Let's talk about Mandola's, who are cousins with the Carrabba's. so you know you're in for a treat. It was like walking into my best friend's house & her mother was making her grandmother' spaghetti & meatballs. Back in the 70's. Everyone greets you when you walk in & they make suggestions if you're a newbie. Best of all you can buy freshly made food and go home & throw it into the oven. The lasagna bites are a game changer, they're worth every delicious bite.

Great Italian food in a casual space. Eat lunch and then take some home for dinner or later in the week.

Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. Very good crust. Beautiful ovens. Natural light into the space is great.

Absolutely delicious sandwich!! Management is very welcoming and helpful in explaining the menu and I can't wait to go back! Ambiance is very causal and quiet, some TVs on and overall a great spot. They have private parking lot behind the building with security cameras you can see from inside the restaurant too!

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.

We were doing some volunteer work in the morning and came by for lunch. The guy at the counter said they're related to Tony Mandola's (cousin). Well heck it's gotta be good then. And ya know what? It was. It was pricey. Not gonna lie. Over $50 for a couple sodas, 1 appetizer (baked lasagna), 1 pasta dish (pasta mandola) and 1 desert (hello dolly). Counter service although they bring it to you. The baked lasagna was something I've not had before. And I loved it! They have their own cola too at the fountain. And guess what? It taste just like coke. lol. The pasta wasn't bad and comes with garlic bread which was nice and buttery. we tried the hello dolly desert having never heard of it before although it is not unique to this establishment after I googled it. Condensed milk, coconut, chocolate chips and walnuts on a graham cracker crust. All my favorites. Yum. My kid didn't care for it though. But I did. They got their own parking lot. Actually two by the look of it. Wasn't an issue on a Saturday for lunch.

Okay!!! So the outside does not do the inside any justice. I loved walking into Mandola's! It's so vibrant and gives all the right College feels. Service was on point! Everyone was so pleasant and cheery! That just made the experience even better! Now my turkey deluxe muffuletta was simply amazing! So tasty! Just the right amount of toasting of the bread! The turkey is sliced at the perfect thickness. Olive salad chopped up perfectly! It was just hand down a great experience. I went two days in a row!

How have I let you fall off my radar....haven't been here since college days over 10 years ago. That grind made me forget my roots...the reason behind me becoming a foodie in the first place. It doesn't always have to have that eye enticing presentation, some down home family cooking is where it started and this, along with many other gems throughout the city, is what helped mold me. This place is before even yelp for me. So as I walked in today and noticed that the place hasn't changed even first person I seen I remembered from them college days...kinda welcoming to see a familiar face. As I looked over the menu and couldn't decide on what so I chose a few items...the italian green beans I remembered from the past was a hit and again did not disappoint. Also picked the Chicken Mandola and spaghetti...a bit too much food for me alone, but knew a coworker would assist me when I got back to the office. They were all hits, only wished a tad bit more sauce for the spaghetti and maybe some veggies for the sandwich. They told me that via their website you can now set up delivery and catering, which I will be suggesting for some corporate events. Definitely not going to wait 10 years for my next visit.