Manna: American Cuisine

We went to Manna on a dinner date and the first thing that stood out was the cozy and romantic atmosphere that was great for drinks and conversation. We were seated in the bar area which was nice except for the occasional draft from the entrance. The waiter was knowledgeable of the menu and eager to make recommendations for entrees and craft cocktails. The Manhattan was good but would have been better without the sweet cola-​tasting syrup. They also had ginger beer on hand which paired well with bourbon. The filet was cooked perfectly and the scallops were phenomenal. We look forward to our next visit.
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We went in for New Years Eve and it was refreshing that they had not overbooked. We had a very comfortable table with a good selection of food from the special limited menu. We would definetly go back.

My wife and I ate at this establishment while on New Year holidays. We tried the pork belly appetizer, the sea scallop and tuna entrees, and topped it off with some drinks. Good beer selection but very limited. Good cocktails and large wine selection… by the bottle. By the glass is rather limited. Everything was excellent… best pork belly I’ve had. The service was acceptable however the maitre d’ was eccentric and our waiter seemed new and nervous. All in all a great experience, we’ll return when in town.

I have actually not been here for food since Chef Kyle McKnight left but dropped in last week to meet some friends for drinks. I initially did not want to go here because we were underdressed and not eating but our out of town friends insisted. My wife and I arrived to meet three others who were already seated and drinking. After ten minutes no one came to the table so my wife approached the crowded bar to place her beer order. Ten minutes later a waiter appeared with her draft and quickly disappeared before asking me if I wanted a drink or even food. My wife was forced to approach the bar again to order my drink. The group of us stepped outside for some air and when we returned my drink was waiting at the table. The waiter never returned to ask if we wanted another round instead we all had to push our way through the crowded bar. Disappointed is an understatement. Yes the business is best known for both its food and craft cocktails but apparently if you are just drinking do not expect any level of service.

The food was wonderful. We shared the Brussels salad which was amazing especially the bread pudding croûton. We had a cheese plate which was overpriced but tasty. For the main course we had Walk like a Duck and Braised Short ribs both were very flavorful. The chef even made a special dish for my fussy 13 year old daughter. Pumpkin fettuccine with cheddar cheese and cauliflower. She enjoyed it. The desserts were out of this world. The pistachio cheese cake was to die for. The dessert portions were small but after all the other food it was just right. Our waiter was great and very attentive. The only negative was the hostess. Our reservation was at 6:30 and we arrived at 6:20. When we checked in she had an attitude and said we were early. She told us to sit at the bar which was already full. My thirteen year old wouldn’t have been able to sit at the bar even if there was space. There was nowhere to stand without being in the way. It wasn’t like our table wasn’t available. It was an amazing dinner minus the start and would recommend this restaurant for a five star dinning experience.

Always fresh food and GREAT SERVICE! owners are wonderful. Probably one of our favorite restaurants in Wilmington! Try some
Cheese and charcuterie lots of wonderful choices :)

This was an excellent choice. The waitstaff was friendly and knowledgeable. The food and drinks were different from anywhere I’ve been and everything I tried was superb. Casual with tons of class.

A fantastic local restaurant in the heart of Wilmington, NC. Great décor and a great bar greets you as you walk in. I will return to sample some cocktails…
The dining area looks very upmarket until you sit on the plastic chairs! Which also look upmarket… totally weird!
The menus is very small but everything looks well put together and the best local produce is used.
I would recommend this to people passing through looking for a good meal.
The portions could be slightly larger but overall a place to be visited again soon!

