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Mandola's Deli

4.5 (390 reviews)
InexpensiveDelis, Italian, Sandwiches
Open • 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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Mandola's Deli Photos

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MANDOLA'S DELI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Mandola's Deli

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Reviews With Photos

Rex C.

Easy five star review! I've been going to Grace's for years and last week I bumped into Tony Carrabba. We talked about the history of Houston restaurants and everything like that. So it may be Google their family and all the different restaurants. I've been to Tony Mandola's before they closed plenty of times . However, I never heard of Mandola's deli, which is the cousins of that family. So I decided to give them a try today. I'm glad I did! I called about 10 minutes before closing today and I had the pleasure of talking with Joseph the owner. I had no idea he was the owner, but he was so nice over the phone. I asked if it was OK if I was ordering right before they close and he was like no problem at all. Just a great nice person answering the phone. It was such a pleasure to talk with him because that type of service these days is kind of a lost Art. So when I get there, we start to talk he shook my hand, asked my name treated me like family. Very personable nice guy running this establishment. Their entire family are just top-notch professionals and they understand how to treat people the right way. This is a lost Art. Food: I went with the deluxe, which is with their special. Absolutely amazing. Fresh bread, all the flavor with their homemade aïoli sauce. The meats were real good as well. I elected for the olives, which were great. Great food I will definitely come back here and try several things off their menu. Being that I live in downtown, this is gonna be one of my go to Spots. I've lived in Houston my entire life for 43 years. I'm not sure how I've never stumbled upon this place. I talked to Joseph and he said he's been eating here for 43 years as he's 43 years of age as well. What a nice guy and a great family. They're doing an awesome job here. I can't wait to keep coming back and try more things off the menu, bringing clients there and becoming a regular. This is my first time ever eating at this establishment and Joseph made me feel like I've been going there for 20 years. Thank you, sir!

Small Deluxe (Ham/Salami/Mozz) Po Boy, side of spaghetti and side of italian sausage.
Mike R.

Decided to make a trip to Mandola's Deli for lunch after they made it onto the Chronicle top 100 list and were featured on Chris Shepherd's "Eat Like a Local" TV show. Showed up on a Wednesday around 11:45 to a mostly empty restaurant. Its counter service ordering, but very friendly and efficient. My selection was a 5" Deluxe Po Boy which has Ham, Salami, Mozzarella lettuce tomatoes and Mandola's Italian spread. Simple sandwich, but oh so perfect. The bread was perfectly toasted, the cold cuts sliced just right and tasty and the italian spread was the perfect condiment. I'm not normally a cold deli sandwich person, but would order this sandwich over and over again. Since I was solo dining, but wanted to try more than just the sandwich on my first visit I opted for a side of spaghetti and the italian sausage. Dumped the italian sausage on my spaghetti and it was like a small side entree. The sausage was the highlight, but the spaghetti was well cooked and the traditional marinara was flavorful. While I expected the restaurant to be a little more bustling at lunch time, it was a very comfortable experience in the bright open dining area with a great deal of Houston Sports Memorabilia on the walls. I'm very glad to have visited this Houston Restaurant Icon.

Fried lasagna
Long T.

Finally made it to this Houston Italian institution... been meaning to make it out here for years but they are more of a lunch spot and I don't live in the area. Everything was super comforting from the fried ravioli to the chicken parm. The Sicilian pizza had a nice buttery undercarriage. The spaghetti and meatballs were nicely homestyle (though I would add 3 meatballs to the 3 included for a more meaty pasta). Overall, was really happy to finally visit Mandolas!

Jacob C.

