La Isla del Mambo - TT: La Isla Del MAMBO! - Reseña

Latin Beat Magazine, Nov, 1999

GOURMET CUBAN MAYAN CUISINE

Restaurant Review - La Isla del Mambo

Located on the perennially popular Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, La Isla del Mambo first opened its doors in February of this year. The restaurant and nightclub features gourmet Cuban Mayan cuisine seven days a week plus live Latin music entertainment. The Caribbean decor on the ground floor dining room creates a pleasant tropical atmosphere, perfect for consuming delicious edibles while having a good time, and it doesn't really get loud until the band on the restaurant level stage begins to play. Two pages of entrees include Cuban cuisine (La Perla del Caribe) and Mayan cuisine (El Imperio Maya) priced from $9-$20 with a wide range of possibilities. I started the meal with an appetizer called mariquitas, (fried green plantain slices sauteed with an oil and vinegar sauce plus lots of ground garlic) and two servings of bread with garlic butter. I decided to try the Pescado del Mar Caribe (Tilapia fish sauteed with lemon herb sauce, toasted coconut, and fried bananas) served with black beans and rice, as well as the Pollo con Camarones Maya (Chicken and Shrimp Maya sauteed in chipotle sauce and diced avocado) served with white rice and black beans. The fish was quite good and lo and behold the plantains were authentic and not those frozen bananas offered at most Cuban restaurants. The chicken was tender, the chipotle sauce just the right amount of hot, and I really wanted more shrimp. The diced avocado was a nice touch considering it is a rare commodity in other restaurants. Too full for dessert, I had a cafe con leche (espresso with boiled milk) completing an excellent meal. The dining room service was commendable. During dinner, we were entertained by the music of Grupo Guararé which played tropical Latin classics from Latin America. Evening dancing to live salsa bands and DJs is available in the upstairs room, El Batey. Rudy Regalado y Chevere is currently being featured among other local top talents. Highly recommended. --GR

La Isla del Mambo

7174 Melrose Avenue

Los Angeles, California, 90046

Tel: (323) 937-7346