Amazing! The best restaurant in Wilmington, and always delicious and a wonderful time.

While visiting Wilmington was suggested I try Manna. Very nice, intimate setting, Had the Filet Mignon. My guest chose the sea scallops. Nicely prepared. Very small portions :( Guest had a glass of wine that was served with barely any wine in it :(( Finished with coffee and shared a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. Excellent service. Price point: As ordered above with no apps, $100 plus gratuity :((( read more

Manna is easily one of the best places I've ever eaten and features one heck of a whiskey selection. Fred at the bar was great; so knowledgeable and witty. He definitely made the experience quite enjoyable. The owner, Billy, was the most down to earth, humble guy, and spent a while swapping war stories with my husband. We had the duck and swordfish for entrees and every bite was out of this world. Anytime we're in Wilmington, we will be eating at Manna hands down. read more

Food was amazing and shoutout to our server mason with the fantastic mustache! Perfect blend of friendly, knowledgeable, and professional.

Absolutely wonderful dining experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the pork dinner option. Only one other time in my life have I experienced a dish like this that exemplified all the flavors and that was at Lola (Michael Simon). The charred pickled okra gave a wonderful depth to a perfectly cooked pork chop. The wine list is without a doubt one of the best in this area. The staff i experienced in the two visits were well versed in fine wine pairing and offered some wonderful samples from their open bottles. I don't travel here often but will dine here every chance I can. read more

Recently went here with family that live in town and a friend who visits Kure Beach every year. It was a great visit and I'm looking forward to going back! I have a few VERY annoying dietary restrictions, the most severe and most annoying of which is an onion and garlic insensitivity. These conversations are always awkward with staff, I know they want to serve delicious food without worrying about this stuff, but Manna folks were very accomodating. To be honest, I was a little surprised, because I know their food is complex. It's much easier at a steak joint to take out onions and garlic! But they were great and I won't hesitate to return without fear. We sat at the bar for dinner - the bartenders served up some very tasty and interesting drinks, and indulged my many questions about their liquor selection. read more

Overpriced food ok beautiful place but not warm very expensive went right after Covid maybe it was to new haven't gone back

OMG. SOOOOO good. Service, ambience, food. Exceptional. Esp the oysters! Will be back

Manna is the best in Wilmington. Fresh always, creativity on the plate and in the glass. Don't stop and think about it, just go, but make reservations. If they're full you can go anyway at 5pm when they open. They have 6-7 seats at the bar they hold back for walk ins. read more

Manna has been one of my favorite local restaurants, but the meal I had there recently was mediocre at best. I had requested a vegan meal, which has been superb from the restaurant 's previous chef. Not so now. They did give me a lot of food, enough for me to take home and have for another meal. Then the staff gave me the wrong bag of left overs. Very disappointing. read more

Looking for a special restaurant to celebrate our anniversary and Manna was a great choice! Had the Peter panzanella appetizer, it's grilled octopus and it was fantastic. For dinner I had the venison, it was cooked rare, as venison can be tough, but came out perfectly delicious. The presentation was beautiful. Wife had the fish special which was a grilled triple fin, she loved it! Everything here was very nice, the decor was eclectic chic, the staff was very attentive and professional, the food presentations were well planned and all the food was delicious. Highly recommend Manna for a special occasion. read more

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A subtle, wonderful taste experience! Very special. The local Mahi Mahi was perfectly succulent, with Renee roasted vegetables & a pickled jalapeño/ roasted sunflower seed tapenade. A Mamouth pork chop entree! read more

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Fabulous dining experience with superior service. Absolutely love to dine at Manna!

Every. Single. Thing! Amaze balls. I have never had anything less than phenomenal cocktails, food, service and atmosphere. Just all jams.

Great service, amazing drinks made to order with fresh ingredients...thoughtful and wonderful food presented artfully in a chic atmosphere.

