were filled with delicious looking desserts. I'll try them next time.

We found Mandola's right before we left Austin which is too bad because we didn't have a chance to go back during this trip! We will definitely go back again though. The food was delicious, and the homemade lemonade was great! My only complaint is that there wasn't a pasta sampler! Try it, and you won't be disappointed.

Located in an odd little mall-like area, parking can be difficult to find; head for the garage a block over inside the Triangle and be done with it. You stand in line and give your order to the cashier, get a number and a server will bring your food to your table. There are many opportunities to shop for delicious Italian goodies while you wait, or before or after eating, including wines by the bottle, and other Italian delicacies such as gelato and those not to be missed desserts. The pizza is good and the pastas are all above average, with a rotating variety of special dishes. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The kitchen is open, adding to the general vibe. Service is fast and friendly. Just be prepared to wait in line

Food was excellent - very popular place. Food was authentic, I Love the marketI The servers were always available.

This is a nice option for Italian for the family. Always enjoy the variety of restaurants in Austin. Wish they had one of these in Atlanta.

Very neat looking place, lots of options on where to sit, neat looking dessert and coffee bar, but 'safe' and perhaps pricey Italian food for my taste (having been to Italy and having something to compare it too.) An okay option if you are in the Triangle area, but I prefer a cozy place with more verve in the food... we don't need more Olive Garden tasting food but I must say a lot of people do not agree with me

We are new to the area and are still exploring. We looked up Italian food and what a gem of a place we chose. It's rare that you find a place that has weekend specials but Mandola's offer both a Saturday and Sunday option. The food was fresh and tasty. It was a different kind of ordering process. Look at the menu, go to the register and pay, get a number and seat yourself. We sat outside under the patio umbrellas near the water fountain, really set a nice atmosphere and the water drowned out the cars nearby. If your in the area it's definitely worth a try.

Working not too far from Mandola's, I visisted it frequently and all I can say is that I love this place. I always went for lunch, the lunch special with spaghtetti and meatballs, salad, and a drink was about $11. Having spent two weeks in Italy, this is about as good as it gets from what I have experienced here in Austin.

I enjoy this place. Always smells good. The staff is always friendly. Nice variety of cheeses, meats, and desserts. Good take out from the menu too.

Walk up order. Casual with lots of kids. Kids playground in back. May want to split some meals. Sit outside and enjoy the weather.

Met relatives at Mandolas Italian Market for lunch on the way through Austin. They chose Mandola's as one of their favorite places to grab a bite to eat. We munched on Hero's, spaghetti and meatballs, and paninis. Everyone said they enjoyed their meals. I would return if I were ever in Austin again. The deserts looked fantastic.. If I had seen them first I may never had eaten lunch and started on deserts.

What a great place. Walk in and you smell the italian and you see the simple rustic decor. This place gets packed but it goes fast. Got there early for lunch. Grab a menu and order at the counter, Note, they will link you party on one # but you can pay separately. I ordered the app calamari and zucchini and special Shrimp Scampi. Everything else is self serve. Grab you utensils, grab your drink and they will bring you bread. The app came out fast. and i shared with my party of 4. It was great. calamari crispy and tender, zucchini with the marinara awesome. Shortly there after the scampi, with fettucine with lemon cream taste. The shrimp so tender not overcooked at all. Great scampi flavor, Got more bread to soak up the sauce. HEAVEN My co-worker decided to get everyone a cannoli. Freshly made and it was delicious. The market part of the store, just leaves you wanting to take something of everything. A MUST VISIT.

It's amazing Italian food. If you're burnt out on Austin's tacos and need something a little different, go here. And their focaccia bread is awesome- I have a cousin who lived in Italy awhile, and he said the focaccia at Mandola's was about as good as what he used to eat there. Oh, and the iced coffee is probably the best I've ever had. A little pricey, but it's the best I've ever had. And I drink a lot of iced coffees.

Amazing pizzas, pastas and desserts. This place feels like a quaint Italian cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, a grocery section and separate desserts and coffee section, in addition to the restaurant where you order your entree.

Awesome atmosphere, just like being in a market. We ate inside because of the heat. But the patio looked nice, next time. The start up bread dipped in olive oil was great and kept coming. We ordered pizza and shrimp with Alfredo pasta it was really good.

