Dinner at Mambo

My wife, after hearing me rave about Mambo, suggested that we take my daughter on Saturday night while my son was at a birthday bash. It was the first time I visited Mambo for dinner. Johansen had completed the dinner menu, so we had about 30 choices -- seafood, paella, Mexican dishes, Latin food. Because I've written about Mambo several times in the last month, I'll offer the condensed version of our meal:
- Shrimp creole: Succulent shrimp swimming in a slightly spicy tomato broth with onions and peppers. Nicely done. Didn't skimp on the shrimp. (I hate the shrimp skimp at other places)
- Crab Mambo: Delightful. Back fin crab sauteed with herbs and minced veggies. I'm guessing this would be a Latin or Mexican style dish. Regardless, this was among the most flavorful crab entrees I've had.
- Ribs: fall-off-the-bone tender from braising. (Not barbecued.)
- Rice and beans: still awesome. Ask for the homemade hot sauce. It's not too spicy; it has a round, tart flavor that balances the heat.

The restaurant was fairly crowded throughout our stay. Be patient with the service -- it seems that they're still working out some kinks. It's worth it. Did I mention the complimentary wine? Now it's no Opus One, but it helped pass the time between visits to the table. The damage for dinner: $36 before tip. (And if that isn't enough, you can save 20% with the coupon at the Our West End Neighborhood blog.)

And we followed dinner with some coffees and hot chocolate at the Hava Java -- perfect for a chilly walk home.