Unique concept, great flavors--but the setup left us puzzled This place had a quirky, almost cafeteria-style setup that caught us off guard. No hostess when we walked in--just a basket with menus and a clear expectation to fend for ourselves. Ordering involved walking up to a lone register, selecting everything upfront (soups, salads, mains, drinks, dessert), and tipping before any interaction or service. That felt a bit premature, especially since there wasn't an option to simply request another drink mid-meal without repeating the process entirely. Water was self-serve, with empty cups handed to us on a tray, along with a table number stand to place wherever we chose to sit. We opted for the patio--less noisy and free from the Chuck E. Cheese-like energy happening inside. The bread and dip? Absolutely phenomenal. Three petite slices served with a rich olive oil herb dip that was easily the highlight. We regretted skipping appetizers (mostly fried), though the Caprese salad sounded promising in hindsight. For mains, we tried the Friday special--shrimp scampi. The shrimp arrived separate from the noodles, which was fine once we combined them. The portion felt underwhelming given the oversized plate. Our server made two brief appearances--to deliver the bread and then the entrée. Drinks were okay. I ordered an adult lemonade that tasted great but came in a tiny glass. I considered a second, but the idea of trekking back inside, reordering, and pre-tipping again wasn't appealing--especially with a wait of 15+ minutes for that first drink. Dessert was tempting--gelato looked amazing. If we return, it might just be for a to-go treat. Overall, the food wasn't bad, and friends have had great experiences with their catering. But the dine-in experience felt fragmented and impersonal. I'm curious to try their Lutz location--though takeout sounds more appealing than navigating this format again. read more

Mandola's Italian Kitchen - Bread - Bakeries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I really want to like Mandola's but it's still average at best. I used to think that their sauce was salty and today it lacked flavor. I got the cheese ravioli and requested cheese on top. It was bland. The bread they serve at the table is yummy and I love that they have crisp Coke products from the fountain. It just hits in a good way when you have a nice crisp Coke! Staff was friendly. Seating is open -- you walk in and place your order at the register, given a table number and you choose your seat. Indoor and outside seating available. Dessert and coffee bar is separate and you pay separate too. read more

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Walked in for dessert and got hit by a freight train of Parmigiano-Reggiano air. Ten seconds later I'm in line ordering a second dinner while shoving desserts in my pockets for later. read more

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This might be the best full service/ quick casual family Italian restaurant. The concept is great! Step inside, pick up a menu, order and pay at the counter for all food and beverages, find an open table and take the number plaquard to display on the table and food is delivered. They will also bring out complimentary foccacio bread and an herbed olive oil for dipping. I went there on a Friday evening and though it was steadily busy, it was never over crowded. The staff was excellent in bringing out the food when it was ready and all was served at the proper temperatures. We loved all of the food from the kids meals of Ravioli and pizza to their pasta dishes and salad. Portion sized were reasonable and the prices were fair. I liked that the kids also got a small scoop of Gelato after their meal. The dessert area was very good with many sugary choices. Cakes and cookies, Gelato and Cannolis. All very delicious looking. The ambiance is very kid friendly but also bistro style with a big open kitchen where you can watch you food being prepared. There is also a small bar area for those who are just not hungry enough for a table seating. This is a great place for a birthday/team party or a family get together in a very casual environment. read more

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The experience here was a refreshing taste of authentic Sicilian-Italian home cooking. The restaurant has an open-concept layout with marketplace vibes, a bakery counter under a yellow awning, and a display full of cannolis, gelato, cakes, and pastries. It immediately stood out to both myself and my guests. The manager, Chase, introduced himself and gave us a brief history of Mandola's. He explained that they maintain high standards by cooking fresh, homemade dishes based on authentic family recipes. Over 90% of their menu comes from the owner's mother's original Italian recipes, and it shows. One dish I strongly recommend is the lasagna with the meatball topper. My wife ordered it and it was phenomenal, easily one of the best lasagnas I've tried. The meatball on top was like the star on a Christmas tree: already a great dish, made even better. For dessert, their tiramisu was outstanding. A lot of places get tiramisu wrong--too sweet or too bitter. This one was perfectly balanced: soft, creamy, and flavorful. My wife had the Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake and, as a huge Jeremiah's Gelato fan, said their gelato here is even better. Jeff helped us at the dessert counter and mentioned that their Chocolate Cake is one of their staples, which I'll be trying on my next visit. I don't want to oversell it. Go try it for yourself. Strongly recommend. read more

