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Mambo Italiano Cafe

(Not Yet Rated)
Mambo Italiano Cafe 0:0

Address

1303 12th St.
Bellingham , WA 98225
(360) 734-7677

Hours

Mon-Thurs 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sat 11:00 AM - Midnight
Fri 11:00 AM - Midnight
Sun 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Review

Since opening, Mambo Italiano Café has not had a quiet moment. On weekend evenings, a crowd is almost always clustered in front of the door. With classy retro décor, high brick ceilings, funky local artwork, and a plethora of chic-looking diners and staff, it feels like a 1950s bistro. The six outdoor tables that line the downtown Fairhaven sidewalk provide front row seats for people watching, and a tiny but inviting bar in the back of the restaurant looks like the perfect place to sip a glass of Merlot and have deep thoughts.

Besides the abundance of atmosphere, Mambo Italiano’s food also rates highly. The dinner menu lists each entrée in Italian, but descriptions are in English. The antipasti (appetizer and breads) range from French onion soup to bruschetta, described as "grilled slices of bread with garlic, extra virgin olive oil and seasonal toppings." One of the seasonal toppings turned out to be Italian ham. The pasta is the highlight of the menu. The luscious penne pasta with smoked salmon, cream sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts was an instant favorite.

The menu also features two kinds of lasagna, chicken fettucini, linguini, tortellini with four cheeses and New York Strip Steak. The steak is pan seared and then fire-deck roasted in the fire deck oven. Seafood items and chicken dishes are also on the menu. The lunch menu consists of mostly sandwiches and fire-deck roasted pizzas. The pizza is the substantial kind that requires a fork. The special oven used for pizzas does great things to the crust. The waiter informed me that Mambo’s fire deck oven is one of only a few in the Northwest. The flame can be controlled over a large surface, which allows food to be roasted evenly and makes both vegetables and meat tastier.
Written By: Diana Wurn
On: 6/17/2001

Directions

In downtown Fairhaven, near the corner of 12th and Harris streets in the brick building.

Features

Dinner | Outdoor seating | Beer and Wine | Lunch

Map

User Reviews

Darly MayReams
65rating
(5)
(0)
1/11/2006
Mambo Italiano is the best italian restaurant in Bellingham! Its great for group gatherings, or a hot date ;) you can't go wrong with MAMBO!
(0)
(0)
Donna Haskell
20rating
(1)
(1)
6/5/2005
First To Review
My Grandson took me to your restaurant today and I had the best French Onion soup I have tasted in my long life time.I can't wait to come back and try other items on your menu.
(0)
(0)
katy
katy 
10rating
(1)
(0)
2/8/2008
Mambo is wonderful! If you didn't like it you're crazy!! My husband and I have a newborn baby girl, so we aren't able to go out as often as we used to. But when we do have a chance to go out we go to Mambo Italiano. It has great ambiance and the food is delicious... not to mention the drinks are fantastic.
(0)
(0)
phillis
10rating
(1)
(0)
11/19/2007
i went to there friday night and it was the worst dining excpeirence of my life. from the minute i walked in to the moment i left. i Had to be seated outside where it was FREEZING! when i got my food it was cold and the lady who was serving me acted if she was better then me. then what just set me over the edge was when i was leaving one of the other waitresses said to mine that i has a cheapass for not leaving her a larger tip.
(0)
(0)
CrazyNurse
10rating
(1)
(0)
9/22/2007
My husband and I went to this place and loved it! They have an Italian Greyhound drink that is soooooooooo good. A mix of vodka, grapefruit and an Italian liquor. The food was great and loved the brushetta.
(0)
(0)
Doug and Lisa
10rating
(1)
(0)
6/25/2007
We had the opportunity to experience Mambo Italiano last Friday night. It was fantastic....great menu, excellent service and the atmosphere was alive. It felt like you were in Philly or New York City. Alot of places in the Northwest, tend to be laid back.....not Mambo, it has an air of great conversations, wonderful visuals of different dishes passing you by and the aroma of true Italian cooking. I can't wait to go back.
(0)
(0)
Anonymous
10rating
(1)
(0)
5/27/2007
omg mambo is sooooo good. quattro formaggio is my life.
(0)
(0)
Anonymous
10rating
(1)
(0)
5/25/2007
My husband and I found this place after a recommendation from a friend. The prices are really reasonable and the food is amazing with really nice portions. We were able to bring food home, which makes for an incredible next day lunch!! YUMMY! The wait staff was very good as well.
(0)
(0)
Paige Saffle
10rating
(1)
(0)
12/21/2006
I visited with my boyfriend and two of my friends and their food is delicious! I recommend the Spinach Salad. It was the perfect size and tasted wonderful. (I was able to eat it all.) A great place for lunch! :-)
(0)
(0)
Samantha
10rating
(1)
(0)
3/28/2006
I went to Mambo on friday night with a girlfriend and it was perfect! We sipped martinis and had amazing food! I highly recommend the Ranch Chicken Pizza with a cosmopolitan (They make the best one)!
(0)
(0)
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