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Categories: Brazilian, Italian [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill2 for 1 well drinks, $ 3 draft beers, $ 5 selected wines, $ 8 siganture drinks, $ 9 premium siganture drinks, $ 6 selected appetizers.
Tue-Thu. 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"The best Italian food I've ever had! Seriously every single thing was amazing, from the seafood and calamari dish, to the red sauce…" read more »
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BOMB! i love Mangarosa! The food is excellent! The management is very helpful and I've always had a great experience with my servers - they all deserve a great tip :)
The mojitos are sooo good - sometimes i stop in for happy hour after work. Nothing can stop me from going to Manga!
HOV!
This is another restaurant that took us a while to visit. After walking around, we decided to give this place a try. When we walked inside, we noticed some low lounge seatings to the right and the person greeting us asked if we were here for the Happy Hour. Happy Hour? We didn't even know they had one but who can turn down happy hour?!? Not to mention it's a great way to try out their food before commiting to a full meal.
What we got:
Pastéis de Carne, Queijo e Frango" little pastries stuffed with beef, cheese and chicken - you get 2 pieces each - it's ok
"Bolinho de Bacalhau" cod cake with red pepper coulis - this was ok
fried artichoke hearts - not bad
I can't eat too much fried food so don't ask me why I ordered everything fried.
I had their special cocktail - CAIPIRINHA - Fresh lime wedges slowly muddled with sugar, shaken with authentic Velho Barreiro "Cachaça"
and finished with ice. It tasted like a margarita. Hubby had a beer.
It's definitely ambiance lighting and the lounge seating is nice. If nothing else, we would come back for a drink. Their happy hour is Tuesday-Friday from 6-8pm, I think apps and drinks were $3-6.
Don't come here on any night but Tuesday! This is when they have a three course prix frix for $30 (6-11pm). I love complete meals. And I believe they can be achieved without breaking the bank. Sadly, I was not here on a Tuesday night. So what did Wednesday have to offer? Read:
Soft beef short ribs with red bell pepper sauce - ($23) This didn't come with any sides. Actually most of the entrees don't come with any sides but when you're paying $23, couldn't they at least throw in a little green herb even just for added color? The ribs were good but didn't justify the price. The sauce was a pleasant surprise though. I think red bell peppers have a very strong after taste but it was not present in the sauce, more of an after thought of flavor.
"Prosciutto wrapped filet mignon with roasted potatoes, asparagus and Marchand de Vin sauce" - ($34) This is in quotes because the prosciutto was actually wrapped around the three stems of asparagus. Huh? No matter. The mignon/sauce was nicely cooked but the sides were boring. Roasted potatoes actually means fried potatoes. The asparagus was nothing special even with the prosciutto. Now I'm glad I didn't order a side for the ribs.
Chocolate Strawberry Bread Pudding with Hazelnut Ice Cream - ($9) It looked like a delicious dessert. It had a nice scoop of ice cream on top of the pudding and was garnished with bits of strawberries, blueberries (previously frozen), and raspberries. But the red berry syrup killed it. The taste was overwhelming every other flavor that it covered and I didn't even want the last few bites. And I never turn down dessert.
I'm sure this could have been a four star place but it was not meant to be on this night.
The food is expensive for what you get - but the drinks are a good pour. I'm not sure if that makes up for it.
I came here about a year ago because I always saw it on the Dine About Town menu, but never had a chance to try it. Though I didn't come out during DAT, I was still able to have a taste of their best dishes highly recommended by our cute waiter (who was also bartending as well).
We ordered a few drinks by the bar while we were waiting for our seat. The mojitos and caipirinhas were legit! Not too sugary with the perfect proportion of rum and club soda. I can still remember sipping on the pulps of lime...when all of a sudden...the lights go dim and I hear Brazilian tunes blasting throughout the venue, followed by 3 sexy Samba dancers dazzled up in risque outfits propped up on top of the bar. I took a glance at the crowd of roaring men with their jaws to the floor and a glass in hand and thought to myself, "this will be interesting if they start dancing with everyone." Next thing you know, the Samba dancers start roaming around the entire dining room shakin' their thang and breakin' that thang! Quite an entertaining evening, I must say.
