This spot has been on my list for a while now and it didn't disappoint! The restaurant itself is very aesthetic and the perfect spot for a date night or a night out with friends. Parking a bit difficult to find but if you go a few blocks done, you should be able to find some parking. I ordered the Cream Biscuits, Arugula Salad, Venison Burger, and Butterball Potatoes. All were delicious but the real highlight were the biscuits. Something about them was so good that I'm still dreaming about them. Staff were super friendly and nice as well! read more

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Made a reservation at 11:30am, right when they opened to celebrate a special occasion (it was noted on the reservation). We were seated inside near the kitchen, so we asked to be seated in the nicer outdoor patio area. The restaurant was nearly empty and the host said they didn't have any tables available. The server said we weren't allowed to order appetizers first as the chef prefers us order everything at once. I've never been to a restaurant that had this issue. We were hungry and had to hurry to figure out what we wanted. I'm not someone who usually complains. But this place was quite disappointing. I don't go out to eat often anymore and felt bad to have wasted a meal here. The food was mostly tasty. Cornbread, biscuits, mushroom and polenta dish were my favorite . Service was mediocre. Not sure if I'd be willing to try again. Street parking was easy to find two streets west of the restaurant. read more

I have learned to love Manuela, in fact, on my last review of the joint I praised their bacon as the best one I have ever had in my life, and that was not an exaggeration for impact, it was an honest statement made for impact. I have been there a few times since my first visit. I love to sip, and people see, and I love to nibble and enjoy the chew. Manuela lends itself to both, easily so you will only hear great things from me about this place! But, this review will not review the restaurant, it will appraise its garden. On a recent trip to Hauser and Wirth (where Manuela sits) I passed Manuela's garden, a few steps from the proper joint, and there was a soiree afoot. I inquired, "What was going on inside?" and a man dressed in a black suit, with a black tie, and a white shirt, informed me that it was a private event. He did not sway his hand as he stated these words, but his tone said it all, no hand gesture was needed. A new micro-mission was born on that day: I would attend a garden soiree at Manuela. I did not know how I would achieve the feat, but, I was denied and thus, the garden became that much more tempting- go figure! Turns out, my wait to set afoot within Manuela's garden, as it held a private soiree, was not long. I did not wish or hope or throw a dime in a well, my invitation just kind of arrived, like some of the best moments in life. I was ready to step in the soil I was once denied. I was ready to hear shrubs applaud my arrival, and ready to smell the scent of herbs waft across a perfect Art District night. I was so full of enthusiasm, just going there was a massive treat, one that I do not take for granted because who else revels in garden with cocktails in hand, but the lucky and the alive! My friend, Conrad was my plus one. We arrived before the sun set. Our first treat, was crudete--- you know raw vegetables and fruit. Both planks were decorated so nicely, I feel comfortable describing them as lovely. I appreciated that one was for fruit and one was for vegetables. If you look closely at the pictures, you realize that their was artistry at work-- the colors of the fruit were meant to take shape and show contrast. The vegetable array was more designated mounds, but still the color of the vegetables was Spring on a plank. I have had the cauliflower at Manuela, and now know where it comes from, maybe, this same garden? I do generally do not like the taste of cauliflower, but the deep shade of royal purple of this cauliflower for a moment made me love it. This might be solid proof that one does eat based on sight first. This is also further proof that things that look pretty have an easier time to be liked in this world, thus aesthetics play a role on how we decide on the value of things. Shocking, I know! :-). Some of the other guests and I were trying to deduce the flavor of one of the vegetable dips. Two of them guessed black beans, I tried it, and I guessed lentil dip. They agreed with me, and offered prizes. Perhaps Manuela can use little signs to educate its guests on the dips we are about to enjoy, or just signs for us to know other food names. I hate to say this but the food was kind of a miss. The pancetta, the small yellow squares on the picture section, looked pretty and delicious. I automatically popped one in my mouth and I needed water immediately, that was not around me. The pancetta was hot, like I could not hold the scolding heat in my mouth. I had to use a napkin to .... figure out the rest. The chicken satay was good in concept but on execution, tasted basic. When some were offered to me, I turned them down, and then remembered to be polite--- "no thank you, I find these....the best to turn down." My words muddled but hopefully came out fine. The steak and mashed potatoes were the bite of the night! The steak was tender, and the mashed were more like a sauce or a spuma, those kind of tricks delight my taste buds. Coming in on a close second were the sweet potatoe tostadas. I think if I were a vegetarian I would write a love letter to them, or at least a long lengthy paragraph of appreciation upon my journal. They also had cookies at the end-- two types. I cannot remember the second, but the first was a chocolate chip cookie with sea salt--- sweetness and salt, mingling again for everyone's delight! The night also offered a signature cocktail. A mix of tequila, melon, and other ingredients, one was called Amaro Angelino, which I did not know was an ingredient. The cocktail was smooth, sweet and clean. It felt like a drink not of alcohol, but of fruit. The garden offered much, its night, its sweetness, its people, its murals, its chat, and its fare. All in all, I was fortunate to attend, and sip, and bite, and tweet, and for that I am truly grateful-- like a ladybug left undisturbed atop a leaf. read more