I gotta admit I was very exited to try this place out. Classmates of mine had seriously recommended it and walking up to the restaurant and going inside only heightened those expectations. The outside is characteristic of what you'd like to see in a neighborhood sandwich shop. The inside felt even more on theme with UH and Houston sports paraphernalia. I must attest tho my chicken Parmesan sandwich was just good. Slightly above average but I wasn't really impressed. Solid meal though. The chicken seems to be marinated to the chicken as it Marinara stuck really well and didn't create too much of a mess. The bread and the chicken were soft and easy to the bite which is an advantage this sandwich has over most. But the flavor was only slightly above average. And the garlic Parmesan bread didn't really make an impact I assume they thought it was (didn't taste it at all). I wish I would've gotten a recommendation before coming here cause I feel like I might've just selected the wrong menu item. I definitely will come back after class one day and try again. It is most definitely worth coming back. The service was welcoming and gives off east-coast neighborhood sandwich shop which I like. Good prices

Diana J.

Nice little mom and pop deli. You order at counter and they'll bring food to table. The staff is super nice. Food comes out pretty quickly and steaming hot. The spaghetti comes with 3 meatballs so we got extra. Garlic bread is crispy on the outside and soft on the middle. The pizza has a really nice buttery crust and crispy edges. The fried lasagne is so flavorful you don't even need marinara. Deviled eggs are normal. The chicken Parmasean comes out hot and crispy and fully sauced up. And the pieces of chicken are huge. They do not skimp. The deluxe poboy was just your standard sandwich but didn't feel deluxe and like a tomato the size of a cherry tomato, bread was nicely toasted tho. Overall great for lunch. Would come here often if it were in my neighborhood.

Fountain drinks
Jacob D.

This is absolutely one of those places, where if ya know ya know. Mandola's seems to have been around for a while now serving the lunch crowd and Coogs faithfully. Walk up counter service with some desserts and chips pre packed as well. It's a casual environment, if not a bit dated. It's just a well preserved spot to watch a game or grab some Italian staples. Wood panel walls and drink coasters above the urinals we're all I needed to see to know what they're about here. The food is standard lunchy fare. I was digging the flavors on the deluxe sandwich, they're called Poboys, but that's not an Italian thing in my brain. They have mandola cola on the drink fountain, seems like a fun inside joke that I don't have a chance to ask about. We also ordered some of their pastas that really didn't leave much to right about. They kinda hit the struggle meal vibe in terms of quality with pasta, totally passable but not restaurant level. Employees are nice and the vibes are college town reminiscent, and the food is priced appropriately.

Jason Z.

Old school one-off sandwich spot in the Eastend area , just north of UH. The interior is very retro and something that you really don't see much of anymore in the city. Parking is available in their gated parking lot. The menu is simple, it's an Italian style deli with sandwiches and pasta dishes. I got their deluxe poboy sandwich and our table shared a pasta brocato and pasta mandola. The sandwich was simple and fine. The bread was pretty tasty but I found the toppings to be very simple and a bit average. Their pasta was fine as well but nothing extraordinary; the dishes definitely used pre-made pasta that you can buy from a store and the sauces were fine but ordinary, like a home cooked meal than a restaurant grade entree. Pricing on the dishes were fairly reasonable considering 2025 post inflation prices. Overall, the vibe and environment is a 4/5, the food is a 3/5, and the old school factor is a 5/5.

Mark W.

Solid as it gets. Reminds me of a few joints in Chicago that my wife and I eat at when traveling. Can't believe I've missed out on this joint while living in Houston for 43 years.

Claudia F.

Went for the Italian sub as a recommendation but left much to be desired. Pizza was ok, if we go back I'd definitely try a pasta dish or meatball sub. Desserts were good and service was also quick and staff was nice. Spacious place and not too loud.

1/2 Chicken Mandola

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11 years ago

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9 years ago

Such a staple in the community! The vibe is very mellow and casual and family pictures line the walls. Can't go wrong with this place!

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8 years ago

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6 years ago

Love this family run deli! Meatball sub is amazing! Friendly service great food and always fun stories from Uncle Frank !!!!!

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7 years ago

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8 years ago

Had the lasagna bites. Chicken Parm is tasty as well. They were so delicious! Great service! Outdoor seating available.

