(October 16, 2009)

Lakeway is first and foremost a family area. So what better for a family area than a fun, family restaurant? Mangieri's at 2133 Lohman's Crossing is just that. It's accessible and not in least bit intimidating. It serves up good pizza and assorted Italian dishes. I mean, if you had to choose brining the kids to Mr. Gatti's or Mangieri's, the latter is a slam dunk.

There's a broad menu at Mangieri's that begins with some fun and tasty appetizers. I like the Baked Buffalo Wings with the mild sauce. These wings have a crispy texture and a subtle taste. I really enjoy them. Likewise the Greek Salad. Splurge and get the large one because the small one is just not enough given its taste. The kalamata olives and the house vinaigrette along with some nice romaine and feta give this salad some character. I think the Bruschetta could benefit from a change in breads. It's got good flavor but it needs a lttle more texture from the bread.

But enough of these back stories. This is a place where pizza reigns supreme. It is perhaps the quintessential family meal. And Mangieri's gets that. I like the Sicilian with their distinctive homemade whole wheat crust, Italian sausage, mushrooms, onions and peppers. And to the guy on Yelp who busted their chops for slicing the pies using the square cut method: here's a news flash. This is common practice in CT, Massachusetts, parts of Jersey, and the south side of Chicago. So get over it pal. And what's more I dig it!

Another really cool pizza is the Toscana. What's not to like about fresh spinach, sun dried tomatoes, kalamata and green olives, olive oil and mozzarella on whole wheat crust? This is a neat pie for the vegetarian crowd but in no way does it lack taste. Also try the classic Margherita. I had my first taste of this at the Mangieri's on Slaughter. Tomatoes, basil, garlic and parmesan cheese ramp this one up. Kids like it as well. And they really like The Capo with kid favorite pepperoni followed by a abundanza of other meats. I saw a table of kiddoes going to town on this one on my last visit.

And there's a neat little pasta dish that I recommend as well: The Pomodoro Cremoso. Being from the East, I like a creamy tomato sauce with spinach, garlic, fresh mushrooms and artichokes over fettuccine. This is a nice dish that the adults will enjoy. And don't be afraid to go for the Calzone. They key is the stuffing: I liked it with sausage and pepperoni, mushrooms, and onions. The more stuffing, the more moist the Calzone becomes.

Mangieri's is a fun little family restaurant that's a good antidote for the dining out blahs in Lakeway. This is not fine dining, nor is it the absolute best of Austin's pizza, but it's made with a lot of love, and its darn good.

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