Absolute best! Don’t forget to take home some homage Italian sausage, made fresh! Owners are so nice and friendly. Food has been terrific for years.

The food is AMAZING the people are AMAZING as well. You feel very at home, and you're definitely gonna wanna take your time as seen on Eat Like a Local we drove 2 hour's to check this place out. We will definitely be going back. You can't try everything at one time!!!

Best marinara sauce, meatballs, and chicken parm i have ever had! A real treat if you have the pleasure of meeting the owners! Hands down the sweetest and most humble restaurant owners i have met! My new favorite spot!

I can tell they use the best ingredients since I have been working on my diet and choosing healthy options. Too much of our food is toxic but this restaurant makes food that is clean. Delicious pasta which I seldom eat since I mostly stick to keto. I love Mandiolas and treat myself every other month. Try their coffee too!

Great authentic Italian restaurant/deli. The people are absolutely wonderful. Very welcoming staff. The meatball sub is amazing. Also had the chicken parmesean, which was huge and amazing as well. Got the dinner plate during lunch and had to take a to go box.

You don’t find a lot of great southern Italian food in Houston. This place is great. Plus, the best cannolis in town. The best, Jerry. The best!

There was about 23 of us that showed up after my aunt’s funeral and Frank treated us so well and thanked us for coming. He made us feel so welcome. They made it so easy, even with our big group. And they serve stuffed artichokes like my grandfather used to make. DELICIOUS!!!! I had the Eggplant Parmesan and it was the best I ever had!!

My go to comfort food from Mandola’s is a bowl of the Italian Sausage w/White Bean Soup and a Muffaletta deluxe. Just dip your sandwich in the soup and experience heaven!

Great place, fantastic food. Friendly service with a smile all produce is fresh on heated in a real oven.

What delight to have such a great eatery with great food and great service. Amazed.

Love everything about this place! Food was very tasty and fresh! The service was phenomenal! Highly recommend to stop and enjoy this Houston gem!

Solid deli sandwiches, old school atmosphere & plenty of menu options!

It was my first time visiting and the atmosphere was great. The super deluxe was my favorite and I wish I had tried their chocolate cake. We also got the chicken parmesan po boy and it was huge! Everyone was so welcoming, and you could really feel the community support.

The show, “Eat like a local” showcased them recently and I had to try em out. Awesome awesome awesome! Chicken parmesan sandwich was outstanding, green beans and the artichoke were also great. Definitely will be back! Good luck Joseph 🫡💪

So good!!!! The deluxe subs are awesome and and so is the chocolate cake. I love the ice they use too. Didn’t love the chicken parm cutlet sandwich but everything else was solid. Owner is easy on the eyes too 😂

Always a Delicious place to get out of the wet and cold!!!

Love the people food and atmosphere It feel like a family restaurant not a chain

They serve food. I love food; it's one of my favorite things to eat. I like to eat here every time I come to this part of town. Love the history and the extensive family memorabilia. My only wish is that they had better T-shirts

I love the deli. The food is fantastic and the staff friendly, especially Lisa. Still amazing, 3 years after this first post

Great “mom and Pop” place. Food was great. I️ had a deluxe po-boy with spaghetti. Well known an frequently visited by locals

I’ve wanted to try this place for years and finally made it. My wife and I love it.

This is the best Italian restaurant in Houston. I love their sauce, they have the best lasagna and spaghetti 🍝 with meat balls, and the dessert is so delicious too I highly recommend it.

+6

Old school, family-run, Italian-American food with some updated offerings like lasagna bites. If you're looking for food that is delicious and brings back memories, get here quick!

Food is amazing!! Atmosphere is awesome! Customer service priceless!!! We will travel from Montgomery Texas for Mandola's Deli.

An old-fashioned neighborhood eatery. My eggplant parmesan was delicious 😋. I appreciate the kind service and the complimentary brownies too. So satisfied 😌

Great place to get Italian. Food has been hit and miss. Sometimes really fantastic and others, well not so good. Same with desserts. Hit and miss. Same with service.

