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order $200 or more from our catering menu and recieve a $25 gift certificate for your next visit .Great for those unexpected guests!
Announced 5 days agoTue-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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We just tried Mondello's for the first time and I must say it was very pleasant! Tasty food and excellent service, plus reasonable prices - this will be a go-to spot for casual meals close to home.
We started with the half-order of antipasti, which was quite large. For our entrees, we had the special pumpkin ravioli in a gorgonzola and walnut sauce. It was so good, especially because the gorgonzola was subtle and not overpowering. We also had the penne salcicce - spicy housemade sausage in a creamy marinara sauce. Delicious!
Small selection of wine, but reasonably priced and covered all the bases.
The service was excellent. Attentive but not intrusive. Nicely paced meal, even though we were the last diners of the night. They let us relax and enjoy each course. Very friendly people. We will be back!
I have see some reviews about having not that great of a service. And I feel I must say I am a regular at Mondellos and all of them know me and my fiance as we dine there at least 1 a week if not at least 2 times a month or more. I have always had fantastic service every time and the food is always amazing. For any cesar salad fans I would have to say get their cesar, its amazing!! And of course the Linguini Gamberi or Veal... Just like my grandmas!!
Nice relaxing spot for standard Italian fare. 3.5 stars
Cost to worth it ranking: 3 (ended up $40/person with shared appetizer and bottle of wine)
Highlights:
- Staff: super duper nice and welcoming. Accommodating to different tastes in terms of swapping sauces out for pasta dishes.
- Wine: good amount of Italian wines with reasonable prices (most in $30 range)
- Mozzarella: fresh and homemade = yummy
- Meat tortellini: the hub was thrilled to find this on the menu, as it's his fave and most places don't serve it. Paired with meat sauce and a few heaping spoonfulls of Parmesan cheese, he was a happy camper.
- Sole: standard egg battered in lemon garlic wine sauce. Liked the steamed veggies and fresh rigatoni pasta in marinara sauce it came with.
Midlights:
- Minestrone: just ok--liked the veggies but I don't care for rice in my soups
Lowlights:
- We didn't fall in love with it like all of the other yelpers seemed to. :-o
Nice little place, but not sure I'll be back...
My mouth is watering just by thinking about their food. This place is so cute and food is authentic and delicious. They have the best Italian salad dressing and their seafood pasta with marinara sauce is sooooo good. This is a very intimate restaurant and it is good to bring your date if you want to impress. We've been here couple times and their service and food never disappoint.
WOW... I cannot tell you what a nice surprise this place was. I've passed by this place countless times and never gave it a second thought. During the day this place is really unassuming but at night it transforms into such cozy, charming little restaurant.
The service is methodically slow and ultra welcoming. I'm sure their speed of service is deliberate. This is not the type of place that you just pop in for a quick bite. It's a nice change of pace to go to a restaurant where you're encouraged to relax and enjoy your meal, rather than quickly shuffled in and out.
I took the advice of the other yelpers out there and shared half of an anti pasta platter with my BF. Absolutely delicious! Kalamata olives, hot cherry peppers, pepperoncinis, marinated artichoke hearts, prosciutto, house-made fresh mozzarella, marinated red onions, roasted red bell peppers and perhaps the best eggplant coponata I have ever tasted.
While I ordered the special pumpkin ravioli, my date ordered the red snapper with caper-lemon sauce. We both got the minestrone prior to our main course which was much different than most minestrones I've had. Much lighter and a flavourful bean-based broth. My pumpkin ravioli was the definition of indulgent. It was a perfect balance of sweet and savory. The Gorgonzola cream sauce contrasted beautifully against the sweet pumpkin and all of it's wonderful spices. The red snapper was flaky and oh-my-God so tender.
The wine list is nothing special, but very well priced. We got a bottle of Firestone Pinot Noir for $38. We finished our demonstration in gluttony with the chocolate-carmel drizzled cheesecake. It was a little sweeter than I normally like cheesecake, but the texture and flavour was otherwise spot on perfect.
I can't wait to go back to this sweet little restaurant. Okay, now I need to hit the gym!
I'm surprised how many people do not realize this restaurant is even here. This is my favorite "night out" restaurant in Moraga. The staff is always very friendly and I really enjoy the food. It is on the pricey side, but the portions are quite big and very good. The minestrone soup is great and I also like the salad with the option of mixing the house dressing and blue cheese. My favorite dish is the salcicce and they are very nice to let me have it on the gnocchi instead of the penne. The gnocchi typically comes with an aurora sauce that is also very good, but I like the spicy sacicce on most occasions. I have to keep myself from overeating the herb bread that comes to the table, it is so tasty.
The only downside is the 24 hour nautilus. People coming to work out have been parking in the restaurant only parking in front. I feel for the owners of the restaurant and hope they can work that situation out.
I have been frequenting Mondello's for the last 5 years or so. It is flat out as good as it gets for the full experience of solid, rustic Italian food along with great service in a space that feels like a large Italian living room where you are being served by family.
The Minestrone soup is deep and flavorful and the ceasar salads are fresh, bright, and delicious. The bread selection prior to your meal is also excellent with simple baguette slices alongside some wonderful herb bread. The wine selection is somewhat limited but all of the red and white selections are good and you will easily find a good wine to accompany your wonderful meal.
