We tried Mangia Bene after a 10 year hiatus. Neither of us remembered disliking the place - but it didn't leave a strong impression the first time around. Man, were we surprised. My husband had filet mignon with a port-cocoa-espresso rub. It was tender, juicy, and the flavors of chocolate and coffee were a perfect compliment to the meat. I had mushroom risotto with truffle oil. The rice was perfect, creamy and rich with mushroomy goodness. Don't be fooled by the strip-mall location. And know that this restaurant is mis-categorized. You can (and should) eat in. Otherwise you'll miss the groovy mid-century Italian American singers like Dean Martin and Tony Bennett playing in the background.
more