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I just had their version of eggs Benedict. One small egg covered in what tasted like canned sauce, atop a small piece of ham which tasted like it was boiled (no flavor at all), surrounded by some kind of crusted bread. In a word...terrible. That, combined with very slow service. BTW, the dish plus a cup of coffee was $50.00 (tax, a 4% service fee and a built-in 20% gratuity - we were a group of 8). DON'T DO IT. read more

Service: Mid. I was one of 4 or 5 parties, less than 15 people total in the restaurant before lunchtime and the service was slow. The tables and chairs feel and look as if they are set up to serve a greater aesthetic sense rather than comfort and within 10 minutes you can feel it in your back. Biscuits were good but served on an unsealed piece of wood I'm not sure how they are able to clean when used as a dish. Lastly, this is going to sound a little strange but hear me out, the seating area of the restaurant is mostly outside in a courtyard of sorts that is open to the sky and general surrounding facility. How can they keep animals away from the dining area when the restaurant is closed but the larger facility area is open. This location is mere blocks from skid row and I can't imagine it is able to overcome these challenges. I will not be going back. read more

Located inside a gorgeous oasis in the Arts District, the lush surroundings juxtaposed within brick and art. Stunning- we sat on the patio next to the wall of the bar. The music was playing tunes that didn't take over our conversations, while we felt a cool breeze sitting there created by their fans on a warm September day. I took my cousin S there to celebrate her 40th birthday and it was the right choice. The service was excellent and even though gf wasn't marked on the menu we could have a conversation about it without confusion which for me is always good. We started with the cornbread and it was good. I liked that it wasn't too sweet and that there was butter but not completely slathered in it. My cousin ordered the steak rare, whole I had the arugula salad, and we shared the potatoes and tricolor cauliflower. Everything was good and in the future I would more than likely lose the cornbread- only because there was too much food for me. The cocktail list was ample and I appreciated the wine list being organic and biodynamic as this is reflected by the way I buy my wine these days. Would I go again? Absolutely. Everything was excellent and we got lucky with parking. Found a spot, a block away. read more

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Manuela is always a great time. Food and drinks are is delicious. Welcoming service and the ambiance is warm and welcoming. I love this place! Perfect for solo or group dates read more

Super beautiful brunch spot! This place is blooming with plants and nature. The food was delicious and I'd recommend getting the biscuits with a side of dessert wine! Our waiter was super chill and funny. read more

Manuela - Barbacoa Sandwich and a Green Apple Pressed Juice - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Delicious! Great service . I enjoyed my meal very much. I had a nice meal with my family read more

Nice ambiance, decent service. Food was ok, nothing innovative or that tasty. Their menu is a bit all over the place, I didn't get what they were going for. We had the chicken (bland), snow peas (overcooked) and the oysters which were nice. It's hard to mess up oysters though. Not sure who's eating "local squid" in LA after the fires polluted the water? read more

Manuela - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Everything we had at Manuela's was great! The Albacore dip & the cornbread were my favorite. I loved how the chicken was so easy to eat because it was deboned/flattened & it was seasoned really well. The service and the food were so timely. We did go a little earlier around 6 and when we were leaving around 8:30 the dining areas were beginning to fill up. Our waiter was great and gave us really good recommendations. It was a little dark but otherwise the ambiance was nice and we enjoyed the music. Would definitely got back again. FYI apparently the menu changes every so often. Also, they do not have parking but there is street parking, parking garage and Valet is $20 out front. read more

