Café Mangu is the kind of restaurant that quickly becomes addictive. The flavors of the Caribbean are seamlessly integrated into a variety of enticing dishes. The service is cordial and efficient. So, and I know what you're thinking, why Pflugerville? Well, the owner of Café Mangu also owns Three Points Auto Repair on Rt 1825 just off IH 35. And Three Points is next door to Café Mangu. Talk about synergy. And there's your answer.

Café Mangu blends Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican fare. The appetizers run the gamut of Caribbean influences and they are delightful. The driving force behind almost all of them is the irresistible combination of two island solvents: butter and the amazing mojo, a sauce made with either citrus or vinegar and garlic. The Yuca Fritters con Mojo, crispy yuca root fritters served with the aforementioned mojo are off the charts tasty (and crispy) and considerably better for you than say, French fries. And the Tostones y Langanista is another delight. The crispy plantain chips and the home made sausage go perfectly with the lemon garlic sauce. The flavors are riveting. The Queso Frito is another one of my favorites. These are lightly battered fried wedges of cheese that are served with a zesty salsa criolla. I recommend a double order of this dish as the wedges tend to quickly disappear. And leave room for the Camarones al Ajillo.

The fresh shrimp are sautéed in EVOO and oh so subtle cloves of garlic. What flavor!

The entrees are reflective of all the various Caribbean cultures and their cuisines. Take for example the Lechon Asado. This roasted pork shoulder is standard fare for Sunday dinner in Cuba. Marinated and coaxed along until the meat simply falls off the bone, the flavors and most importantly, the textures are exquisite. The Asado de Res is a flank steak marinated in Dijon mustard, soy sauce and fresh herbs. I couldn't resist dipping mine in a little extra mojo. And it's a lovely dish. Just remember to bring some breath mints along if you're on a date. And if you haven't tried the Paella Valencia then by all means do so. The Paella takes its name from the heavy black frying pan in which its prepared. The saffron rice (and yes, they still use saffron instead of the annoying trend toward tumeric) is mixed with mussels, shrimp, lobster, pork and chicken and the dish takes on a flavor that is uniquely its own. They key to the dish is that it must be moist and with one exception, Café Mangu has delivered on that most critical variable. Served for two.

True, Café Mangu may be a bit off the beaten path. But if you are looking for real Island flavors, then it's worth the drive to Pflugerville. The address is 15200 FM 1825 in Pflugerville.

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