Johnny Mango World Cafe & Bar

You can almost feel the sand under your feet as you walk into cantina-hideaway Johnny Mango World Cafe & Bar, tucked into the eclectic neighborhood of Cleveland's Ohio City. Colorful artwork and a maze of greenery adorn the walls and shelves of this ... Read More

You can almost feel the sand under your feet as you walk into cantina-hideaway Johnny Mango World Cafe & Bar, tucked into the eclectic neighborhood of Cleveland's Ohio City. Colorful artwork and a maze of greenery adorn the walls and shelves of this hip, casual eatery. Island music floats through the air, and the big ceiling fans certainly put the wind in your hair. Inspired by co-owner Gary Richmond's many trips to Mexico, Thailand and other faraway locales, the menu offers a great cross selection of Mexican, Asian and Caribbean flavors. Many of the dishes are prepared with fresh produce directly from the West Side Market in Cleveland and constitute a veggie lover's dream. Menu selections generally fall into four categories: burritos, quesadillas, one-dish wonders and big plates. Eight different fillings are available for the burritos and quesadillas including steak, chicken, shrimp or veggies. They can be ordered à la carte or served with salsa, beans, grains, slaw and a grilled banana. Big-plate meals feature such global selections as the Bangkok BBQ Chicken, a recipe that Richmond received from a Thai restaurateur whose mother used to sell the dish from a roadside stand. The spicy Jamaican jerk chicken and the Escondido crab cakes are also worth trying, and do sample the Caribbean French fries, which are mashed fried plantains. The food is complemented by an excellent selection of tropical beverages including seven styles of margaritas, superb mojitos and a potent strawberry Long Island iced tea. A full juice bar serves concoctions such as the Pelican Kiss, a mix of apple and cranberry juices with ginger, and frozen yogurt shakes and soymilk drinks for the health conscious. Weekend brunch (9 am–2 pm) includes whole-wheat waffles, omelets, Vietnamese rice crêpes and smoked salmon scrambles. Tied for Best Caribbean/Puerto Rican/Latin American in the Cleveland Magazine 2007 readers poll. Serving lunch and dinner daily. Sat–Sun brunch (and on holidays).