Who doesn’t love Italian food? Or have a craving for Chinese every once in a while? We all do. But there comes a time when we need a change of scenery from all of that. Mangos Coastal Cuisine fulfills that change for me. Mangos is located across the street from Dorney Park in Allentown. It’s an establishment you wouldn’t expect to find so close to Dorney Park and Ice Cream World.

The design and decor of the restaurant was the first thing that caught my eye. Upon walking towards the entrance, it looks as if you’re walking into your own spanish hacienda. The wrought iron decor includes the extravagant chandeliers and wall sconces. These are perfectly placed throughout the dining area, bar, outside patio and the restrooms. The walls of the dining area have a rustic feel with a vibrant blue tile design. The bar area is separate from the dining room and is another option if there are no tables available. It’s designed as a half moon shape and has ample seating for those at happy hour and/or those who stopped by on a whim for a bite to eat.

Now, all this talk about restaurant decor is definitely important to the dining experience, but I know what you’re longing for at this moment. A refreshing mojito with just the right amount of mint, grilled chilean sea bass with brown butter mashed potatoes and a honey balsamic reduction, along with a beautifully lit dining room with great ambiance. Yes, it was fabulous. In addition to this meal, my party decided to order a few things to share. We ordered the baked lobster and crab with black bean queso dip, stuffed artichoke hearts, and lastly, the mesquite rubbed, grilled black angus porterhouse. The porterhouse came with smoked cheddar cheese mashed potatoes, bourbon demi glace and chipotle frizzled onions. The flavor didn’t disappoint to say the least. The mashed potatoes were mouth watering good! On the other hand, the stuffed artichokes (stuffed with cheddar, pepper jack and goat cheese with spicy herbed coulis) were not the typical choice for me, but I tried them. Not bad, but not something I would order on a regular basis. One of my favorites, the baked lobster and crab with black bean queso dip was a hit with my party. The dip comes with garlic whole grain crustines and tortilla chips. No other word, but delicious. To cap off the evening, I had the pineapple-infused martini. Now, If I could, I would order this any day of the week, but it’s only offered on select days.

The service at Mangos was good, the staff were knowledgeable of the menu and gave great recommendations. The menu has a glossary of items that you may have never heard of or eaten before which helps in the food selection process. We really enjoyed the environment and stayed for long after our meals were finished. The Mangos dining experience took me to the Mediterranean for the evening. All that was missing was the ocean view.

If you would like more information about Mangos, please visit their website at www.mangos-restaurant.com