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This was my third or fourth time at Manuela. The food and cocktails are consistently inventive and delicious. On this last visit, Angel was our server, and he was great. He had wonderful energy, made great recommendations, and his timing for serving us and checking in on us was perfect. Can't wait to come back. Biscuits, asparagus salad, BBQ oysters all delicious. Everyone loves their entrees...softshell crab, venison burger, 1/2 roasted chicken, and scallops.Each time I have been there the menu has been different, and never disappoints. Thank you for a great evening! read more

Manuela... how you turned my sad night into a happy and memorable one. The ambiance is stunning, peaceful, and perfect for any occasion. My biggest pet peeve is loud music which they didnt have... thank goodness. The highlight was the pork ribs and the pickled sides. Absolutely DELICIOUS! read more

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Overall, nice dinner experience with good service and a fun atmosphere. We got seated a little late but the host handled it graciously and was attentive while we waited (we could tell it was a busy night). We ordered the smoked albacore dip, arugula salad, sea bass, venisson burger, roasted sunchokes, chocolate torte, and cardamom cheesecake. While it was all good, the arugula salad and seabass were our favorites. We also got the Stay Gold Ponyboy (Ube with gold leaves) and the Florida Man cocktails which we both enjoyed. read more

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Recently had an incredible time at Manuela. George took great care of us -- he was friendly, attentive, and on top of everything. We started off with some drinks: two Poblano Palomas, a Vesper, The Rockwell, and a Parsley Gimlet. For food, we ordered two orders of Kusshi oysters, the Ocean trout tartare, the Smoked albacore dip with Carolina gold rice crackers, the Burrata, the Shrimp roll, the Snake River Farms hanger steak, and the Big Glory Bay salmon. Everything was fresh and packed with flavor. The hanger steak was tender and juicy, and the salmon was perfectly cooked. We wrapped up with a couple of Americanos, and since we were celebrating a birthday, they sent out a complimentary almond ice cream. Top-tier experience all around; already looking forward to the next visit! read more

This place is now my favorite brunch place in LA. Both dishes we got were delicious but I especially loved the trout tartare. Bread was cooked to perfection! Restaurant was such a cute vibe. We got seated inside but def wanna sit outdoor next time esp during warmer season. read more

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The ambiance drew me to the restaurant, it was more than I expected, everything else, food, service, was perfect.

Delicious lunch today!!! Loved everything we got! The market salad, trout tartare, Chiquitas and burger and potatoes. Very cool Arts District vibe! read more

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This place has the honor of being some of the best food I have ever eaten. We tried a lot of different items but the standouts were the cornbread, the Louisiana shrimp aguachile, Double RR ranch ribeye (tender! Medium perfect!) but the crowning glory is the Big glory bay salmon with lemon beurre blanc. We soaked our bread in that sauce until it was gone! The salmon was super tender, pan fried with crispy skin. I'm from Seattle and the salmon here is so much better. Our server was attentive and the organic, greenery with lightscaping was an absolutely wonderful backdrop for our meal. They have heaters if it gets too cool. Special mention for the "stay gold pony boy" cocktail they serve, Highly recommend! read more

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Staff were friendly, cute nice drinks but tbh the food was just okay. I don't get the hype. We ordered multiple apps and the "butterball potatoes" - supposed to be their famous staple but we really thought this was nothing special. Bbq oysters & Kumiah oysters were good but that was the most memorable thing we got. read more

Manuela - Butterball Potatoes, Barbecued Oysters, Shrimp Aguachile, Ocean Trout Tartare, & Kumiai Oysters - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

If you enjoy brunch, new American, prioritize lovely interior decor, friendly service, and is less price sensative (this place is $$$), then Manuela might be a 5/5 for you! For me, it was 3/5 if purely considering the food I tried. (I do think it might have been due to failure to order the best items. In retrospect, I didn't really order an entree?! No wonder I felt it was not worth...) Corn bread - great butter, plain bread. I see what they are trying to do by being not sweet, and this might pair really well when eating other items but preferably not by itself. (It was served by itself.) Hazelnut Salad - tastes like a fine salad. Cucumber Roe w/ toast - most preferred item among everything tried so far. I think it was delicious because all the ingredients were something I enjoyed. Roasted potatoes - very classic item that you can't go wrong cooking. read more