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9 years ago

Been here a couple of times the food was really good. I stop by and get a daily special. I recommend it. Small mom and pop place.

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Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria - Our outdoor spread -- two wood-fired pizzas, a Robiola cheese board, antipasto, and Italian wine. The patio at its best.

Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria

4.5(154 reviews)
5.4 mi•West University

Magdalena's was such a great find! The pizza was absolutely delicious and made fresh, with a crust…read morethat was just right. The Bolognese was also excellent--rich and flavorful without being overly salty, which I really appreciated. What stood out to me most was how well-balanced everything tasted. You can tell there's a real focus on fresh ingredients and authentic Italian flavors. The food is flavorful and satisfying without feeling overly heavy or salty like many American Italian chains. I feel comfortable feeding my child the food from here. I'm so glad to have found a quality Italian restaurant in Houston that lets the ingredients and flavors speak for themselves. Even the panna cotta was delicious, and I'm usually not much of a dessert person! Definitely a 5-star experience. We'll be back!

Service was friendly and accommodating. Gave us the specials and answered all our questions…read more Good for families and date night. Located in a shared parking lot. There are lots of spaces. Spaghetti Bolognese- good presentation and made to order. For me the sauce was under seasoned. Pasta was just right. Pizza dough bread was nice and crispy. Too bad it does not come with herbed olive oil or olive oil and balsamic If you have an extra large party, there is a private room. BTW they have a lunch special which is offered Tuesday - Friday

Photos
Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria - Center bar area

Center bar area

Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria - Cheese tortellini in garlic butter sauce was delish! Such a perfect meal.

Cheese tortellini in garlic butter sauce was delish! Such a perfect meal.

Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria - Every table at Magdalena's is set with care. Warm booths, candlelight, and fresh flowers perfect for date night or a special dinner.

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Every table at Magdalena's is set with care. Warm booths, candlelight, and fresh flowers perfect for date night or a special dinner.

Mimo - Risotto at the top and ragu penne at the bottom

Mimo

4.5(117 reviews)
0.6 mi•Eastwood

I celebrated my wedding anniversary and birthday at Mimo, and it was my first time visiting the…read morerestaurant. I've had Mimo on my radar for a couple of years, but somehow I never found the right occasion to finally give it a try. Well, celebrating both my birthday and wedding anniversary seemed like a pretty good reason! I must say, Mimo had to fight hard to earn those five stars. The experience was memorable, not necessarily because it was perfect, but because it wasn't. The imperfections, oddly enough, are what made it memorable. Let's start with the menu. There aren't many dishes, which is generally speaking a good sign these days. There's really no excuse not to use fresh ingredients when you're working with a smaller menu. At the same time, I wouldn't say the offerings were particularly adventurous. That said, the quality was definitely there. We started with the Fritter as an appetizer, and it was super delicious. The combination of fried zucchini, corn, and that touch of honey somehow really worked! Then we ordered a pasta dish each, under the common assumption that a pasta dish in most Italian restaurants (including the ones in Italy) is supposed to be filling. Well... no! These were pretty small. I ordered the spaghetti al limone, while my wife went for the gnocchi. Both were good, although the spaghetti were cooked somewhere on the borderline between al dente and chewy. The corn in the gnocchi also felt a little alien, like it didn't really belong there. Still, we couldn't deny that the flavors were good and the ingredients were fresh. Oddly enough, we were still hungry, so we ordered a second dish each: the Pork Milanese for me and the Pesce del Giorno for my wife. And this is where Mimo saved the day! The Pork Milanese, with mortadella and pecorino cheese on top, was delicious. And the polenta that came with my wife's dish was one of the best I've ever had. Interestingly, these dishes were disproportionately larger, more than making up for the minuscule portions of the pasta dishes. So, I guess it all worked out in the end! Another date saver was the service. It was outstanding. Attentive, friendly, and exactly what you would expect from a restaurant trying to create a special experience. Then came dessert: the Zeppole. It was good, but nothing particularly special. To me, it tasted like churros made with a dough that incorporated ricotta. Not bad at all, just not something I'll be dreaming about later. And that was our experience at Mimo! I think the review probably benefited from the fact that I was there celebrating a special occasion. It was a somewhat strange experience, with some ups and downs, but we genuinely enjoyed it. Would I be back? Possibly... Four stars stretched to five? Yeah... FIVE Stars!