Standouts include the Bolognese sauce which is available as a sauce with any dish and does especially well with the homemade gnocchi. The lasagna portion is large and flavorful and the raviolis and tortellinis are perfection. Also don't miss the Fettuccine Alfredo served fresh and creamy. Perfect.
I could go on but you should just go yourself and experience the flavor, service and atmosphere of this excellent restaurant. You'll feel at home while you're there and will want to return as soon as you leave. Mondello's is all you can ask for every time.
Update: I feel I must update my previous review. I still think the food is phenomenal, and although we did receive rather rude service (specifically from a man who was waiting on us) when we've dined at Mondellos, I can forgive and forget. The owner contacted me and stated they do offer a full take-out menu (http://www.mondellos.com) which is fabulous. I plan to head down within the next few days and order their delicious gnocchi to-go! :)
This place is absolutely amazing. No one notices this small restaurant as it's sort of isolated from… Read more »
We live right down the street and have often meant to try this little place, but finally got a chance to this past Valentine's Day. With a newborn, we decided to go the take-out route for a romantic dinner after the baby was down for the night and it was wonderful!
We ordered the chicken parmesean dinner for four (we like to eat!) and added tiramisu. What a delicious meal! The bread was soft and buttery, the salad crisp with amazing homemade vinegarette, the chicken tender with an incredible melt in your mouth delicious flavor, and the pasta and sauce every bit as good as my Italian grandma's! The tirimisu rivaled our favorite place in Rome- authentic and incredible flavor!!
All we needed to add was a bottle of bubbly and a couple candles... it was perfect!
Strongly recommend!
Well, I was on a business trip to Ca, and thought I would check out an out of the way type place. Yelp pulled through for me as usual. This place is great! I ordered a Salmon dish that was awesome. The bread was really nice, and the mood friendly. I thought the prices were fair, I saw lots of dishes 12.00-14.00... what do you expect for good food? Anyway, if you are in the area, you should give it a try!
I love going here.
Mondello's is a homey kind of place, with suitably tasty, simple meals. The waitstaff are always polite and good-natured, and if you go there a couple of times they'll recognize you and, well, it is a good thing.
Delicious: Gnocchi! Oh my goodness, I've given myself away if they ever read this review.
Also delicious and of note: Minestrone. You would not think that a soup as basic as this would be on the "check it out" scale of things, but seriously, this soup is Where It Is At. I can't explain it, but it's so hearty and GOOD. It doesn't fiddle around with pasta or anything, it's just this thickish soup with beans and veggies and oh man if you cover it in parmesan you are so SET for life it is unreal.
Try out: Calamari Fritti. I'm sort of dating myself when I make cracks about finding out before you show up whether the fryer is working or not. Suffice it to say they have not had problems with the fryer for years and the calamari are delicious, they aren't rubbery, and they are worth your time and stomach acid.
Seasonal must-eat: Pumpkin ravioli. They only have it from October to December (or whenever they run out) and this year they're doing it with a roasted walnut gorgonzola sauce that, if you like gorgonzola with a hint of roasted walnuts, is perfecto. The ravioli themselves are deeeeelicious and better than any I've had anywhere else. Sorry, Genova.
The wine list is not terribly extensive, but what's on it is good. I recommend the Nozzole chianti (oh man did I remember it correctly?), as it goes well with nearly anything.
I would recommend that you eat here, if you are in Moraga, wondering what to eat, feel like a bit of pasta or veal scallopini, and don't mind eating in a relaxed, not-full-of-hipsters-and-or-young-people restaurant. It is not trendy, but it isn't trying to be and it doesn't have to be. Hooray!
I feel like I really found this amazing hidden gem.
Great place to go before or after Cal games, the owners are really cool and like to talk sports if you do.
But I also noticed a large family party that seemed like they were having a great birthday.
So the atmosphere is perfect, not trendy, but homey.
The food hit the spot!
Minestrone - awesome
Chicken Parm - Wow
Antipasto - again perfect
Cheesecake with a little Carmel - UMMMMMM
If you want some really great food with the family or your girlfriend, this is spot, dress it up, or be casual, but please go and tell me what you think. I can't wait to take my wife!
I love Mondello's!
It's so cute inside, and the same staff has been there since I was a little kid.
Everything is so tasty and homecooked!
Minestrone will knock your socks off.
The staff was friendly and accommodating and we had great service all night. The only down side was the food was just mediocre. Even worse than that is the fact that this meal for two people was pricier than what we get at even top rated Italian restaurants in San Francisco. We had high hopes for this place based on the reviews but we unfortunately were left a little lacking. We had spaghetti and meatballs (bland and dry) and the chicken parmesan was standard deep fried fare. The Caesar salads were drenched in dressing as well. I hope it was just a fluke...
This place is the best. Their spaghetti and meat balls never miss. I build myself up everytime knowing they are the best and think the next time I set the bar too high, but when I go back they are better than I remember.
We just took the place over for our wedding rehearsal dinner and the owners treated us like kings. The antipasti were excellent and they took care of our party of 35 like the pros that they are.
Its a restaurant where you can order anything off the menu and if you are really in the mood for that meal you will not be disappointed.
Small cozy place for a nice casual dinner. A++
Better Italian food than I've ever had in Italy. Their food is amazing, service great, I love this place.
Moraga, CA
Category: Italian
Moraga, CA
Category: Italian
Moraga, CA
Category: Restaurants
Lafayette, CA
Category: Italian
Moraga, CA
Category: Asian Fusion
