“ My friend and I dined in for dinner on a Friday night and were seated immediately. I ordered the smoked salmon penne and was very happy with the food. From past experiences I have noticed they tend to seat the younger/dressed down customers in the courtyard area. Not to say the restaurant has a dress code, but just an interesting observation. Definitely a solid place for Italian food in Bellingham! ”

“ Excellent food. Waitstaff is attentive and helpful. One star removed because of loud music... but then I'm an old codger. Always enjoy a meal here. ”

“ Okay. *clears throat* In this essay I will say why Mambo's is superior to all Italian restaurants: The staff is always greeting you with a smile, the food is to die for, the decor, and don't you even get me started on how cozy and warm the ambiance is. I ordered from Olive Garden not too long ago, because they were closer and was sorely disappointed in the quality and heat of the dish. Not once has Mambo's ever let me down; in their service, taste, or take-out efficiency. Not to mention; they just introduced a new rewards program! I truly believe they should be a chain, but I feel honored that it's its own little slice of heaven! :) This concludes my essay! Thank you!! ”

“ I visited here with a large group after wedding dress shopping recently (not for me!) - even though we were a big group of over 10 people, they happily accommodated us and even let us split things into separate checks. The service was fast, friendly, and efficient. Our server handled everything so well, even though there were so many of us. The food was delish - I had their seared halibut special, served with pasta, and it was quite tasty. And so filling - I really wanted to order some dessert, but couldn't imagine eating another bite! It's a pretty tight space, and kinda loud, but that's really my only "dislike" about Mambo. Other than that, it's good to see they're still so popular after all this time! ”

“ We were up in Bellingham checking out the WWU campus. A friend mentioned that Mambo Italiano was a delicious restaurant. We had a very late lunch/early dinner. The restaurant is small, you a can hear all the fresh food being prepared in the kitchen. We all tried something different. I had the pistachio cream gnocchi with roasted chicken- was soooo rich and delicious!! Everyone loved their food! Service was fantastic! Highly recommend! ”

“ WHAT A GREAT DEAL!! There are a lot of customers that love Mambos. Well, the people at Mambos just gave us another reason to love them. Currently (until December 30, 2023), Mambos is offering gift cards for $35. Then when the cards are issued, Mambos put $70 worth of credit on it. Yes, you read that correctly!!! AND, they do not expire.! Once again... WHAT A GREAT DEAL !!! ”

“ Ha! I never knew about this wonderful place. I blame the wonderful Black Cat! After being told there that they had an hour and a half waiting list (this is what happens when you spontaneously try to dine here at 7 PM on a Friday night), we milled around in the Sycamore Square building. We happened upon Mambo Italiano--only a 20 minute wait, but the bar was available pronto and no extra wait for food! What luck!!! At the outset, we totally fell in love with our fabulous bartender/server, Scarlett. Great service, great sense of humor and great drinks! It was mocktail night for me, and she offered up (I think I have the ingredients right) a concoction of sparkling soda water, lime, coconut creamer, honey, a burnt orange slice and a fancy bartender cherry. OMG! You wouldn't know it didn't have alcohol in it (unless you tested your blood ETOH level...) It was a fascinatingly flavored drink. We decided to nickname it "Scarlett's Surprise." The second was a lovely combination of soda, agave syrup, pineapple, lime (I think) and cayenne pepper--name to be decided, so I shall provisionally name it "Scarlett's Caribbean Poolside." Wonderful! Butternut Squash Soup was very nice. Clams for dinner from the starter selection--most excellent and especially the broth--oh my gosh. And the Greek Salad (we added lovely prawns cooked to perfection) was an amazement. I have never had better. So very fresh, perfectly executed, and the dressing added to the taste of such freshness (white balsamic dressing) as did the feta which was creamy and not briny at all (which I sometimes like, but this was better for this dish). The place is lively, cozy, old-timey looking and jazzed up by a billion fabulous paintings by Ben Mann--so another new discovery for me. Everyone looked like they were having a great time. Wonderful night out after all! ”