Purple Mango

Purple Mango Review - August 2025

The 8-Year Wait:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the closest restaurant to your home is often the last one you visit. For nearly eight years, I’ve lived a mere five-minute stroll from The Purple Mango in Walnut Tree and had never eaten there. This week, I finally ventured inside.

My first impression was that the restaurant is well decorated with a modern but comfortable feel. It strikes a good balance between being smart enough for a special occasion and relaxed enough for a spontaneous Tuesday night curry. We were greeted with genuine smiles and shown to our table by staff who were the epitome of friendly and efficient throughout the entire evening.

Now, for the food. Aptly, let’s start with the starters. The portions were generous, and the flavours were certainly on point. However, and it’s a small but crucial however, the consensus around our table was that they had arrived with a bit of a chill. They were tasty, yes, but would have been much more appreciated if they’d just been served hot. A missed opportunity!

Then came the mains, if the starters were a slight stumble, the main courses were a much better show. The portions were once again generous – come with an appetite, or be prepared to ask for a doggy bag! Each dish was rich and flavourful. This was a satisfying curry experience.

The menu itself was a well-curated list that doesn’t overwhelm you with a thousand different options but still offers good variety, from classics that we all know and love to some more unique house specials.

The Verdict: The Purple Mango is a great local restaurant with a welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, and excellent main courses. While our starters were on the cool side, the quality of the rest of the meal makes me confident it was just a minor blip.

Will I be back? Yes. And it won’t take another 8 years.

Lionel