Mandola's Deli

EaDo gem alert!On my first drive by in the neighborhood I thought this was closed establishment, only to find amazing reviews on Yelp later in the day. Decided to take a lunch break and head over around 1130, and I'm certainly glad I did. Immediately after I ordered, the lunch crowd came and it filled the restaurant up. You place your order at the deli counter and pay up and find a seat. They'll deliver your food to you. The food was great. I had a deluxe Italian sub and it really had the flavor there. I do wish that I got a 1-2 more slices of meat given the price of the sandwich, especially since I left still a bit hungry even with a regular sandwich and a side of deviled eggs. Maybe I should opt for the giant sandwich next time. Service was great, seems like a family owned shop. Definitely need to come back again and try the pizza and the pasta.

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!

So I'm from Jersey. We are pizza and sub snobs because nobody makes them better than we do. I've lived in Houston for 12 years and have yet to find a sub with a good bread. Well I have found it. Best bread yet on their po'boys. That's the good. I tried the Deluxe. I was a little skeptical of pickles on a ham and salami but it was actually really good. Not a typical sub like I'm used to back home but I really did like it. There was some kind of tangy mayo type dressing. It was good. Id come back. The bad? Don't get the pasta salad. Not only was it tasteless, it tasted old and on the verge of going bad. I like the old school feel and the employees that look like they've been there forever. They probably have. And that's always a good sign. One more note: prices are on the high side for a deli. But then again so is everything these days.

Food was good. The fried lasagna was different very tasty. The chicken parm was excellent

I have been wanting to try this place for years and I finally ordered take out and got the fried lasagna because I had to eat it in the car. It is SOOO good! Crunchy on the outside and soft ooey gooey on the inside. The marinara dipping sauce is so good that I wish I could buy it in bulk. I will be back to try more for sure.

Food and service is amazing. Everyone there is super friendly. They have an indoor and outdoor seating that I wish to try but I take it to go for work. I've tried the cannoli's, they are creamy and delicious!

Absolutely! This spot has fed many UH students over the years. They've catered various gatherings from groups of 30+ student advisors & faculty during Freshman Orientation to fabulous sit down meals served to student & community leaders for career development. I am never disappointed enjoying a freshly toasted turkey po'boy with a side of simply perfect deviled eggs or a plate of their rich, hearty Pasta Mandola with tasty parm+panko(?) dusted green beans. Delicious homemade Italian food (with love) is always win for me!

Ive been hooked on the Italian beef sandwich since the 80's. Franks homemade fig cookies are the bomb.

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.

The meatball sub here is the most crave-able sandwich in the city. All of the elements are perfect.--I can't isolate a standout item between the meatball, the sauce, or the bread. It's just all exactly right!