Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
There is a Venetian style restaurant called Mandile’s in Algonquin, but it’s location is perplexing. You can see it as you pass by, but you can’t figure out how to get into it. At least my husband, aka: “Wrong Way Jim,” couldn’t figure it out. Hint: You should pass it by, then turn around and come in from the east. What’s even harder to find is a gondola!
Mandile’s Restaurant & Banquets
2160 Lake Cook Road
Algonquin 60102
(847) 458-4000
www.mandilesrestaurant.com
Directions: Take 47 north to Algonquin east to Lake Cook Road (turn left).
Estimated Travel Time: 24 minutes
Now that that’s out of the way, Mandile’s is a restaurant and banquet hall all in one. The restaurant is on the second floor and the banquet hall is on the lower level. FYI: Handicap accessible with an elevator.
The rows of tables were set in a “Venetian” style courtyard with arches and little Italian lights to enhance the Mediterranean flare. You felt like you were sitting, enjoying a night in Northern Italy.
We were treated to a basket of warm Italian bread and a plate of olive oil sprinkled with parsley, red pepper flakes, and a few drops of balsamic vinegar, and to Nancy’s delight, there was a huge mound of fresh garlic in the center. The bread with the garlic was devoured by Nancy, so we decided not to order an appetizer.
Jim ordered the Giovanni’s Pasta Di Casa ($17) which is rigatoni layered and baked with meatballs, buffalo mozzarella, a hardboiled egg (yes, you read that right), and marinara sauce. He thought the meatballs were great and what’s not to love about baked cheese and pasta?
Nancy ordered the Lasagna ($15) which was house made, baked, and layered with meat, ricotta, mozzarella, and marinara sauce. She prefers very meaty lasagna, and this one fit the bill.
Both entrees came with either soup or salad. I chose the salad with garlic dressing (who would have thunk?) and Jim had Pasta Fagiola.
It was “Deja Vu all over again,” when Tony Ocean walked in to perform that night. We seem to be running into him at Italian restaurants but that’s okay since his restraining order has expired!
We ended the dinner with a new dessert. We said we were going to get away from the usual Tiramisu, and we did. We ordered the Lemoncello Marscapone Cake with white chocolate shavings on top ($6). This was absolutely sinful. It would be a crime if you went there and didn’t order this dessert. It is something that you “can’t refuse….”
Mandile’s is not a quiet, romantic restaurant; instead it has a very loud communal atmosphere with good food and huge portions. I am going to be slaving over a hot microwave, working my fingers to the bone pushing buttons preparing my hubby a wonderful (left-over) meal!!!
The total bill for a night in Venice was $50.10. That’s amoré!!!
Jim’s take: This was another new dish for me. The pasta was baked to a golden brown on top, the meatballs were tasty, and somehow the hardboiled egg worked. Nancy put up a good fight for the dessert, but I won!
Nancy’s take: I loved the Lemoncello Marscapone Cake, it was out of this world! And I found another place for good lasagna; it was delicious. I hate to differ with Jim, BUT, the mound of garlic in the olive oil mixture wasn’t huge by my standards.
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