Pictures are a little dark - apologize for that! Had my doubts going into it because it seemed like your typical high class/priced restaurants with OK food. Wrong! Really enjoyed the drinks and food. Perfect amount of food to fill you up and not have to lug around leftovers. They had a great list of different entrees without being overwhelming with options. The food tasted fresh and well cooked. Overall, a must try! read more

manna - Cocktails - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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From the sip of my first craft cocktail until we left, everything was perfect! Quality, execution and true perfection is all you get from this establishment. My third visit was this week and again, I walked out in awe. Thank you Manna! read more

manna - New York Sour. - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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I eat here often in Wilmington. Always a different, creative menu. Great food and service.

50th anniversary dinner with family.As close to NY city dinning as you will find in NC. Staff was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu as well at the small but selective wine list. Food was excellent and well prepared. They went out of their way to prepare a dinner for my daughter( Vegetarian), dessert, drinks were delicious; the in house made flaccacia was a pleasant and tasty addition to our meal. I have eaten there before covid, they did not disappoint then,they did not disappoint Last night. read more

Intimate and upscale. Great food and wine options with attentive service. Perfect for special occasions and celebrations read more

Was super excited to try this place, the atmosphere was charming! The staff was alright could of been more attentive. The food was pretty good i enjoyed the fresh Mahi Mahi. Fresh baked bread, old fashioned, and the chocolate torte dessert was very good! read more

manna - The dessert is amazingly rich, and i really like the plate presentation! - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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I have not had a more delicious meal in recent memory! We loved the ambiance, the service was incredible and our meals were perfection. Can't wait to come back. read more

Outstanding drinks, personable and knowledgeable staff, carefully and thoughtfully prepared food. Detail very closely paid attention to and it does not go unnoticed by the customers :-) read more

My first visit to Wilmington knocked my socks off. The downtown is adorable. The Cape Fear River is the backdrop to this lovely, historic downtown. And you have the beautiful coast and beaches just minutes away. We did a team dinner at Manna and were all so very impressed with our experience. The beige decor against the dark brick interior was beautiful. The artwork and decor was simple but charming. Now let's get to the food! The menu debuted lovely local options, with fun, whimsical names. And the food was DELICIOUS. Starters: Cheese and Charcuterie: We had variety of the cheeses, meats and house made pickles. Some favorites were the prosciutto, chorizo and humboldt fog. Berry manna loaf: You'd have thought we'd not eaten for days the way we went through that house made sourdough, with fresh jam and house made butters. Charred octopus and grits: WOW. I'm the fussiest person on the planet when it comes to octopus. Why?? Because it is rarely done well. That fine line to chewy is just too hard for too many. But, at Manna? This. dish. was. incredible!!!! The perfect texture, amazing flavor, and a gorgeous char. Puerco Rico a.k.a. braised pork belly with creamed collards. Pork belly is a favorite for many. And although I do like and appreciate pork belly, the ultra fatty texture is hard for me. This pork belly......the best I've had. It was beautiful with all of the great pork belly characteristics, without being heavily lard forward. Entrees: The Reel Deal a.k.a. pan seared flounder with potatoes and brussel sprouts. This fish was perfectly prepared, and the plate offered just enough sauce to accompany the fresh and well prepared sides. Finger Lickin' Pig Picking a.k.a. brined & roasted pork chop, grits and kale. Another amazingly flavorful dish. This pork was on steroids. Some of the most flavorful I've ever had. (And I grew up on a pig farm! I know pork!!) Other colleagues loved the scallops (Take a Break Diver Eight) and the filet (Iron Chef Bobby Filet). We enjoyed this menu from start to finish, pairing it all with lovely cocktails and great wine from an extensive and impressive list. The service was incredibly attentive and proper, yet 'southern' warm. The presentation of each and every dish was beautiful. I hope to get the opportunity to visit Wilmington and Manna again soon!!! read more

