Bites Nearby: Countryside's Mangia Mangia Invites You To Eat Eat!

If you’re doing some discount food shopping, check out the Italian eats at (5555 S. Brainard Ave., Countryside).

Nestled between TJ Maxx and Marshall’s, it’s the kind of place you forget exists until you’re shopping in that mall. It has all the stereotypical trademarks of an Italian joint. Red and white checkered tablecloths, white lights strung throughout and a complimentary bread basket.

Most of the dishes appear to be made from scratch, including the Italian dressing.  Chunks of garlic and herbs consumed this dressing, so if you’re a garlic lover, you’ll love it, maybe not your date!

For as much garlic that was used in the dressing, the marinara sauce didn’t really have any garlic tones to it, actually, not much flavor at all. The sauce is a tomato puree and on the sweeter side.

I went with the grilled chicken salad for lunch. When I order anything grilled, I expect at least one grill mark, noting the use of a grill. The chicken appeared to be pan seared and not particularly flavorful, resting on a bed of mesclun greens.

If your restaurant selection is driven by large portions, Mangia, Mangia is the place to go. I was offered a side soup with my lunch. Of the soup choices, I ordered the pasta fazool. This traditional pasta-bean soup came in a huge dinner-sized bowl. It was hearty, delicious and totally in my comfort zone.

The one thing that has always perplexed me about Mangia, Mangia is that with ALL the foot traffic at that strip mall, there is never a line and it's never packed…especially during lunch hours.

A contributing factor to the lack of lines is that this is not a “cheap eats” place. The prices reflected on Mangia Mangia’s menu rival those of a Maggiano’s.

Take advantage of their 10% discount for paying cash on orders over $20. The lunch menu offers many dishes in half portions.