Manic mishaps make for a disappointing experience at Manna.
Our second time at Manna was a conflicting experience. The first time we tried Manna we loved it. Everything was great; customer centered service, fresh, authentic and down to earth food, warm ambiance, involved management, desserts to die for and a feeling that Manna was doing something unique and special among other establishments downtown. Our most recent experience was totally different. A chaotic front of the house combined with a dismally slow back of the house made for a sub par evening.
There are many great things to say about Manna; ambiance, drinks, the quippy, well thought out menu and desserts are all reason enough to try Manna in their own right. And I can say with confidence you won’t be disappointed by any of them. What you might be disappointed with though, is the price point and service. Our dinner total was about $ 160 (without tip) for two people, without any extravagant shots of whiskey or fine bottles of wine either. My girlfriend had 2 glasses of Pinot which were quite good and I had two mixed drinks from the bar, which were also very good. Other than that we had 2 apps, 1 salad, 1 main and 3 desserts. We came into the restaurant a little before 8 and stood around for a good few minutes before being greeted by the hostess. She was away from the desk and no one was there in her absence or even watching the area apparently. Not a huge deal but especially with it being a little later in the evening, its something that shouldn’t happen in a fine dinning establishment. Without a reservation we took a high top in the bar and service was a bit slow from the beginning. Our apps (which were both excellent) came about 20 minutes after we sat down (very slow for it being after 8) and drink service in between them was also slow. The largest time issue was that my salad and her main didn’t come for a solid hour until after our apps arrived. There was no explanation, no managerial involvement regarding tables in the front of the house and no one on the staff seemed that particularly interested in what was taking so long. When our food finally did arrive, it was very good as well, but it wasn’t the best meal I have had in Wilmington, by a long shot– and if you are going to charge customers that much and have them wait that long– it really needs to be. Other restaurants downtown which I won’t name each have better food and better service, and for the money a much better overall experience.
Once a restaurant moves North of the $ 50 per person price point for food alone, there are certain things that you just expect will be done well, even more so as you move towards the $ 100 a person price point; and Manna wasn’t there. It’s not enough just to have good food in a nice atmosphere, or just to have good drinks, or just to make good desserts. There needs to be a coordinated managerial presence in the front of the house so that customers aren’t left waiting without explanation both before seating and during their meal. Drink orders shouldn’t take in excess of 10 minutes in a half empty bar where the bar tenders seem to be working against each other and not with each other. Main courses shouldn’t come a solid hour after the apps are ordered without some kind of acknowledgement from any member of the staff. The menu and desserts you post online as «this evenings menu» should match the menu you are serving that night in your restaurant; other wise why post it?
Manna is expensive. Last time it came off as customer centric, genuine, high quality and standard driven; where the focus was united by a professional and coordinated staff. We enjoyed our meal so much because every aspect made all the other aspects just that much better. When a place is expensive and doesn’t do the basics right, it comes off as contrite, self-​centered, and aloof– which is exactly how Manna came off during our recent experience. Every bad thing — the confused disorganized service — the snail’s pace kitchen — the lack of management — just compounds on all the other bad aspects, to where even the bright points like the flavors and drinks are irrelevant; leaving one asking… what am I paying for?

One of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a long time — on par with Fulton 5, Charleston, The Lantern, Chapel Hill. Chef combines creative combinations you might not try at home but they just work, like grilled endive salad with strawberries, blueberries, original and excellent. From the beautiful bar with expertly crafted, creative cocktails to our table at the window (thanks, William!), service/​experience over the top. Waiter knew his stuff; we put ourselves in his hands and weren’t disappointed. Salmon cake ceviche style appetizer was incredible. Pork chop over broccoli, fingerling potatoes and PEANUT reduction had an Asian flavor that worked. Diver-​sized scallops prepared to perfection. Homemade bread, crazy-​good butter, lemon-​tart dessert; we’ll be back.

Great if you are looking for a nice place to eat and great cocktails. Classy staff and environment. I dine here often when in Wilmington.

