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Wow...a lot of negativity...no worries. I'm here to set the record straight.
I'm attempting to be a vegetarian for a week, so I immediately turned to Johnny Mango for assistance. They were happy to help by delivering a good, inexpensive meal.
I generally get the small Calypso Salad, which is always spot on...simple, good greens, roasted red peppers (cold) and a good amount of crumbled dry cheese on top ( Manchego?).
Combine that with their "bread+slather" of the month, which is always fresh and inventive. This month the slather is a sundried tomato spread. It's tasty. This will cost you $10. To me, that's a fairly good deal to get a good healthy meal.
Last month I had this vegetarian sweet potato chili that was spot-on.
Oh...and they have Modelo on tap.
You can eat outside during nice weather, but I always sit at the bar.
The 'tenders are always friendly.
I was in Cleveland for work, so I looked up vegan joints in town and found Johnny Mango. It was about a 15 minute drive from downtown, but worth the trek.
Although they don't have very many vegan selections on the small menu, what they did offer was pretty good if you eat plant-based, low/no oil, like I do.
I ordered the big plate with the veggie burrito and was very pleased. It came with a generous helping of quinoa, half a fried banana, a big scoop of beans (delicious), cabbage salad and a big burrito.
The one issue I had with the burrito was that it was actually a wrap and it was open at both ends so all the goodies inside fell out onto the plate. I hate that! I also ordered a mango-lime margarita and it was disgusting - way too sweet, just terrible.
However, the food was very tasty and not very oily, so I was pleased. I will return to Johnny Mango if I go back to Cleveland.
I think Stephanie C said it best -- atmosphere and alcohol are pretty much all Johnny Mango has to recommend itself. I've had the big plate with something meaty and the pad thai and both were borderline inedible. The food is simultaneously bland, salty, dry, mushy, and pricey with cheap ingredients. Don't eat here.
That said, the reason I didn't give it 2 stars is that it has a fun vibe and it's situated on a lovely corner in Ohio City. On a nice day, it's tough to beat a table outside Johnny Mangos with friends and ordering round after round in one of very cool very cute pockets of a neighborhood.
Oh -- and they have HAPPY HOUR: M-F 4-7pm 1/2 off beer and wine and $2 off all other drinks.
I tried Johnny Mango the other day with a friend who recommended it. The decor was quirky and inviting, and I liked the idea of having different daily bread/spreads, grains, beans, etc. However, the meal was not as good as we'd hoped.
I ordered the special margarita of the day, cucumber mint, which was...not too tasty. My husband ordered the pomegranate fizz (non-alcoholic), and we were told that they were out of pomegranate, as well as mango, avocado, and guacamole. On a Thursday? Ok. Well there goes my plan to order some guacamole as a starter and/or extra avocado with my meal.
I had the grilled chicken burrito, which unfortunately was bland (even with cheese that I ordered as an extra filling), as was the rest of my plate. It wasn't even really a burrito to me, but more like a wrap. It fell apart and didn't have that great, warm, "fill you up inside" quality that all good burritos have.
We had fried tofu as an appetizer, which tasted good only in the first 3 minutes before it got cold. This, too, had absolutely no seasoning and thrived only on the dipping sauce it came with.
The nachos WERE excellent.
My husband and friend got quesadillas, which they were pretty happy with. My husband's mojito, however? Another story...he did not finish it.
I didn't want to take leftovers, but I didn't want to be rude, so I packed up half my meal. Tried to eat it the next day, and just ended up tossing it.
I had high hopes for JM...maybe I should have gone with my friend's initial suggestion and ordered the Pad Thai, which seems to be a crowd pleaser.
I enjoyed this very much! My food was filling and delicious. I got the Steak Quesidilla Big Plate, with a side of the veg of the day, Which was fresh corn with basil and something, and it was all good. I didn't manage to eat it all, and the leftover Quesidilla and beans were tasty cold 2 days later.
My friend got the "margarita of the Day" and that was delish too, though I don't remember what it was, I think watermelon something.
While a tad pricey, Johnny Mango's eclectic collection of east meets west cuisine seems to have been imported from the west coast. But, being an import means that what might seem common on one coast, may be quite different on another.
