A "Wild"-ly Good Dish

Last Sunday,"R" and I scheduled an impromptu dinner with his mom (who had just returned from a warm and sun-filled week in Cabo- so jealous!). She recently moved to North Olmsted, and has started to explore local eateries. But one that she had frequented before, Wild Mango, became our destination of choice.

It was a very early dinner, so only a few other diners were there when we were. The restaurant is located in the Great Northern Mall, which may throw foodies and fine diners for a loop. But it really was not what I was expecting. The atmosphere was very elegant and tastefully Asian-inspired. The prices are a little high for what most mall-goers would be looking for, but this restaurant can stand on its own.

At "R's" mom's suggestion, we started with the Pepsi Shrimp ($7)- Pepsi-cola battered, Asian cucumber salad and crispy soba noodles. The lightly battered shrimp were tasty with a hint of sriracha, but the cucumber salad offered a nice balance of cool acidity to the dish. Overall, it was very thoughtfully prepared and presented. "R" and his mom both got dishes that included the Beef Tenderloin, and I settled on the Scallops with lobster risotto, mushrooms, and baby bok choy. My dish was outstanding. From the first yummy bite to the last, I was thoroughly enjoying it. The only critique that I can say is that the dish could have used a little more bok choy to help cut the richness of the rest of the components. By the time I was finishing, it was still delicious, but a little heavy. The risotto was so creamy that it melted in my mouth, and the six medium-sized scallops were cooked perfectly. The slight mushroom flavor gave the dish a hint of earthiness, really balancing out the seafood. I would order this dish again in a heartbeat, and "R" stated that he would too after just a few bites that I reluctantly shared. And that says a lot, because his surf n' turf dish that included the beef tenderloin was very good as well. The meat was done to a perfect medium rare, and was so smooth that the meat also melted in your mouth. The sauce was paired well, and both "R" and his mom were really pleased with their dishes.

So, in summary this impromptu dinner was a nice surprise and we certainly found a place (and dish) that we'll come back to! Just be prepared to drop some dough and ignore the mall shoppers.

Wild Mango
362 Great Northern Mall
North Olmsted, OH 44070
(440) 979-1888