We were finally seated in the lounge area by the bar and were too distracted by the half naked chick bouncing her goodies 3 ft away from our table to decide what to order. Our waiter, kind and helpful as ever, suggested his 4 top picks: calamari fritti, grilled prawns risotto, gnocci in a roasted garlic cream sauce, & tender soft beef short ribs. They weren't kidding when they said the short ribs are "tender soft". I barely touched it with my fork and the meat just slid off the bone. SO flavorful! I must go back for more. I especially loved the pungent garlic cream sauce that blanketed the gnocci. "Melt in your mouth delicious" is the best way to put it. The risotto and calamari were a great addition to our meal, but I wouldn't come back for them.
Overall, I was extremely satisfied with my experience at this electrifying restaurant and I'm planning to come back very soon. I hear their happy hour runs until 8pm. Did somebody say mojitos??? *wink*
If you'd like to save a few bucks, check out their gift certificates on http://restaurant.com.
All in my party were very disappointed with our food. Between the four of us, we had the lamb chops, the pork chop milanese, the flatiron steak (on special), and what I think was a flank steak. All of them were mediocre at best, and lacked any originality. The black kale was extremely oily and almost inedible. I ordered the lamb chops, and on the plate arrive some kind of strange potatoes au gratin, which is neither Italian nor Brazilian as the menu and restaurant theme would suggest.
The two small glimmers of hope for this restaurant are the bolinhos de bacalhau and the hearts of palm salad, which were delightful. Unfortunately, I will not be returning, and sincerely hope others will heed this review. It's not good.
Came here with two other friends on a Tuesday when they were serving their prix fixe menu. We chose this place because one friend was in the mood for creme brulee.. and she knew they served it.
Valet parking was a definite plus, even though it was our last resort. Two of us got the prix fixe and it was fairly average. The service was less than average.
One friend ordered the ravioli, and after a lengthy wait, her meal came out first. After about two minutes, our server returns, but not with the rest of our meals. She advises that our meals arent ready yet and it could be a while. Really? A restaurant that has been in business for a while should be more than aware of cooking times for different meals.
Of course, my friend wasnt going to be rude and eat her meal while we continue to be hungry with a constant eye on the kitchen. Her food continues to get cold, and then our server comes back and asks if she would like a fresh ravioli to be made. This was a nice gesture, but really, the situation shouldnt have happened in the first place.
Anyway, we end up all getting our meals (her "new" ravioli appeared strikingly similar to the first, btw...) and eating them. I had the beef short ribs with mashed potato. The mashed potatoes arrived a few minutes into my meal... which was random.. on a side plate. My meat was very nicely cooked, I cant complain about that. However, i felt the "meat and potatoes" combo was sort of missing something.
Dessert was my favorite part of the meal. We all loved ours (creme brulee, chocolate and strawberry bread pudding with hazelnut icecream, and tiramasu) and they were well priced at $9 each.
Our 18% automatic gratuity to our bill was waived (we wanted three separate tabs) because of the main meal inconvenience. This was nice. Our server then asked me if my mashed potatoes were brought out my accident with the short ribs? I was confused. She said they weren't on the menu, but I remember seeing them. Anyway, I thought that the server should know the menu a bit better.. and not expect the customer to know whether it was a mistake or not.
Overall experience: AVERAGE. Because of what a hassle it was to get there and park, I wont be going back.
2.5 Stars
Overall, I wasn't too impressed with this spot.
The food was fairly hit-or-miss. The appetizers were alright - we had a plate of the Pasteis de Frango, which were fried pastries stuffed with chicken - they weren't greasy and were very moist. We also shared a crab/artichoke dip, which was okay if you like crab. Their special of the evening was a skirt steak with mashed potatoes and both pretty flavorless...the meat was cooked decently well and the preparation was good, but the final execution could have been a bit better.
I will say that the décor and "feel" of the restaurant is great - it has a lively atmosphere and is what you'd want for an evening with friends or a birthday celebration. It's in a great part of North Beach with lots of people everywhere.
They seem to have great happy hour specials so I'd come back to try that out.