The restaurant has old school New Jersey Italian vibes - low ceiling, a little moody ambiance - but…read morenone of the attitude. The staff is super friendly, and we were welcomed as we were (we had hoped to eat at a sister establishment but they sold out of what we wanted). Mimo's offers a great selection of Italian inspired apps, three well appointed pizzas, a few varied and surprising options for pasta dishes, and some mains. Items we tried: Pane - delicious Roasted Carrot Pizza - AMAZING, A little spicy, but definitely something we would order again. Pastas we ordered initially came out cold - our incredible waiter immediately corrected the issue. But from a flavor profile - Pansotti - sooooo delicious. You'd never guess that it was a vegetarian option - the mushrooms were so meaty. The delicate pouches with the spinach and ricotta were heavenly. Pappardelle - The lamb braised sauce had a depth of flavor that could rival any restaurant in Italy. My only tiny hope was that the pasta would have been served aldente, it was a little overcooked. But to each his own. Overall - really great. Would recommend. This would be great for a weeknight dinner or an off the beaten path date night.

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Mimo - Interior

Interior

Mimo - Appetizer

Appetizer

Mimo - Outdoor dining area

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Outdoor dining area

Fabio's Artisan Pasta - Outside

Fabio's Artisan Pasta

4.9(366 reviews)
4.4 mi•Upper Kirby
•$$

I will often drive right past it when I turn into the opposite direction to go to the pet store or…read moreTrador Joes. As soon as I see Fabio's little building I call my wife to ask if she wants me to pick up something from there. It's our number one place to buy excellent pasta in a variety of sizes. We also will get their different Raviolis as well. We mix and match the different sauces each time and are always happy with the decision. We have often changed our dinner plans to go with the pasta. A salad, and a nice bottle of wine from my cellar... It's the American plan. They also have a spot at the outdoor market on Buffalo Speedway every Saturday, and the first and third Sunday in Rice Village...the second and fourth Sunday in the Heights. It's good stuff so I give it ***** stars. Be there or be square

This is more like a store where you can purchase fresh made pasta of your choice and sauce. I love…read morethe idea and being able to make it at home with fresh ingredients without actually having to make my own at home and no preservatives. With that said, I was unfortunate to have encounter mold in the sauce. Luckily I didn't heat it up. There's no preservatives so it doesn't last as long. They need to have a way to date the containers for each items they make. I just bought it last night and was quite upset when I was making late dinner. As soon as I got home, I kept everything refrigerated. Luckily I didn't mix it in with the pasta so I end up using a different sauce I already had on hand. Pasta are delicious and I would come back, if I'm in the area and planning to cook it within the same day or next. I don't think I can try any of their sauce. My tip to you is to inspect all of your items prior to purchasing. Sauce are hard to look through the containers so I hope they change their ways and just date their food items since everything doesn't have preservatives. Limited parking right in front but didn't see any other customers there. The lady at the register was nice but limited English.

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Fabio's Artisan Pasta - Where the magic begins!

Where the magic begins!

Fabio's Artisan Pasta
Fabio's Artisan Pasta

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Aperitivo - The trio dip appetizer.