My visit was on a crisp spring afternoon with relatively prompt service, a pitcher of Sangria and glass of Caperinha. I like their caperinha more than Brasa's, but less than Sarava's.
I also had their Pad Thai which left me pleasantly surprised.
It's not haute cuisine, and the attention to detail in the food probably doesn't justify the price; nevertheless, it's a pretty fun place to eat and relax, and the food was passing fair...
Another one of those Cleveland things I don't understand.
Think partially cooked, lukewarm veggies with a piece of hair. And dirty glasses with specs of food.
Two stars cause my therapist tells me I need to be an an optimist and the server was so darn cute.
DRINKS. The only reason to visit Johnny Mango. The mojitos are always strong. The sangria? Refreshing and delicious. The margaritas? YES! ANOTHER PLEASE.
The food? Yawwwn. ZzzzzzZzzzz. Someone wake me up.
The service leaves something to be desired.
I used to frequent the downtown Willoughby location. It wasn't open very long because it was even worse than the original location. I had a lemongrass soup there once and it tasted like some sort of household cleaner.
If it weren't for the lovely drinks I'd give this joint 1 star. I know, I know. You could get drinks like these anywhere... I'm TRYING to be a tiny bit nice here.
Yes their food is tasty, but if you aren't in the mood for a meal and are looking for a spot to meet friends that is funky, eclectic, and hip, consider ordering one of their fresh fruit margaritas. They vary by season and last night I ordered the blood orange margarita. It was fresh, sweet, tart, and alcoholic!
The loaded nachos are the perfect app for your friends to enjoy over the margaritas. They are only about $7 too.
The Menu is lame and not very inspired. For a "veg" friendly place, why don't they use organic eggs? While the Cajun "fries" were good, they were most certainly not fries but baked, large, plantains. Perhaps that should have been specified on the menu? The Pico was awesome and actually had a kick. No complaints there.
I do have to say I have never been to a place where I was handed a big, heavy-duty flashlight to take with me to the ladies room. Good thing though, 'cause man, it was dark down there!
Eh, I probably won't go back.
Pretty good vegan selections, very wide range of food options. The mango margaritas were pretty fantastic. The food was okay... the sides were kind of odd though in that they really didn't "go with" every meal they had the option of accompanying, but you had no choice. A fun place, good service, will definitely return for drinks but not go out of my way for the food.
Delicious and fresh!
I can't tell you how nice it is to go to a place that serves real food, and serves it well. The place was crowded, so my group was seated outside, where we froze our butts off in pre-storm gusts. I didn't mind 'cause the food was so delish!
First we got a large plate of nachos, which looked and tasted fabulously fresh. They are definitely worth getting, and will comfortably serve four. We also got the "fries", which you'll be down with if you already like fried plantains/bananas. They're served with salsa, which is weird, but somehow works. Margaritas were another great choice that night; they were sweet without being syrupy (if they're made with fresh fruit, that'd explain it), and also dangerously strong for the ease with which you can drink them! You've gotta pace yourself so you don't kill your taste buds before your main course arrives...
My main course was a shrimp salad burrito. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was definitely just a shrimp salad (main ingredients: shrimp, lettuce, onion, cucumber), and I was a little disappointed because I had been hoping for something more savory. Still, it was pleasant, although not psychologically satisfying. I hope to go back and try something heavier. My boyfriend's quesadilla tasted very good, for example, although the meat was a little fatty.
Overall, the visit was very satisfying, and I look forward to going back. If Johnny Mango's quality is variable, I definitely hit it on a good night!
This place had some good drinks. Staff was friendly and attentive. We only got chips and salsa with our drinks. Hopefully, it is not an accurate reflection on the food. What people ordered around us seemed to look pretty good but didn't look like authentic Mexican food for sure.
Mojito Madness very nice.
RrL
Gotta love the Mango.
Whenever I'm up in Cleveland on business or just for kicks, I try to stop in. I love it for summer Friday afternoon Margaritas on the patio and the chorizo and potato quesidillas, yum. The Burritos are quite good here as well, though it can be a lot of food, especially if you get the big plate with beans, rice, etc.
The service could be better (hire more servers), and the place bigger (not much to be done there), but all in all a good casual dinner and drinks place.
Short and sweet.