The portions were much bigger than I expected! Skip the chips because the sandwiches are more than enough! We will definitely be coming back.

I have visited for many years, and it is consistent! Menu never changes. I order the WOP salad, veggie poboy and eggplant Parm. Grab a bag of fig cookies. Very good.

First time and definitely will be back !!! Great portion sizes. Cool sports memorabilia but family atmosphere as well. Glad my coworkers convinced me to try it. THEY ALSO HAVE PARKING. I am not from Houston and haven’t tried many downtown places due to parking difficulty. My sandwiches are DELICIOUS. I have to go back and try the spaghetti 🍝

One of the best lunches in Houston. Very friendly and great service. Subs are fantastic and the meatballs are phenomenal.

So awesome!!! Great food!!!

Excellent food, nice atmosphere, very friendly. Stuffed artichokes like mama used to make. Poboys are top-notch.

Terrific old fashioned Italian deli and restaurant. This place is family owned and operated with delicious, from scratch authentic Italian food. Comfortable and casual atmosphere with plenty of UH sports memorabilia and jerseys on the walls. The father and son who run the place are Houston gems , very hospitable, friendly, kind people who take great care and pride in the quality of their food and service. The ordering is done at the counter and they bring the food to you. Frank and Joe Mandola are there most of the time along with some regulars and friends. It's a place that UH students, industrial workers, and professionals all can comfortably enjoy great food at reasonable prices served quickly in a friendly manner. In addition to a nice lunch, they can make party trays of lasagna and canoli to take to your office or home as well as full catering. They also sell Italian deli meats cheeses etc.

This place isn’t fancy but the food is amazing! I had spaghetti and meatballs. Finely ground, full of herbs and sitting in a lovely sauce with a hint of spice! I’m super picky so was pleasantly surprised how good this was. I’ll definitely eat here again so I can try the lasagna next!

Fantastic food, friendly staff, this place just feels like home. Definitely worth stopping in and trying their well-executed Italian classics.

Highly recommended. Excellent food and service. We had the white fish, eggplant parmigan, beef lasagna and WOP Salad. I have great pics but the app is malfunctioning so I cannot post them

Super good food really nice employees! The sausage was phenomenal! Had the chicken parm sandwich and it was delicious! Would come back!

Mandola's have provided the Houston area with great food for decades. I've enjoyed Frank Mandola 's family service and food for 48 years.

Super great place I had no idea was right by my house! Amazing hot fresh food, I grabbed mine to go. I had the chicken parm & pasta with a half Margherita pizza. The pizza crust was the perfect combo of soft and crispy, baked to perfection with the flavors I’d hope for! My 1yr old son and I shared the chicken parm and this is the first time I heard him say “mmmmm” ever haha it was delicious! He finished his whole plate. The marina sauce isn’t too overpowering it’s just right without doing too much, I enjoyed this plate and will definitely like to try more items. The restaurant itself is super clean and nice inside, and the customer service is super great the guy that helped me with my pick up order was fast, made sure I had what I needed, and was super cool! I’ll definitely be back!

This restaurant has a family friendly atmosphere because it is family owned and operated. The food is amazing and the staff is friendly. The cookies are homemade and SO good, the cakes are all delicious as well and homemade. I am on a diet so I ordered grilled chicken with veggies, but rest assured, my friend ordered spaghetti and homemade meatballs and they looked very good.

Every single time we come here, we leave happy! Food is fresh and service is excellent. Can't wait for the next time!

I live in Eado and have driven by this place almost on a daily basis. I have wanted to try it. It does not look like much from the outside but just do yourself a favor and stop in. I had the lasagna and pizza. They were both so fresh and homemade taste. Joseph was at the register was a super nice guy and very inviting to come back. We will be back it was delicious!!!

This is some great classic Italian food! I loved the chicken parm with huge pieces of chicken and a tasty sauce. I’m sure their pastas would be good too based on the sauce. The mozzarella sticks were very good, but not as special as the sandwich. the entire staff was very friendly as well. They made me feel welcome the whole time. Prices were also very good.