Aperitivo

3.6(77 reviews)
1.7 mi•Fifth Ward
•$$$

It was my first time at Aperitivo and I must say I'm still impressed. I've had some time to sit…read morewith my thoughts/experience so here's the review you've all been waiting for. We arrived on a Friday evening during Happy Hour (HH) around 5:30pm. Maurizio stopped by to introduce himself and let us know that he would ensure we were taken care of. As stated above, it was happy hour during our time there but we ordered from allllll the menus haha! Check out the eats below: -Fried Shrimp -Chicken Parm Sliders -Tuna Tartare -Brussels Sprouts -Aperitivo Sliders -Bottle of Wine + Pizza (x2) ~Pepperoni Pizza ~Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bottles of the Sparkling and Rose - these are the bottles we selected based on their Social Hour menu bottle of wine & pizza deal for 35 dollars! Great deal! The experience was great, there were many waiters and waitresses stopping by the table to check in on us. The food was fresh, flavorful, and piping hot! The views are lovely and the ambiance is a combination of chill, chic, and relaxing. Very vibey and spacious place. The restrooms are really nice as well and they were clean and stocked. Aperitivo is definitely on my list of places to return to, especially for happy hour. It's worth it to check this place out!

The place itself is gorgeous. The patio and view of downtown is amazing. The vibes alone are a…read more10/10. Now on to the food. I would say stick to the pizza. I have been twice and regret not ordering the pizza on my second visit. We had the Wellington bites, mozzerella sticks, steak frites, truffle fries (no truffle), caesar salad and pizza. We gave everything 2-3 stars and the pizza 4 stars. Definitely recommend taking advantage of pizza and a bottle of wine on Thursday nights for $40. The mix cocktails are on the sweeter side so either stick to wine or straight up tequila.

Photos
Aperitivo - Gorgeous place

Gorgeous place

Aperitivo - Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts

Aperitivo - Aperitivo spritz

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Aperitivo spritz

Bellissimo - Tiramisu

Bellissimo

4.5(89 reviews)
6.2 mi•Independence Heights

25th street and main street is my to go pasta here !! Their red sauce is very good as well. I love…read moretheir dipping oil with bread, and been going here since their the height day(2018) If you love and appreciate good food, this is the place to go If you want nice instagram restaurant, this is not it. It just a cozy vibe old school restaurant. They close down for a bit and i was really sad, but I am happy to find their new location, it's giving low key mom and pop place, not the fanciest restaurant in town, but they certainly make the best pasta in Houston !! Hopefully never have to see them closing down again. I am always surprise by how empty the restaurant is when i come, considering how amazing their food is , even better than some " well known restaurant " in town.

The food was very good, and the service was decent overall. We enjoyed our meal, which is why it's…read moredisappointing that our experience ended the way it did. We ordered the tiramisu for dessert, and nowhere on the menu did it mention that it was served with a slice of kiwi hidden underneath the whipped cream. I'm allergic to kiwi, and because it was completely covered, I didn't realize it was there until after I had already taken a bite. I brought this to our server's attention, not because I was looking for a discount or anything free, but simply because I wanted the staff to be aware so this wouldn't happen to another customer with a food allergy. Instead, the first response I received was asking if I had read the menu, which I had. Unfortunately, the menu never mentioned kiwi being part of the dessert. What really bothered me was overhearing the conversation afterward. Our server spoke with another staff member a few booths away, and I heard comments along the lines of, "Well, he should've mentioned his allergy," and "He should've asked." It felt like the responsibility was being placed entirely on me rather than acknowledging that an undisclosed ingredient had been served. I understand that customers with allergies should communicate them whenever possible, but I also think restaurants have a responsibility to disclose ingredients that aren't typically expected, especially when they're hidden in the presentation. I've had tiramisu many times and have never encountered one served with kiwi tucked beneath whipped cream. Again, the food itself was good, and this review isn't about trying to get compensation. I genuinely wanted to help prevent a similar situation for someone else. Unfortunately, the way my concern was handled left me feeling dismissed and caused me to lose confidence in the restaurant's approach to food allergies.

Photos
Bellissimo - Bellisimo (inside)

Bellisimo (inside)

Bellissimo - Pollo Alla Bellissimo

Pollo Alla Bellissimo

Bellissimo - Bellisimo

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Bellisimo

Mandola's Deli - delis - Updated October 2026

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