ITALY MEETS BRAZIL ON STOCKTON STREET
By Carol Peterson
MangaRosa, 1548 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 415.956.3211
"Go ahead, order anything on the menu. It's on us tonight." This was a first. At a Tel-Hi silent auction, we had won a dinner for two at MangaRosa. Now, we have won dinners before, but never had a restaurant awarded such a generous carte blanche. So we folded ourselves into our chairs and began a magnificent meal.
When I started doing restaurant reviewing, I always kept this experience at MangaRosa in the back of my mind. Not only do I look for fabulous food in the neighborhood, but I value a community spirit and immersion into the North Beach scene, when a new restaurant joins us. So two years later we went back for dinner.
The first thing to know about MangaRosa is that it is an Italian restaurant with a difference. Renato Fusari, told me, "We are 90 percent Italian and 10 percent Brazilian." It is the 10 percent that gives MangaRosa the edge, as they infuse different herbs, limes, coconut milk and other Brazilian flavors into their food.
The meal starts with their homemade bread. The stars of the bread basket are the small round hot dinner rolls that contain a surprising dollop of a creamy melted cheese in the center.
A must is the MangaRosa butter lettuce salad, with sweet and spicy walnuts, fresh mangos, dry cherries and cambozola cheese. The combinations of crunchy, chewy and creamy all come together but it is the dressing, a unique mixture of mango, lime, mint and oil cocktail that makes this salad stand out. It left me trying to figure out which lingering flavor was assaulting my taste buds.
If you are a lover of beef, at MangaRosa you are at the right place. Here the tender beef short ribs are slow-roasted and literally melt in your mouth. They come on a platter, with a red bell pepper sauce, a rich and colorful compliment to the meat. The large portion is appropriate for sharing.
Many restaurants fall flat when they try to do a seasonal dish; not MangaRosa. The "Camarao na Moranga," or prawns in a pumpkin, shines. You are served a small pumpkin, stuffed with prawns in a sauce of coconut milk and tomato so delicious that I found myself digging into the soft flesh of the pumpkin and eating it with the remaining sauce. Chef Sergio Cruz has created a real prize here.
The elite dessert is the chocolate-strawberry bread pudding, with hazelnut ice cream. Well worth the calories.
Our third visit was on a Thursday night, and were we ever surprised. A Brazilian rum company was having a promotion and happy hour was in full swing. The place was packed. Brazilian music was playing and out came the scantily dressed dancers on the bar, in their Carnival costumes. The place had so much energy, it was easy to fall into the mood.
As we ate, the dancers came around to the table begging a dance and the rum representative came by to explain the finer points of South American rum. We ordered Caipirinhas, the official drink of Brazil. The one I was served that night was better than any I've had in Brazil. This happy hour goes on for considerably more than an hour every Thursday night.
MangaRosa has been around for quite a few years now and seems to be a fixture in the neighborhood. I'll be back for more delicious food and I hope you will put the place on your A list, too.
Who likes boobie tassles?
EVERYONE.
I dare you to find someone who isn't mesmerized by counter-clockwise swinging sequins atop a bar.
Honestly, the food was a bit overpriced. It was by no means bad - I had a lovely time - but it was pretty pricey and didn't give me the hide-under-the-table-and-lick-the-plate instinct. And in this city, there's plenty of REALLY tasty eats for a lot less. You just gotta bring a little more to the table.
Or bar, as it may be.
Aaaaaannnnnnddddddd enter the burlesque show.
Every Thursday at 7.
I can see right through your little scheme, Mangarosa. Its as transparent as those ladies' underoos. And I thank you. The flesh and feathers improved my dining experience and thus bumped you up a whole Yelp Star. Very savy.
Creative menu and a lively and vibrant restaurant atmosphere. The caipirihna is sweet enough for a girl, strong enough for a guy. Three of us shared the flank steak salad, polenta soufflé, and filet mignon Espetinhos (steak + veggie skewers on a bed of bread crumbs). The house-made gnocchi was the standout, it comes in a tiny portion but each piece literally melts in your mouth and the entire dish is fantastically garlicky and creamy.
The meal was pricey enough that I would have preferred that they served some kind of bread so I could fill up a bit more, but overall a great place to dine.
3.5 stars with potential for more... I had to round up to 4 because of the interesting dancing going on..
