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Mangroves May Grow On Residents

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By HAROLD VALENTINE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

NORTHDALE - A double shot of South Tampa's nightlife has opened in Northdale.

Mangroves, a successful restaurant and bar for 12 years on South Howard Avenue, features fancy food and drinks. Managers in Northdale say their clientele are happy a trip to South Tampa is not required for an upscale night out.

"South Tampa and Ybor is a haul from here," bar manager Jason Hall said. "There are a lot of young people that live here, and they don't want to go all the way out there."

The nightspot, decorated by owner Debbie Hudson, opened March 8. Its ambiance is cosmopolitan and contemporary-retro and smacks of Miami's South Beach, general manager Jeff Parks said.

Parks said his restaurant has the goods to "get people in and keep them here."

"We want to focus on things that nobody else does," Parks said. "That's what has made us successful down in South Tampa."

Parks, a certified chef, said those who visit the restaurant are sure to enjoy the work of Chef Esteban Sainz, who has worked upscale restaurants in Las Vegas and Texas.

Parks said his emphasis is quality and added that everything served is fresh. He said the only thing entering the 5,000-square-foot Mangroves on ice is beer.

He said fish, including sashimi-grade tuna, and meat deliveries are made almost every day and are cut in-house. Parks added that sauces and dressings are prepared every other day.

Hall said the most popular entree is sea bass, served with confetti rice, hearts of palm, arugula salad and butter sauce. That costs $30, with other entrees running from $18 to $38.

Soups, salads and appetizers start at $6 and go up to $20 for foie gras, or fattened goose or duck liver.

Hall said drinks are another draw to Mangroves and include special cocktails, wine and beer. Martinis include the traditional gin and white vermouth but vary with specialty drinks combining Ketel One or Tanqueray vodka with cucumber or pear puree, as well as Godiva chocolate.

Parks added that wine connoisseurs will not be disappointed, and imported beer includes Chimay, Brooklyn Brown Ale and Dogfish Head.

Happy hour is daily from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday nights cater to service-industry employees, and Thursday is ladies night, featuring $5 three-olive martinis.

Though the dining room closes at 10:30 or 11 p.m., late-night orders of pizza and hamburgers are taken until 2 a.m.

"We're not talking about your run-of-the-mill, fast-food burgers," Parks said. "These are hand-crafted burgers."

After dining-room hours, a section is set up outside and a dance area is created near the bar, which is open from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Parks said the restaurant will soon sell cigars.

Hall said the quality and service that have worked in South Tampa will work in Northdale.

"Now, we're just mainly trying to get the word out we're here," he said. "Once we get people in the door, they're going to stay. They always do."

IF YOU GO

ADDRESS: 3805 Northdale Blvd.

HOURS: 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily; the dining room closes about 10:30 p.m.

INFORMATION: Call (813) 968-3434 or go to www.mangroves-restaurants.com.

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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