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Mandola's Italian Kitchen has some solid lunch options overall. The Fiorentina Pizza and Caesar Salad with chicken are my go-to choices and consistently enjoyable. I wouldn't recommend the sandwiches, though, as they're made on focaccia that tends to be very greasy. Aside from that, it's a decent spot for a casual lunch with some traditional Italian choices on the menu. read more

The Tiramisu is really good.. I also recommend the gelato.. It's also really good . The food is really good as well. read more

Mandola's is great for lunch or dinner. Super easy and convenient. You order everything at the counter and they'll bring your order to you when it's ready. They serve every table complimentary bread. For lunch I've ordered the Cheese Ravioli that comes with a side salad. For dinner I've ordered the Baked Ziti. Love the dessert bar with yummy tiramisu, cakes, cannolis and different flavors of gelato to choose from. read more

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Had their mobile pizza kitchen at my housewarming which made everything so smooth and easy. They brought all the supplies and did all the set up and break down. Must do for your next party! read more

Their food is delicious! It's an italian restaurant with ranges of dishes, pizza, and pastas. They're super quick bringing out dishes and they give out bread and dip!! Which is so yummy i have to stop myself from eating it so i don't get full before the main meal! I'm pretty basic so i got a pesto mozzarella tomato chicken sandwich with fries and it was so good! My mom got a chicken dish with mushrooms and sautéed vegetables which i tried and it was also delicious! The place is nice to sit inside and decorated and their cafe has beautiful gelatos. read more

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Had an amazing experience for my first time at Mandola's. Autumn was a great server and hooked us up with some free desserts to try at the end of our visit. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was great. Definitely will return read more

Mandola's Italian Kitchen - Bakeries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

We had an amazing and kind experience today. I came in for my birthday for the first time since we had received a gift card. Brody and Autumn were absolutely phenomenal and gave us an amazing and warm experience. In today's society, customer service isn't what it used to be. However, Brody and Autumn are the exception. You have two new customers for life because of these two stellar employees. Truly valuable employees and Mandola's is lucky to have them. Food was great and exceeded expectations as well. Can't wait to come back. read more

First time visiting today and I'm in love! Great food, casual ambiance and the service was outstanding! Amber the manager welcomed us and gave us such a great experience we will absolutely be back! Loved it all read more

Unfortunately, since I last visited Mandola's two years ago, the quality of the food has decreased significantly. I ordered the cup of the Italian Wedding Soup and it was extremely bland and very salty. The focaccia bread used to be more flavorful, but it now was dry and lacked any seasoning. In terms of service, one of our items we ordered was forgotten about and we needed to ask for it in order to receive it. Items for one table also came out at entirely different times, which is not ideal for a group eating together. I hope Mandola's starts to emphasize an increased quality and care for their food. read more

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I've been here before and every time I come I like it more. Super clean, great food, The place is nicely decorated and the service is good read more

The food and service are absolutely great. You come in grab a menu and then you go to the order place when you're done eating they have we get one free dessert. This place is absolutely amazing. The cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen. They even have a change station for babies with diapers. read more

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Jorden Fulton was amazing! She should get employee of the month. Service was super. I highly recommend this restaurant

We chose Mandola's two weekends in a row for date night! A one-stop shop for Dinner & Desserts. This restaurant's setup is a little different from the norm. You can dine in across from an open kitchen or enjoy full service at the bar! The food and service are amazing and this turned out to be the perfect spot for fresh Italian cuisine. Visit my Instagram page for a visual of our first and second visits! First Visit - https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cn8Hs6Dsaf9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg== Second Visit - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CocbgQgMHUV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg== Instagram @Lady.Tanisha read more

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Chase, our server was truly a great dude and super helpful. The Italian sausage and peppers panini is LEGIT! Cannoli is right behind that!!!! read more

The food was fine.My point is about Why do they charge you the tip at front? What about is you do not like the food or the service is really bad,etc? read more

