Mongoose — Restaurant in DeLand

This past Sunday, Rikki and I headed to Mongoose restaurant in Deland for dinner. We stumbled upon this gem a few months ago on a Sunday evening when most restaurants wind down early. Its theme is centered around Asian street food. It is in the spot formerly occupied by Spellbound Café.

The building looks like a converted single-family house from the 1930s and exudes charm from the moment you enter the narrow driveway leading to a small parking lot behind the building. From the parking lot, you enter through the covered porch, where there is outdoor seating. Upon entering, you're greeted by a warm atmosphere, with a few intimate rooms and a two-seat bar offering a prime view of the bustling kitchen. Mesmerizing 4K aerial scenes of overwater bungalows in Thailand draw your eyes to a TV mounted on the wall. Adjacent is a bookshelf stocked with titles like “Mission Street Food”, “Smoke and Pickles”, and works by Anthony Bourdain. Behind the bar is a whimsical neon fortune cat wielding chopsticks over a noodle bowl. Adding to the ambiance was the soulful melody of a Chris Cornell song. The great playlist continued throughout the evening.

Opting for our favorite seats at the bar, Jenna, bustling behind the counter, welcomed us with a warm familiar smile. We brought our cribbage board and were able to play a couple of games during the evening. In the kitchen, Jason, the chef and mastermind behind the menu, was working and chopping effortlessly. Jason proudly introduced us to the new wine list, curated with the expertise of a Master of Wine. We ordered a bottle of Heinrichshof Zeltinger Mosel Riesling. It had notes of lime and wet stone with bright crisp acidity and a lime zest finish. It perfectly complemented the flavors that followed.

We perused the menu and settled on the Fried Nikuman Pork Belly Tacos for an appetizer. It was a revelation. This delightful dish features crispy pork belly nestled within a soft Nikuman taco shell, accompanied by a medley of Tsukemono cabbage, onion, cilantro, lime, and Thai chili. Each bite was literally a symphony of flavors, the pickled cabbage harmonizing with the succulent pork belly. It was so creative. I could eat a pile of those tacos.

For our entrée, Rikki savored one of the last servings of the Dan Dan Noodles. These aromatic noodles are infused with the rich flavors of five-spice pork, sesame, cilantro, peanuts, and chili oil, creating a mouthwatering fusion of textures and tastes. Meanwhile, I ordered the "HOT" Spicy Beef Pan Fried Noodles, a fiery yet flavorful concoction. This dish features tender Asada beef stir-fried with house-made chili crunch, shallots, and fried garlic melded with pan-fried noodles.

As the evening unfolded, Jason shared snippets of his culinary journey, from his ambition to run a taco food truck inspired by a trip to Mexico City to his mastery of noodles acquired during his travels in Japan. It was evident that his passion infused every dish with authenticity and creativity. He generously shared a glass of Domaine de la Solitude, Pessac-Leognan, and we toasted with him. The wine was complex, with notes of blackberry fruit, mint, bell pepper, and graphite, balanced with a long finish.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Jenna tempted us with a large slice of freshly baked blueberry lemon cake. It was bursting with flavor without being too sweet or dense and crafted with care.

In the end, Rikki emerged victorious in our cribbage games.

Our experience at Mongoose restaurant was nothing short of exceptional. From the charming ambiance to the impeccable service, every aspect of our evening was delightful. Jason's passion for food shone through in every bite, and his dedication to his craft was evident in the creativity, flavors, and presentation. To top it off, the warm hospitality of Jenna made us feel welcome and at home. Without a doubt, Mongoose restaurant has earned our enthusiastic endorsement. We...

Mongoose was incredible. The atmosphere is cozy, like a back alley Yokocho neighborhood bar in Tokyo. Friendly staff, fun design and comfortable seating. Clean bathroom and visibly clean and professional kitchen.

The owner and head chef was clearly inspecting every dish that went out for any imperfections and even stopped at a couple tables when he had a second to get feedback from patrons. Jason Labombard obviously knows his stuff and isn’t afraid to experiment.

Beer and wine are available but the star for us was the food. I brought friends so we could share. Each of us were able to order a dish or 2 and eventually ordered the entire menu, since it’s created daily it’s typically only 5 or 6 items currently. The plates are designed for sharing with the exception of the a la carte tacos - which you won’t want to share. Our whole order including beer and wine was less than $100.

Every dish from the signature Dan-Dan Noodles, a notable street-food favorite of the Sichuan Provence, to the mega sized egg rolls; to the pork belly and lemongrass fried rice was amazing. Presented on beautiful dishes, each one topped with a house made sauce that popped in a different way.

Mongoose is Asian street food - meets North American fusion - in the best possible way. The creativity and love that clearly goes into every plate would be rare in a city the size of Orlando. To see it on the ground floor of a historic house in downtown DeLand is nothing short of a miracle and a gift to our little town. Please come, please bring friends, and definitely bring...

Sat at the outdooor patio which was lovely and they had good music playing. Staff were friendly but the the waitress really talked up every dish, setting our expectations too high. Regarding the fried rice, she said, “it was life changing.”

We ordered fried rice, Yakiudon noodles, and green curry sausage sliders. None of the dishes were particularly amazing. Restaurant supposedly makes their own noodles and I’ll say the noodles did have great texture however each dish fell short when it came to actual flavor. Minimal sauce, minimal spice - it was just bland. Portion sizes were too small for the price you pay.

Between my wife and I, we ordered 2 appetizers, 1 entree, and 2 glasses of saki. Total came out to just under $100 after tip and tax and I was still kinda hungry after.

Place has lots of potential - if the chef is open to suggestions and the waitress stays...