I have never had anything but tacos and nachos here becuase I am cheap and have only been here on Dollar Taco Tuesday.
The tacos are general tacos, nothing special. The margaritas are suberb though. Lets me serious, thats why I have gone there. I want to try the other food, it looks tasty.
The bathroom is a journey and always really warm.
Thats all I got.
Food is always VERY fresh and full of only things you want in your body. They don't over dress their food, they just give it to you the way you want it. I really like the simple aspect of how amazingly tasting the food is.
The Pelican Kiss. Just a juice drink. Cranberries, Apples and Ginger. But it is AMAZING. it tastes like something wonderful. But simple.
Every time i go I order the Burrito with Chicken and Cilantro Dressing. It has tomatoes and lettuce. Like I said, simple, but the cilantro dressing is fantastic.
I LOVE THEIR NACHOS. SO AMAZING. FRESH AND SIMPLE BUT AMAZING. Great to share when you aren't too hungry but still need food.
It seems like nothing is processed. once we got margaritas And my friend said they weren't fruity enough, so she asked for more raspberry sauce for the drink, expecting the waitress to go dump more some thing from some bottle into the drink. She came back with a cup full of FRESH crush raspberries. And said sometimes when they add the fresh berries they sink to the bottom and its good to add more. I was so happy.
This place is amazing. I think its a wonderful hang out bar as well. Good community feeling.
So, um, mojitos. Yes. Quite nice.
Went there to catch up with a friend that'd been out of town. He was with a date, so that was awkward.
Then he got a call with an apparently better offer. Left me with said date.
Infitely more awkward.
I also blame this for tripling my drink quotient for the night.
At least said date gave me a ride home, several more mojitios and a split awful margarita later.
In her minivan.
And she's on the side of 25 where you round down.
What? Yeah, I'm there with you.
Honestly, I'd give it this place four stars, had they not *refused* to serve me dinner. Sure it is store policy to close the grill after ten, but I still take that shit personally. If you think I'm being unreasonable, blame the mojitos. I do.
I must say, my bartender Katie warmed up over the evening, and by the end of the night, she was weighing in on rather vociferous Laverne and Shirley/Three's Company debates (Examples: Who was cooler: Terry or Chrissy? Who was funnier: Squiggy or Lenny? If you selected the latter on either count, you are just plain old dead wrong. Just click this review funny, useful, AND cool, and go rent some vintage John Ritter DVDs. No need to write me a message and thank me for the tip. I already know.)
Johnny Mangos is happiness.
Get the Jamaican fries. Actually.... get at least 1.5 orders per person.
What are they? Fried plantains (member of the banana family). They are amazingness.
Other than that, they are very vegan friendly.... er... friendly to vegans. The staff will help you figure everything out, and is very knowledgeable on the sauces, dressings, and dips that go on their food. It's nice to know that a restaurant would actually train their staff as to what it is exactly that they are serving people. Surprisingly, not many do.
They also get their produce and such at the West Side Market. Thus, supporting other local businesses, which is always a plus!
They only down side I have found is that it's not a largely comfortable atmosphere. Though, the one time I sat outside, it was great. Maybe it's the noise, and uncomfortable chairs inside. Either way, that does not deter my love for Mr. Mango.
This Ohio City eatery is fun and vibrant. Atmosphere is extremely casual. The "worldly" cuisine is healthy and delicious. Full bar is available -- as are an assortment of fresh squeezed juices.
One of my favorite casual, fun spots in Cleveland. I miss going to Johnny Mango on a warm summer day. I'd hit it up after rollar blading at Edgewater Park and chill out with a fresh watermelon juice margarita with a sugar rim. Ooooohhhhh YEAH! The best drink evahhhhh.
Sigh... I miss the mango!
I want to like this place - the colors are bright, the decor lively. But I can't get excited about it.
GOOD:
* Cute, outdoor seating in the warm weather
BAD:
* Food is highly variable in quality.
* I've always felt the place to be slightly snobbish or yuppyish or something; I can't put my finger on what makes the manner of the clientele and the waitstaff offputting.