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Brought here for a simple and sweet bday dinner with my partner. The server was so friendly and full of great food and drink suggestions! We had to have the biscuits and though there was a wait for them they were warm and delicious when they were served to us. I honestly came here for two dozen of the chargrilled/ barbecued oysters ! They're so seasoned and grilled to perfection. We also got good drinks. The yellow one was thee bestttt (I switched over to that one after my first drink) Very busy, few spots of street parking and there is valet offered as well. The space is very cool and had an exhibit of cool cars in the summer ! *can't remember bathroom situation , check was a tad expensive, and I dislike when there's low to no parking read more

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Would I come again? YES, 100% COOL FYI - Their own garden which is situated across the courtyard from the restaurant. Everything grown is used in their dishes or cocktails, including herbs, pomegranates, chillies and much more. Their garden is also home to their feathered friends, the chickens, who provide them with fresh eggs and joy every day. PRICING / QUALITY 4/5 It's a tad bit pricey but makes sense on the quality of the ingredients. FOOD 4/5 - Cornbread is LEGIT and def should have gotten the biscuits but didn't want to carb overload. Haha (Cast iron cornbread w/Steen's butter) - Market lettuce salad is FRESH and the perfect harmony of greens and crunchiness (pickled carrots, ricotta salata, hazelnuts, coriander buttermilk) - Venison burger was okay probably PASS in the future. Felt the thick large buns didn't complement the burger and the venison just fell apart making it messy. SERVICE 4/5 Friendly service throughout the experience and very aware of ensuring plates were taken away or drinks were filled ip PARKING 3/5 There's valet in the front but if you're looking to self park there's a bunch within the perimeter. It's the art district so why not go for a walk and explore. AMBIENCE 4.5/5 Open and definitely doesn't feel like DTLA when stepping into Manuela. Guess LA Weekly said it best: "There's something genuinely magical about stepping in off the street, into the antique warehouse, and down a wide hallway, and discovering an expansive space, open to the sky, with Manuela on one end, spilling into the courtyard." read more

One of my most favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. Came here for lunch last week. The fish, drinks and biscuits were some of the best I've had all year. Cute artistic decor and nice open dining experience. I love the lighting and sculptural hanging fabric. You have the gallery to visit before or after lunch which makes it fun. Perfect service. One of my favorite places in LA overall. read more

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Manuela...what a wonderful experience. Summer weather in January...yes please! Outdoor dining with beautiful ambiance, yes please!! We thought we ordered waaaaaay too much food for four people, but we finished EVERY. LAST. BITE.!!! The biscuits with butter and apple jelly, the cornbread, bbq oysters, crispy okra, grilled Yellowtail, shrimp and grits, persimmon salad, bison burger, and the baked pear dessert ( we ordered because the beignets were sold out)...our mezcal Melon cocktails and Carajillos, and rose bubbly were gorgeous to look at and even more enjoyable to drink...Kat was so friendly, helpful and patient with our questions...she was a big part of why this review is 5 stars! If I could give 6 stars I would! read more

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For my 250th Yelp Review, I decided to go with my most recent brunch experience at Manuela, in the Downtown LA Arts District. It was a special occasion, meeting up with longtime friends and former co-workers to catch up on life. We had a 10:15am reservation on a Saturday morning. Arriving a few minutes after 10am, I was able to snag a few of the 2-hour free parking spots out front. There is also a valet or a public parking option available. The building space is an architectural delight: illuminated and animated with some outstanding commissioned art pieces, incredible plant decor, color, and comfort. The indoor-outdoor feel is exceptional, and our party of 5 scored a great open-air table with two comfortable benches and chairs underneath shaded umbrellas, which was perfect since the temperature later in the day was expected to reach the upper 80s on this late May weekend. Our server, Nate, greeted us with a wonderful smile, a charming personality and a humorous wit. Nate was also extremely accommodating to our party requests for specific menu modifications, including adding more biscuits to our appetizer so that everyone in our group could enjoy. Speaking of food, rotational menu celebrates seasonal ingredients sourced from the best farms and producers in Southern California. As I mentioned, we opted to open with the shareable Cream Biscuits. These were absolutely outstanding! Arriving fresh on a wood plank, these delicate and flakey golden delights were accompanied by some creamy Steen's butter, and this month, Apricot market jam. The only disappointment was that I couldn't eat more. They are soooo good. Torn between the sweet seduction of the French Toast and the rustic Green Salsa Chilaquiles, I opted to behave and went South of the Border. The wonderfully colorful bowl of fresh tortilla chips was topped with a delicious crema, fried egg, pepitas, mint, cilantro and bright purple radishes. The layers of flavor ran deep, wonderfully savory with a touch of heat and sweet. A very hearty bowl of goodness for this brunch occasion. My friends ordered some other tasty looking items, including the Popover Benedict, which arrived in a 6" fluffy and flakey pastry cocoon, complete with sweetheart ham, poached egg, hollandaise and greens. The Sesame Toast was also amazing (according to my friend), complete with an outstanding fresh stracciatella, English peas, morels, bacon lardon and mint. Everything about Manuela speaks to the soul, the heart and the stomach. Outstanding fresh and unique food options and a wonderful serene and inviting surrounding made our brunch a very special treat. Thank you to Nate and the rest of the team for taking great care of us. I will be back! read more

