Recently, Day reporter Sasha Goldstein and I were discussing patties. I like just about any patty—chicken, vegetable, beef, you name it. He was telling me I had to try the patties at Mambo Bar and Restaurant on Bank Street.

I’m not one to turn down a good suggestion from a credible source, so on a recent Saturday I found myself in Mambo ordering one of their famous patties. The waitress told me they had a few options in terms of fillings, but I settled on the shrimp.

This patty was outstanding (see above photo). It was filled with succulent shrimp, red and green peppers and it tasted like there was a lot of garlic in there too. I can’t say I’ve ever had a better patty than this one.

But beyond the patty, I have to say Mambo is a great place for lunch or dinner. The restaurant specializes in Dominican food. The dining area is in the back of the restaurant with the bar at the front. The bar adds a lively element to the dining experience. On the day I was there, some nice Spanish-language music was playing through the sound system.

For my main course, I ordered the stewed chicken, which comes with yellow rice and a bean soup on the side (see second photo above).

The chicken was very moist and fabulously seasoned. I think it was made with a type of hot sauce, but that’s not to say it was spicy. It reminded me of the chicken my grandfather used to make when I was a kid. When we visited him in Madeira, Portugal, he would say “step into my office.” Then we would go behind his garage and grill chicken wings in a small grill on the ground. The chicken was marinated in hot sauce and soy sauce, which is still, in my opinion, the best way to prepare chicken.

At Mambo, the stewed chicken cost $9. Not bad for a place that gives you full service with their very attentive staff. Main dishes range from $9 to $20 for paella.

When I was there, it looked like Mambo gets a mix of clientele, from families out for dinner to guys coming in after work. I’d definitely recommend the place for dinner, lunch or take-out. I think in the future I’ll start getting a few patties to go and call that a lunch.