Apr. 16, 2014:  Mambo 64 is dedicated to the cuisine of Latin America and the Caribbean . . . an ambitious goal. The variety of choices is very impressive and at the same time somewhat daunting. Mambo 64 is located on Main Street in Tuckahoe across from Tuckahoe Village Hall.

We were enthusiastically greeted by the chef and owner, Arlen Gargagliano, as soon as we walked in the door. Soft lighting, Latin background music, and exposed brick walls covered with Latin and jazz record covers and primitive paintings set a pleasant tone.

Mambo 64 is a cozy and attractive restaurant with a bar that serves a wide variety of Latin drinks. Arlen, along with her chef de cuisine, Stephanie Landis, has put together a menu of interesting and tasty choices.

At the start, each table is served warm pita wedges accompanied by a black bean dip, which we felt was not as interesting and creative as it might have been. Our tapas appetizers included gambas al ajillo, which consisted of classic Spanish-style sherry-sautéed shrimp with a bread dipping sauce and a variation of a Chilean-ceviche classic of salmon, mango, and roasted red pepper. I wished that the shrimp had had more spice to it . . . after all, you expect that at a Latin restaurant.

Main courses that we ordered included chimichurri-marinated hanger steak with roasted potatoes, which was very good. The special of the day (pescado del día) was striped bass with grilled pineapple salsa and roasted asparagus. The striped bass was perfectly prepared and cooked, but the presentation was more complex than it needed to be. For dessert we ordered the perfect choice of crema volteada, a Peruvian flan.

The menu is ambitious, serving Latin dishes from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Peru, and Spain. The service was excellent, but the pricing is above average, although not bad, all things considered. 

All in all, the food was very fresh, but we wanted more robust flavor to what we ate. As Emeril Lagasse would say, "Kick it up a notch!"

Mambo 64 is located at 64 Main Street in Tuckahoe. For reservations, call 914-222-9964. For more information, visit its website at www.mambo64.com. Dinner: Tues.-Thurs., 5:00-10:00 pm, and Fri. and Sat., 5:00-11:00 pm; lunch: Tues.-Fri., 11:30 am-2:30 pm; brunch: Sun., 10:30 am-3:30 pm. Closed on Mondays except for special events.

Pictured here:  Mambo 64 in Tuckahoe.

Photo by N. Bower