By Oliver van der Spuy
Tucked in between Sal’s Barber Shop and Hana’s Nail Salon is Mambo Italiano. Before Mambo there was another restaurant called That Family Feeling. Beloved for its fries, milkshakes and great American cuisine, it was replaced by Mambo in early 2024 by two former employees of That Family Feeling.
Overall, I have heard positive reviews from people who have visited this new eatery, matching with its impressive 5 star reviews on Google.
From the outside, mambo looked like any other sit-down restaurant, however, from the moment we stepped inside, we were greeted by its soothing ambience. warm lights, paintings, plants and soft music added to the already great experience.
The service here was amazing, as soon as we walked in the door we were seated by a very kind hostess. Almost instantly, we were given freshly baked bread with some type of tasty garlic butter. After ordering a starter, a ceasar salad arrived within five minutes. Our entrees, lasagne and rigatoni with meatballs and marinara came out shortly after.
Before going to Mambo, we did our homework. We spoke with family friends who go to Mambo often. They suggested Caesar salad, rigatoni with tomato sauce and meatballs, and lasagna.
We can’t stress enough how good the service was at Mambo. The quality of the salad was fantastic. The ingredients were all fresh, including the grated parmesan. The salad’s savory, salty dressing complemented its fresh, crispy lettuce counterpart.
For the lasagne, the pasta was perfectly cooked. The beef was perfectly seasoned and paired beautifully with the ricotta layers. The dish’s beef was amazing, but for me, the sauce really stood out. Its excellent texture, along with the bursting flavors, was the highlight of the meal.
I did not have the pleasure of enjoying rigatoni, but George Miles, my partner for this review, did. When discussing the meal, he said, “The soft tang of the tomato, and kick of the onion in the rigatoni sauce is great. … The pasta is perfectly cooked. And you can tell that the meatball is handcrafted, it’s perfectly balanced. It’s wet, spicy, sweet, and crispy and soft all at the same time.” (It sounds like it is definitely something to order next time).
Overall, the dining experience at Mambo was excellent, as was the food. However, Mambo is very expensive compared to other places in town. Despite having excellent dishes, a fantastic atmosphere and great service, I would give Mambo an 8 out of 10 because it’s expensive. It is somewhere I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting some nice Italian food in Irvington, or anyone looking for a great sit down restaurant.
