Mambo Italiano

Food here is very good for the money you spend and service is always good. I am reading many of reviews which is not about what review should be and it is all about.... ""I did not get everything my way so this place is bad"". Trying to save is always good but respecting regulation is also as important. Mambos pizza, pasta is very good and all the portions are huge as in family style. This is not fancy upscale restaurant but it is worth five star of my money. more

Found a new italian restaurant and it was great. The food is great, very good service and the atmosphere made me feel as if I was in Little Italy. I would highly recommend you check it out. Will be back! more

\r This restaurant is such a disappointment! Bad service, medicore food and the management is RUDE! They truly act like they are doing you a favor to have you in their restaurant. There are so many better Italian restaurants in the Triangle that are superior to this place. Don't waste your time or your money- more

Its true that they don't honor their half off coupons and the service is not great any more and they stopped serving a salad with the meals. Now its extra. What next a price increase? They got too big for their britches too quick and won't be very popular for long when they pull stunts like this. As for the reviewer that berated the other reviewer and questioned their honesty about the half off coupons, get your facts straight before posting. It makes you look silly! They didn't lie about the coupons not being taken. more

Logging on with the intention of writing about my family's experience at Mambo Italiano tonight, I was surprised to see that someone, in the same place as I was for dinner this evening, wrote such a negative review. I've been a frequent customer of Mambo Italiano's since they opened their doors. However, I have never took to the ""network"" to share my experiences. Tonight, I felt my experience deserved recognition (even more so after reading the latest review). First of all, I don't believe that there has ever been a time where I have had a bad service experience (did the last reviewer find it so poor that they addressed the issue when speaking with the manager?). Second, if there ever had been a problem with my order, they had made sure to make it right (did they correct your issue?). Lastly, I have used several coupons myself, not only in there but also at other restaurants, and never expected or asked for ""double (quadruple) coupons."" I'm always leery of these negative reviews that are posted, I have to wonder what their real reason is for stating only the negative? Surely, there had to be something good, something reconciled, or someone that had to of enjoyed it? These are things that always seem to be left out. Our dinners (calamari, veal parm, chicken rustico, and tiramisu) and service both were excellent tonight! Even though, according to our waitress (and the singer announced it too) their computer system had crashed during dinner rush...pretty seamless transaction for such an eventful and stressful night I thought. I was willing to cut them some slack - if it had been needed. I'm a fan, I'm a customer, I'm a person who loves to go out and enjoy my night away from the kitchen. My opinion (past, present, and future) is that everyone has a bad night, servers and/or kitchen. However, I feel that if you're looking for good quality Italian food, consistency, and bang for your buck during these tough times, Mambo Italiano is the place to go...and I'm not easily pleased. ***UPDATE; after writing several other reviews on local restaurants, I have decided to change the 4 stars to 5 stars due to the fact that it is my most consistent enjoyable dining experience*** more

Service has gone way downhill...my family used to be regulars at Mambo's, but with increasing economic troubles we haven't gotten to go in awhile. I saw a deal on G105's Half Price Hookup where I could get 4 $25 gift certificates for $50, so I bought them and saved them to use for a special occasion. Well, that special occasion was ruined. The waitress was rude and did her best to try to turn over the table quickly until my friend finally told her to stop pushing us. I had to send a chocolate cake back that literally tasted like cleaning solution. And finally, when I went to pay the $125 bill with my four certificates and $25 in cash, I was told that I was only allowed to use one certificate per visit. Nowhere on the certificates did it say such a thing (I wouldn't have bought them if it had). It didn't say that anywhere in the restaurant or on the menu, nor on the website. I spoke with the manager who said that he was allowed to make any condition he wanted to. He didn't offer to help or compromise at all. When I asked him if he cared about losing possible repeat business, he said, ""Either way I get the $25."" What an attitude! There were a lot of ways he could have handled the situation that would have been a good compromise, but he obviously thinks he has plenty of business without us. Not for long, I suspect. more