We went with a larger group last week... Had a good time... Service was solid... atmosphere was nice...
The food was..... good.... We ordered some apps and a steak dish....
I think I will go back and try some different food options...
Decent place and it was enjoyable...
Super yummy Brazilian cocktails. Great steak for two. Valet.
I guess that makes me a fan!
Perhaps this place was a victim of my high expectations, but I was disappointed. Perhaps I ordered the wrong dishes off the menu, but the po de queijo (cheese bread) was cold rather than warm, and the bolinho de bacalhau (cod cakes) were overly salty. My wife was happy with her spinach salad, though her sides of mushroom (underdone) and scalloped potatoes (undersalted) were both disappointing. How does anyone screw up scalloped potatoes? Isn't butter supposed to overcome any chef's lack of skill? We brought the mushrooms home so that we could "doctor them up" to make them taste better.
Worse, we were using a http://restraurant.com certificate and mentioned that upfront, so we were singled out for poor service. Everyone else at the tables around us had specials read to them, nothing for us -- just "Are you ready to order?" We had to wait for 20 minutes to have our check brought to us and picked up after we had eaten.
In general, the food seemed "bleh" relative to the prices, so not value for money in my book. I'm perfectly willing to pay for good food and service -- I worship at Gary Danko -- but if you're going to charge nearly $30 for a seafood pasta, it better be top-of-the-line.
Perhaps this place is better with a group and on the evenings the samba dancers perform, but I don't plan to be back.
I kept meaning to go here for so long and I'm so glad that I finally did. We used a http://Restaurant.com gift certificate as well which made everything even better. Table outside for two around 7:30 which is still during happy hour. The hostess told us that happy hour was only at the bar but we were able to order at the bar and bring it outside so we were able to enjoy 2 for 1 well drinks and a $6 appetizer. We got the fried artichoke hearts that were good, not great, but certainly hit the spot. Just before dinner arrived the bartender came out with two complimentary shots which is always appreciated.
I had the short ribs with mashed potatoes and sauteed mushrooms and it was absolutely fantastic. My girlfriend had the gnocci wI of course had to try and it was delicious. We didn't have any room for desert but the friend plantains sounded pretty good.
With our http://Restaurants.com certificate we had 4 drinks, 2 entrees, an appetizer and a shot on the house, including tip for $75. I was certainly pleased with the price, service, and food. I'll certainly be back.
This was a great first dining experience! We had dinner here for my birthday and to my surprise, there were flowers and balloons set up at our table. The hostess was really nice and sweet.
The waiter was pretty cute, too! Reminded me of Jason Lewis (Smith from "Sex and the City") haha....he had a slight Irish accent, I think?! Anyway...he was really nice. He told us what the special was for the night and brought us our waters. He was very patient when we couldn't really make up our minds about our orders. We ordered the steak special, fine and thinly sliced with mashed potatoes, beef short ribs with scalloped potatoes and started off with the scallops with speck, treviso, and calvados butter.
Our waiter and even the hostess stopped by to check on us several times throughout our dinner. I liked the atmosphere....it felt intimate, personal, and the music was nice. It was a little dark in there but you could still look the person in the eye when you're talking to them across the table. Hehe....
For dessert, we ordered the Brazilian Flan and I had the Chocolate Strawberry Bread Pudding with Hazelnut ice cream. YUM!!!! It was on the house since it was my birthday and they even gave me a huge candle. Hehhee.....
I would definitely come back! This was a great place....I think everyone should try it.
My first time with a Brazilian...was at Mangarosa....and hm...I'm sure I could find better. After a co-worker raving about this place, I decided to give it a try. We made reservations on opentable since anything in the city on a Saturday night will be packed.
Drove up and parked valet, since there's no parking to be found.....
Walked in and was pleasantly surprised....it was cute, small, oh so small, but cute....hm...I give it B+ for effort. We were seated right away, so no need to hit up the bar, although like I said, it's small in there, so didn't want to anyway. I hate it when someone's elbow is in my drink !