That foccocia bread n oil is the business!!! I got spaghetti n meatballs, it was good, friend got fettuccini alfredo n enjoyed it as well but again, that bread! We got it to go but it was a nice night for their patio.

This was a great spot to pick for a light lunch, it's in a quaint area of Austin, a bit difficult to find a parking space but well worth it. The Margarita Pizza was excellent, their Hero Sandwich was a huge portion with plenty of deli meat on it as well as the olive salad, the sandwich was ordered by two in my party, one got it hot, the other cold, and both were great.

I would call this an average place to eat. I have eaten lunch at dinner at this location. I would prefer to keep it at the lunch time place to hit. Just remember to tip at the time you are paying ahead of your food and experience which is normally what I base my tip on. It can get a little noisy.

This is a very consistent garaunteed good meal. Serves Pasta dishes and excellent pizza at a very reasonable price. I have been many times because of its convenience to my location and am never disappointed. Really good bread. Great Lasagna! Decent wine selection and beer available. Live their bread. For the real thing hands down I would go to Vespaio's for fine dinning "Italian". But all in all this is a solid place with the market feel. Great place to pick up some authentic items like pastas,sauces, wines etc. and really good gelato! A must after dinner.

We liked it so much we dined here twice. Main dishes are fairly standard in variety but very tasty Their desserts and gelato are really good.

Having grown up with an Italian grandmother and having traveled to Italy, I am always in search of well prepared, authentic Italian food. I often go years empty handed. I tried Mandola's on a whim strictly for proximity and because my kids eat Italian well. What an absolute delight! The atmosphere is relaxed. Lots of outdoor seating. We got in line, read the menu while you are in it, and grab a bottle of wine from the racks next to you. The wines are rarer and truer Italians like Barolo from Piemonte and Sangiovese from Montepulciano. My two year old picked a dolcetto (she liked the look and I was curious to taste it). The menu is extensive but not overwhelming. Along with more common finds are dishes I haven't seen in years if ever. We placed an order, got number and found a table. Then, after a reasonable wait (but fast for as packed as it was), our appetizers arrived. Calamari and zucchini fritti cooked well, and TOO DIE FOR arancini. If you've never tried it, these are fried balls of risotto, cheese, peas and pancetta. Our meals were simple spaghetti with meatball for the kids, I ordered the conch ole with meat sauce, and my husband ordered the chicken Parmesan. He loved his dish, the kids ate well, and I - oh my! I was transported back to Florence . . . The flavors, the richness, the balance . . . Italian as only the Italians can cook it. I was full, but who can resist visiting the bakery? Zucotto! Two more couple joined us, not a complaint in the lot. Delicioso! The only problem with Mandola's is its a four hour trip from my home - each way. Austin residents are blessed with this culinary treasure.

Good Italian food with an interesting set up. The staff is very friendly and they have a great dessert selection including fresh made gellato. They tend to run out of things at times which is a bit of a disappointment when you have your heart set of something. But otherwise, a good choice.

Good Italian food is something I look for anywhere I go. I have been here a few times in the past and have had a great dining experience everytime. I try something different everytime I go but if you do go you must try the oxtail. Delicious! Plus they have great gelatin for dessert which is a must everytime im here. After dinner you can go on a wine tour of the vineyard

I'm not sure this is the Mandola's we ate at, but "ours" greeted us with a display of soccer flags and a Sicilian painted cart. There was a bakery/takeout counter and another eat-in counter where you order. My husband had a perfect pasta dish--too long ago to remember what it was exactly, but I DO remember how good my "taste" was. I was trying to eat "light" in the face of a fancy dinner out, but his pasta made me doubt my wisdom. My mixed salad was excellent, truly, and I did splurge on cake for dessert (just okay, but I chose poorly). I enjoyed the food so much, I bought the cookbook.

Best Authentic Italian Restaurant!!! I love the foooooood! they cam really fast and the servers are super friendly!! most of the sizes of the food are worth the price but some are a little too small. I love how you order immediately and find your own seat. BUT it is probably a pain for those eating in rush hours because a line can form really long. The gelato are amazing!! Make sure to save room for dessert when you come here! and make sure you know what you want so that you dont hold up the line!

