Mango restaurant, is a Peruvian Cuisine themed restaurant located in St. Louis’ downtown trendy district. It is absolutely fabulous; so fabulous in fact that my friends and myself took a second trip to this establishment the next day before our long trek back home, out of state. Amazingly, the average price per entree only ranges between $10-$15. This particular restaurant is one of the rarities I happily stumbled upon in my recent visit to St. Louis. I admit it, I am very picky eater, and being a vegetarian almost sets me up for disappointment, but not at this establishment. The waitress not only suggested the restaurants favorite picks, but also indicated that they would be willing to make something special for me.
The atmosphere was warm and relaxing. The owner/chef, Jorge Calvo was very pleasant, as well as his staff. They have outdoor seating and private dining areas, all reflecting a contemporary urban feel, all along interjecting Peruvian accents, without over doing it. For lack of a better term, it was comfortable and the staff at Mango made us feel like old friends.
While you wait on your food you are given a complimentary bowl of crispy fried plantains served with a cilantro dipping sauce. At first look, it is out of the comfort zone, but after your first taste-your hooked. The server will bring more upon request, so snack away! Mango has a wide variety of drinks and each I tried throughout my visits, they were made properly and tasted perfect. Their Sangria, Pisco Sour and Mojito should be on the top of your list to try. I so enjoyed my entree, “The Triple”, which is cold sandwich containing fresh tomato, avocado and sliced boiled egg layered on white or wheat bread . The variety of sides include rice, beans, steak fries, fried sweet potato, or steamed vegetables. If you choose to get steak fries as your side choice you MUST get the spicy mayonnaise to dip them in. Again, a smart suggestion from our knowledgeable and helpful waitress.
Dessert was something that I didn’t think I could handle after such a fantastic meal, but I had to try the plantains in caramel glaze with vanilla ice cream. Our table of 4 shared this, but in my head I wanted it all to myself! I savored every bite, because who knows when I will get to Mango Peruvian Cuisine again.
Mango in general has a wide variety in their menu. There are vegetarian dishes, for my fellow cruelty free friends. The carnivores in our dinner party were overly impressed and have since tried to recreate the magic ingredients that made up their sandwiches. I would hands-down recommend stopping by Mango Peruvian Cuisine. It’s fresh and a twist on the traditional, and a very tantalizing treat for your taste buds who long to get away from the hum-drum. I assure you, Mango will be an ever present pit-stop for us whenever we are in the area, and once you have tried it, I am certain you will agree.