We were seated fairly close to the kitchen area, so kind of sucked, and also near the register so that was annoying too. Would have rather been seated near the window...so at least next time I know, should I go again, which I doubt. =P
Menu has variety and everything sounded good, but I was told I had to try the "Po de Queijo" cheese bread "Brazilian Style....see, I absolutely love carbs and cheese, so the combo of this yummy concoction should have tickled my fancy, but alas....it did not. It was OK...kind of tasted like giant Goldfish cheese crackers but softer...I wasn't that impressed.
So for our entree, I had the shiitake mushrooms and chicken pesto risotto and my hubby had the Brazilian Steak Réchaud. My risotto was ok, have had and made better, but it was good all the same. My hubby's steak was tender and good, but again, nothing orgasmic going on at the table, other than us! =) haha
So after our meal, we were over it, so we didnt order dessert. It was around 9:00pm when our dinner was over, and that's when it started to get a little more crowded, but not much. For a Saturday night, it was a pretty weak crowd.
I will one day start my quest for some good Brazilian food, but until then, I will try to be non-bias about Brazilian food being good, because if it's like Mangarosa....eh....I'm not impressed.
I just tried Mangarosa again after a year and still have the same thoughts. The food isn't anything special (I had the prawn risotto). However, the restaurant was a lot more bearable since it wasn't RIGHT after work and filled with business types. The waiter was super chill. The music was fantastic.
I'd probably come here and drink a lot of cocktails and stumble somewhere else.
I wish I could give 3.5 stars..
I came here for SF Dine About Town last night. It was easy to find,…
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I love taking my mommy on my foodie adventures because #1: she loves to eat and #2: she lets me order =P
Brazilian and Italian. Who knew.
Brazilian Style Cheese Bread:(http://www.yelp.com/bi...) A must-have!! Crunchy small bites with soft warm interiors. Just the right amount of cheese and grease to make it a guilty treat.
Flank Steak Salad: (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Pass! The steak was tough, overcooked and flavorless. Some of the salad greens were wilted.
Veal Ossobuco: (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Braised veal shank cooked in a tomato sauce. It was delicious! The meat was tender and easily fell off the bone. Spatzle, a German egg pasta dumpling, was served under the shank. Its appearance odd, but accompanied the veal very very well.
Grilled Prawn Risotto: (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Very different from risottos I've had. The texture is less creamy. The flavors were bold. Zesty, tangy and spicy. Definitely some Brazilian flair in this. Prawns were nicely grilled. The only complain was the sprinkle of fried shredded greens on top. Weird taste and texture.
Chocolate Strawberry Bread Pudding with Hazelnut Ice Cream: (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Even with half of our food packed in to-go boxes, and our stomaches exceeding capacity, I couldn't resist. The bread pudding was freshly baked with chocolate and strawberries; surrounded by fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberry sauce; topped with a scoop of hazelnut ice cream. The bread pudding was warm and moist. Eaten with some ice cream, it was heavenly. The contrasting temperature and texture of it all...*siiiiigh* just pure delight.
We happened to dine on a Thursday night. Samba dancers performed on top of the bar and around the restaurant with their colorful costumes and their butt-shaking skills. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Performances at the start of every hour. Definitely made this dining experience memorable.
most fun restaurant in san francisco -- unless you eat at the hustler club (gross!).
gina and family that own mangarosa are warm and wonderful, always come and say hello and really take the time to get to know you.
the decor is fun and the ambiance is fantastic -- perfect for a date night or a group dinner.
the food is some of the best in san francisco, the menu is an eclectic blend of brazilian and italian food but everything is good -- and i've had everything! we usually go with a big group and order one of everything on the menu...
the drink menu is also fun, with lots to chose from.
go on a thursday night; that's when they have dancers in full costume on the bar and throughout the restaurant. it's a full on party. we've never been disappointed.
Stopped in here during the Italian Heritage Parade and ordered some Caipirinhas. Probably not the best thing to have as the very first thing in your stomach, but they were great. The drinks were pricey, but the staff are extremely friendly.
Loved Brazilian (with Italian influences) concept.
I had the prawns in a pumpkin (an acorn squash, actually). The sauce was a creamy tomato with wonderful, complex mix of flavors. It is served with some rice. Really well executed. Don't forget to actually eat the insides of the squash with the dish...