Disappointed on a couple of levels. First this place has a decent look, and was nice and clean, but the first downside is it is NOT a sit-down and get served place. I had to go to the front and order and pay in advance, as if this were a fast food place. As fancy as it was you'd think they would have a wait staff. And why there were do many employees on hand, when none of them were wait staff is beyond me. I counted 11 or 12. And that's not including any that may have been in the kitchen. Ordered a Margherita pizza, which I usually use as a benchmark for Italian places that serve pizza. It was passable. The sauce was a tad too sweet for my taste, but the crust was good. Fire oven you can see from the dining room, not one of those rolling toasters you see at the mass market pizza places. I'd give it a second try but not on a day when I want to be pampered by an attentive wait staff.

Had been looking for an Italian market and found Mandolas through Trip Advisor. The reviews on Yelp were all over the place but we thought it was worth a try. We enjoyed the Caprese sandwiches. The Misto salad was just like the salads I grew up with in my Italian-American family. The gelato was also good. We tried the limone and the strawberry and liked both. I was very excited to get an anginette cookie. I've longed for these for years since my aunt is no longer here to bake them for Easter. Would love to visit again and try some of their other menu items. My granddaughter was excited because they had children-sized tables next to the adult size tables.

The food is top level so is the price.... not great atmosphere you order in line and they bring the food to the table not my preferred style but as I said the food is good!

Authentic Italian food made by Italians. FYI you order then sit down (not my fave but it was fine). Fairly busy and somewhat loud but not in a bad way. They did miss an appetizer but the manager comped us desert so it all worked out. The food was hot, flavorful and plentiful. Great desert counter. Great staff and cool location. Parking can be challenging but there is a parking garage close. Worth a visit.

When you far away from home and when you find italian food. Oh my god. They have good bread and oil. Mozzarella is average, sorry for it. Come to Italy...

We had spaghetti with meatballs & minestrone soup. Both were very good! The bread was very tasty! $11 for it all so price was also good!

Food is amazing. And the experience is one the kids love. Actually as I write this review, I'm thinking we need to head down there for dinner tonight. Fun and yummy!

The Diavola pizza is a spicy pizza. If you don't like a little heat this may not be the one for you. The gelato is also amazing and is made on site. Multiple locations.

A friend introduced us to this restaurant. Well it is more than a restaurant it is also an Italian market, bakery, gelato and coffee bar. The food was all fresh made, special adjustments did not concern the owners, home made Italian sausage, meatballs and pasta cooked El Dente.. The bread was terrific and the bakery had a great selection of pastries and very fresh. They made the trip from Austin to Bradenton, FL over 3 days with no problem. The owners are right there on site watching over the food preparation and delivery. Convenient to shopping and plenty of garage parking nearby. Pricing a little pricey on some selections but the portion sizes were plentiful.

Everything is made in house...and I mean everything! Best date night italian...and a really cool and fun vibe inside.

Stopped in for a slice of Zuccotto and a cannoli. WOW - so rich and delicious. Couldn't even eat the whole slice of cake; it was that rich! Highly recommend anything you buy here - truly delicious!

Not a Good Choice..... The fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp was cool, bland and quite tasteless. The shrimp I ordered with it tasted as if the shrimp were cooked an hour before. Here’s the clincher, you order the food through a cashier, they give you a number and the wait staff brings you your food. WTF? What is this, the cafeteria? I hope someone reads this and does not to go here because it sucked.

This is a genuine Italian experience. Do not let the line scare you off. I had dinner with my grown son and we were both impressed. The Bruschetta was the best I have ever had. I loved the Misto Salad and the Caprese Sandwich with Prosciutto. Can't wait to go back for the Gelato.

I have been here previously and have not had issues. it's random, but at this visit most if not all of the back dining area was reserved, so there was limited seating. There was only one cashier, so that delayed service as well. Is it coincidence that this was not one of my best dining experiences? I ordered their small "Mista" salad, which is one of my favorites. Then, I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp, mushrooms, peas, and prosciutto for an additional charge. It's worth it. Yes, the service was prompt, I did like the temperature, taste, and look of my food. They have daily specials and one of my favorite things about this dining local is they give you plenty of ciabatta bread with flavored dipping oil. We sat next to the gelato/bakery section. I thought I was going to get some after dinner, but it was odd that as soon as we approached the gelato section, the staff disappeared. I got discouraged and left. This kept me from giving them an "Excellent' rating. When one dines out, one expects excellent hospitality with the quality of food to match. Other than that, I enjoyed what food I ordered. Prices are as expected for Italian food and they have grocery and wine items you can purchase separately. They have an incredible bakery, if you happen to have someone help you.

