Having caught the bug going around campus, I was feeling pretty run down after a full Saturday’s worth of reading and working. The frightening gale-force winds outside deterred my going to Val until it was passed 7:30 p.m., so by that point I was committed to eating out. With my stuffy sinuses and growling stomach I contemplated what I felt like eating. If I were home and felt like this, what would I make myself? Probably matzo ball soup (or, as my father calls it, Jewish penicillin). What is it about chicken soup that makes us feel so good when we’re sick? It’s hot, salty, flavorful and full of quality nutrition an overworked immune system needs. Thinking about which food satisfied those criterion in Amherst, I realized I wanted some Mango Mango.

Mango Mango is a little BYOB restaurant on Main Street, offering what they call “eclectic lunch and dinner.” They have a variety of interesting and delicious sandwiches, salads, soups, stews and entrees. To those Amherst eaters with dietary restrictions, Mango Mango will substitute vegetarian chicken or tempeh for any meat in their dishes. They even offer to make almost any dish vegetarian, vegan or even gluten free.

This cozy little eatery is quick, affordable and very good. I’ve tried many of the sandwiches and salads before, but I was really in the mood for some of their homemade sweet potato chili this time around. I usually get a big bowl with chicken in it, but decided I would also try something new for the sake of my review. Not wanting to give up the chili, I got a small bowl and ordered the pineapple chicken entrée.

The sweet potato chili never disappoints; it is simple, wholesome and flavorful. Full of corn, beans and sweet potatoes, this very filling bowl of spicy chili is only $3.95. The pineapple chicken was even better than the chili: served in a large white bowl over brown rice, the dish features a generous portion of tender white meat chicken, carrots, broccoli, onions, potatoes and pineapple all topped off with a brown sugar and soy glaze. The dish had an excellent flavor combination of sweet, tangy pineapple and salty, soy glazed chicken. I could barely finish the huge bowl of comfort food that cost me a whopping $6.95.

Mango Mango is an often overlooked option for eating out in town. They have something for everyone and you can get a very filling meal for a price any college kid would be happy about. The staff is friendly and efficient (the food comes out surprisingly fast) and the casual atmosphere is great too — you order at a counter and bus your own table. Whether for a quick lunch or for dinner with some friends, I would highly recommend giving Mango Mango a try.