I seen this place on EAT LIKE A LOCAL on YouTube this morning and decided to come check it out. I’ve lived a handful of blocks from this fantastic local deli for 3 years now and never knew it was here. Oh well, better late than never. I met the owner who took my order and he was as friendly a guy as you would ever meet. I ordered the Chicken Parm and a piece of Pecan Pie and both were absolutely delicious. The Chicken Parm looked exactly like the plate that was shown on YouTube (See pic attached). I can’t wait to go back and take my wife next time. So many things on the menu that I want to try.

Mandola's Deli had been a favorite of mine for a long time. I had the delight of working for the East End a while back and got to know the treasure trove of culture and food it is and has historically been. Having said that, don't sleep on Mandola's. Go. Often and always for your Italian food fix! We had lasagna, eggplant parm, chicken marsala, a cheeseburger, and some great Italian wedding cookies. Everything was delicious. I always get the lasagna and I am always convinced its the best I have had. The portions are as they have always been at Mandola's - big enough to fill the belly and maybe a little left over for later - depending on how hungry you are. The garlic bread is buttery heaven and top that all off with the service. I hesitate to call it just service - its hospitality. Like being invited into the Mandola home to eat, talk, and share some laughs. Our experience at Mandola's has always been like that, going to a friends house to eat and catch-up. Way back when, the soda fountain was behind the counter and we were always told to come around the counter for refills if we wanted too. Like going to see your family and friends for a meal - that help yourself vibe makes great food even better and we can't wait to go back.

Great catering! Set up for an after funeral gathering was done easily, quickly and to the best standards. James was so helpful with the set up and made sure we had everything we needed to feed funeral guests. Food was delicious and everything was perfect. Great attention to detail. Would recommend and call on for future catering needs.

+2

Met a friend for lunch, and this place is what I love about Houston… just regular people serving amazing food to regular people. Coffee was great (and I’m picky). Mufalatta was on fresh French bread. Fried mozzarella was delicious. I’d come back here again. Service was excellent.

My wife picked up some food from here tonight and it was probably the best Italian I’ve had in Houston. We are from Philly and My family is Italian so I’m used to being able to go anywhere and get a decent eggplant parmigiana but that isn’t been the case in Tx. Anyway the Eggplant was delicious. We got the Margarita Pizza which was excellent, the Mozzarella sticks which were also great. Unfortunately we also ordered a spinach lasagna but it came as a meat lasagna so we were unable to taste that dish. But we called and they said we could pick up a spinach tomorrow so I’ll update once I’ve had it. In conclusion, it’s really really good. Reminds me of being back home in the east coast stopping at a corner deli. Great food!

I saw this restaurant on the channel 2 food show Eat Like a Local and I was not disappointed. The chicken Parm was 5* level, very large pieces with just the right amount of bread crumbs. The marinara was well flavored and not SWEET. I don't like marinara that tastes like sugar. The staff was very friendly and I got a chance to meet Joseph Mandola he's a very nice dude. Writing this review in the parking lot so I can't comment on the muffuletta I took to go. Great place with a community deli atmosphere. Wonderful place to eat and chill after a hard week of work.

Best turkey club I’ve ever had in my life! Great family owned Italian Deli established in 1975. A must see when visiting Houston.

My family has been eating at Mandola's for over 30 years. The food is hands down the best in the area. The staff is friendly and helpful. The restaurant is kept so clean and very relaxed. If you're in the area.... THIS is where you need to eat lunch! The marinara is made from scratch every morning from Frank's personal recipe. The food is fresh and delicious! You can't go wrong with any thing on the menu.

Always a treat. We come half way across the world lol...ok an hour and a half 72 miles, to visit my daughter at school and HAVE to stop in here. People are so friendly. Love,love, love the cannolis. BEST I've ever had. The fried mozzarella was outstanding and HUGE. Can't go wrong here.

