Mandola's Italian Kitchen — Restaurant in Florida

The food is very good. First off, where can u find Gnocchi’s? My husband’s family is from Italy, the food is good. The red sauces r a bit to bland per authenticity he says, be he also included that it can depend on what part of Italy your from. They have Italian seasoning in a shaker jar if anyone wants to add more spice, but it’s not that same as cooking sauce for hrs with the seasoning, because the seasoning cooks into the sauce. The prices are a bit to high for not getting waited on. You go up and order your food sit at a table with a number. I’m sorry, if I’m paying these prices, I want a waitress!!! You have to get everything you need… beverages, your forks, knives, spoons… any kind of condiment you need. If u have to go, u go and get ur own to go boxes even. The atmosphere is fun, very Italiano! We enjoyed it. Portion sizes are not greatan many dishes. Pizza is awesome goodness. Thin thin thin just how we like it! Being from St Louis, we’re known for Italian food. ( The Hill in St Louis). St Louis pizza is NOTHING like any fast food pizzas such as Dominos, Pizza Hut etc.. Imos has THE BEST pizza! They do not use mozzarella cheese, it’s awesome! Sorry, but Not leaving a tip, there is no reason tip. BUT with all that said…. WE’LL BE BACK! The bakery is good, we got three of EVERY cookie but one or two.$30.00+ worth of cookies. We think the cookie prices r way way way too high! I wanted a set price for like a dozen or two dozen cookies instead of paying $1.75 - $1.25+ per cookie! But… next times we’ll get cookies, but probably only 3 or 6. If they had a cheaper deal for cookies, oh yea we’d order a dozen or two. We WILL be back… the food was very good. There is a LOT to choose from. We are VERY happy with an Italian restaurant in our area. Carrabas is across the street but it’s only take out, we want a sit down restaurant, it’s time out of the house for us. WE WILL BE BACK!! ….. I see a lot of complaints and we ourselves almost didn’t go because of this. However like a movie, I want to try it and make my own decision. Boy am I glad we did! You can’t always go by the reviews,...

FEB 2025 Update: I had to drop two stars, as the direction of price, quality, and quantity are all going in the wrong directions. As the portion sizes have gotten much smaller. I've been coming here since it opened, and it was quite good (see original review below). The flavor has become what you'd expect at a buffet, but the prices are not commensurate with this change. Service has also dropped in quality. We ordered 5 entrees, only received 3 focaccia. Also, our Parma Pizza (to go) came without the parmesan cheese it is supposed to have. Not sure if there was a change of management, but the current direction is not good. Disappointing to see such a previously good dinner option go downhill this far. Doubt we'll be going back.

----old review below from over a year ago---

First, the food. I went with a group of 7 and everything we had was delicious and a good value for the price. The portions may not have been quite as exaggerated as Olive Garden, but neither were the prices and the flavor was much better and more authentic. We had almost all of the gelatos (you have to get those separately, more below). They were also really good, flavorful and creamy (hard to pick a favorite, esp between the gelatos and sorbets)

The service was pretty quick. You stand in line to order your food, then select a table (they give you a number, you find your own seat). This was the only place I was a bit iffy on, since I had a large group, but everything worked out. Within minutes of ordering, the food came out. The staff was courteous, professional, fun, and seemed fairly familiar with their dishes. They also did a good job of catering to the seafood allergies we had at the table. The Gelato had to be purchased at a separate counter, where you could see the choices and select the combination and sizes you wanted. The staff was quick to offer samples if you had questions.

The atmosphere was somewhere between a home/family style and NYC pizzeria style restaurant, giving off a good...

Colorful open concept Italian restaurant for the whole family. Counter service. It's like Moe's with Carrabba's food, but half the size of Carrabba's entree. The portion size of the chicken is absurd. Chicken scallopini (picatta, Marsala, parmigiana, etc..) paper thin pounded chicken should cover the plate not the palm of your hand for $20+. But that's all you get. Two tiny pieces of chicken. Every single thing is an upcharge here. Two adults, two kids- $100. Switch pasta shape? $3 upcharge. Want marinara instead of Alfredo? $3 upcharge. Why does swapping a simple tomato sauce in for much more expensive alfredo cost several dollars? The focaccia bread is also really bad. Little story. I have attempted to make focaccia bread 3 times in my life. I do not make bread. My family did not like my bread. It is exactly the same as what mandolas serves. If you want the recipe for their focaccia, let me know, basically know nothing about making bread, mix some bread type ingredients together, use way too much olive oil and boom- you got it. Now just leave it out to get weird and hard. Bonus points if you attempt the weird spices and oil, a sad failure at replicating the robust oil and spices of Carrabba's. Calamari here is excellent, cannot deny that. You lost my business with the tiny, absurd chicken portions & nonsensical upcharges for absolutely everything. Leave it to the once successful outback/Carrabba's bloomin brands hivemind to come up with something great then ruin it with corporate idiocy. The only reason this place stays busy is the in sane oversaturation of the local area. The food is delicious but return business from would be customers like myself is...