I took a group here for lunch. The food and service are wonderful. Everyone in my group loved their meals. Basically we had a Panini, cheese tortellini, grill chicken with vegetable, meatballs as a side and spaghetti. We didn't shared because the food was too good to share. All in the group said that they would recommend their meal. The only weird aspect was the ordering method. You are handed a menu in line and then you go to the cashier when you are ready to order. This doesn't give you a lot of time to review the menu if people are in line behind you. It's kind of strange. Also, the tables are small and too close together. Otherwise this is a great restaurant.

Always a convivial wait to place your order. Share menu thoughts with your neighbor or read the wine labels and suddenly it's time to make your selection. It's all good. Find a table and bread magically appears and shortly your meal. It may not be the best Italian food that you've ever eaten but the quality is consistent and a step-up from East side Mario's or Olive Garden. Relaxed family dining.

This restaurant in Austin is fantastic!. The food is delectable. I have tried spaghetti & Meatballs, Spaghettini Ortolano, Parma pizza , love their Tiramisu , Italian cream cake and the Zuccotto is out of this world!

Very good bread and oil, great spaghetti and good canoli! Visited around 6:00, no wait time. Fast service and good hot food! $12 for the Spaghetti and meatballs, fresh Parmesan too!! Bread with dipping oil was very good as was the spaghetti and meatballs. Not a fan of the pistachios on the canoli, but overall it was good as well. Good selection in the bakery case too! Great atmosphere for families, singles, couples!

You know you are in the right place for good food before you even go into this restaurant because you smell it from outside. They have specials that are really good, and the regular menu items are delicious too. I have yet to find something that I have ordered that was not amazingly good. I have tried a pretty wide range of their items too and ... never disappointed! One of my absolute favorites there is the eggplant parmigiana. They also have really good spaghetti (if you are carnivorous, get the meat option and I think you will be really happy ... they have just marinara too if you don't do meat and it is also good but the meat sauce ... delightful!) and chicken dishes of several kinds. Their pizza is something I tried kind of by accident. They had a big crowd one evening and their servers brought samples of various food and dessert items around for people in line to try. Fell in love w/ the cheese pizza immediately. They make some awesome thin crusted pizza! Next time around, I ordered one of the options that was on the menu that had sausage ... this was great and the sausage had great flavor from the herbs in it. A friend got one of the specialty pizzas where you put on whatever you want and that combination was extensive ... he loved it ! Their salad is good too and a side salad can be ordered to go w/ any of the entrees for a pretty reasonable price. Good dressing and not overdone (I hate it when they drown the salad, but this place doesn't do that !) As if great food wasn't enough ... their desserts are utterly fabulous! Everything from gelato to cakes is available. If you are unsure of what gelato would make you happiest, ask to taste several of them ... they have everything from fruit selections to those w/ chocolate and hazelnuts and even coffee flavored ones. The cheesecake and other cakes are also good, but rich so you might need a few settings to finish them off. I've never left this restaurant without being full and totally satisfied (and glad that a restaurant of this caliber is so close!).

I'd never been to Mandola's and was surprised at how large the space is and the variety of items sold. There is a bakery, deli and store in addition to the restaurant and take out. The sand tart cookies are delicious! I ordered 10 dozen for a wedding.

This place was amazing!! Staff was friendly and so helpful with it being our first time there. Food was heaven!!! Everything was delicious and so rich in flavor!! I have pictures of everything we ate except the panini caprese which was to die for!! Definitely would recommend to everyone!! Price was average.

Whenever I am in town for a week, I try to stop one night for Lasagne and another night for the Chicken Marsala special. I have given up trying to park close and just head to one of the free parking garages. Not close, but not far. The wait in line to place an order is not bad. Also the wait for you food is fairly short. The food is always good and well prepared. The staff seem to all be diligent and work very hard. The surroundings are pleasant enough for an Italian Market. Decent wine selection and veryt good dessert selection. All in all, a very nice and relaxing place for dinner.

The best part of this restaurant is the Gelato. We tried grilled shrimp which was ok a little heavy on thyme, pizza which was ok but the mozzarella was excellent, and there Monday special which was the best dish we got besides the gelato. Overall the price is high for an order at a counter restaurant and for the quality of food.