Got the spaghetti and beef meatballs with angel hair to go . Very delicious and HUGE portion size . Very friendly staff . It’s an old feel inside but very clean . Will definitely be returning

Mandola’s Italian Deli was the perfect lunch date spot with my love. Every bite was delicious, savory, and honestly tasted like it was homemade and made with love. The kind of food that feels comforting but still special. Cozy vibes, incredible flavors, and the perfect place to slow down and enjoy good food with your person. We’ll definitely be back. 🍝✨

Don’t let the area or older building deter you from coming here. They are part of the Carrabas/Mandola Dynasty. if you have ever been to their restaurants you know what I’m talking about. Everything is made from scratch and also served piping hot when it comes to your table, no matter the time. The lunch rush is madness with the lunch crowd from UH/ TSU , but orders taken are fast and the wait was not long at all. They definitely have their system down. Food is also available for catering or for when you don’t feel like cooking with family size portions. There is so much history here , both in the family line as well as the city. They truly are a hidden gem. Parking lot (2there are 2, one in front, 2nd in back) is free but fills up quickly, groups should carpool if possible.

A well known Italian restaurant in the neighborhood, although this was my first time eating here. The food was so good. He had the spaghetti with meatballs and I had the chicken parmesan. It was perfect. Highly recommend.

I have been wanting to go for a long time but I dont live close. So glad I went. Old school family run Italian restaurant/deli. Mr Mandola was so gracious and friendly I would go back even if the Food was not great. But the food was GREAT!!! Get the lasagna for sure. I also had a wonderful sausage poorboy. Delicious. I also got the desert called Chocolate Delight.👌So good. Next time I am getting two lasagnas and I am definitely going to try the pizza. Also if you are a Houston Cougar fan this place is your fan club go-to. I went back. The sausage pizza was excellent-a lot smaller than I imagined for the price but it was so, so delicious. Italian beef with cheese was excellent. Lasagnas were ginormous and so tasty. Tried the Italian cream cake and I thought it needed more frosting. The chocolate delight is the dessert to get if you are only getting one.

Terrific family owned and operated old school Italian restaurant and deli. The food was great and the Sicilian Margherita pizza is unbelievably delicious. I highly recommend Mandola's Deli.

Alex G

Fantastic old school deli. Italian deluxe is one of the best sandwiches in the city. Mozzarella sticks, pasta salad, meatballs - all delicious.

Sebastian

The Italian beef is top tier 10/10 would recommend. The chicken marsala is also top notch. Friendly staff, reasonable price. Cant really ask for more.

Rose

Food: 10/10 Love the Pasta Brocato here. It’s made with penne pasta, grilled shrimp, & pesto-alfredo sauce. Taste is always amazing! Service and atmosphere: 10/10 Use to come here all the time before Covid. Lowkey forgot about them till a friend mentioned their pasta. Went back after a few years and their quality, taste, and presentation of food was still as outstanding as I remembered. Possibly even better. What makes the experience even better is the hospitality, customer service, authenticity, is also still top tier. It’s a family owned business and you can feel the love they put into their restaurant and food, and the HTX and Coog Spirit goes strong here. Their whole back wall is decorated with UH memorabilia, and they also have family/staff photos all throughout the establishment. Very homey and friendly staff and welcoming environment. Overall highly recommend!🙌💯

Stephanie Carter

Never heard of this place before now. I went there and ordered a catering for work because they had the sizes I needed, which was full pans of pasta. Joseph was very helpful, super nice. Everything was ready on time and hot. The lasagna was delicious, but the alfredo stole the show, the best alfredo sauce I ever had. Everyone at the office ranted and raved about the food, and are still ranting and raving a day later. Now I have a go-to place for office catering. Oh, and I sampled the Italian sausage, it was so yummy. Great job, I am so glad I found you all.

J B

The service went above and beyond to make sure that I had any questions about the menu explained to me, bc I mentioned it was my first time. Then I ordered a dinner item for lunch which they accommodate, and ordered food to go which I asked to be ready in 20 mins and it was. I had the Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti and it was perfect, no notes. The meal was very filling and the garlic bread helped soak up all the sauce leftover. Highly recommend

Jimmy G

Whent for lunch Boss lady and I had Chicken Parma and Spaghetti, cheese sticks and meat ball po boy and fries. Everything was awesome and picked up sausages on the go .

