This is quite possibly the best middle eastern food I've ever had. The intensity and complexity of flavor in their vegetarian dishes is amazing. I strongly recommend this place to anyone. Parking can be tricky though. read more

The appetizers aren't bad but they're very overpriced for things readily available at stores like feta cheese or hummus. The beef kebab, however, tastes horrible. If you do not like the taste of lamb, do not order the beef kebab because it tastes exactly like lamb. We had to ask to make sure they didn't accidentally make the kebab with lamb and the waiter said they use a more grease part of the meat for the kebab which is what gives it that taste. The deserts are tasteless and again not worth the price. read more

Service was great, back outdoor seating was unexpectedly romantic and adorable. Later answered most of my questions about gluten-free options although our entrée did come out on pita bread. We ordered the spicy potatoes, hummus sausage with tomatoes, and yogurt kabob. The sausage with tomatoes appetizer was my favorite dish. The yogurt kabob was very underwhelming. I would probably return just for the ambiance and to try the spicy olives which they were sold out of on Friday. read more

I wish I took a picture but I totally forgot before they took it away but the complimentary bread basket that we got was filled with moldy bread. The worst part was they replaced it like nothing happened. No apology, no discount, no nothing. The rest of the food was ok at best except it's very pricey for the portions that they give. Service was terrible, felt like they were understaffed or something. The only good thing was the decorations. Probably won't be going back. read more

Mantee Cafe - Scoop of rice, two tomato, a pepper, and like 7 pieces of chicken. Cost to make probably like $1, what they charge $16. - Mediterranean Near Me - Studio City, California

Thank you yelp for suggesting this place. This is a perfect cozy but not cramped location that offers delicious foods at reasonable prices. Upon arrival I had a really good feeling about the place, this is a perfect place to have a dinner date at. Also, this place doesn't have offer alcohol but welcomes you to bring your own. And on top of that, there's NO CORKAGE FEE!!!! I went there for a double date, the other three people got the lamb and loved it. I am not a lamb person and order the Beef Kebob and it was very yummy. The one thing I don't like about Mantee is that the owner has this creepy way of lingering a little too long. read more

Having a Lebanese Armenian background I'm picking about Middle Eastern Food and always like to compare it to my Mothers and Grandmothers cooking.....This is the only place that I found that is just as good. Great Outside Pation, Sever has alwayys been great, and each time I have been there fell in love with food more and more Mantee with Garlic, Fattoush Salad, Soujok, and Su Berag is a must!!! read more

Very small, cozy, secluded and definitely homey. Need reservations before you go because it's always packed. A little difficult with parking, so I would recommend coming a little early to make sure you're not late for your reservation. The food is AMAZING! (there's a reason why you need reservations to such a small and secluded spot) :) read more

This place deserves ten stars!!! The food is truly amazing, the closest to Armenian home cooking as it gets. Everything on the menu is flavorful and delicious. We have tried every single item on the menu and have not been disappointed. The servers and owner are always helpful and attentive. The atmosphere is relaxing and peaceful. The place gets packed most nights, it helps to make reservations! read more

Mantee was recommended to me by a very enthusiastic friend. I was with a party of five and we all loved everything. My veggie friend was thrilled with the selection...this place is GREAT for vegetarians. The kebobs (chicken, beef filet, and yogurt, which are ground beef) are the best I have had outside of Greece. The humus (with pine nuts) was the best I have ever had...very creamy and smooth. We also loved the Mantee traditional (?) which were little dumplings in cream sauce...we had both the spinach and meat. Don't pass up dessert...try the two Lebanese ones, you won't be sorry. Not a morsel of food was left on the table and everyone kept saying how delicious and unusual everything was. The service was spectacular. The whole experience felt like something you could not have in the US, but we did, right there on Ventura Blvd. And the outdoor patio is beautiful (dogs welcome!) read more

We hadn't been to Mantee Cafe since it first opened, and for this reason had the opportunity to make the comparison in quality and taste, and if/how it had changed over time. The ambience is still really cute, and the back patio is as romantic as ever! Unfortunately the food has lost some of its taste, and is more bland than I remember. We were especially disappointed by our favorite to go to dish, the 'Mantee' (oven baked artisan made boat shaped ravioli). Our order was probably too long in the oven as the ravioli were dry and hard ): Our waiter was friendly and recommended a wine that paired perfectly with our order. The service however was a bit slow, and we had to wait around 15-20 minutes to place our order. All together we still recommend this place, but they will need to step up and keep the quality at the high level they used to be! read more

PROS: EVERYTHING Easy parking Best food Best Management Best Servers Cute Decor read more

