Mango Caribbean Cafe is the only place in downtown Palo Alto where you can order curried goat. It’s also one of the best places in the area to hang out over truly amazing food.

The first thing that will catch your attention walking in the door is that the restaurant is extremely funky: the owners make several trips to Jamaica every year, and everything —from the art on the walls to the aprons on the friendly waitresses — adds to the restaurant’s authentic flavor. The most arresting sign of this is the reggae music that plays throughout. It’s not your parents’ “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” funky-lite mix: over the course of two hours we heard a number of obscure but awesome bands hand-picked by the owners, both of whom have lived in Jamaica and one who is a native.

On top of this extremely inviting everyday atmosphere, the owners — who took over from old management last April — are carving out a niche for the college student community, with events like live steel drum reggae bands on Saturday nights, and $2 Red Stripe beers and Jamaican patties (flaky, spicy, and imported straight from Kingston) on Thursdays. The lively social atmosphere of Mango Caribbean is a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart of the Italian-restaurant-and-rug-shop aesthetic of University Avenue, and a perfect place to relax with friends.

But even if Mango Caribbean had all the social appeal of a dental hygienist’s office, I’d still be a regular—the food is that good. The Antiqua appetizer was a vibrant combination of plump barbeque shrimp in very fresh mango salsa; the complement of diverse flavors seems to be a theme of the menu. The jerk chicken drumsticks had a seriously spicy kick, and were so tender that they literally fell off the bone.

As for the entrees, the Soca Special—a mild yellow curry chicken, also available in wrap form—absolutely melted in my mouth. It was tender, and the curry was light and tangy without being overpowering. The Little Ochi snapper was also expertly prepared, marinated in a sweet tangy pickle sauce that brought out the freshness of the sauteed vegetables on the side. Even the broccoli (sauteed in white wine with a hint of garlic) was so good we wanted seconds. Other notable dishes on the menu include pumpkin soup, breaded salmon, and a very colorful tropical chicken salad.

Make sure to get a beverage, especially if you order spicy. Mango Caribbean offers a huge array of fresh tropical smoothies and alcoholic beverages. It also has a list of unusual wines hand-picked to complement Caribbean cuisine, and the staff is glad to give recommendations. Finally, absolutely do not miss their Sangria with a tropical twist — it gets its kick from champagne instead of club soda, making unusual flavors like mango pop.

Bottom line: this is the perfect place to go with an intimate group of friends or acquaintances. It is inexpensive and the food is fresh and high quality. The music, atmosphere, and fabulous cuisine will definitely give you something to talk about. n

Mango Caribbean Cafe

435 Hamilton Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94301

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Lunch and Dinner