We went for lunch and had veal dishes which were tasteless. The tomato sauce tasted as if it were straight from the can. The salad was iceberg lettuce with a little onion. All in all, the food was not good at all. I didn't even finish my dessert and when I don't finish my dessert, something is not right. The wait staff was not good. \r \r I sent the manager an email to complain about the food. In response, I received an email stating ""you may have a TBHD its passed down from generations sorry for you."" I responded that I didn't know what this meant; the manager responded ""seek help. overcritical maybe a doctor.""\r \r Maybe it is just me, but I don't think it is over critical if one pays $50 for lunch and receives a meal that is not good. more

Went in for dinner with my husband, another couple, and our children. The entertainment was very loud to the point where we could not hear our table""s conversation....very distracting. The entertainer ""Carmen"" was actually watching porn with his laptop open in which was in plain sight of the children sitting at the table. Food was mediocre at best and very pricey. We even had a difficult time using our restaurant coupon they are constantly promoting. The waitstaff is very unprofessional. They were continuously gossiping and were rude. I would not recommend eating at this establishment unless you have no moral values. more

Three things: 1) Our server Josh, was great. 2) We used a Twongo coupon. The restaurant did not honor the terms of the coupon. We didn't find out about this until halfway through the meal. 3) The food is not good. The seasoning is minimal, the chicken on my dish was not integral to the dish, it was like a garnish (and the dish was chicken rustica!) and the sauce had little flavor unless you bit into a chunk of garlic. The bread was below average and the salad was a disgrace! Iceberg lettuce and some tastekess grated cheese? Come on people, it's 2010, we don't do that any more! The other dish was a shrimp dish and I fear that it was past it's optimal serve date, as it smelled very bad. The owner and/or chef never came by to check on us, although the service was good our water was never refilled and it was rather expensive. Very expensive considering the poor quality of the food. There are too many good choices for Italian food to have to suffer through this. For instance, Daniel's is just down the road and is 100 times better. WIthin walking distance is Carrabba's which is consistently above average and even though it's a chain, at least they care about what they serve you. Oh - and we were both sick the following day. Coincidence? more

I admit the first time I came to this restaurant, it was a wonderful experience. I think it was the waitress we had, she was awesome. She was from NY and on her way to Italy. However, my last experience was enough to make me comment on here and not return.\r \r We had questions about the menu and specials. 99% of the answers to our questions started with ""for an additional amount"". Seriously, if I had a dollar for each time I heard those words, my meal would have been paid for. Ceasar and Blue Cheese dressing is extra, but Ranch and Italian are not? I think the owners need to learn about Bob Ferrell and his slogan ""Just give them the pickles"". We did ask for a substiution and offered to pay for it, and the waitress said ""the owner is not here, so I can't ask if we can do it:"". I got the message that clearly the owners don't trust the waitstaff to make simple decisions for good customer service.\r \r The bread was hard and stale. ALthough the second batch did come out fresh, we'd have rather waited, than to have the hard bread come out to begin with.\r \r The mood was not overly friendly. It was just ""there"" and we ate. It is what it is. The food was good and plentiful, but that is not enough to bring us back. \r \r I don't see how this place will stay in business as they just don't fill the place and they certainly won't with this type of service. more

One of the worst experiences in my life. The sign outside of Best in Apex, must be a joke. Second of all, if you average out the ratings on the place, its actually a 3.57 out of 5, not a 4 out of 5. We got seated right away, and from there it went down hill. It took about 5 minutes to get drinks ordered, then it took about 10 minutes to get them. We had ordered two beers and a carafe of wine. We were seated at the end of the long bench at the far wall, NEXT TO THE BAR! Should not have taken that long. The waitress then took her time coming back to get orders, in the meantime, I had finished my drink, and was waiting for the waitress to ask if I would like another one. I could have asked, but when you wait tables, you should be scanning drinks and asking, not make me do your job and then expect a tip. The food came after 50 minutes from the time we ordered. I broke down and asked for one about 10 minutes before the food arrived, still no drink. The food tasted good. Our friends food was lukewarm, my wife's was scolding hot, and mine was average. It was probably hotter in the restaurant, since they seem to have cooling issues as well. So, I finish my entree, still no drink, I have to ask as the waitress is clearing plates if I can get my drink. She turns around and grabs a beer from the bar. I guess that was mine sitting up there for 10 minutes getting warm. Meal is over and NO ONE is impressed. The place is overly hot, we are all sweating to the point it is showing through clothes. The service was for from what we had to tip. We used a Restaurant-dot-com coupon, that automatically puts a 18% tip on the bill. The waitress didn't know that until we paid for the meal, so it wasn't like she was just sloughing off, she was really that bad. To top it all off, we write an email to the owner nicely stating that we did not have the greatest time, and hi email back, does not offer any condolences just a ""don't tell your friends and start malicious gossip"". So much for the customer is always right. So to all my friends, and fellow reviewers - this is not malicious gossip, it is the God's honest truth. Go to any other restaurant in Apex, and you will have a MUCH better experience. more

