I have dined at Mambo MANY times and it became my favorite restaurant, so when I was looking to plan an event I decided what better place than Mambo? WORST DECISION !! The first problem started the moment I called to inquire regarding an event in January 2024. The hostess on the phone only spoke Spanish and had no idea what I was saying so I had to then go there in person to speak my broken Spanish. I was then referred to Nathalia, who also did not speak English and instead of an email address she gave me a number to contact her through WhatsApp. Again all her messages were in Spanish and I confirmed the menu and pricing with her via WhatsApp using Google Translate. A few days later, I met the manager Camilo Castellanos to sign the contract, confirm the menu I wanted, which was a custom package #2, and make a deposit. My initial meeting with Camilo, he was very accommodating and he confirmed everything.

The week of the event (September 2024) I called to confirm the details and the hostess who would answer the phone again not knowing any English would tell me the manager is not there (2 days in a row). After the third day telling me there is no manager, I had to use my broken Spanish with anger, and she put me on hold and then miraculously the manager was there. I spoke to Camilo who had no information of the event in front of him and asked if I had a signed contract? He then told me I could not come to set up until 1 hour before the event because he wanted to use downstairs for lunch even though it was a Friday and the restaurant was dead during the day. Once guests arrived appetizers were brought out before drink orders were even taken. It took 30 minutes for guests to have their drinks. They were clearing appetizer plates and guests still didn't have drinks! The food that was served was COLD and to make it worse it was not the menu that was confirmed and was missing items and was completely wrong! After speaking up to a waiter saying we are missing food items, Camilo came out and tried to tell me that I had booked package #1. I told him absolutely not and he then left and came back with my event folder and pulled out the signed contract that clearly stated "custom package 2" he then made me, at my own event show him the menu that I had given him on my phone. He did nothing to resolve the issue and I am extremely disappointed. We didn't even get the Ropa Vieja we had asked for.... this place is a complete disaster !!

In order to run a business, first you need the person on the phone and handling the events to at least be bilingual! Also, very unprofessional to be using WhatsApp to book an event with a client. Then for a manager to accuse the client of being wrong and then clearly having the contract state that the client is correct is just embarrassing and a disgrace. Finally, their restaurant photographer came downstairs at my event and started taking pictures of my guests and my guests thought the photographer was my vendor until they were hounding them to pay and giving them a framed photo like we are at Disney World.... disgusting and should not happen at a private event!! My advice: go anywhere else to host your event!