Overall, I've had a good experience with this restaurant. But I am always disappointed that when I order online there is always something missing or any specific requests are ignored. The children's menu items come with a small drink, the website makes you select one but it is never packed in with the to go order. I'm tired of having to go back in every time and ask for it. read more

Our first visit to the restaurant. We met Brady, the host, near the menu stand. He was delightful. When you have someone in that role who is smart, thoughtful and a great "people person" it makes for a fun introduction. He was very thorough in his answers to our questions. We each enjoyed our meals. Very fresh ingredients in my Spahetti Ortolano (SP?). read more

The service was great. We were perusing the menu and one of the servers came up to us to see if we had any questions. The same server brought us a little extra sauce to take home. Food is very tasty and a great place to bring the kids for gelato and desserts! read more

Been trying to go to Mandola's Italian kitchen for a year since they've opened. Today I was with a business partner and we stopped in for lunch. He got the eggplant sandwich and I got the sausage and peppers on the ciabatta and they were both really good sandwiches. I also had the minestrone soup and that was also good. Got a lemon ricotta cookie to go and haven't tried it yet, but they have a cute gelato and mini bakery at the front. Going to come back here for a real dinner one night because all the dinner entrées look good. read more

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Cute decor and ambiance inside but unfortunately that's the main perk. Oh the staff is also nice as well. I got the gnocchi and it was so bland and thick/gummy-ish I was mixing in oregano/red pepper flakes/parmesan every other bite just to get some flavor. The best thing I ate was probably the free bread. My sister got the spaghetti and it was also very bland. I've been here a couple years ago and I feel like it wasn't this mid then but it definitely is not good now. Very very mid pasta. read more

SUNDAY SPECIAL! We went during the rush of a Sunday. Service was quick, attentive and nice. We had to wait a few minutes which was to be expected during the busy hours. The food came out piping hot and delicious as ever. All the way down the to bread. Extremely soft and fluffy. The ziti had sooo much flavor with each ingredient combined in it and the gelato was amazing! The manager was extremely friendly and brought us a to go back and said goodbye! We felt very welcome and happy during the whole visit! The restaurant is extremely cute as well, great decor! read more

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Love the service and politeness of staff! Food is very good! Not a rushed atmosphere. Great Gelato and dessert counter.

The service was amazing! The food was incredible! And the best part they had baby diapers and whites in both restrooms ! That was so thoughtful!!! read more

First time here and to say I was impressed would be an understatement. Let's start with the greetings! Greeted by three separate employees signed up for their frequent flyer club. Very easy. Check out an order process. Simple, quick friendly prices were very reasonable. Atmosphere place is a little busy and the seats are hard but it's well lit. It's comfortable and spacious now. The food I ordered the lasagna with meatballs. Oh my goodness. That was quite a surprise. Perfectly cooked, nice and hot. Comes in a bubbling dish and is quite large. My opinion enough for two people. It was delicious and I'm kind of fussy gotcha. Bread came complementary didn't have to play extra. They bring you oil with spices and a little Romano parmesan cheese. I was greeted by three different people to check on me after I sat down and the manager came by to say hi and tell me. Thanks for coming. They're going to get sick of me here cuz this is a winner read more

We brought my mother to Mandolas for her 97th birthday - there were 16 of us. We brought along a cake for her that she likes. The husband and wife owners are here from Texas and the wife informs me that we cannot cut and serve the cake because outside food is not allowed. I informed her that I have been coming here since the doors open and almost every Friday we are here with 10 to 12 people. She and her elitist attitude didn't care. Well guess what - neither do I at this point and they have seen the last of me. I hate inflexibility. read more

That moment you're having too much fun at a girls lunch that you forget the camera eats first! Customer service was great for a weekday lunch. Quality and flavor of the meal was 9/10. I got a side of grilled chicken and a side of grilled veggies. The POLLO alla GRIGLIA has the same components but it is less expensive to get a la carte. I wish they had more options for lighter meals. VERY HAPPY they have covered, outdoor seating HUGE draw for me. I will definitely be back. read more

Mandola's Italian Kitchen - POLLO alla GRIGLIA - Bakeries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Overall 5/5 Service 5/5 - super friendly staff!!! It was our first time there so they took the time to go over the menu and told us how it worked. Food 5/5 - I ordered garlic fries thinking ... yea I like garlic fries!!! Boo no... these garlic fries are literally crack... and with that pesto ‍ I need to get me some more we also got the carnivore pizza and the crust was so crispy.. and I don't even know what else to write!!! Go check it out!!! Get yourself some garlic fries and a pizza!!! Like now. read more