Went to Manuela in DTLA for brunch with a friend and sat at the bar. It's located in the Arts District, just a short walk from several galleries and shares a building with Hauser & Wirth. The setting is stunning -- a beautifully updated warehouse filled with lush greenery, eclectic textures, and artistic touches throughout. We shared a salad, eggs Benedict, cauliflower, and cornbread, and every single dish was delicious. Fresh ingredients, creative flavors, and beautifully presented plates (which I devoured too quickly to even snap a photo!). The cocktails were just as memorable -- I had the Archie with mezcal and beet juice, and it was incredible. Highly recommend for a weekend brunch, especially if you're planning to explore a few galleries before or after your meal. read more

Manuela - Had a cocktail while dining at the bar - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I got to experience Manuela for a work lunch. I took a Lyft out, but they do have valet and there is street parking where you can find it. This is an interesting new modern architecture, brick and steel, an industrial space converted to an open air restaurant. Across the outside dining area are two art galleries, also a gallery and book store at the entrance. There are nice touches for warmth, my favorite being their own chicken coop! For starters, we had sangria, Florida Man (very pretty drink), the biscuits with ham and butter (must try). We also shared the cauliflower and potatoes. I thought both were very good, nice char on both. I had the chilaquiles, my favorite Mexican dish. All was very good and service was great. I have worked at art galleries in the past and I think it's a great idea how they incorporated both, I can see how it would be really fun to go to the art openings and have dinner and drinks there too. read more

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Manuela and I went to this spot for brunch and everything was five star. The food was amazing, our server was so nice, and we had sangria that I absolutely loved. The atmosphere was so tranquil and relaxing, it made the whole experience even better. I will definitely be back and cannot wait to try the dinner menu next time. read more

I will chalk this up to the restaurant having a bad night. But we really expected more. The space is very nice and we had heard good things. Well, it was not good. With a reservation for 2, we were parked near the kitchen and forgotten. After 20 minutes, we finally ordered everytying at once: 1 appetizer to share , 2 mains, 1 side and 2 drinks. Guess the bar and kitchen were swamped. We got the drinks in 20 minutes and the appetizer after 30 minutes. We waited an additional 30 for the mains. Mine was inedible! Overcooked, impossible to eat pork chop. And barely warm. Though my wife's entree was good, it also clearly had been sitting out for a while....almost cold. I had to flag someone down for water and no one offered another cocktail or glass of wine. The table was cleared and we were given our check with "yuo don't want coffee or dessert right?" They took my entree off the bill which I appreciated, but we still spent 120 plus tip. And the Valet parkeing is $22. We are locals and go out to eat often in the Arts District. Lots of better places to eat in the area. Bavel, Sampa, Malbec Arts just to name a few. Really disappointed and had hoped Manuela would deliver. It didn't. read more

The vibes here are immaculate - quintessential Arts District if you ask me. If you're looking for a nice date night spot, look no further. There's indoor/outdoor seating and the string lights add a great touch. All of the items on the menu are easily shareable. For starters, we got the ocean trout tartare, cream biscuits and barbecued oysters. It was all fantastic. The tartare only came with two pieces of garlic toast but our server was happy to give us more. The butter with the biscuits was to die for! I'm not a huge fan of cooked oysters but I appreciated how the butter added a creamy texture. For our mains, we got the sea bass and the duck breast. I personally preferred the duck breast which was so tender. I thought the skin on the sea bass could be a little crispier but it was solid nonetheless. In all, this is a solid spot with great vibes and delicious food. read more

