Optima Magazine

9 Pinner Green • Pinner • HA5 2AF • 020 8866 0880

Reviewed by Alan Cox

I’d often driven past Mangosteen and thought what an odd looking place it is. With its frosted glass windows and blue fairy lights I can’t help admitting that I thought it gave off a rather uninviting ambience. But, never judge a book by its cover as they say or, as I discovered, don’t dismiss a delightful little oriental restaurant in Pinner Green by its lack of kerb appeal.

Inside is a simple, but distinctly fresh and clean looking establishment, that is very bright and airy considering its modest size. What’s on offer is an interesting, and occasionally unusual, selection of the best cuisines inspired by the far eastern regions of Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan, with a bit of Vietnamese thrown in for good measure. With such an eclectic selection of mouth-watering dishes to choose from we left our choice in the capable hands of the charming staff.

I was most impressed with our starter platter which really did give a diverse taste of the various regions and certainly set the taste buds tingling: Firecracker Prawns, nestled deep inside a shell of crispy shredded won ton – very crispy and delightfully light; Prawns served on Sugar Cane, a Vietnamese delicacy that was sweet and full of flavour; Yakitori – skewers of succulent Japanese style grilled chicken; Vegetable Fritters and a side dish of a refreshing Spicy Pineapple Salad. What I particularly noticed – and really liked – was that every dish had an admirably fresh and clean cut taste.

Sticking with the taste of the Orient, we drank Sake to complement the meal. Served warm, this Japanese rice wine hit the spot perfectly.

Our main courses were all about Malaysia, and reflected the influences of multiculturalism on the region’s now very diverse cuisine. First to arrive at our table was Nasi Lemak Deluxe, a restaurant version of a typical dish sold traditionally at cafes and roadside stalls. Here we had a tasty ensemble of Chicken Curry and Sambal King Prawns (wow, they were hot) served with tiny fried anchovies, peanuts and coconut rice topped with a fried egg. We found the partnering rather random but nevertheless extremely satisfying. This was a complete meal in itself, but our swop and share approach gave us the opportunity to also sample and enjoy a dish of Beef Rendang – braised in a rich, spicy coconut curry sauce and stunningly rich. The almost blackened beef was so tender that it literally melted in the mouth. Superb. And with a plate of our favourite Vegetable Pad Thai, this was cooking hard to fault.

The dessert menu may be limited, but for something ‘sweet’ to conclude I can recommend the ever popular toffee apple served with ice cream or, for something a little unusual, try the Mangosteen ‘house dessert’: a fresh mango-flavoured yoghurt smoothie.

This friendly family run restaurant has been doing what they do best – serving delightful oriental food with a twist – for over six years. Next time you’re driving through Pinner Green take those twinkling blue lights as a sign…

Starters: £3.60-£6.50
Mains £7.90-£13.80
Desserts: £3.20-£4.30
House wine: £14.20