The staff and management was rude, won't go back again! Cons: Rude Management more

Fresh great tasting food, so good I could not wait to tell my friends about it. All of my friends can't believe how good the food is. The deserts are made in house and are fantastic. If you love someone take them to Mambo Italiano and they will love you to. Pros: Great food, Great Service Cons: have not found any more

I had high expectations (the fabulous storefront, the ranking as best overall in Apex, etc.) I also love a good Italian meal! We were seated and quickly got our drinks and directed to the special board. The waitress knew the dishes well and was very nice. We had to ask for our bread and were very disappointed with what we got. The ""rolls"" were tasteless, which is fine when paired with a good dipping oil, and were served with a a pat of butter that you would expect to see at a seafood buffet with you hush puppies. The salad was pitiful...iceburg lettuce with a few sliced olives, about 5 shreds of cheese and piece of diced tomato. For an appetizer, we ordered stuffed mushrooms and were arguing over which one of us would have to eat the last one. I choose stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer with every Italian meal that offers them and I make them myself at home. They were just awful. Finally, the meal! We were hopeful that it would get better. It got worse! My husband ordered baked ravioli, which was decent if you love ricotta and very sweet red sauce. I ordered the fettucini alfredo (again, I order it every where I go and make it myself). The ONLY thing I tasted was butter. I imagined several sticks of butter, melted in a pan with a sprinkle of seasoning, toss in some noodles, and serve. I felt sick eating it and didnt even want the leftovers. If you know anything about me, it's that I never, ever, walk away from my fettucini alfredo! ;) I could feel the slime on the roof of my mouth for about an hour afterwards! Ill be fair and say that maybe the cook made a mistake and forgot an ingredient or got the butter and cream mixed up, but apart from that, I am at a loss. It was just that bad!\r We will absolutely never visit this restaurant again.\r \r We do have a new favorite Italian restaurant in the area, and had decided not to go anywhere else....Ill plan to stand by that decision in the future ;) Pros: Nice atmosphere, enjoyed the entertainment, great waitress Cons: Food was awful more

After hearing that this place is the greatest thing since sliced bread, we decided to check it out. We decided to eat early, so at 5:30, we were able to be seated in a booth in a timely manner. However, after placing an order for a beer and a soft-drink, it took well over 15 minutes to be served. Meanwhile, although he had not brought the beverages, the waiter asked us 2x to place our order. The first time, we said we were not ready, and the next time, my husband told him we wouldn't be ready to order before he brought the beer and soft drink. Finally, the waiter got the hint and brought the beverages. He then brought us some bread, which was decent. My husband had to get up to read the specials from the board because the waiter was so eager to take the order that he failed to mention these options. We felt pressured to order, so we chose a veal dish to share. It came with a house salad at no additional cost and a ceasar or gorganzola salad at an additional $2. We ordered one house and one ceasar. Within seconds the salads arrived. They were fresh , yet nothing to write home about. Within moments, a busboy came and attempted to clear our partially eaten salad bowls. We told him we were not finished, and he left and returned a couple moments later, so we surrendered our salads because the waiter was already placing our entree in front of us, and it was obvious that our idea of a quiet, relaxing meal was not an option......we were on a time clock and our time was running out quickly. \r Although the veal was good, it wasn't any better than other Italian places in the area. The same busboy returned shortly to see if we were finished....we politely told him that we had hardly had time to taste the food. He and the waiter came back to see if we were finished several more times. There was plenty left over, so we asked to have it boxed and let him know that we wanted the check. It was not a positive experience. We will not be rushing back. NO PUN INTENDED Pros: Entertainment by Carmine Cons: RUSHED more