For an appy, we should have ordered the cheese bread. We tried the chicken croquettes and they were not as fluffy as they were last time. I guess they are kind of hit and miss.
Friend had the gnocchi with a creamy mushroom sauce. Loved the gnocchi (nice brown bits from a searing), but wish the sauce had more mushrooms and less cream.
Spot on Caipirinha! Very friendly, helpful service, from the hostess to the server.
Loved it! The food is fantastic, the service great-but the clincher here is the dining room...dimly lit, romantic-nice music, sometimes live. They also have a really great email newsblaster-you'll know the minute they change the menu or have some new entertainment or something special for the holidays.
We love Brazilian food-the Northern Italian tie in is a wonderful compliment. Their garlic chicken is really great! We also had a nice dessert, a coconut creme brulee...fantastic!
Would do it all over again!
We came here for the price fix menu. The food was ok but not really worth the price you pay for it.
What was really distracting were the girls dancing. I knew there was going to be dancing (which is why we went in the first place), but I thought it was going to be a quality and entertaining Brazilian dance. I've seen much MUCH MUCH MUCH better. It was almost to the point of disgracing the art form. If you want to see girls just shake their ass in very little clothes calling it Brazilian dance, then come here. But if you want to see real Brazilian dancing place don't even bother with this place.
Its like when people put a coconut bra and a plastic grass skirt on, do some random twists and say "I'M DOING HULA"....please don't!
This is place VERY "meh". First of all the table we were sitting at was kind of wobbly and the chairs were supper uncomfortable. When I placed my napkin on my lap it stuck to a piece of gum on the bottom of the table! SOOOOO gross. When I told the waiter he just offered me a new napkin not a new table.
I ordered the special that night- the salmon and it was COVERED in salt. Nobody at my table could take more than two bites. The "plain" veggies it came in where drenched in some cream sauce with butter poured over it.
Not going back ever.
We were invited by a friend who had a $50 off coupon. I was underwhelmed. The food was not very flavorful. Some of the portions were quite small for the price. Actually, the dinner was not worth the price, even with the $50 off coupon. This place is in the heart of North Beach, so I guess they can charge you whatever they like, people will come.
Highlights:
*Our server was very nice and friendly.
*The bread pudding dessert. One of the better bread puddings I've had!
They have $10 valet parking, which is cheaper than most of the self-parking lots in the area and will save you a lot of grief trying to search for parking.
P.S. I have writer's block at work...trying to write other things to get my mojo flowing...
I haven't been here in a while but I do know that they have the best homemade gnocchi that I tend to crave for along with their brazilian steak. I have a fond memory of this restaurant because it was this place that got me into eating red meat again. I refrained from it for about 8 years and I never thought I'd ever eat it again until one night when I came here with the BF. Of course I had the gnocchi and he ordered the braziian steak which is served over a a hot grill so you may cook the meat to your liking. As I was flipping over the strips of steak for him while he tried my plate the smell of the steak was captivating. I said to him "I think I want to try a piece of this steak". So he prepares one for me and tops it with a little bit of garlic and tomatoes and feeds me this slice. As I was eating it I thought to myself 'I've been missing out on this for 8 years!' I devoured the rest of the steak like a vampire to human blood. I also remember this day distinctively because it was a Friday during Lent (all of you catholic's out there now know that I have sinned).
Thank you Mangarosa for turning me into a born again carnivore.
I have been in Mangarosa so many times, and it always been a good experience
for the first time in many years, i went to mangarosa
1. waiter is late (i order steak richaud), the waiter forgotten the 3 side seasonings thing
2. order yuca fries (doesnt come until i reminded them), and when it comes it is cold and the portion was so much smaller then before. Feels like the yuca fries has been picked by someone before reaching our tables
3. restroom is awful, totally messed up and dirty. wet papers is all over the floor and there is no soap, plus there is rude customer that keep banging my door, even though i have been in for only a minute
4. service is the worst, totally.
.. sorry to say, but i wont recommending this place anymore
Delicious. I had such an enjoyable dinner at Mangarosa on a Thursday evening. Every half hour, some scantily clad dancers came shaking and wiggling about, attempting to get unsuspecting diners to join them. The atmosphere was fun, loud, and upbeat. The service was attentive and the food was delicious.
