When Stefan Ambrosch visits the Caribbean, he likes to find a small, laid back restaurant off the beaten track where he can get a good burger and a tropical drink.So it's no surprise that his dream is to someday own his own place in the tropics.

So it's no surprise that his dream is to someday own his own place in the tropics.Until then, the co-owner of Apizzo in Pawcatuck, is doing the next best thing as he opens Mango's, a Caribbean-themed pizza and burger spot in Olde Mistick Village.

Until then, the co-owner of Apizzo in Pawcatuck, is doing the next best thing as he opens Mango's, a Caribbean-themed pizza and burger spot in Olde Mistick Village."I drive 40 minutes across St John to go to this place Skinny Legs. It's so laid back. It has good people and good burgers. That's what I want this place to be," he said. "Ultimately, I'd like to live on St. John - but until then I have this."

"I drive 40 minutes across St John to go to this place Skinny Legs. It's so laid back. It has good people and good burgers. That's what I want this place to be," he said. "Ultimately, I'd like to live on St. John - but until then I have this."Thirteen months ago, Ambrosch and his partner Doug Hanson opened Apizzo, an upscale wood-fired pizzeria that offers an extensive selection of beers and wine. In light of the recession, he said the restaurant has done well and he plans to start serving lunch there as well.

Thirteen months ago, Ambrosch and his partner Doug Hanson opened Apizzo, an upscale wood-fired pizzeria that offers an extensive selection of beers and wine. In light of the recession, he said the restaurant has done well and he plans to start serving lunch there as well.Mango's is his own venture, and he said it will be more casual and laid back than Apizzo, which features dark wood, leather benches and easy chairs and subdued lighting. Mango's has light wood floors and ceiling and walls and doors painted in bright blues, greens, yellows, pinks and oranges while surfboards and signs decorate the walls.

Mango's is his own venture, and he said it will be more casual and laid back than Apizzo, which features dark wood, leather benches and easy chairs and subdued lighting. Mango's has light wood floors and ceiling and walls and doors painted in bright blues, greens, yellows, pinks and oranges while surfboards and signs decorate the walls. Ambrosch said he actually looked at the Mango's building, which for years was the Pioneer Sandwich Shop and most recently the Village Kitchen, before opening Apizzo.

Ambrosch said he actually looked at the Mango's building, which for years was the Pioneer Sandwich Shop and most recently the Village Kitchen, before opening Apizzo."I wanted a footprint in Mystic," he said.

"I wanted a footprint in Mystic," he said.But he said the owner wanted too much for the business. Three months after Apizzo opened, the Village Kitchen closed.

But he said the owner wanted too much for the business. Three months after Apizzo opened, the Village Kitchen closed. Since leasing the 1,700-square-foot space, Ambrosch has raised the ceiling, refinished the floors, installed the pizza oven just behind the front counter, expanded the walk-in freezer, put in new heat and electricity and painted and decorated the space. The restaurant's logo is a parrot with a pizza.

Since leasing the 1,700-square-foot space, Ambrosch has raised the ceiling, refinished the floors, installed the pizza oven just behind the front counter, expanded the walk-in freezer, put in new heat and electricity and painted and decorated the space. The restaurant's logo is a parrot with a pizza.He also re-did the outdoor patio and used thick marine rope dredged up from Long Island Sound.

He also re-did the outdoor patio and used thick marine rope dredged up from Long Island Sound.While Olde Mistick Village draws large crowds during the busy summer season, Ambrosch said that's not his target audience.

While Olde Mistick Village draws large crowds during the busy summer season, Ambrosch said that's not his target audience. "The tourists are great but I want this to be a local spot," he said.

"The tourists are great but I want this to be a local spot," he said.To emphasize that, Ambrosch plans to open in February, which is the heart of the offseason for tourists.

To emphasize that, Ambrosch plans to open in February, which is the heart of the offseason for tourists.Mango's will serve Neopolitan wood-fired pizza along with Italian subs, burgers and salads. It will seat 30 people inside and 25 on the deck and have 10 employees. The restaurant will be open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mango's will serve Neopolitan wood-fired pizza along with Italian subs, burgers and salads. It will seat 30 people inside and 25 on the deck and have 10 employees. The restaurant will be open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.