Italian Tiki at Mangia Clam Bar

Park your car (or dock your boat) and come as you are. That’s the vibe at Mangia Clam Bar , a casual, tropical oasis situated along Manatee Pocket.

As its name implies, Mangia Clam Bar focuses on both seafood and Italian cuisine. “Everyone has that mentality that if you’re on the water, you’re supposed to just serve seafood,” says David Tranes, one of the restaurant’s owners. “We have seafood, but we add an Italian twist to it.”

To his point, there are plenty of chicken, veal, and seafood items prepared parmigiana,
francese, piccata, or marsala, plus pizzas and a variety of pasta entrées. Mangia also offers lasagna as an occasional special, and they make their own pizza dough in-house.

Tranes’ favorite dish? The mahi-mahi tacos. “It’s a lighter dish, but you’re still getting the protein and it fills you up,” he says, noting that the tacos are stuffed with a house-made cilantro slaw.

Of course, there is seafood on the menu, including shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, and oysters. For those who want to nosh on bar food while watching the game, there are also many handhelds and shareables like wings, mozzarella sticks, hot pretzels, cheeseburgers, and tasty heroes.

Of note is the three-course prix fixe menu ($22.95), which includes soup or salad; a choice of entrée (including traditional Italian dishes and seafood) served with pasta, broccoli, or potatoes; a cannoli or chocolate cake for dessert; and a nonalcoholic beverage.

Tranes says Mangia’s happy hour—which runs until 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday—has become a popular social event with locals (and dogs are welcome to join on the outdoor patio). There is also entertainment seven days a week, with Monday-night trivia, Tuesday karaoke, Wednesday music bingo, and live bands Thursday through Sunday.

The post Italian Tiki at Mangia Clam Bar appeared first on Stuart Magazine .