Mambo Italiano Mundelein

I did a search and only saw a brief reference to this restaurant in 2007. So I thought I would post this.

I went there Saturday. It was very crowded, but I thought the service we got did not appear to suffer as a result. I can no longer order like I used to so I can’t comment on the whole menu.

I had seafood risotto and my date had chicken Vesuvio. A small compliant, I asked the waiter are there any specials and he rattled off a list of about 10 or so. This was way too many. I heard one I liked and ordered it.

Both dishes came with soup or salad. I had the minestrone and she had the salad. The salad looked good. I thought the soup was very good.

When the risotto came, I was slightly disappointed. I had expected in to be a cream sauce, but it was served with a tomato sauce. (Chalk it up to my own ignorance.)

This was a huge amount of food: clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari, and a nice chunk of lobster in the middle. I was told it was 5 ounces. Having never tried this dish before, I was impressed. I thought the pieces of fish were numerous and very tasty. I especially liked the calamari. I am definitely not an expert here, but I thought it was tender and not rubbery at all. I have always assumed this meant fresh.

We went through 3 bread bowls, of very good bread. My daughter really liked her chicken.

I would be interested in anyone else’s opinions on this place. Oh, they had a one man guitar and singer in the bar area. His music was piped into the whole restaurant. I guess if I go back I will try to get a seat in the bar.

D.

Mambo Italiano
748 S Butterfield Rd
Mundelein, IL 60060
(847) 281-9100

I live fairly close by, so I've dined at Mambo Italiano a handful of times since they opened a few years ago. And I keep visiting to see if they've improved over time.

Unfortunately, to my way of thinking they haven't progressed. I mean, it's a nice-looking place even though it's in a strip mall, the waitstaff is attentive, there's a decent wine list, and I like their usage of fresh ingredients. But...it's just not inspired at all, with extremely Americanized versions of Italian cuisine, dumbed down for the masses it seems. It's almost maddening to dine there and say to yourself, heck, I can do better than this. Ironically, I think they do a brisk business on the weekends, with the huge Gregg's Landing development virtually across the street. But way up 35 miles northwest of the city, really authentic Italian joints are few & far between.

For anybody making the trek up this way, you'd be better off visiting Lauretta's Italian Bake Shop & Cafe on 709 S. Lake St. in Mundelein. Opened a couple years ago by the daughter of one of the owners of the former Two Guys from Italy in Highwood, Lauretta's is mainly a lunch spot specializing in paninis & soups. But they do have some very nice pasta dishes, and a great bolognese gravy. Get there before 7:00 on weeknights & 8:00 on the weekends, because they close early.

I am definitely not an expert here, but I thought it was tender and not rubbery at all. I have always assumed this meant fresh.

Rubbery usually means overcooked.

dodger wrote:I did a search and only saw a brief reference to this restaurant in 2007. So I thought I would post this.

I went there Saturday. It was very crowded, but I thought the service we got did not appear to suffer as a result. I can no longer order like I used to so I can’t comment on the whole menu.

I had seafood risotto and my date had chicken Vesuvio. A small compliant, I asked the waiter are there any specials and he rattled off a list of about 10 or so. This was way too many. I heard one I liked and ordered it.

Both dishes came with soup or salad. I had the minestrone and she had the salad. The salad looked good. I thought the soup was very good.

When the risotto came, I was slightly disappointed. I had expected in to be a cream sauce, but it was served with a tomato sauce. (Chalk it up to my own ignorance.)

This was a huge amount of food: clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari, and a nice chunk of lobster in the middle. I was told it was 5 ounces. Having never tried this dish before, I was impressed. I thought the pieces of fish were numerous and very tasty. I especially liked the calamari. I am definitely not an expert here, but I thought it was tender and not rubbery at all. I have always assumed this meant fresh.

We went through 3 bread bowls, of very good bread. My daughter really liked her chicken.

I would be interested in anyone else’s opinions on this place. Oh, they had a one man guitar and singer in the bar area. His music was piped into the whole restaurant. I guess if I go back I will try to get a seat in the bar.

D.

Mambo Italiano
748 S Butterfield Rd
Mundelein, IL 60060
(847) 281-9100

I have been there several times and its outstanding from the bread to pasta and service I think one of the best restaurant on the north shore love that chicken vesuvio