Not many restaurants in Toledo serve alligator.

So when we spied it among the appetizers at The Mango Tree, it stirred some excitement at the table. This menu brought the promise of adventure, something new and unique.

Unfortunately, what followed was an uneven dining experience, highlighted by some distinctive menu options but rough around the edges.

The Mango Tree is a peculiar little restaurant along an aging strip of Reynolds Road in South Toledo. The canopy welcoming guests to the small, plain building boasts fine seafood and steaks. The fancy script font hints at a more refined, upscale experience within. And while some of the menu offerings – and the prices – have the trappings of fine dining, the restaurant lacks the polish of other options in the city.

Bill of Fare

Sushi Yoshi makes big jump into seafood scene

But first, let’s talk about that Deep-Fried Alligator ($9.99). It was good! And, yes, it does taste quite a bit like chicken. The long strips of fried meat were served with a tangy Cajun sauce, which gave the appetizer a complex and satisfying flavor. It was one of the more fun appetizers we’ve had during our Toledo dining adventures.

We also can easily recommend the Stuffed Mushroom Langostinos ($8.95). Stuffed with cheese and seafood, the bite-size mushrooms really make for a savory and satisfying warm-up to a meal.

We were less impressed by the 10-oz. New York Strip ($18.99). While the cut of meat was cooked to order, it was relatively bland and unappetizing for a choice cut of meat. We took half of it home to use as leftovers – a rarity for a restaurant steak.

We also found the eponymous Chicken Mango ($11.99) – grilled pan-seared breast covered in mushrooms, shrimp, and cheese (but no mango, that we could tell) – to be a mixed bag. The shrimp was tangy and delicious, while the chicken itself was rather bland. Served with what seemed to be out-the-bag steak fries, the meal was decent but underwhelming.

The fresh Lake Erie Perch ($23.99) fared much better. The Mango Tree uses a light, spicy breading for its fried offerings, and the fish and fried Chicken Supreme sandwich ($7.50) we tried for a subsequent lunch were both flavorful and delicious. The fish, in particular, was fresh-tasting and well-prepared. A note of caution however: We found a few bones in the filet, so chew carefully.

As for the chicken sandwich, while the meat was good, it was served on a plain sesame-seed bun with little else – a little dressing up would have been welcome.

Really, the restaurant’s entrees are unique and solid enough that we’re sure diners can find something they like. But in our visits, the overall experience was shaky. The side salads featured some unique homemade dressings (including a mango dressing that was quite sweet and enjoyable) on what seemed to be a pre-bagged salad mix. The sodas we ordered seemed to have been served out of a semi-flat 2-liter bottle. And the Brandied Carrots side dish – the vegetable of the day on one of our visits – was totally unenjoyable with an odd pureed texture and a flavor we found off-putting.

Bill of Fare

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Likewise, the staff failed to answer the phone the first time we attempted to make a lunch order, although the restaurant was open at the time.

The Mango Tree has been serving diners in South Toledo for decades, and it’s gotten good marks from The Blade in prior reviews. But, in our recent visits, it felt like a place past its prime.

First Published July 22, 2020, 11:19 p.m.