Mandola's Italian Kitchen

. We ordered three things: cheese ravioli, fiorentina chicken pizza, and the lunette modo mio. To start, the ravioli wasn’t too flavorful or flashy and lacked a sharpness to it that makes ravioli so appealing. My least favorite item. The pizza was ok, the sauce was the highlight and the breading was good as well. Not amazing, just good. Lastly, we enjoyed the Lunette and our pasta was warm as though it had been prepared earlier for someone else instead of hot and fresh for our party. Overall, the environment was excellent and the service was nice. Our servers were knowledgeable and friendly and the outside seating area was lively and fun to eat at. Definitely worth taking a group of friends – it’s a good place to spend time after a meal.

First time visiting. We were a little thrown off having to stand and view a menu then order prior to being seated. The service was friendly and very prompt. We were given focaccia bread and seasoned oil right after sitting down. Then our appetizer came out at the same time as our meal which made the experience feel very rushed. From ordering to sitting, it probably only took like 10 minutes for our order to arrive. You can tell they don't want you lingering. I fell in love with the dipping oil for the bread. The seasoning mix was heavenly and bread was very soft with a nice crust. I wasn't expecting much from the food bc it came out so fast but it really surprised me. The fettuccine Alfredo was perfectly done. Very simple traditional style with the best fettuccine pasta I've had. The chicken parmesan was excellent. The breading was light and crisp and the chicken breast was cooked nicely. The marinara sauce was fresh and flavorful. I really appreciate simple ingredients done well and they do a great job of that. The calamari zucchini fritte was a great appetizer. The breading was well seasoned, the zucchini was sliced thin. I loved that the calamari included rings and tentacles. They were small and perfectly bite sized which made them great for dipping in that delicious marinara sauce. I recommend not sitting under the AC vents. The condensation was dripping on us throughout the meal and I didn't really like the idea of it getting into our food. The atmosphere feels charming and rustic. I really love how simple and straight forward everything was. We made sure to pick up some sweet treats to take home. We would definitely go back when we're in the area again. I'm looking forward to exploring more of the menu and trying the gelato.

MARLENI I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude for the outstanding hospitality you provided during our first visit. I am ecstatic. This restaurant was exceptional. Although we encountered a brief wait during the busy lunch period, the food was consistently fresh and delicious. I will certainly make it a point to visit this establishment again when I return to Austin.

Mandala’s is a local Austin chain of Italian restaurants. I think this one might be the original, but I’m not sure. Mandala has a combination of pastas, salads, pizzas, and appetizers, as well as a full dessert, bar with gelato and cakes. There’s also a bar, but I don’t see too many people there very often, I just think people come to demand was to eat primarily. This one has a really nice outdoor seating area, even in the winter when it’s cold they have gas heaters that make it tolerable. The times that it’s not so tolerable are in the middle of summer and there’s nothing they can do to really cool it down but when the weather is decent, it’s a great option. Their pizzas are OK, the pot is excellent, as are the salads. They have a daily special, and it’s always the same. In other words, every Friday is shrimp scampi. The desserts and gelato are also excellent. They have a serve bread and olive oil, which is really good, and you can ask for more if you want more.

My favorite dish is their fettuccine with grilled chicken and prosciutto with peas and mushrooms. It has a homemade taste. I tried their kids pepperoni pizza this time and I enjoyed it. I also like to combine their lemonade and sweet tea as my go to drink.

As soon as you enter, you place your order at the counter before being seated. The service is impressively quick—orders come out fast and efficiently. We dined in for lunch and were pleasantly surprised to receive complimentary bread to start. The minestrone soup was flavorful and packed with vegetables, which our family thoroughly enjoyed. The eggplant parmesan, Garlic fries, vegetable panini, and salad were all tasty and well-seasoned. However, I found the vegetable panini a bit too buttery—the sandwich could benefit from being less greasy for better balance. One area for improvement would be post-service attention; once the food is served, it would be nice if servers checked in to ensure everything is satisfactory. Enhancing that aspect would significantly elevate the dining experience. They also have a charming coffee bar with desserts and a nice variety of cookies. Overall, we had a pleasant and enjoyable experience.

Mandola's consistently delivers a great dining experience. I've tried several dishes, and each one has been enjoyable. The service is excellent, with friendly staff. The ordering process is straightforward at the registers. The new bar area is a nice addition, and the gelato station is a highlight, offering samples of all their delicious flavors. With ample seating both inside and out, Mandola's is a reliable choice for any meal.