For starters, we had the cheese bread (a little crisper than some I've had before, but still tasty), a delectable salad with polenta croutons, grilled pears, and goat cheese, and a polenta cake topped with tomato-y stuff and greens and parmesan. For the main courses, we had really tender short ribs and mashed potatoes, chicken mushroom risotto, and I was blown away by the "Camaro na Moranga", which is prawns in a pumpkin. They cook the prawns with a few globs of goat cheese in a creamy sauce *inside* the pumpkin! You can eat the pumpkin as you eat the goodies in side it. It was yummy with a side of rice. I loved it! Different and delicious.
Overall, a very enjoyable meal! Looking forward to coming back.
i came here with a http://restaurant.com certificate (or an unprinted one, which they honored after some convincing since i had it pulled up on my iphone), with moderate expectations having read various reviews on yelp. however, after my experience there, i will definitely consider dining here again.
The short rib was amazingly tender, the appetizers were all delicious (don't get their french fries type dish though. it's not that special). i forget what else we ordered but they all had their distinct flavors, came out at the right temperature despite having a full house.
I loved this place!
Pretty busy--we even waited at the bar past the time of our reservation.
But the wine selection is great, the bartender was friendly, and we had seats, so it wasn't an issue.
The food was awesome. My eye was immediately drawn to the prawns in a pumpkin, which ended up being crazy good. Also really enjoyed the polenta souflee (great flavor combos) and the steak cooked on the table.
Can't wait to go back!
I went here on my friend's birthday and it was ok. We ordered the buffalo wings and pork ribs. Good not great. They did have some awesome dancers there and I thought that was cool. Two of my friends actually work there. We had a bit of a hook up on drinks. But nothing really stood out about the place except the attitude was on the high side.
Beef Rechaud is Mangarosa's Kobe Bryant. Its tastiness overshadows and diminishes the appeal of the other otherwise appealing dishes (e.g. the shortrib) . . . and despite the arrogance, he is hard not to love (I mean IT is hard not to love).
Beef Rechaud is strips of steak served on a cast iron grill that Yelpers (and others, I suppose) can choose to grill for as little or as long as they please. It comes with a handful of seasonings, including some fried garlic bits and yucca powder (not its real name, please indulge and / or forgive me) both of which are deliciously crunchy.
Highly recommended. PETA supporters look elsewhere (and start worrying about your lack of protein that human beings with canine teeth were meant to consume).
Happy eating!
I'm not sure if there is a drink that they serve at Mangarosa that I did not try last night. When I arrived for dinner, three of my guy friends happened to be sitting right by the bar. So I started with a yummy Red Lust Mojito with strawberries and kiwi. It was very festive and pretty good. Next, I tried some of my friend's cab/mix wine which was the top of the red wine list ($11.50) and SO good. Then, the coconut traditional drink which basically tasted like coconut milk (so-so). Then, their special version of sangria which was AMAZING.
Luckily, I had amazing food to soak up my beverages:
- the crab dip appetizer was good but oily - 3.5 stars
- my prawns 'n a pumpkin dish was AMAZING - 5-plus stars... the sauce was so good and tomoto-y and the pumpkin itself was delicious too
- my mom's chicken in balsamic reduction (which I'd had before) was really good - 4.5 stars
- my friend's gnocchi was pretty good though somewhat plain I thought - 3.5 stars
and - the key lime dessert was super - 4.5 stars
I'm sure I'll be back to Mangarosa for another superb meal soon!!!
Quite the dancers & show! I recommend Mangarosa on a Thursday night... you will catch a bit of… Read more »
My boyfriend Aaron and I were wandering around North Beach Saturday night, dodging tourists and the gregarious homeless people who were enthusiastically shaking said tourists down. We were hungry, but wary, given that there is 1 good place to eat for every 10 restaurants on any given block in North Beach. We also wanted to try something new, which added to the challenge.
We ended up at Mangarosa on the recommendation of a friend of a friend of Aaron's, who we ran into at a bar, and wound up happily having a very lovely dinner. There was a bit of a wait for a table, so we hung out at the bar (the roomy bar scored immediate points- I hate waiting at a crowded, tiny restaurant bar). The bartender was helpful in suggesting a delicious, light bodied cab when they ended up being out of the pinot I wanted to try. It was a great stand-in, and the pour was very generous, which always brings joy to my wine-loving heart.
