Five years ago, I travelled to Cuba. The place, the people, and especially the food, was absolutely incredible. I have longed to go back and taste the dynamic Cuban loving hospitality. Mambo Lounge at 120 Danforth Ave. is serving the best Cuban food next to Havana. Word has it that Castro would love to have just one taste! Andres, the owner, host, and entertainer, says, "Welcome to my casa!" with his loving attitude.

Tapas are for sharing, each one making you desire another. The Cuban-style shrimp, pan-fried in butter and garlic, are not shy with the garlic or the taste. My friend ate the Chorizo Sausage and he seemed hypnotized with desire. Their Queso de Cabra is actually their homemade goat cheese with garlic confit. I am your prisoner! The taste is so sinfully criminal.

The Cigar del Pinar is a gold star winner. It is cumin-spiced ground beef with olives and hard boiled egg rolled in pastry with a fresh mango sauce. This dish is smoking, and it will be the best cigar you’ve ever tasted. Try their cumin-spiced lamb with carrots, onions, and celery resting atop a grilled portabello mushroom. Lamb will never taste the same again after just one, single bite. It is that delicious!

Mambo is the place to party! The mojito is said to be the best anywhere, and on Friday and Saturday nights, you can enjoy the incredible live music and, of course, Andres’ wonderful presence is there! I had the sea bass, and truthfully, you couldn’t get it to taste better. Chef MV Theepan has worked at Sutton Place, Scaramouche, and Jump, where anything cooked is simply brilliant. The lamb shank literally fell off the bone. Talk about great taste and tender, boy, is it ever tender. Did I mention tender?

At $20.00 for the triple A New York strip loin, this is a great deal. My friend Warren was raised on a cattle farm, and he said it’s one of the best steaks he’s ever had. You have to trust those farm boys! Vegetarians, you are not alone out there. They have a superb dish with grilled portabello mushrooms, fresh veggies, plantain, pineapple, and congri. You will never miss meat with this plate. Cubans do love their pork. Mambo entices you with their marinated pork in Cuban spices. No Cuban meal is ever complete without their chicken and it's cooked the way only Cubans know how.

Andres is about integrity and is an ambassador to the world with his love of mouth-watering and superb food, and his loving attitude toward people.

Review from http://www.martyandavrum.com/