Mandola's Italian Kitchen - Starting off with garlic fries - Bakeries Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The food was amazin, authentic, and delicious. The staff was so friendly that when we had a hiccup with a gift card, they gave us our gelato for free! I enjoy every tr here read more

It seems like a cool family-friendly environment and it very busy. I only went here to get dessert to go- tiramisu specifically. I prefer my tiramisu with a stronger espresso/coffee flavor that outweighs the chocolate flavor. This one had a stronger chocolate flavor so it's not my top tiramisu but it was overall delicious. It's presented in a cool way where you can actually see the thick, individual lady fingers. read more

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The service was second to none. Different people checked on us. The manager talked to us and recognized us as first time customers. Service was something I haven't seen in decades. The food fresh and great flavor. Dessert was delicious. Great job! Fun ambiance. read more

Had a great time at Mandolas for my sons birthday dinner When we walked in we were greeted by a wonderful woman who helped us find seating and even had high chairs out for our little ones that was nice, we ordered with Arina up front and she was super sweet she was so polite and nice to the kids she even repeated our order back to us to make sure everything was correct and after paying we went to our table. Food came out in order and quick everything looked great I got the manicotti that was a special item that unfortunately the chicken inside had bone cartlige and huge fatty pieces but when I showed them what was going on they immediately apologized and got my a new dish other than that the table food was enjoyed Mandolas was nice enough to let us bring a cake that we lit outside because I bought a huge sparkler candle and got us plates and silverware to enjoy this moment. Thanks again read more

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About 4.25 stars. This newly added location is similar to the one at River View. But I think they are better location in compare to the one they have in River View. I like open space compare to restaurants that previously here. We were here since we know their sister company at the south. I have the Spaghetti Ortolano with grilled shrimp. I kind of changed the protein on this dish. It turn our very well. The ingredients included pine nuts, green bean, asparagus, broccoli, tomato. This pasta dish is harmony to go with grilled shrimp. We also got the Chicken Parmesan with pasta. The chicken is breaded. Both dishes are excellent. The food is on time. We were lucky to beat the Sunday lunch crowd. Not much of wait. The restaurant filled up in 30 minutes. So go early on Sunday. read more

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This place has an incredible atmosphere. You can pick up a menu as you walk in and explore the variety of options of pizza, pasta and specialty entrees. You place your order at the counter and select your own table which can be both inside or outside. After being here a few time, the food when served alway felt underwhelming. Portion size, presentation, pricing, nor taste live up to the expectation when you walk in. A fun spot is the dessert and coffee counter on the other side. You can order a nice selection of freshly made gelato with a cup of your favorite caffeinated drinks. Overall, fun place to try, you may find a dish that hits the spot. read more

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Where to begin! From the moment you walk in the door you feel welcome. This is a casual Italian eatery where you order at the counter, sit at any of the many tables (loved the red and green chairs) and then they bring your food to your table, so its table service without waiting for a waitress to take your order or bring your bill - BRILLIANT! Since this is a new spot and our first time, I asked the gal at the counter what her favorite dish was....Lasagna. DH ordered his favorite, Chicken Parm. We had our neighbor with us who is allergic to EVERYTHING and she had no problem finding something that wouldn't kill her, Chicken Piccata. I started with the Mista salad, and DH with the Minestrone soup...Both were good, but the complimentary focaccia bread with the herb and EVOO dipping sauce stole the show!! Food arrived quickly and everyone was pleased with their entree... That Lasagna OMG - Nicely done Momma Mandola! There is also a dessert shop in the restaurant where you can get gelato, cake, cookies, you name it...Oh and coffee or espresso. I forced DH into a cannoli, they are HAND PIPED right in front of you...He said it was the best one he has ever had and that is saying a lot from someone whose eaten cannoli's from around the world. The portions were a nice size, the wait staff was excellent, plenty of parking and authentic Italian like that is hard to find! I will 100% be back to try the pizza. read more

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Mandola's has been a homemade food feel... a feeling my wife and I haven't had for a long time much less here in Tampa.