|
Medley of Tasty Cuisine at Mango Medley
By Susie Ng
Looking for a quiet place away from the immediate vicinity of the Parnassus
campus to do some studying while enjoying a dessert or drink to fuel your glucose-consuming
brain? Or perhaps you and your GI tract are in the mood for something a little
more substantial, like a well-prepared lunch or dinner? Oh, and finally, do
you prefer (or need) this restaurant to be kind to the student budget? If so,
then look no further than Mango Medley, a new restaurant conveniently located
along the N-Judah line in the Outer Sunset District.
Self-described as a "dessert café and bistro," Mango Medley
has an eclectic menu of small dishes and appetizers, entrees and desserts that
draw inspiration from Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, French and Italian cuisines.
The food and drinks on the menu are simple and tasty, and the good impression
it leaves on both your taste buds and wallet will keep tempting you back.
One recent afternoon, I and my intrepid restaurant review companion ventured
out to sample the restaurant fare offered by Mango Medley (which came to our
attention because of enthusiastic praise from friends). We found ourselves ravenous
by the time we were seated within Mango Medley's bright mango-colored
walls and ordered one of the — shall we say — more inclusive specials:
garlic and olive oil tossed spaghetti with choice of meat/vegetable, garlic
bread, dessert (crème brulee or crème caramel) and Hong Kong-style
lemon ice tea, all for $10.95. The main dish was light and flavorful and fairly
generous in size, with plenty of the grilled honey chicken I chose to add tossed
in with the pasta noodles, onion, roasted bell pepper and mushrooms. With two
people ordering the same menu special, we were able to sample the crème
brulee as well as the crème caramel – both desserts provided a
sweet finish to the meal. Finally, the lemon ice tea, which can be ordered à
la carte for $2.50, was astonishingly sublime — the perfect blend of sweet
and flavorful. To add to the solid quality of the food, the service at Mango
Medley was very prompt, and the staff were patient and attentive.
Mango Medley definitely lives up to its name by offering a broad menu selection.
In addition to the garlic and olive oil tossed spaghetti, one can order other
entrees such as fire-grilled sandwiches, fresh ramen and green curry with rice.
There is also a large appetizer menu featuring items such as gyoza, Vietnamese
spring rolls and crispy rice cakes. The dessert and drink menu offers the likes
of crepes, baked-from-scratch N.Y. cheesecake, mango sticky rice and fresh-fruit
boba drinks.
In addition to preparing a great meal, Mango Medley also definitely has "study
spot" potential. Because of its "café" atmosphere,
it would be totally conceivable to settle oneself at one of the tables next
to the large bright windows that face Judah Street for a productive work session.
Mango Medley's menu ensures the diligent student an extensive selection
of light snacks to nibble on. One suggestion offered by other restaurant patrons:
the "French toast" off of the breakfast menu (but served all day)
is rumored to be melt-in-your-mouth delicious. This will be the next thing I
try when I return to Mango Medley.
Mango Medley
3911 Judah Street between 44th and 45th Ave.
9 a.m. - midnight daily. Cash only.
Susie Ng is a second-year medical student.
|