My wife, two kids, mom and a friend went with high expectations. They were exceeded. We had an Italian feast that did not disappoint. We intentionally avoided the pizza to sample a few of the real Italian dishes. We also ordered way more food than we normally would to sample what this place had for the first time here. For starters we got the fried calamari and an order of stuffed mushrooms. They were both great and gone quickly. My wife and mom got a carafe of the homemade wine. They both liked it a lot and after a taste I did as well. A bit sweet for me but a perfect drinking wine for a meal like this. We tried the Sausage & Broccoli Rabe, the Chicken Saltimboca, the Chicken Parm & the pasta bolognese (we went with capellini). All of the food was cooked perfectly and the balance of salt, sweet & sour was unreal. You could tell these recipes were time tested and prepared correctly. The cheeses, italian meats, spices and vegetables were all top notch. Our kids loved everything as much as the adults. It's really fun to have a table full of food to share with everyone; just like a holiday dinner with the family. We hope to become regulars and get to know the staff to make it an even better experience. What a find! Pros: Great homemade wine & sauces and heaping portions. Cons: Employees could interact more to enhance experience. more

We had a nice table. The service was good. The homemade wine was excellent and at a fair price. We liked the fruit that was served in the wine. We have Italian Backgrounds. It appeared that there was too much sugar added to the tomato sauce, (gravy). It was too sweet and we did not like it. We never add sugar when making Italian food. Overall, we gave the restaurant a 6.5. Pros: Abundant food. Great homemade wine. Fair prices Cons: Judging the Gravy or Sauce, it was Too Sweet more

Mambo Italiano serves it's meals family style. The entrees are enough to feed 2-4 people and the pastas are enough to feed 4 people. On Saturday nights, Carmine sings and entertains the guests. We arrived at 7:15 pm on a Saturday and were told a 25 minute wait. We actually waited 60 minutes for a table. The food was so worth it! The meal itself took 60 minutes for a table of 4. Try it but go before 7:00 pm. Pros: Lots of food Cons: Long wait on weekends more

My family and I wanted to try this restaurant after reading about it in a local magazine. We loved the location and the décor was very inviting and a nice layout. It was four adults and two children. They tried to put all of us at a four top table squeezing each kid in a highchair in between two adults all on one side of a table. We knew quickly that would be impossible and asked to move a two top up to the table so we could have enough elbow room to get our fork to our mouth! After nearly 20 minutes just waiting for wine and not even getting a chance to place our order we asked for crayons. The kids were getting tired of waiting but were happy to have bread. The waitress said she would check and they had a lot of suggestions from other parents for the same. She never mentioned it again – so no luck with that. I ordered the salad with gorgonzola for extra money and it is a waste. You get about 1 tablespoon for $2.00 extra. We finally received our meal and had to ask for fresh parmesan as well as extra plates for the kids. Our salad bowls sat at our table almost the entire entrée in our way. It took asking for a desert menu twice before getting one and then another 15 minutes to get a piece of cake. I asked three times for a bag for our leftovers. To sum it up it took us over 2 hours to eat dinner and a lot of waiting. This restaurant was advertised as family friendly but really does not cater to children well; no booster seats, crayons, coloring sheets, kids menus, fun kids cups and only very large utensils. If you pack all the above and your children can stay occupied for over two hours then give it a try. The food was tasty and good portions but the wait time and flow was not good. We still tipped 20% because our waitress was very busy and making an effort. We would not go back unless they make these changes? Pros: tasty food Cons: slow service more

Just trust me on this ...try it you""ll love it Pros: Best Calamari ...period Cons: I eat too much when I go there more