Mango Tree Restaurant Review: A Little Slice of Modern Thailand at Mango Tree in Belgravia

There are so many restaurants in London right now and while new ones are opening everyday, it’s actually the older, more established ones which interest me most – such as Mango Tree in Belgravia. Location wise it isn’t the greatest. It’s central, but unfortunately its on a corner and on a very busy man road, neither does it look very glamorous from the outside – but step inside and you’re transported to an oasis of food and wine. We started our journey here in the bar with a glass of Champagne, followed by a bottle of rich and tropical Condrieu to pair with our meal. The perfect match to just about the entire menu.

First of our starters was one of my favourites. The simple, but oh-so satisfying deep-fried corn-fed chicken fillet marinated with coriander and garlic, wrapped in pandan leaf and served with dark sesame sauce. It tastes just as good as it sounds. The chicken was still juicy, the flavours coated the mouth and the balance of both sweet and sour was perfect. Priced at under £10 it was rather good value for money too.

Our other starters didn’t let us down either. Chicken satay came served to the table on a hot mini-grill. A dim sum selection made in-house was just about perfect and you could really tell it was made fresh to order. The outer casing of each held together very well, but still a little sticky and the fillings inside each were succulent. My favourite still was the soft shell crab. Beautifully cooked and incredibly crunchy, but the crab meat still moist and succulent underneath.

My most disappointing dish of the evening was the Alaskan king crab legs coated in a spicy Thai sauce and served in their shell. The meat was good and the spicing was perfect, but sadly they were a little overcooked. I’m sure on the right night, they’re great. The steamed veg lacked imagination too.

Mango Tree quickly got back on the trail of deliciousness with two great main dishes, one of which was my absolute favourite and worth coming back for alone – the slow cooked beef short rib massaman curry. The whole dish was gargantuan and could easily feed four people as a main with sides, not to mention the beef being cooked to utter perfection and falling off the bone. The sauce was stunning too, rich, creamy, nutty – it was heaven. The crispy deep-fried pork belly, toasted with garlic, spring onions and chilli was another lovely plate of food and again good value for the quantity you get.

We finished up on a fantastic dessert of melting chocolate sphere with caramel sauce, white chocolate sprinkles and fresh fruit. As soon as the caramel hit the sphere the whole thing melted down into a luscious sweet soup. A lovely way the end our meal.

We had a fantastic evening at Mango Tree and compared to its sister Mango Tree in Harrods, it’s a lot cheaper, more traditional and menu wise there is so much more to choose from. Perhaps the Belgravia site doesn’t quite have the finesse of the food in Harrods, but if you’re looking for a modern taste of Thailand, with a little added glam and without breaking the bank – then Belgravia is exactly what you’re after. Just make sure that massaman curry is top of your list – it really is fantastic.

NB: I was invited to review and my meal was complimentary. All views are as always, my own. My views are not influenced by anyone other than my own palate and slightly poor eyesight.