Mandola’s Italian Kitchen — Restaurant in Oldsmar

Casual enough to stop in before catching a movie at the nearby AMC, pleasant enough for date night. I sat at the bar, tended by the lovely Carina. She was attentive to everyone, whether sitting at the bar or just coming up for a drink. I started with a glass of draft pinot grigio and complimentary focaccia and herbs in olive oil for dipping. The wine was a nice temp and came in a 6 or a 9 ounce glass. The bread had a nice bite, I could've used a little more herbs in the oil.... but that's just me, it really was tasty! You can have an entree at the bar, so I did :) I had the Pollo alla Griglia, which is gluten sensitive. They are not a gluten-free free restaurant, but they have several GS options. I am not GS, I just picked that dish. The meal had a butterflied chicken breast, sliced in half or pounded thin. It had a very nice taste but was a little dry. Chicken breasts get dry, and that's why they are served with items to enhance the bite. This was served with grilled, seasoned vegetables, and the pairing was.... chef's kiss! The veggies were slices of zucchini, a few mushrooms, red bell peppers, baby asparagus, and a red potato cut into quarters. Before you say, "A red potato", just one? It's all you need with everything else - half the plate was chicken, half was veggies. The portioning was spot on. A few pieces of veg, add a bite of chicken... freaking yum. I did not need salt or pepper. The seasoning was delightful! Fortunately, I had a little room for dessert ;) I had a delicious gelati that was light enough to be a perfect end to my meal. You can tell it's a place that has regulars and is just a welcoming to newcomers. There's adult contemporary music playing at a nice level, you can have a conversation - everyone is very chill. I went on a Saturday night around 6:30p, they're open until 9p. Since I sat at the bar, I didn't have to wait. BUT, people who walked in were seated quickly. I had a delightful experience, and I look forward...

I drive around a couple times trying to figure out if they were open, as it was kind of hard to tell from the outside and there were hardly any cars outside. I noticed they had a lunch special sign outside so I figured I’d give it a try. There’s a considerable about of space inside, reminiscent of a slightly upscale food court, with kitchen, bar, and cash register along the outskirts and several tables and chairs in the center. The design leaves a lot to be desired. They have a great foundation for creating something remarkable, but its current iteration falls short of what I imagine most would expect walking in.

Their chairs are quite an eye sore, electing for bulky wood chairs alternating between green and red. It’s the kind of place where you seat yourself and go up to order.

I was there for a quick lunch and to get caught up on some work, so for my purposes the setting was great. Few people, lots of space, and quiet. I’d go back for this purpose, but I wouldn’t bring anyone there.

I ordered a half order of their chicken with a Caesar salad and a glass of wine. The fact that they served the wine in a collins glass, which is what inspired this review.. personally I care quite a bit what kind of glass my wine is served in. I wouldn’t ever order wine again here unless they updated their glassware. The chicken was way over cooked and tough. The salad wasn’t much better, a bit heavy on the dressing and the croutons were something awful.

I’d be leaving a 1 star review if it weren’t for the service. Everyone I interacted with there was very polite...

I hadn't anticipated enjoying this place much, given the lukewarm reviews circulating. To my surprise, the food surpassed my expectations. While not exceptional, it certainly wasn't disappointing.

However, I must express my dissatisfaction with the ordering and seating arrangements. As a first-time visitor, navigating the process was overwhelming and not intuitive.

Who knew you had to grab a menu off the wall then uncomfortably glance at it before walking down the opposite end of the restaurant just to order. For the price of the food it's just not worth it.

The absence of clear instructions made it challenging, particularly for larger groups without available seating.

While the open kitchen was a nice touch, it revealed a concerning practice. I observed staff, including management, handling food without washing their hands after tasks such as clearing tables and cleaning. Witnessing this was unsettling and raised hygiene concerns.

Furthermore, I advise against leaving half-eaten food unattended, as it may be mistakenly discarded. I was shocked to return from retrieving dessert for my goddaughter to find our table cleared, with our food discarded.

Though management apologized and offered to remake our meal, the subsequent service fell short. The replacement order arrived incomplete and did not match our original selections.

While the gesture to remake the meal was appreciated, it was marred by the oversight in fulfilling the order correctly. This experience left a lasting negative impression, likely deterring...