James McCarthy

What's not to say about mandolas deli. An absolutely amazing place with super friendly staff. We travelled from Ireland 🇮🇪 and just had to try the food. Needless to say it did not disappoint. I got the chicken parm po boy and meatball appetiser. The food was out of this world and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing. If you get to meet James while you're there he makes a mean latte.

+2

Loretta Williams

If you are looking for a true, delicious, Italian family cooking experience then come to Mandola's Deli. There were a number of families dining, Houston Fire Dept. staff, and being in the East End, plenty of Univ. of Hou. supporters dressed in their red shirts with the U of H logo. There are plenty of delicious options on their menu and their prices are not exorbitant. I visited during the lunch rush but the owners and staff attended to all of the customers in a timely, professional and courteous manner. We dined in during their 50th anniversary and also took more food to go. The deluxe poor boys were delicious, all made with very fresh vegetables and fresh meats. Their Italian spread was exquisite. The crust of the bread was crispy on the ouside and soft and delicate on the inside. One could tell that the bread was very, very fresh. The fried mozzarella cheese sticks were homemade and delicious. The chicken parmesan sandwiches that we took to go were a true gastronomic delight! A visit to the Mandola's Deli is a wonderful dining experience and one that should not be missed.

Ms Jeanz

Delicious the bread is so soft and toasty and sausage is incredible

Alex Brogan

Visited Mandola’s Deli on a Saturday at 1:30pm. It’s an old school family owned and operated spot with vintage charm; wood paneling and memorabilia on the walls. I thought I would’ve beaten the lunch crowd but ended up waiting in line for 40 minutes to order and receive my food. The large Deluxe Po-Boy was tasty and filling and the chocolate chip cookies were soft and delicious! I appreciate that the owner was working front and center at the register, providing great personable service, but he seemed stretched quite thin which slowed the line down. (Only person entering orders in the one register they have, but also attending to multiple things behind the counter.) I will definitely be back but during off peak hours, or phone in my order ahead of time.

+2

David Cortez

A classic deli for old school sandwiches with an Italian twist. How have I not been here before? It’s absolute perfection!! The meatballs and garlic bread are the best in the City. I can’t wait to try everything on the menu.

+1

Vicente Fuster

Another gem in Houston! Looking for the real Italian deal (and sometimes with a twist)? Mandola’s family tradition for “happiness through food” is a must when in Houston whether you’re a local or just a visitor (like me). From the moment you walk in and get greeted by the owner and staff, to ordering the food, to bringing that first bite to your mouth, it is all goodness!! I went with a couple who are great friends and as much of a foodie and I am. They are local and they had nothing to say but good things about Mandola’s Deli. The stuffed artichoke is the best in class, probably in all Texas! My friend C ordered the Muffuletta and his wife M ordered the eggplant parmigiana Po boy and they said it was fantastic. I had the Giovanni with spaghetti and it was delicious. Both the gent who took our order and the owner, said this plate is one of their best, and boy they are not wrong. Starting with a great flavored Italian sausage, sliced and grilled to perfection topped with four absolutely fantastic meatballs and a homemade sauce, it was a home run of flavors. This is another repeat restaurant for me next time I’m back in Houston. Thank you for keeping this traditional Mandola’s!!

Jenny H

Loved this family run restaurant. That owner greeted me, which was lovely. The food was on the higher priced side but it was delicious. My verrrry favorite thing was the Italian wedding cookies.. They are a must!!