Mantee serves, by and large, the most delicious Mediterranean dishes I've had in the United States. A friend of mine brought me here a day after I arrived to LA from NY and it was very hard to believe that I have yet to find more deletable food on the East Coast. The hummus is comparable to what I would find in NY, but everything else (King's Delight, beef and chicken kebabs) surpassed any expectation I would have had (though it helps that I had none to begin with). We were there for lunch on a Sunday afternoon (around 2pm), so the restaurant was on the quiet side to say the least. The wait staff was of course more than attentive. Above all, the restaurant has an extremely "cute" and romantic atmosphere. We sat in the back under the big umbrellas, which was breezy and perfect for a hot summer day. read more

Best dinner for a long time in the city! And the appetizer was a delish! Ask for the Mantee Traditional!! This is a great place if you're looking for a peaceful time with great mediterranean food. Service was an A+!!! We where accommodated even though me and my friends where not aware that we needed reservations! Thank you much Mantee for giving us a great dinner!! Will be back. read more

Came to this restaurant upon a friend's suggestion and we had a great time! Here are the details: FIRST IMPRESSION: parking in the back is free, although the "lot" is quite small. Walking in through the back is a little awkward because it almost seems like it could be the front of the house. However no one greeted me so I kept walking hoping for some human interaction... SERVICE: once I got to the front, a really nice (New Zealander? Australian?) waiter greeted me and asked if I had a reservation. I didn't, but there were plenty of tables and he seated me even though my friend hadn't arrived yet. He, along with two other waiters offered me a drink while I was waiting, which was nice. The entire time we were there the staff was attentive without being creepily overbearing. I mentioned to my friend that my phone battery was low and one of the guys even offered to put it on a charger for me while I finished my meal. Super nice! FOOD: my friend and I ordered a few things to share since I had never been here and she had. Here is what we tried. Motobbal- basically an eggplant-based hummus. It tasted good but had a weird texture to me. Kind of slimy, but had a great smoky paprika flavor. Mohomarra- a red pepper and walnut paste. DELICIOUS! It was my favorite item. Spread a little bit on some pita and it is so tasty! Tabbouleh- a lemony parsley salad. This was great. Most places don't season this dish that much but Mantee's was very flavorful and had tomatoes for an extra bit of fun. Yummy! Mantee Traditional- crunchy dumplings with seasoned ground beef in a paprika and yogurt sauce, very good! I wish there had been more. Sue Berag- Philo layered with cheese and parsley. Served very hot, you may want to wait a few minutes before taking that first bite. All in all, I will definitely return when I have another hankering for Mediterranean eats! read more

My girlfriend and I met here for dinner on our way to an event. We were hopeful for a more positive experience, better food and better service, but we were disappointed in both. Some of the food is okay, like the hummus, and some is not so good, like the King's Delight (filet mignon). Everything else was just average. This is a cute, quaint little restaurant with lots of atmosphere, which seems to be the best part of the experience. Unfortunatley, I don't think we'll be coming back to Mantee Cafe. read more

Wish i could give it no stars. Horrible service without a doubt. This dinner is the first and last time we dine here. I had to get up 3 times to find a server to get water and plates. Every time i found our server he was on his personal phone. Big surprise i had to get up to get my check too. At least I did the right thing and tipped but believe me I shouldn't have for this expensive dinner/crap service read more

The mantee by far is the best mantee anywhere and loved the service , Got a table in the patio it was very Beautiful and cozy . will be back again soon , thanks again read more

Did not have a good experience! Ordered to go some mantee and Lillehammer ! Food did not feel right ! The portions were ver small for he price. Will not go back read more

This is a list of what two of us shared last week at Mantee. This is also the list of what you should get when you go next time! Mantee's Delight: sauteed diced filet mignon and a special brown sauce Fattoush: purslane, tomato, fresh squeezed lemon dressing, fried pita bread Dolma with Yogurt: eggplant stuffed with rice, vegetables, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and topped with yogurt Mantee's "Traditional": oven baked boat shape ravioli filled with seasoned fresh Angus ground meat, served with garlic yogurt sauce, topped with sumac Everything was great. Fresh, homemade, delicious. Even the salad. The SALAD was great. Life-changing really. Other than the food the decor of this place is hilarious and amazing. The interior is decked out like your grandmother's family room with doilies and the cutest plates and tableware. Even the olive oil containers are adorable. If it's nice out I'd recommend eating on the back patio, though. read more

This place is fantastic! It is such a hidden gem, and it is right by our house! Be sure to reserve a seat in the outdoor garden in the back. Don't worry if it is cold, they have heaters, and it is so cozy. Now, the food is very good, cooked to your liking, and they are more than happy to get you to try other items on your menu. The Mantee traditional is a dish we get every time we are there. The eggplant is perfect, and all the food is sharable. They have an Australian waiter that is most helpful, and you could request him, but everyone else is great. They will soon have their liquor license, then the place will be perfect. read more