So a girlfriend and I feasted, we couldn’t fit in an entrée after we split 3 apps and that kindof broke my heart because I was hoping for either the lamb or the tuna and not just because they are on the menu with fancy names. I made friends with the tender of the bar for the sole purpose of finding out their favorite drink which I would want to try, delish. Absolute yum. The aptly named ‘smooth move’ with lavender infused vodka and a ginger infused bit of yum was my favorite, the bar tender also served me the polar opposite called ‘the last word’ and though more gin than what I prefer, so delicious. So. So. Delicious.
The duck and pork based apps were too much, too amazing, especially when paired with a charcuterie plate. But since it is not polite to actually lick the sweet potato grits off the plate in public, (and definitely won’t land this single girl a man,) I refrained and acted as though I was ok to part with the dish, because that’s what we do.
We ended the night sharing desserts like the appetizers. Both the lemon and chocolate hazelnut flavors could not be stopped. I moaned, it was embarrassing but couldn’t be helped.

I had high expectations before dinning here. Those expectations were not met. My wife’s duck confit was really good and prepared well, I’d give it a 4. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable. My filet on the other hand was ordered medium rare and came our medium to almost medium well. Keep in mind this is a $ 32 steak entrée. It was chewy and tough at that temperature, so either a bad cut or it went from the fridge right into the pan. The polenta and the other garnishes were seasoned and pre-​pared well. I sent it back with out any resistance, but the manager on duty seemed a little bent on the whole thing. One disappointing slight expectation was that they knew, because they asked, that our vist was for my wife and I’s anniversary. I was not expecting any comps of special treatment, but all we received was a happy anniversary from our waiter. Why ask, unless you want to go above and beyond? As far as the aptmosphere, the music and the conversation coming from the kitchen did not fit what this place was striving to be and the price point it is listed at. I think they missed some oppertunities for future visits.

I really wanted to like this place based on all the recommendations from the locals. Hoping it was an off night. Hostess was cheerful and lovely. Lobster bisque was very nicely done. Service was indifferent. Place was not half full. Apps came out quickly. Entrees did not. Had to ask where our food was. We were asked if we wanted a second bottle of water by the waitress to which we said yes and then it didn’t come. We had to ask for it. Scallops were over salted. Pork shank was on the dry side. It took so long to get the entrees maybe the food sat too long. I don’t know. Wasn’t the experience we were led to believe. Like I said, hope it was just an off night.

Spectacular in every way a farm-​to-​table restaurant should be: fresh, healthy, tasty! The scallops and sweet potato soup that I had could not have been better. I highly recommend.

The Bottom Line: It’s very, very good. Oh, so close to 5-​stars but there were some minor errors.
Eating at Manna is such a treat. Service is excellent and the menu does not disappoint. This is high-​end dining which is why I docked one star for the melt-​in-​your-​moth pork that was slightly overdone and a chocolate desert that was a little dry.
Manna is suitable for couples and groups and is highly, highly recommended. It’s an experience you’ll want to repeat.

I can only comment on the quality of the cocktails. We stopped here after dinner per the recommendation of our server at another restaurant. We stayed at the downtown marriot which luckily is in walking distance of Manna. We tried many of their delicious offerings. Mostly sticking to the bartenders choice. He was friendly and created many unique drinks made with in house made custom bitters and fresh garnishes. The selection of small batch bourbons and unique liquors was impressive.

Very good restaurant — 4.5 stars
The Clawed Howell appetizer was excellent — a large amount of lobster with succulent butternut squash in a light sauce. The dish not only included bites of cut up lobster but a small lobster tail half. My husband’s Great Lettuce Debate salad was excellent as well.
The bread and butter cost extra but after tasting the butter of the night (lemon basil), my husband declared that it was worth the price. When we inquired about the ingredients, the waiter was very accommodating and told us that it also contained lemon oil and salt. We’ll be experimenting when we get home! The jam was also excellent.
The Reel Deal fish selection of the night was Sheepshead fish, a local white fish. It was served with a smoked green tomato sauce that contained corn. The fish was excellent as was the sauce although the smokey flavor was a little overpowering. My husband had the Bobby Filet. The filet was prepared perfectly although the sauce was a little too salty.
The wine list isn’t large but contains some incredible hard-​to-​find gems — Cayuse, Turley and Saxum are all incredible and priced reasonably for a restaurant. We opted for the 2010 Tamber Bey cab which is a wine we have heard about but never tried (another rare wine). It was good and only improved during the meal. If we lived closer to this restaurant, we would be here every weekend!