The service was outstanding from start to finish. Our waitress, Stephanie, was friendly, helpful and attentive at all times. We split a salad as a starter, and they put it on two plates. (I love this little touch. Why does everyone not do this?) The timing of the meal was perfect- we were never rushed, and never felt interrupted by the efficient staff.
The food was straightforward, tasty and well-executed. The hearts of palm salad we started with was light, fresh and balanced- none of the ingredients, or the dressing, overwhelmed. Aaron ordered the most perfectly cooked piece of halibut I have tasted in a long while, and my risotto was also spot-on, al dente and creamy at the same time. It came with grilled shrimp that were juicy and tender. The kitchen has a talent for cooking seafood right.
It's a good bet the desserts are good, too, but my boyfriend is one of those freakish people who doesn't like sweets (how does that happen, genetically?) so we skipped it. Even without dessert, it was a supremely satisfying meal.
I came here last night because I got a gift certificate from http://restaurant.com. We split the butter lettuce salad, rib eye steak with mushrooms, and a side of scalloped potatoes. I wasn't super impressed. Everything was good, don't get me wrong...it's not like I am complaining about the food, but for the amount of money we paid, even with the $25 gift certificate, I would expect either better quality food, larger portions of the salad and side (the steak was huge), or cheaper prices. The steak was very filling, because it was enormous, but didn't come with anything like mashed potatoes or veggies, which you'd normally expect when you're paying in the $30 range for a steak. The service was good though, no complaints there.
Basically, I would not want to spend my money here again because I thought it was overpriced for what I was getting, but the food was good enough to where if someone wants to take me here I will not complain.
After all the mixed reviews, I wasn't expecting much out of Mangarosa. Still, we had a $50 http://Restaurants.com coupon and an empty stomach. In the end, so glad we went. Our dinner was excellent.
Here's what we ordered:
- Warm Spinach Salad
- Mangarosa Salad
- Crab dip
- Fish of the day
- Beef short ribs
- Brazilian steak Réchaud
Everything was so yum. Everything! There wasn't a single dish on the table that was a regret. The highlights were definitely the beef short ribs and the Réchaud. Negative points for having to order sides separately with a main entree dish. I'd recommend getting mashed potatoes, not scalloped potatoes.
$50 off with the coupon, our bill was about $100 total. Friday night reservations were easy on opentable. Not sure why there are so many low stars. Maybe Thursday nights are much busier?
It's a great place to start off your night in North Beach.
I can't BELIEVE I haven't reviewed Mangarosa yet!
Where do I start- perhaps with the bar. Caipirinha, Margaritas, or more- the delicious drinks are well worth the steep-ish prices (about $10) and the bartenders make it even more worthwhile- holler eric!
Now to the food- scallops all the way! The sauce on those babies is phenomenal, paired with grilled asparagus or risotto is the way to go.
If you go on a Thursday they have Brazilian dancers that shake their tail feather in your face- this explains the migration of seedy broadway strip dudes that swarm the restaurant on thursday evening. However, well worth both the cultural and culinary experience.
We took a friend here for his birthday a few Thursday's ago. Enjoyed the salads and the short ribs. Big time.
Friendly, attentive staff.
Dancing girls every half hour.
Mojitos!
Feels like a special occasion place, but I'd go back for no reason other than being hungry.
One negative is the prices feel a little high, but we all agreed that we had a great time.
Also, the tables are close to one another and next to us were the fi-di douchy type, which well, is difficult to avoid in North Beach.
This place is a hidden treasure in North Beach.. It's off the beaten path from Columbus, and super fun. Every dish we had was wonderful (ok maybe not the polenta souffle). I shared the Brazilian Steak!! We got to cook it ourselves at the table. it's very interactive and flavorful. Everyone I was with LOVED it. Definitely coming back!!!
Happy Hour and Football…
Neighborhood: Western…
3 courses Prix fixe $31.95
Neighborhood: Mission
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Brazilian
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Restaurants
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