Manna

Manna is one the most overpriced and disappointing restaurants I've ever dined at.

Bottles of wine starting at £20 and starters and desserts coming in at £8.

I wouldn't mind if the food was of a standard that justified the prices but frankly it doesn't - bland and unimaginative. There is no consistency and direction to the cuisine, just a Wetherspoons-style 'foods of the world' approach - mezze, enchiladas, Southern Indian, pasta, etc etc...and all of it severely under-seasoned (no salt of pepper on the tables either) and horribly overpriced (just think of the rents in Primrose Hill eh).

As for the service, well it was nice enough, but over the course of the 1 1/2 hours we were there, we were served by 4 or 5 seperate people - no sense of order or personal touch (we were bid goodnight by 2 waiters as they looked up from chatting and disinfecting tables).

I'd been led to expect a great deal from Manna but was seriously disappointed, right down to the sweltering heat, lack of ventilation and dreary care-worn lavatories.

Ultimately it was a shabby experience: dull surroundings and food that restaurants twice as good would charge half a much for.

The truth is that for a prices that can easily top £100 for two you must surely expect more and to survive Manna must surely raise it's game.

Hopefully - for it's sake - it will, because on this showing the consensus from all was that none of us would never return.
Comment on this reader review

Nightjar
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Saturday, May 14, 2011

I have been to Manna on several occasions only to have what could have been a nice lunch/ dinner ruined by the worst service I have ever experienced. I have just come back from lunch and vowed never to return EVER - we waited over an hour for two mains (we were one of only two tables occupied) and sadly even a half hour wait would not have been worth it. Food was average, they brought me the wrong dish and I was thoroughly fed up by the end of the ordeal. Manna had it's last chance and blew it.
Comment on this reader review

Jess
1 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Saturday, March 12, 2011

The food was, for the most part, good and the staff are lovely albeit rather laid-back. However the evening was tempered by Service that was thoroughly chaotic, disordered and ridiculously slow. It took 15 minutes after arrival to place a drinks order – and, although the wine arrived, the water carafe didn’t make an appearance for another 30 minutes.

Our party of 6 all ordered starters; four of which arrived about half an hour afterward. Two failed to materialise at all and after waiting for 10 minutes we asked one of the waiters to investigate. He went into the kitchen and came back out again but absolutely nothing was said to us regarding the whereabouts of the missing dishes. Those of us with food eventually started to eat, sharing with the other two. ‘Jerk Tofu with yams, lime & plantain’ was superb, the ‘Maki Rolls’ were voted “nice” as was the Tempura. The Bonda (spicy potato cakes) were also very nice, although a slightly larger portion for the price would have been better value for money.

Still no communication from anyone, not even after our four empty plates were removed. Eventually a further half hour later, the bread & hummus we’d ordered at the beginning and the two missing starters arrived with a brief “Sorry it took so long” as an apology.

A full hour and three-quarters after we first sat down, our mains arrived. The ‘Pasta Carbonara’ was delicious; ‘Bangers & Mash’ was also heartily approved of; the ‘Enchilada’ was pleasant but bland & unremarkable, although there was certainly plenty of each of the dishes.

When our bill of nearly £200 arrived, we were rather taken aback to see that a service charge of 12.5% (nearly £22) had been added in, bearing in mind the shambolic way our food arrived and the total lack of communication. However, when we politely declined to pay the full service charge and explained why, the staff were understanding and agreed to deduct the cost of the two late starters from our bill – an equitable arrangement for all concerned.

Would I go back? Probably not. It was my second visit, although several years apart, and while the food is good it is rather overpiced for what you get and the muddled service is in dire need of readjustment.
Comment on this reader review

5 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Thursday, March 03, 2011

Very over-priced for what was average to below average veggie food. Will not be returning.
Comment on this reader review

4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, March 02, 2011

As a visitor to London to meet with friends we booked Manna as a special treat, one of our number having had an excellent meal here in the past. The restaurant was full and the atmosphere reasonably good but service was so laid back as to be almost non existent and the food was frankly disappointing. I would have expected better from my local 'pub' as 'the veggie option'. The risotto strudel was heavy and tasteless with soggy filo pastry although at least the cabbage was fine. If this counts for good food in London, you guys really need to travel a little!
Comment on this reader review

4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Sunday, January 30, 2011

I had a fantastic meal here in 2008 and was excited to return last week, but came away really disappointed. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and it was pretty bad. The tomato sauce was very bland and the meatballs were stodgy, slightly bitter-tasting lumps. I asked if I could have some vegetarian parmesan cheese, but was told they didn't have any as the restaurant is vegan. I didn't realise that- the website says it is vegetarian, not vegan.

The staff are friendly enough, but all seem to be very new and not familiar with the menus at all.

A real shame. It was fairly crowded on the night I was there but I can't see why, as there are far, far better vegetarian (and vegan) restaurants in London.
Comment on this reader review

Lara_LV - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Thursday, October 07, 2010

I clearly went on the night only the KP turned up in the kitchen as the food was rubbish and just really poor value. Also, I can do chilled but the service was practically non-existent. What happened to you Manna? I'd been a couple of times a few years back and really enjoyed it but something has definitely changed. There is now too much competition in central london to bother with this oldie.
Comment on this reader review

Andy
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, April 14, 2010

I have been to Manna on 4 or 5 occasions over the past few years. The food has been consistently of a high standard and the atmosphere is always relaxed. I've always found the service to be excellent. This really is a cut above most other London veggie restaurants. It costs a little more but for the great service and wonderful food, it is worth it.
Comment on this reader review

Trev
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, February 05, 2010

Ate at Manna on Saturday for my birthday and came away very dissapointed having had an amazing dinner here three years ago. The choices for the main course including a vietnamese broth, pasta, salads, veggie bangers and mash were not that inspiring and what's more over priced. My wife I regularly eat at similiar establishments and the bill comes to 60% of what we paid at Manna for similar fare. On the plus side the service was good and the wine not too expensive. But for the money I expected a lot more.
Comment on this reader review

Jonathan Swift
7 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Monday, March 09, 2009