+8

Michelle Connaway

Absolutely the best spaghetti marinara with steamed vegetables on top. One meal is enough for 2 whole meals for me. Family owned and been in operation 50 years. Support our local families and restaurants!! My only wish is they were open for longer hours

Mitch Fortey

I had not eaten here in 15 years. Joseph Mandola guided me through the menu and fixed me up with a delicious Deluxe poor boy. They have good Italian food here as well. An interesting Old City Houston atmosphere takes you back in time. I definitely recommend it. Prices are reasonable as well. It's definitely a hangout for the UH cougar crowd. As of today, the #1 ranked basketball team in America.

+2

Brandon Valdez

Highly recommend for casual Italian. Homemade cheese sticks were great. The lasagna was amazing. Everyone was very friendly. The chef saw us looking over the menu and came over to give us a run through. He was very helpful. Can’t wait to go back.

Great food, and the owner was super friendly, but the food was very pricey.

We stopped by for dinner with the family. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is warm. The food was flavorful and hot. Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner.

My lasagna was too much to finish but was good...yea I'd go back

What i had was good, meatball sub and potato salad. Potato salad was great , meatball sandwich was nothing you haven't had. For the cost I was expecting something that tasted homemade not freezer aisle Good clean environment. The cookies we picked up were really good. I'm sure if I go back I can find that 5 star entrée. Definitely worth a visit.

I had the chicken parmigiana, hubby had the spaghetti. They were both very good and the chocolate cake was delicious! Joe Mandola and his crew were on point- Mary was very friendly. A very good lunch!

Fast service and no lines. You get a warm welcome from Houston's own soup Natzi. Chicken Parmesan Sandwich was good and will get again.

Very nice little Italian restaurant with a great atmosphere. You can tell it's family owned and very customer friendly. There are these cute little old ladies working in the back helping to make your delicious food. I had the Pasta Mandola and liked it. The chicken was very good! Would recommend!

Its a chill spot. Good service. Fresh food. Chicken sandwich with a drink is $20. I've tried few meals from here in the past. Price is a bit high. But, restaurant is very clean and laid back. Wish the food had a bit more flavor to it.

It's been over 20 years that I last ate there. I'm going have to go back soon, the food was awesome and the staff was outstanding.

Italian Roast Beef…excellent. Tender succulent meat, light crispy bun. The Olive Salad…a must try if you like olives. The other food looked amazing. Nondescript place, well worth the stop. Update: the Italian sausage poboy is tasty!

Review Places

Food is ok. It needs some improvement on the taste. $22 for 1 pasta. Service was quick amd very friendly customer service. Clean restaurant. Oldies amd relax. We will visit again for lunch.

+6

SoBreezy

Sandwiches are not that good. The Chicken parm 5/5. Spaghetti and meat sauce was also pretty good. Kinda pricey for brunch time. But I enjoyed the parm very much.

Claudia

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.

Frank Manza

Had the Chicken Parmigiana on a garlic toasted po boy. It is not like mom makes but was pleasantly surprised, I also had the Italian sausage, which is very good. It's definitely worth giving it a chance. Will definitely be back when I'm in town

I noticed this restaurant on a trip to the Krogers on Polk St. I ordered the spaghetti & marinara with meatballs. The serving size was ample, but the marinara sauce lacked enough Italian seasonings such as oregano, basil, thyme, etc. Garlic bread was served on the side - only three small pieces.

Please know this is in hopes to make it a better place it has so much potential. I’ve lived in this area for 20+ years have always seen the place but it’s usually closed or empty. I’ve heard people say the place is good. On my drive today I finally stopped in, who doesn’t love sandwiches? My usual go to is potbelly. I walk in and it’s pretty basic nice quiet, clean, placed my order and honestly, I saw the prices were high, but was hoping the portions were compatible. I ordered to go, the turkey club and two individual cakes my total was $39.00. I probably should not have paid and walked out, but I wanted to give the food a chance since I’ve never eaten there before. The sandwich was tasty but not worth $14. The $8 cakes were small and bland but honestly maybe because I was priced shocked I didn’t enjoy them. My advice, keep the prices adjust your portions. The area is a food desert but your place could be busier. Sadly I can’t afford to come back. This long time native was not impressed. And yes I was still hungry, had to visit JacknBox around the corner to fill up.