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Manna is simply EXCEPTIONAL! Four Stars is just not enough for this wonderful establishment. My son chose Manna for his Rehearsal Dinner and I dare say it was one for the books. Wonderful cocktails at the bar, food was perfectly prepared, served impeccably and with an after party at Bourgie Nights....... all I can say is, it was epic!!!! If I lived in Wilmington I would dine there every single week. Wish I could have that trout dish right now. read more

So a girlfriend and I feasted, we couldn't fit in an entree 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. read more

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One of the best date night restaurants in Wilmington. This is the place you always bring your "foodie" friends when they visit, or your parents when they want to pick up the bill. The menu is constantly changing, the bartenders are SO creative, and the staff is all very friendly. "Beggers can't be Choosers" on Sundays is always fun to go to if you're an adventurous eater. We love coming to Manna for a lavish dinner, or just sitting at the bar, having drinks, and ordering apps. read more

Great place!! Highly recommend for a nice dinner date. Food was great and cocktails were awesome. My wife and I were running late to our reservations, we called and they pushed back our time 30 mins with no issues. My wife ordered pork and I orders the venison both were outstanding!!! Venison can some times be difficult to cook but they got it right. We stayed for about 20 mins after dinner for another cocktail. It was our anniversary dinner they placed us in a beautiful table by the window. When the brought the check the gave us a happy anniversary card. read more

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I went here for the Thursday night 4 course special and had an amazing meal. I sat in the bar area and started with an amazing cocktail- it is clear that is one of their specialties. The four courses included oysters, beet salad, oxtail and a sweet potato dessert. The service was great and I hope to go back again and sit in their dining room. read more

We went for Beggars Can't be Choosers, and it was such a great experience!! The food was amazing, the service was impeccable, and the excitement of the surprise was so much fun!! We will definitely be going back!! read more

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Walked by this place and was intrigued by the menu. Someone was having too much fun with the menu dish names! Duck-toberfest, Mouth of the South, Out of the Friar Pan & into the Fire, Ham in the Cranberry Bog, The Reel Deal, The Great Lettuce Debate, Designated Diver... Was greeted by the chef while standing outside admiring the menu and contemplating dinner choices for the evening and summoned for dinner later that night. It was a beautiful setting. A gorgeous tiled alcove and a huge vase of willow branches in the spotlight. Despite reservations, you can still be seated on the bar side, which is a little less intimate but had more action and actually was more interesting- you can see the bartenders at their craft. The decor for the bar, was exactly how I'd style one, perfectly classic. Everything from the wood frame bathroom stalls to the succulents in small pots reflected off the smokey framed glass by the bar tables had accuracy and prestige. Started with of course with the Pommeraie, which featured my favorite- bourbon, paired perfectly with calvados (apple brandy), cinnamon & nutmeg, bitters, maple syrup for the balanced seasonal drink, excellently crafted. The rest of drink menu is fairly standard, but it looks possible to request something more unique. I would highly suggest tasting a fine cocktail, but if you are more of a beer or wine drinker, they also have a good selection. The Beets Around the Bush salad consisted of an interesting beet terrine, arugula, apples and oranges, chevre, pistachio & sherry molasses vinaigrette. I would highly suggest trying a charcuterie or cheese platter where you can select a few favorites or have a chef's suggestion. The lavender honey butter that came with the handmade bread was exquisite. Couldn't resist trying the Duck-toberfest and was overwhelmingly impressed by the the "pastramied" duck, brined, seasoned and smoked to perfection. If you are not a fan of the gamey taste of duck, this process clearly makes the meat more palatable. Dessert of course, a lemon creme brulee with a lavender ice cream, was nothing more than delectable. I like how they say they buy local for quality and availability but not just for the sake of buying local, so if it is not available locally, they will go elsewhere. First restaurant I've recognized outside of the bay area that is slowfood. read more