It's a very small and cozy place. The patio is adorable...unfortunately we didn't get to sit in the Patio. The food was amazing...it started with a basket of pita chips and the sauce served with that was so good...we got the Mantee Traditional as well which was amazing, I loved the Armenian sausage which was prepared table side. I would go back there for the ambiance and food. Its one of the best Mediterranean places that I have tried. read more

I think they think more of themselves than is warranted. The service, was, in a word, odd. We didn't have our minds made up quickly enough apparently. The waiter left in a bit of a huff and we had a hard time tracking him down to order our wine and then another to get our food order. They forgot an item we ordered and then argued that we didn't order it to the point where I had to stop the waiter's arguments and say "hey, it doesn't matter - we would like the hummus please" Geez! They pride themselves on homemade, out of this world food. I've had better...in many other Mediterranean places I've been to. Oh well. It was definitely an experience! read more

They have Lebanese wine!! I absolutely love their Fattoush, Motabbal and Shish Kebab! I need to go back for some hummus. Atmosphere is great! Parking limited in the back read more

We found this little gem via Yelp while in the area, and wow, it was fantastic. It has a cute ambiance, delicious food, and excellent service. We selected a variety of about 4 appetizers, and all were fantastic. One, which I believe was called Mantee, was really quite unique and delicious. Having said that, everything was wonderful. The café has lovely indoor and outdoor seating, and has really nice atmosphere. If you're in the area, I hope you try it out! read more

What an amazing find! Don't be deceived from the entrance of the restaurant. I was concerned when I only saw 5 or 6 tables in the entrance, but once I was led back to the patio/porch area, I saw an extra few dozen tables. The place is very homey and feels as though you are dining at a close friends place. The service was excellent and I liked how the owner walked around and talked with the customers. He has a really thick accent and his English isn't the best, but it's great to see someone take such a forward role as owner. The food was amazing as well. Some of the standouts were the Kebbe Naye and Hot Feta. I can't talk enough about how amazing the Kebbe Naye was. It's a must order. We got two! I was tempted to give it four stars because my Sweet and Sour Kebab wasn't amazing, but I should have listed to the advice of our waiter. Everything else was amazing so I couldn't. He recommended that we order a lot of small to medium sized plates and share them, which we did, but I went against my butter judgement and got the Kebab. read more

The Mantee Cafe is a jewel. The service was excellent as is the food. The patio in the rear is private and the heaters make it comfortable even on chilly nights. read more

My friend and I went here after having seen their name on an LA Weekly list a couple of months ago. The place looks cute. It's decorated like a home. It has seating available inside as well as outside towards the back. The service was nice, although we were there around 3pm and there was only one other group in the restaurant. The food was okay. Nothing spectacular. One thing I will say though, I tried their drink called Tan and it was not pretty. I think it's just not for me. It tasted like salty spoiled milk. I do not recommend it. read more

Mantee's "Veggie" - A+ FAVORITE. Creamy and so flavorful. I was in love with each bite. Dolma (stuffed eggplant) - A Simple, fresh, lemony flavor. Mantee King's Delight - A Tender meat, great taste! Fattoush - B A little too much dressing, but tasted good. read more

This place is great. I highly recommend it. I came here with my GF for the second time the other day and it was just as good as the first time. My girlfriend doesn't even normally like Mediterranean food but she likes this place. I cant blame her, everything we had here was fantastic. I really enjoyed the yogurt kebab, it was so creamy and meaty. My GF had the lamb chops which where delicious (I tried them), normally I don't like lamb so that was an accomplishment. The spicy potatoes are also really good. The patio out back is great and really gives a unique ambiance and feel to your meal. The one issue we did have on our second visit was one of our water glasses smelled quite odd - both me and my GF agreed and neither of us had drank from it yet (so you know it couldn't have been our fault for making it smell), my Lebanese beer on the other hand was great! I will definitely be taking my girl friend back here again. read more

Tonight we took friends to Mantee for dinner. It was fantastic. The food is amazing. The wait staff is helpful and honest. We also met the owner and chef Sylvia..she is a gem.. So lively and charming. We can't wait to go back soon. read more

Very good all-around restaurant and also quite reasonably priced. Had the Mantee's "Traditional" and the Hot Feta as appetizers and the Yogurt Kebab as my entree, all of them were excellent. Also had a taste of the Chicken Kebab, which was similarly great. read more

Homey back patio is where the excitement seems to be. Fresh Delicious Middle Eastern food. Can heartily recommend: Mohammara (spicy spread of crushed walnut, red pepper paste and pomegranate molasses) Dolma with yogurt (eggplant stuffed with rice, vegetables, topped with yogurt) Fatoush Salad (greens, tomatoes and fried pita in a lemon zesty dressing... some might think they slather too much dressing on this salad... but that's just the way I like it) ...and the amazing Mantee... little half moon shaped dumplings filled with meat or spinach, crisped by frying, and then baked in a lemon garlic sauce. The restaurant is named after this dish for a reason... don't miss it. You can enter the restaurant from the small back parking lot. Service is very friendly. read more

