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Mambo - Latin/Caribbean Cuisine
Wife and I went with another couple to Mambo for some Latin/Caribbean Cuisine.
Both wifes had Coronas I convinced my buddy to have a mojito with me, very refreshing. Mojitos are crushed sugar, mint, mixed with rum and a spalsh of soda.
Ordered three appetizers, Dominican Bombas, Ceviche and a Taquito de Pollo.
Dominican Bombas were mashed potato balls stuffed with a spicy shrimp mixture then lightly fried, the bombas were served with a mango salsa. The bombas themselves were tasty but the salsa was made from an unripe, flavorless mango and the chunks were almost large enough to be used in a fruit salad (way too big for a salsa).
Ceviche consisted of snapper and shrimp. Was quite good.
The Taquito de Pollo was a fried burrito with chicken in it, cut into three pcs, then put up on end on a plate. A poblano cream sauce was then put over the three pcs. Quite good, but I felt there was not a pop from the poblano sauce I was looking for.
Main courses were BBQ Salmon, Pan Seared Chicken Breast, Guava BBQ’d Pollo and Pollo Pibil.
BBQ salmon was way overcooked and anyhow is salmon really a Latin fish, it is not to my knowledge. I did not ask, but from the shape/size and presentation of the salmon I would believe it to be previously frozen.
Don’t have any notes on the pan seared chicken breast as it was eaten by my buddy’s wife before I could finagle an exchange of bites. But I will say that it was served over garlic mashed potatoes as was the salmon dish, not very creative IMO.
My wife had the Guava Pollo which was a sweet BBQ glaze, I wanted more of the guava citrus flavor to come through. Chicken was cooked perfectly, very moist.
I had the pollo pibil, which was a spiced chicken breast cooked in a banana leaf. Chicken was done perfectly and alongside was a habanaro pepper sauce with some serious scoville units. I asked for a side of white rice to help cool me down. The plantains were sauteed with a syrupy brown sugar, AAARRRRGGGGHHH! Plantains are so good on their own there is no need for added sugar, as a result they were horrible. I also had a side of mashed sweet potato, which was ok.
We also split a pitcher of sangria which did not taste quite right.
Total bill was $176 w/o tip. Way too expensive for the quality served. I will not be back.
Mambo
412 N. Clark Street
Chicago