Went here on Valentine’s Day to have a special dinner. The host seated us next to the front window, best seat in the house! We ordered some bread for an appetizer, it was not expensive, and they refilled the bread. I ordered the «reel deal», which is basically the catch of the day. It was some sort of white fish, I do not recall the type. My boyfriend ordered the «iron chef» beef dish.
My dish was a little disappointing. It was $ 26, and for that price, I expect outstanding, but it was just good. I think if it was a different fish, or if it was cooked differently, it would have been better. The fish was just a little on the bland side. The accompanying veggies (rutabaga & I think something else with it) were undercooked. The kale was very good and the parsnip sauce was also very good.
My boyfriend’s dish, however, was outstanding. He said it might have been the best steak he’s ever had, and well worth the $ 32 price. So, my rating might be a ⁴⁄₅ if it was less expensive, but I felt my dish, in particular, did not live up to its standards.
The portion sizes were larger than expected. Not huge, but I was definitely full afterwards.
I might be back and order something else, but only if someone else is paying!

Friends of good food, if you’re looking for a superb dinner brimming with flavor from the first sip of that cocktail thru the last bite of dessert, all in an atmosphere that is formal but has a certain laid-​back ease that makes you feel well taken care of, stop your search and get on the phone to make your reservation now. Make this restaurant mandatory.
Love the feel of this place right from when you step in the door. There is a dining room side and a bar side, but both offer a full menu and both offer a white table cloth experience, so don’t be discouraged from opting for one over the other. Things are relatively dark inside, but the hostess stations has a tray of readings glasses available or those who need help.
Just a quick glance of the seasonal menu and the playful names of all the dishes is enough to tell you this kitchen is skillful and confident in what they have to offer. The good news: they totally live up to the hype. Using seasonal ingredients, local-​sourced where possible, the kitchen makes the most of nearly every flavor and texture profile offered by the ingredients. Whether earthy beets zinged with a bright blood orange vinaigrette, or perfectly steam mussels in a savory roasted garlic sauce brightened with field greens, it would be seem to be hard to make a bad choice here that wouldn’t delight and impress.
The same can be said for the drink menu as well, as the cocktails are expertly crafted and are equally worthy of exploration, both for the use of their own house-​made bitters and their expert blending of different liquors and spirits to make something that is much more than just the sum of its parts. These guys are just as skilled as the kitchen and watching them from the bar side of things shows just how good they are, as they busily shake, stir and muddle together concoctions that are truly sip-​worthy drinks. Their take on a Manhattan, for example, is noteworthy for both the flavors of the fruited used and the small-​batch quality of the bourbon that anchors this potable. An sizable and well curated wine list is also available for those looking to head in that direction.
I’d also be loathe not to mention the desserts here as the in-​house pastry chef is yet another major weapon in the deep bench this restaurant keeps on staff. Everything is made in house and, just like the main menu, is playful while being inventive to create a true tour-​de-​force. We had their take on a s’more which included hazelnut ice cream and a flour-​less chocolate torte with little puffs of toasted marshmallow on the plate. It was crazy good. The portion was small too, but perfect for sharing. Exactly what a high quality dessert should be. The only downside was eating what came out looking like a work of art.
A final mention is due to the service. Our waiter took immaculate care of the wife and I all night long, even suggesting a night cap to accompany the dessert. He stayed close but never hovered and offered many well-​placed suggestions as we worked thru the menu and worked on our food and beverage pairings. Even other servers stopped by to deliver orders and check to see what we thought. It’s rare to find a place where service hits that perfect mix of being close and involved without being a burden or obstruction. These guys have nailed it.
And so, Manna easily deserves every star of this review, creating an experience we stayed longer just to linger upon. This becomes a «must» on our next stop into town and should be for anyone who is serious about good, craft food and experiencing just how good it can be. A culinary treat for sure.