* I did have a particularly negative service experience here a long time ago where I made a reservation for 12 people and was made to wait over an hour past the appointed time to sit. We stayed bc there were a few people joining us later who would have been confused by a location change. The host was a complete ass and not too apologetic or proactive about remedying the situation (by marshalling smaller tables together, etc).
Petit Triangle just half a block down has much more charm and better food, in my opinion.
Johnny Mango has been around for a while, and is definitely worth a visit or two. It's got it's up-sides, and it's down-sides...
THE UP-SIDE:
Pretty tasty food with a lively, hip atmosphere. The servers are always friendly.
THE DOWN-SIDE:
This place has a tin ceiling and is thus, really, really LOUD! Don't go here on a first date, or any other occasion where you might like a romantic and quieter atmosphere. Seating is always limited here; expect a good wait on busy nights.
THE SUM-IT-UP:
Check it out when you're hungry and in the mood to have a lively, fun time with a group of good friends.
I'm usually extremely skeptical about restaurants (especially casual ones) that mix different ethnic foods, but Johnny Mango's does a great job. They don't claim to be or try to do ethnic foods authentically. Instead, they use key flavors of certain cuisines and put their own twist on it. I can't get enough of the fried rice and the pad thai. yum!! This place is perfect for hanging out with friends on a summer night with a pitcher (or two or three) of margarita's. And even though the outdoor seating is nothing more than a gated area on the sidewalk, it is a fun place to relax and people watch.
A caveat - the service, while really friendly, is pretty slow. This is not the place to go for a quick bite.
So, so good! Johnny Mango's has the best black bean burritos and by far, the best guacamole. I also love their sparkling lemonade.
It is a fun, happening atmosphere - perfect for a fun weekend dinner date, or a night out with friends.
I've never been to this place, but I have a difficult time believing it's in Cleveland based upon the reviews. That must count for something!
That plus the fact that a dear friend thinks of this place when she hears the word 'mojito' These two things are certainly worth 5 stars.
My experience with this restaurant has not been good. I have been there a few times, mainly because I have attended group meetings there, and the food has been inconsistent in quality, but consistently priced higher than the quality would justify. Sometimes the food has been lacking in freshness.
The atmosphere is a bit too upscale for my taste, and for the neighborhood--it seems to attract slightly snobby upwardly-mobile professional types.
The service, from my experience, can be quite bad. When the place is busy the wait-staff seems overworked and unattentive. On one particularly busy night, I was served a sandwich on a moldy bun, and the waitress was rude and offered no apology.
I can't complain too much though...the variety of the menu is decent and the food tends to be reasonably healthy, with a number of lighter and more balanced options available.
I love me some Johnny Mango.
Back in the days when I worked at Near West Theatre, which is about a block away, I was here constantly. It's a "World Cafe & Bar", featuring eclectic dishes and drinks, including a juice bar (MMMM, Zoni Beach smoothie) and a wide array of tasty alcoholic stuff (their sangria is delicious and ther mojitos are to die for). They have a giant whiteboard behind the bar that lists their Happy Bean of the day, Grain of the day, monthly featured dish, etc. - always fun to pick from.
Their pad thai is amazing, as is their Jamaican Jerk chicken, and their Bangkok BBQ chicken... ooh, and their "Big Plate" burrito/quesadilla meal; you can get all kinds of different meat fillings, but my fave is the savory Mushroom, Tomato and Garlic. These big plates come with Johnny's tangy slaw, the Happy Bean, the Grain of the Day and a grilled banana... SO good.
Which brings me to another banana-family Mango dish: the Caribbean Fries. These are plaintains mashed and fried in peanut oil and served as an appetizer, four to a plate. With some of Mango's fresh salsa, you can't go wrong.
To finish, they always have an interesting ice cream selection (such as pumpkin or pistachio), but I highly recommend the Chocolate Triple X, a chocolate pate that absolutely melts in your mouth. Sinful.
They also have the Passport Club, a card you can swipe every time you go there to collect points towards free stuff or coupons - and they send you a $10 gift certificate every year for your birthday! Just got mine last week, and I can't wait to go!
