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Mambu Restaurant
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
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- Location:
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"For me, this is Nashville's main attraction. The service, food, and ambiance are all impeccable. We shared a butternut squash soup that…" read more »
11 reviews for Mambu Restaurant
I went here once and I wanted to like it I really, really did but it was just OK for me. The radio ads are cool, the vibe is cool I guess but I got the seared ahi tuna with sesame seed and I thought it was just not really much of anything special. I mean I can buy Ahi grade tuna, bread it in sesame seeds, and sear it on the grill in my sleep.
Our server was good but not really dynamic and the side items were really again just plain old good but not special. When I get in the Mambu price range, I want something a little more dynamic. that I feel I can't reproduce on my own.
Drinks were fine. I will say this. I had wanted to try Mambu for a while before I got over that way and so it was kind of like seeing the movie everyone raved about... Sometimes your expectations can maybe be a little high.
Agreed with everything Kristie mentioned. I took my wife to Mambu for her birthday. It is amazing to me that for a small local business, there was so little emphasis on customer service. Our main courses were mixed. I ordered the duck, bad idea. It came out cold and a lot fattier then I'm accustomed to. My plate went virtually uneaten. The server didn't have the presence of mind to ask me what was wrong with the food. My wife ordered the filet, it was cooked to perfection and she loved it. I had a bite and didn't think it was that great. So much for a unique dining experience, it's like that Mastercard commercial where they leave the restaurant and go to a convenience store for food.
The drinks are weak, the food is pricey, the service is horrible but.....the interior of the restaurant is nicely decorated. That about sums up my experience.
This past weekend on a business trip to Nashville, our group headed over to Mambu which was recommended to us. I didn't expect it to be a HOUSE but hey, its all good! Since the company was paying, I took that as an opportunity to fully indulge and ordered a silver bullet margarita which was impressive and for my dinner I got a sesame tuna dish which was perfect. The restaurant itself was a bit crowded/noisy and perhaps we would have done a bit better as a business group coming here on a different night, but overall I enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service at this restaurant.
*Nominee: Best Calamari in Nashville*
The food at Mambu is delicious! One of the better menu's I have seen in Nashville. We ordered the seared tuna and calamari. Being a Floridian, I can be snobbish when it comes to sea food, but I was delighted with the quality of the fish and the taste! The tuna has a tasty Asian flavor and comes with a sea weed salad that complimented the meal very well.
**The calamari was the best I have ever had. The breading is to die for! It comes with a tai basil aioli and a great Italian tomato sauce. A MUST ORDER if a fan of calamari/ squid.
The restaurant is really funky inside. The outside looks like a two story house, easy to miss at night! But you don't want to miss this restaurant!
How do I spell overrated? M-A-M-B-U. I have been here two times for lunch, and honestly the second time was just a pity visit to see if the first time was just a complete fluke. Someone once told me to beware of over advertised places like this. If they were as good as they claim on the radio constantly, I think word of mouth would be enabling them to print money.
I started with the hummus plate, and then had the black angus hamburger. Nothing was impressive or even sticks in my mind. I feel that I seriously could make these at home with no problem.
Another one of my favorite spots in Nashville (yeah, there are a lot of great restaurants in Nashville, but this is in the top ten).
I love sitting outside during the summer and having some cocktails. The food is always spectacular. Lots of asian influenced dishes on the menu. Out-of-town guests have been very impressed by this place and they should be!
There are vegetarian options which my veggie friends definitely appreciate, and they are just as good as anything else on the menu. The owner is usually around, and she is so friendly and helpful (and funny). In addition to the outdoor seating, the place is an old house so there's great, cozy space inside and a nice bar.
I would recommend this place to impress a date, to impress your friends, or to just go and enjoy a great meal. I've never been disappointed by Mambu.
Valet or street parking, I'd recommend calling ahead to get a reservation before you go.
A friend of mine would describe the kind of food that Mambu is going for as "fussy," but to me, the restaurant just doesn't quite strike the mark.
I loved the layout and thought the staff was particularly helpful, but I came away unimpressed by the food. My arugula salad with mangoes was fine, but my chicken entree was basically a plate of chicken tenders.
It would be great if I could tell you my opinion about the food at Mambu. Unfortunately, we never made it that far. We called for reservations on a Friday night around 7, completely understandig that this was the definition of late notice, and not really expecting much luck. But the upbeat hostess was ready to seat us at 8:30.
We arrived right on time to find the hallway of this quaint house completely packed. Waitstaff plowing through with all the tact of a cattle prod and doing their best to have completely blank faces to show just how little they cared that we were standing there. Minutes ticked by.
The hostess had morphed from upbeat to snarky. She finally seated a large party, suggested we go to the bar (I'm sure she would have appreciated the extra revenu), and then disappeared. We continued to stand there like we were uninvited. Finally a party of 5 came in at around 8:40, and told the waitress they were there for a 9 o'clock reservation. She promptly sat them and disappeared.
By this point we were both hungry and irritated. The hostess continued to talk to the man who had the 9 o'clock reservation and was completely accomodating. We continued to be invisible.
Part of the enjoyment of going out, and indeed what you're paying for, is the service. If I wanted to stand around and wait for my food, I'd cook it myself.
I'm a big fan of Mambu, I know it's a hit or miss amongst my friends, but personally I have always had a good experience (though I avoid Mambu like the plague when its crowded). I love the cool in house restaurant vibe where an at the door greeting feels genuine and homey. As far as the food goes, their small menu offers good Pad Thai and some of the best Tuna in town. Perhaps my favorite part of Mambu is their cool light bar where you can get a tasty martini or a great glass of wine (they have a pretty good wine list). Small town with a chic trendy feel, I think that Mambu has one of the best vibes in town
Very ecelectic place - the restaurant is in a old house and the decor quirky, funkiy and fun. The food is more sophisticated than the restaurant - if that makes sense. It's like the two don't really quite match up. But none the less the food is great - huge portions - good cocktails and a nice wine list. I went with my sister and mother and had the lobster rolls, arugula salad, med plate, pad thai, and the seared tuna - we shared all and still had a lot left over. Service was a little slow - but really nice and friendly. I'd def. go back!
