Manna

We have been visiting Manna for many many years now and on the whole are usually impressed. We visited 2 weekends ago for the early Saturday sitting. Service is always good at Manna I think, not so great over Christmas but they do get v v busy. I didnt find the menu inspiring this time, there didnt seem to be a great deal of choice for vegans but I did try the lentil dumplings to start which were yummy and the nut roast for main. The main course was a little too stodgy and a bit bland, the plate was full of lettuce as well which I thought was a little strange being mixed in with the gravy on the roast and mentioned this to the server. I do like the new decor but I agree with others that tables are now super close together and not as intimate as before. The wine choice is great, too full to try a pud this time. We will return no doubt but might leave it a little while.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Four of us went to Manna last night. We went a few years back and thought it was good, but it looks much better now since the refurb, actually a lovely looking restaurant rather than a scruffy cafe. The food was on the most part very good and interesting- we had aubergine pockets filled with goats cheese and mushroom piroghi for starters, both excellent. For mains we had sweet potato galettes and one person had a mushroom pie - the galettes were good but the pie was a bit bland and heavy. One dessert was tried - the chocolate fondant which was beautiful. Aside from the great food, the atmosphere was quite nice and all the food came out quickly. The only small moan about the whole experience was one waitress/hostess, who sat us down, got us water and brought us the bill who was very abrupt and cold, but all other staff were friendly and helpful.

A lovely vegetarian option in London, will probably visit again.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, January 27, 2008

Took the veggie other half to Manna as a birthday treat. Other half very pleased, but being a vegetarian means they have slightly lower expectations of food.

I found the new decor, with the ever-so-slightly sinister wallpaper, very pleasing, although the menu and atmosphere did not live up to expectations. The aperitifs were fine, but nothing special, and there were highlights amongst the food - the oriental twist on falafel was good - but also some disappointments. The red onion gravy served with my mushroom pie and mash was jarringly oversweet, and the "Aubergine pockets" starter was little more than the standard aubergine-with-tomato-and-goat's-cheese veggie staple.

The biggest disappointment was that the already overcrowded restaurant was oppressively noisy. We relaxed a huge amount once one party beside us had left and the noice level decreased, but this relief was short-lived. The fact that too many tables had been jammed in to the space also meant that my chair was repeatedly kicked by the serving staff as they passed. We were seated in the main thoroughfare of the restaurant, and asked to move, but apparently this was not possible. Other twosomes managed to relocate to find more comfortable tables - we missed our chance.

I might go back if I want to earn more Brownie points, but it's unlikely.
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Damon Vosper Singleton
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Friday, January 11, 2008

A word of warning to anyone wishing to book a table at Manna: if you phone and don't get to speak with anyone, don't leave a message with your contact details expecting them to get back to you because they didn't bother with me. Obviously they don't need the trade!
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Kenneth
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, November 03, 2007

Went back to Manna having not visited for a while and was pleasantly surprised to find they'd been redecorated. The old wooden tables had gone to be replaced with white linen, new wallpapers, lights, colours all very smart. The food was still good. I had a pumpkin filled with a delicious fondue followed by a cake made from with buckwheat filled with mushrooms on beetroot mash with a lovely gravy, complex and interesting european flavours. My partner had a red thai curry I was told it was very good, had to take there word for it as i wasn't allowed any! Nice bottle of organic wine, friendly service...we'll be back.
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jack
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, October 08, 2007

My boyfriend and I decided to go to Manna for dinner on friday 20th of April. When we arrived, the athmosphere wasn't great, but it was okay, simple. As a starter, I ordered some morrocan pastery and my boyfriend a goat's cheese galette. My dish was completly tasteless, and his was quite good. As a main course, I ordered a burrito, and my boyfriend, parmesan croquettes. My dish did not have many flavours and was very heavy. And my boyfriend's dish was just disgusting...Nothing crispy, horrible taste and weird texture. We were very dissapointed, especially for the price we paid...We were told that the chef's salad was very good, but I could make a very good salad at home, no need to go to the restaurant for that... Maybe it was just this menu which was bad, but we won't go there again, pricy, and not good value for money.
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Saturday, April 21, 2007

The food was beautiful - very imaginative, and lovely flavours and textures. However, the service was appalling. After ordering (in an almost empty restaurant) we waited for an hour for our food.
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Cormac - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, November 29, 2006

We live close to Manna and frquently visit as we find the food highly imaginative & tasty and it has a pleasant slightly disorgainised feel about it.
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Jerry
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Sunday, October 01, 2006

Loved the food and the atmosphere. The service was a bit slow and they seemed to forget about our requests a few times (bottle of water, bill etc). The hot spiced apple drink was delicious!
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Marie Louise Shryane
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 5
Friday, August 25, 2006

Last Monday I went with friends to Manna Vegetarian Restaurant in Primrose HIll. Although a little 'off our beaten track'it proved worth it. We had a wonderul evening. A smiling waitress greeted and seated us, and we settled for an organic caledonian beer and a kir royale to start with.We followed with a gorgeous tasty gazpacho and tempura followed by a wonderful goats cheee poratabella mushroom dish and a chimichanga bulging with black beans and sweet potatoes. This we washed down with a lovely Pinotage. I finished with the roast peach brulee and my friend a lovely organic coffee.A lovely night out, reasonable prices and lovely service. We will return!

Felicity Forbes
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Fizz - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, August 22, 2006