Inside: Mangroves Northdale

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In an area that is beginning to thrive with young nightlife, the creators of Mangroves SoHo have brought a South Tampa favorite to Northdale.  The less-crowded North Tampa counterpart has the same fusion of Miami style with a Key West feel.  The sleek lines from the décor and the white, flowing curtains mix with splashes of color from the lime green walls and stained-glass bar to create a chic, tropical destination for the trendy crowd.  The New American cuisine is presented so flawlessly elegant that the dishes belong in an art museum, however, guests won’t find themselves too reluctant to dig in once their senses are overtaken by a combination of powerful aromas.

Mangroves has a full bar offering specialty cocktails like mojitos and martinis, as well as generous selection of beer and wine.  After dinner on weekends, sip on a drink and watch sporting events on the TVs above the bar area, or mingle while the DJ spins the latest hits and mixes all night.

The Bottom line: The less-crowded and more laid back version of its SoHo sister, Mangroves Northdale is an upscale restaurant and bar with a trendy fusion of Miami style and a Key West feel. 

The Drinks: Mangroves has a full bar offering specialty cocktails, as well as a generous selection of beer and wine. Try a refreshing sweet and minty mojito, or a crisp wine such as one of the Rieslings, which will pair well with the savory seafood options on the menu.

The Food: Mangroves offers New American cuisine, with its version mainly consisting of seafood and a few steak, pork and poultry items, and dishes are presented here like pieces of artwork.  And the best part is that they can all be eaten.  For starters, try the Shrimp Imperial plated with a mojo bbq sauce swirl and four large applewood smoked bacon-wrapped tiger shrimp with crab stuffing surrounding a few plantain chips and their perfectly seasoned dip, or the Coconut, Macadamia & Almond-crusted Blue Crab Cakes with mango and sweet pepper slaw and pineapple beurre blanc sauce drizzled around the outside.

Check out entrees like the Pacific Rim Spiced Seabass served with confetti rice, arugula and hearts of palm salad with a calypso beurre blanc sauce, the Shrimp & Crab Crusted Mahi Mahi Fillet resting on top of garlic seared spinach, herb roasted baby potatoes, a creamy lobster brandy sauce, or the One-Pound Pork Chop Porterhouse grilled with honey and Szechaun and served over apple pancetta, potato hash and caramelized onions.

The Damage: Appetizers range from $8-$20 and entrees from $20-$40. The cuisine is well worth the splurge because the quality is outstanding and the portions are just the right size, but Mangroves is definitely on the pricey side for just a typical night out.

The Sounds: During dinner pop and oldies plays in the background, and on the weekends, the DJ spins the latest top 40 hits and mixes in the bar area on weekends after about 10 p.m.

The Decor: The sleek lines from the décor and the white, flowing curtains mix with splashes of color from the lime green walls and stained-glass bar to create a chic, tropical destination for the trendy crowd. At the main entrance, there is a line of round, glass cocktail tables that hang from the ceiling.  The dimmed lighting and votive candles on the tables give the whole restaurant a warm glow, and the tables and cozy booths create an intimate setting for couples, friends, romance and fun.

The Crowd: Mangroves caters to a trendy-chic group of people from their mid-20s to mid-40s, and looking for fine dining and drinks, good music and a cool setting for meeting people or just kicking back with friends.

The Service: The sharply-dressed, uniformed staff is accommodating, and gives honest food and drink suggestions.  The waiter even brought samples of wine to the table so everyone would be satisfied, and each course was well-timed, so the meal was not rushed at all.

The Dress Code: The typical style is casual-chic, so basically along the lines of upscale “clubwear.”  Casual shorts are not appropriate, but Jeans or slacks and button-down shirts or polos are for guys and, jeans, pants, dresses or skirts for ladies are the norm here.

Insider tips: Friday nights after 10 p.m. are beginning to be a hip new North Tampa hotspot.

Mangroves
3805 Northdale Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33618
813-968-3300

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