Great food. Great atmosphere. Nice decor and ambience. Everything we had was delicious. We had the Soujek Flambe, Traditional Mantee, Hot Feta, Labne Toom and Fatoush Salad. The dessert Kadayef was definitely amazing, must try! read more

Mantee Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Studio City, California

Amazing restaurant. From the Bussers, to the Hostess, to the Servers, and to the Cooks, 5-star service all around. The patio outside is super cute, and the decor inside makes it nice and cozy like eating at a family's home. Came here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night with no reservation, which was definitely a mistake as the place was FULL. I def recommend making a reservation! The Hostess and Servers were so accommodating, they literally moved around half the restaurant to make sure we could sit. So sweet. The food was delicious and pretty well-priced for the size and taste of the portions. Our favorites: the mantee traditional, lentil pilaf, sarma, and sue berag. And whatever dipping sauce they had for the complimentary pita was BOMB. so addictive. We loved it and will definitely be back. Thanks, Mantee! read more

whoa. this was VERY unexpected. First, we walked in...and based on the front, I thought the place was closed. But then we walked to the quaint patio decorated with a hodge podge of vintage meets morocco meets my grandma. Charming! Unexpected! There were a lot of people on the back patio! We were seated and our friendly waiter came right over to help us decipher the menu. He was pretty good with recommendations except for one big caveat...one of our group is vegan. When she asked "do you have any vegan dishes?" the waiter kind of scoffed and said "we are Mediterranean! Almost everything is vegan!" He pointed to a group of things on the menu... which all had yogurt. Hmmm, perhaps this guy didn't understand what vegan meant? It seems that the scoffing was a little premature. Nonetheless, we found quite a lot to order from this menu and by all accounts, everything was totally delicious. It even converted my fiance who was very skeptical about a lot of the dishes we had ordered. We all ate TOO much and still ordered dessert. We will definitely be back...with or without the vegan. read more

Great food, great service and great ambiance. You know its a good spot when you're already thinking to come back and eat again. This is my new place for Lebanese/Armenian food. For the newbs, I highly recommend that one person order a few small plates (my recs are below) and one person order a lunch/kebab plate to split. Labne (yogurt dip, comes with hard and soft pita) Fattoush (salad, although its a little heavy on the dressing) Mantee "Traditional" (like crunchy bits of ravioli baked in an amazing sauce) The chicken lunch plates are delicious - the chicken kebabs are not dry at all. Can't wait to come back! read more

Great middle eastern food in an unassuming spot with a delightful back patio away from the noise but full of sunshine. Order some mezze plates to share, relax, and enjoy. The bread is delicious! Not the best service in the world but if you're not in the hurry, it shouldn't be a problem. read more

Our favorite middle eastern food! Place is amazing, people are amazing, food are amazing especially when Jake is there

Good food but nothing stood out as amazing and that I would crave again. We had the plain hummus, kings delight, hot feta, spicy potatoes, chicken kabob, and the kadayiff. The kadayiff dessert had good texture a mix of crunchy wheat and cotton candy though not very sweet. read more

Valentine's dinner here, the night before the actual day o' restaurant madness. 5 words: couldn't have been more perfect. We were looking for charming but not cheesy ambiance, delicious but not pricey food, and, as always, just a hassle-free, sweet time. Talk about getting what you wish for - Mantee just might be a new favorite. Prices are what you might spend if you decide to "splurge" at lunch ($12 - $15 for entrees, $6 - $8 for appetizers!). Also, I can't confirm from personal experience yet because we left the wine bottle in the car, but I believe they might even be BYOB w/o a corkage fee! Food - delish. I had the quite yummy "Hummus Cocktail" for appetizer (hummus bits of filet mignon with pine nut). He had the "Mantee Traditional" which was oven baked, boat-shaped ravioli doused in garlic yogurt sauce. He enjoyed, but it really wasn't for me. The yogurt sauce was a little intense - could only have 2 or 3 ravioli pieces. For entrees, I had the Kashkash Kebab (seasoned ground beef with spicy charbroiled peeled fresh tomato), and he had the Mantee's Sweet and Sour Kebab (charbroiled ground beef with their special cherry sauce). We both enjoyed those very much! Ambiance - adorable indoors and effortlessly romantic in the outside patio area with lit designs along the wall and heat lamps everywhere so you get all the good of the night outdoors (eg: the smell of the night air) without the bad of the night outdoors (eg: the curiously intense cold). Do plan to be back for the right occasion, and verify the BYOB situation. read more