Brunch Date: Mango Tree
Brunch is quickly becoming my newest obsession. Every Saturday evening when I’m on the phone with my Mom, she doesn’t even have to ask what my Sunday entails. Rather, she now asks, “where are you doing brunch?”
I’ve trained her well.
A few weeks ago, Scott and I had the opportunity to go to one of City Center DC’s newest brunch destinations, Mango Tree. Located on H Street, this partnership between Richard Sandoval and the global restaurant group is centered around authentic Thai Cuisine. Mango Tree is located in 17 countries with more than 72 restaurants and cafes. Though I don’t normally associate Thai with brunch, our trip to Mango Tree offered an innovative approach to DC’s favorite meal time as well as opening my eyes to the meaning of great Thai food.
Brunch isn’t complete without a little bubbly and a bloody, but our recommendation is you give the Mango Mimosa a chance over the Traditional. It was a clean, fresh, and a fantastic departure from the normal routine.
When you go, don’t skip the appetizers, as it’d be a grave mistake to miss the “pork in a bag”. Explained to us as a traditional “street food” meal, the bag must be the secret to the intense flavor. If that’s the case, all of my dinners will be cooked in a bag from now on. Simple, but an incredible compliment to a dynamic menu of Thai dishes.
Admittedly, if I scan a brunch menu and fail to see Eggs Benedict, it’s usually a no-go for me. However Mango Tree serves what has instantly become one of my favorite Benedicts in all of DC. With the option of braised beef cheeks, salmon, and spinach, the conservative in me leaned toward just the spinach. The manager convinced me of the salmon, and I’ll be forever grateful. Next time, I plan on unleashing my inner adventurer and order the beef cheeks. I am overly critical of this brunch dish, and I need a runny egg and more than enough Hollandaise to soak into my bread. I had both, and I savored every bite.
Scott ordered the Bacon, Bourbon, and Apple Pancakes. It’s the Law of Brunch that anything with bacon is winning, but throw some Bourbon in and you have yourself an expert dish. That it was, and between stuffing myself full of Benedict, I stole several bites off of Scott’s plate. All of the flavors were expertly combined, and this is easily one of our favorite brunch items to date.
A few things to note – the entrees impressed, but what people need to know is that EVERYTHING impressed. The side dishes are equally enjoyable, and the hash browns were to die for. I allow myself full permission to indulge on a weekly basis, and I look more forward to hash browns than I can even tell you. We also had a side of the Thai sausage, and I would highly recommend you get one as well. Deep flavor, and a fantastic compliment to the meal.
The ambiance of the restaurant is clean, open, and modern. The bar is beautifully designed, and Scott and I fully intend on perching ourselves there for an upcoming happy hour. Overall, the experience at Mango Tree was excellent from start to finish, and now ranks as one of our go-to brunch spots in DC.
Cheers!
Al
