The wait is over. Carrabba's co-founder opens new Italian restaurant in Jacksonville

A highly anticipated upscale-casual Italian restaurant offering a hybrid customer service model is welcoming guests to the table in Jacksonville — the first of several locations planned in Northeast Florida.

Texas-based Mandola's Italian Kitchen from Carrabba's Italian Grill co-founder Damian Mandola opens Wednesday at 11112 San Jose Blvd. at Mandarin's Claire Lane Center — home to Trader Joe's, Barnes & Noble and more.

But Mandola's is different from Carrabba's, Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden and others. Instead of being seated and placing a drink and meal order at the table with a waiter, guests review a menu and place and pay for their order at a counter, similar to The Loop Pizza Grill, Panera Bread and others, pour their own soft drinks from the beverage counter and choose their own table.

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Servers bring out fresh focaccia bread to the table while diners' meals are prepared in the open kitchen. And before entrees are delivered, guests already thinking about dessert can scope out the bakery case or explore the small marketplace offering dried pasta and more.

Mandola's is meant to be experienced and not just a place to sit down and eat or pick up a meal to go.

The Mandarin restaurant is among 10 Mandola's either open or coming soon in Florida and Texas. It's also the first of a half-dozen planned for Northeast Florida, Dan Rainville, a developer and joint venture partner in Mandola's, previously told the Times-Union.

What to expect at Mandola's

Ample portions of freshly made-from-scratch classic Italian cuisine including desserts from authentic family recipes served amid a casual, family-friendly ambiance is a Mandola's hallmark.

Founded in 2006 in Austin, Texas, Mandola's is known for its antipasti, chicken, salmon and beef entrees, pizza, panini, salads, soups and especially its homemade desserts: Italian cookies, cakes and gelato, all made on-site in the restaurant's bakery and gelateria and showcased in glass display cases positioned prominently in the spacious dining room as if to say "life is short, eat dessert first."

Walk in the front door, the desserts and full-service coffee bar are on the left at the front of the dining room. The counter where you order your meal is straight ahead. The full-service bar is on the right. An open kitchen spans the back wall allowing guests to see the hustle and bustle of the choreography unique to chefs and line cooks preparing meals.

The dining room decor features chairs painted the vibrant colors of the Italian flag, rustic tables, soccer banners and Italian-themed murals.

On the menu at Mandola's Italian Kitchen

“These are the recipes I grew up on, the recipes I made for my kids, and the same recipes we still make at home for our friends and family,” Mandola previously said. “I’ve been making this food since I opened my first restaurant 47 years ago and it still brings me such joy to share this food with our customers.”

Mandola's signature dishes include:

• Chicken Piccata ($17.25): Chicken breast sauteed with lemon butter white wine sauce and capers then finished with fresh parsley and served with a side of Fettuccine Alfredo

• Salmon Di Lusso ($19.50): Grilled salmon topped with lemon butter sauce, artichokes, mushrooms, roasted tomatoes and fresh basil

• Pollo all Griglia ($16.75): Chicken breast marinated in extra virgin olive oil and herbs then grilled and served with grilled veggies

• Lunette Modo Mio ($14.50): Half-moon pasta stuffed with chicken, pork, mortadella, prosciutto, ricotta and Romano cheeses, in a creamy sauce with peas and mushrooms

• Margherita Pizza ($13.50): Tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil and extra virgin olive oil

• Pugliese Pizza ($14.50): Tomato sauce, mozzarella, Sicilian fennel sausage, pan-roasted mushrooms and shaved sweet onions

Paninis are served until 4 p.m. daily and range from Mandola's Hero ($14.75) to Vegetaiano ($13.50), Italian Sausage and Peppers ($14) and Meatball ($13.50). Salads range from a small Mista or Caesar ($4.50) to Chopped Italian ($13.50).

Save room for dessert

To say Mandola's offers sweet treats would be an understatement.

The restaurant's walk-up bakery case showcases traditional Italian desserts, including cookies such as Pignoli, Anginetti, raspberry thumbprint and lemon ricotta; cake by the slice ($8), including Italian Cream Cake, Coconut Cake and Tiramisu; cannoli ($4.50); and a rotating selection of gelato flavors (starting at $4.99), the menu shows.

The coffee bar offers espresso, cappuccino and coffee. Meanwhile, the lounge offers a diverse wine selection including Mandola's own label as well as craft beers and cocktails.

Mandola's Italian Kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mandola's Italian Kitchen opens first Jacksonville restaurant