Big ups for an interesting and different space, an eclectic and lively menu, and pretty good food. I enjoyed my pad thai, as others have, but my friend's chicken dish was only "ehhh". In a part of the country where eclectic is hard to sell, and theme restaurants are often the order of the day, Johnny Mango's willingness to take some risks and its ability to deliver, mostly, is laudable. I love this neighborhood too.
ok, i said the market ave wine bar was my favorite place in all of cleveland. but i forgot about the mango. so call me a liar.
i couldn't give you an honest opinion of the entire menu- all i know is i order the chicken fried rice every time. it's not your momma's chicken fried rice. there's a spicy lime sauce and some cucumber action with your rice.
if you're going with non-alcoholic drinks, the zoni beach is the way to go. but if you're going for alcohol...my lord, go with the margaritas. fruity. delicious. and pretty.
....no comment.
or the sangria. good homemade sangria.
or if it's the summer- go with the mojito. best mojito i've EVER had. i actually can't stop thinking about them.
and the atmosphere is cool. a ceiling with stars and clouds or the walls with lizards on them...many a good time i have had with buddies in the mangos.
...ah, good times.
This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. I'm definitely missing this place now that I've left Cleveland. I love the burritos here. The food is delicious and satisfying, but not too filling. And the mojitos are excellent! I haven't ordered any other drink here. A little pricey if you're on a student income, but well-priced if you have a regular income.
I really like this place. The food is really good and flavorful; they have an interesting and relatively large menu, and the people who work here are nice. It can get really loud at times, but I've never been dissatisfied with the food or the service.
Very vegetarian friendly. A wonderfully eclectic menu, including fried plantains, spicy tofu, burritos, and lime grilled bananas. You will be sure to find something wonderful and unique on the menu. Fun drink menu. Friendly service, and fair prices.
Wonderful. Vegetarian if you want it, but plenty of meat around, too. I love the big plates. Huge portions of healthy, well-prepared, simple, fresh food. Great (expensive) juice drinks. Great Pad Thai. Go here. One of the best cheap restaurants in Cleveland.
Have been here many times over the past few years, and must say, the food has been spotty at best. Typically rather bland and ho-hum, have had the most luck with just grabbing the fried plantains and a cocktail or three. Mojito's are not the best in town but decent. The beer list stinks. Service was friendly and quick. The juices are great but overpriced. Best thing going for this neighborhood spot is atmosphere, which is open, colorful and airy; and it's brunch- the whole wheat pancakes with sauteed apples are a favorite. If it weren't for atmospehre and it's proximity to home I'd have to take it down a star.
This place has a cool little vibe going, I felt obligated to try thier Mojito, a little sweet but worth the tab. Dinner - Great beans, the jasmine rice was cooked just right, bok choy that makes you want to have more. Eating right should feel this good all the time. Interesting crowd tonight.
Johnny Mango WHY DO YOU SPITE ME SO?!?!? --An Open Letter to Johnny Mango:
Dear John(ny Mango):
I want to like you. I really do. I've tried you at least 15 times, hoping that the gilmmer of hope you give me everytime I sit on your cute little patio sipping your delicious Mojitos would turn into something beautiful. You're leading me on. That glimmer of hope is gone faster than the pitcher of sangria that I love so dearly. Our romance is futile. You wine me with the sweet promise of your wonderful patio drinks and yet, when it comes to being there for me, for the really big payoff I'm always left wanting so much more from you - you just don't dine me. Your food is just boring, inconsistantly prepared, and honestly, it just isn't that good. Maybe its good for you -- but somehow I think you know the truth. The more you disappoint me with your food the more Margaritas I drink. The more amazing Margaritas I drink the more I yearn for your food. The more I yearn the more you disappoint me. Its a horrid cycle in which we live Johnny, and I can't do it anymore. I'm done with you. There are other amazing drinks in this city, there are other cute patios upon which a girl can dine. I don't need you. I'm better than you. And so this is my attempt to end it...
But worst of all, I know my vegetarian friends, the ones that fawn all over you, the ones that think you're so cute and such a nice guy will just drag me right back in you.....
Sigh, we always end up together like this Johnny. Right back where we started; another pitcher of mojitos, please.
Yours,
Laura
Cleveland, OH
Category: Thai
Cleveland, OH
Category: American (Traditional)
Cleveland, OH
Category: Restaurants
Cleveland, OH
Category: Vegetarian
Cleveland Heights, OH
Category: Nightlife
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