New Restaurant in Tuckahoe: Mambo 64’s Latin Beat

{Contributing writer: Jeanne Muchnick}

Mambo 64 is a new Latin American restaurant by food writer and cooking teacher Arlen Gargagliano. The New Rochelle resident, who has lived in Spain and Peru, is all about putting her own interpretations of Latin American and Caribbean flavors out on display. She is front and center when you walk into the restaurant, and on the night I was there, was busy checking every table making sure they were happy and well attended to.

It’s a warm ambiance, with Arlen’s welcoming you. The interior, which her brothers helped her design, is homey, with art displays and chalk drawings centered on the art of mambo. I particularly liked the wall of old record covers with titles that make you want to get up and dance.

But first, a cocktail. The list here is fun and makes choosing hard. My husband ordered the Caipirinha, Brazil’s National Cocktail made with cachaça (sugar cane rum), muddled limes, sugar, which came so cold it was practically smoking (and smoking in a good way!). The Pisco Sour, Peru’s National Cocktail (brandy, meringue, fresh lime, and sugar) is also popular and I saw a lot of tables enjoying that tasty brew. But what caught my eye were the two types of sangria: White Wine Passion Fruit, made with white wine, passion fruit puree, fresh mango chunks and nectar, fresh o.j. orange liqueur and brandy, and Red Wine Pineapple, red wine, fresh pineapple chunks, fresh lemon juice, orange liqueur and brandy. I got a small taste of the latter and was sold (HIGHLY recommend!). If I had been in more of a drinking mood – and with a partner who loves sangria as much as I do–I would have ordered a pitcher, ordered a bunch of tapas and called it a day.

But alas, this was a husband sort of evening, not a girlfriend one.

We were happy—and pleasantly surprised—when soon after our drinks were plunked down, a nice little tasty treat appeared: Costa Rican black bean dip with warm pita–a few slices of “regular” and whole wheat.  Definite points for appeasing the healthy eaters in the crowd.

Next, we moved onto tapas, the heart and soul of the restaurant. The menu is mainly small plates, a smorgasbord of interesting combinations. I ordered Gambas al Ajíllo, classic Spanish-style sherry-sautéed shrimp (with crusty bread for dipping). It was the perfect starter, though frankly, I’d love to see it as an entrée with a stack of rice.

My husband opted for the special: chilled sweet potato soup with chipotle oil. It tasted like a puree, but with a spicy kick. I thought it sweet enough to be dessert.

We were hungry so rather than share a bunch of dishes – sometimes you’re not always in the mood to share – we each ordered our own entrees. The entrees are limited here….frankly, this is really a place for grazing, sharing and trying new things.

Mark got the Pernil, roast pork with Gallo Pinto rice and boy was it big. He ended up taking half home (though both of us wished there was some hot sauce on the side to spice it up). I, however, was happily drawn to the rice – what Arlen referred to as a “breakfast dish.” I could have eaten that rice for breakfast, lunch AND dinner.

I kept adding it to my Chimichurri-Marinated Hanger Steak. The menu says the dish comes with roasted seasonal vegetables but the veggie portion disappointed me. There were a few onions, some red peppers and two sticks of asparagus but not much else. Some extra sauce on the side, along with more of a side dish, would have been better.

We were too full for dessert, though the offerings were tempting – I’m a big fan of dulce de leche and it is highlighted in two dishes here: Arlen’s Brownies, with dulce de leche ice cream, and dulce de leche lace oatmeal cookies, served with ice cream.

What I loved: the fact that Arlen has clearly put a lot of love and thought behind her branding. Our bill came in a cigar box filled with reading glasses, a little flashlight, and information about Mambo64’s Happy Hour from 5 to 7 pm Tuesday to Friday where house wines and cocktails are $5 and all beers are $3.50 (and accompanied by signature nibbles like house salsas, Spanish-style toasted almonds and pepitas). You can read more here (my Journal News story.)

{InToxiKate Tip}

Go for lunch; there is a $12.95 lunch special that includes a Cuban sandwich and a side dish.

{Mambo 64, 64 Main St., Tuckahoe, 914-222-9964, mambo64.com}

Local author and writer Jeanne Muchnick is a contributor to IntoxiKate.com. The self-proclaimed “not-a-foodie-foodie” lives in Larchmont with her family. To read more about Jeanne, visit the contributors page.