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We were passing through Wilmington and decided to try Manna and we are very happy that we did!! We didn't have reservations but we were happy that they were able to accommodate us anyway because we were there early. Everything that we had was exceptional and I am still talking about how delicious the beet salad was. I will never have one that I like better for sure and the sad part is that I will be disappointed everytime that I order one elsewhere haha. I recommend this place if you are near Wilmington NC!! read more

Amazing! Among the overwhelming choices in downtown Wilmington, this little spot is a rare find. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. Hats off to the chef for his expertly prepared duck and swordfish plates. The flavor of these two dishes are beyond words. The atmosphere of the restaurant is upscale yet the overall feeling is relaxed and welcoming and the service was great. Staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Thank you so much for a lovely evening. We will be back for sure. read more

manna - Duck - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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We planned our anniversary dinner last weekend. The smoked flounder was out of this world. The setting is beautiful. The staff was exceptional. I can honestly say we have never had better service. I would strongly recommend to anyone who wants a lovely evening from start to finish! read more

Yet another amazing dinner at Manna! Grace our server was extremely knowledgeable and friendly and the kitchen was on point as always! The Scallops are my favorite and the atmosphere is perfect! Can't wait for our next visit! 5 stars across the board! read more

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Love the atmosphere and the service. Food is out of this world. I was being adventurous and ordered squid as appetizer and duck for the entree. My husband had ribs. The drinks are strong and yummy. The drink menu is so extensive I just asked our server to pick me something. Will definitely go back to try other items on the menu. read more

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We dined at Manna on 2/18, it was our first time there. The staff was fabulous, extremely attentive and friendly. We had 3 appetizers and 2 entrees. Everything was delicious. The first few bites of the shrimp and grits were so good. The grits serving was very small but I thought it's probably healthier. The shrimp were large, sweet and tender. I always cut large shrimp in half. When I cut into one of the "shrimp" I thought this one looks different, then I ate it. I was surprised to learn that it was a fingering gold potato. When I examined the dish I discovered 5 potatoes. I asked the server, she said I must be mistaken that it was probably fennel. I didn't recall seeing that there were potatoes in the dish description on the menu. I requested she ask the chef and she came back and said YES there were potatoes in the dish. I understand farm to table concept and sometimes the chef wants to use up extra ingredients but the customer needs to be informed! I felt like the chef/kitchen was trying to fool me. This was at 6:00 pm so I don't think they had already been out of grits. We were going to order dessert but I didn't feel like I could fully trust the staff. Communication is key. Also I think it would have been nice to have a manager address it with me. read more

Fantastic! I had the short rib redemption and my wife had the rib eye special. Both were perfectly prepared and too die for. Waiter recommended a Rioja that was perfect. Service off the charts too. Vibe and decor were on the mark. Strongly recommend!!! read more

I had posted a previous review after visiting the bar that had 4 stars because I felt like we were just an inconvenience, and as someone who dropped more than $100 on cocktails that night, I felt that it was unfair. However, I recently went back for drinks and dinner and had a completely different experience. I think that the first time was a one off. This time the waitstaff was incredibly attentive and the food was divine. Some of the best (and strongest) cocktails in town. We ate our way through the entire appetizer menu and shared a salad. I believe that we had 5 plates total and it was a delightful amount of food. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared and perfectly executed. The atmosphere is simply to die for. You feel like you are in Europe somewhere. read more

Torn about this review. Went here on a double date for "beggars can't be choosers" and really loved the concept. You pick dishes based on the type and they bring you something. Of their own creation . We picked a dish, a meat, a veggie and a mystery just to try everything. The restaurant is beautiful and the service is great. Our bartender was very skilled and mixed some beautiful drinks---his old fashioned is probably one of the best I've ever had. That being said, the food was only ok taste wise. The dishes were beautiful, but were missing flavor. Two of the dishes were the exact same dish with only the cut of pork being different so I felt a little duped. The reason we ordered one dish of each category is to have some diversity, so I was disappointed. If I had to review the drinks only i would give it 5 stars but based on the food I'd only give it 3. read more