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If you are in the Downtown Arts District to enjoy Hauser and Wirth, Manuela is a worthy food spot to visit before or after. For years, I have enjoyed the free Hauser and Wirth exhibit that rotates whenever I drop by Los Angeles. Besides the art exhibits themselves, Manuela is hard to miss. It almost blends seamlessly into the courtyard that takes you to the exhibits with impressive modern chandeliers that hang from the ceilings. Although I have been multiple times, the most recent time was for brunch and I could totally understand why there were people lining up to wait for this place. Based on the recommendations of the waitress, here is what I tried on my most recent trip: Burrata, Persian Cucumber, Sungold Tomatoes, Urfa Vinaigrette, Polenta Toast (4/5): The Persian cucumber is soaked in salty tangy urfa vinaigrette that provides that balance to the sweet sungold tomatoes. This mixture pairs well with the rich velvety burrata that allows you to smear it all on the thick polenta toast. Very great starter. Popover Benedict (5/5): WOW! I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would because I was expecting a standard eggs benedict. However, this was more like a hybrid that used an Dutch baby instead of the traditional English muffin. Somehow it was the perfect vehicle for the yolky sauce from the hollandaise. There were also great contrasts from the smokiness from the ham and arugula. Venison Burger (3.5/5): Definitely had high expectations for this dish so I felt like unless it was life changing this was bound to disappoint. It is a well executed burger that has a fatty cut of venison that really melts in your mouth. The fixings inside provide a little bit of texture and acid while the aioli gives it extra creaminess. While I thought it was solid, I don't know if I need to order again. Earl Gray Tiramisu (4/5): I loved the early gray creme that had little specks of salted egg that helped even out the sweetness. I did enjoy, but the price tag on this was a little much considering the size.... so I may skip unless I was celebrating a big occasion. Considering how busy they were for lunch, they were pretty fast. Our waitress did help us with recommendations and provide waters regularly. Parking in the area can be difficult especially during busy times. If you circle a bit out, you may find street parking. Otherwise, there are lots that charge that are reasonably priced. In which case, I would recommend checking out the Hauser and Wirth Exhibits and Little Tokyo not too far away! Recommend a reservation for brunch! Overall, I enjoyed my recent brunch visit to Manuela and would highly recommend if you are going to check out the Hauser and Wirth exhibits anyway. read more

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Decided to try this place for Dine LA after doing some research and hearing only good things. Wasn't disappointed--actually pleasantly surprised by some of the dishes, including ones I wasn't expecting to like (i.e. Louisiana shrimp aguachile). However, the cream biscuits, which they're known for, truly do live up to the hype. Easily the best biscuit I've ever had in my life (and that butter?!) Like I will forever be dreaming of them. Another absolute standout for me was the apple sticky toffee pudding; so delicious, so flavorful, the perfect dessert honestly. Other dishes were good too like the half chicken and the venison burger was juicy and not gamey. We also ordered the scallops separately and while they were good, the price point was kinda crazy (for more than a few of the dishes honestly if you were to buy them à la carte - but what can you do). The restaurant interior was beautiful and I loved the unique industrial yet natured vibe inside a literal warehouse. Our server was nice and the bus staff were attentive as well. Either way, a solid meal and the Dine LA menu was a decent introduction, and I would 1000% come back for the biscuits alone. read more

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Overall, solid good-tasting food with quality ingredients and great service. Drinks are also not bad at all. Had house Negroni and Monseñor (speeding may be off) Martinez. The spicy salad, yup spicy, but trust, the salsa macha is a great combo with the citrus flavors of the Kishu mandarins and Cara Cara oranges. The cornbread is a guilty pleasure - feels like dessert before the main course - but not too sweet. We also split the yellowtail with celery aioli and the roasted cauliflower with date vinegar - great flavors. Our waitress was super attentive as was the rest of the staff. Ended the meal with the stick apple pudding cake and a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Great dinner choice. read more

Admittedly I'm behind. Los Angeles has grown up a LOT since I left here 25 years ago to move to Seattle. By "grown up", I mean matured. LA's best restaurants these days are longer restricted to Beverly Hills, WEHO, Santa Monica, or Studio City. Today, I'm seeing best restaurants in neighborhoods that we used to avoid for fear of being shot. Well I'm new to the Arts District of Los Angeles, which would have been one of those fearful areas. Not to worry. There are a myriad of new, dare I say "hipster" restaurants in this area and I am dying to try them all. They all look so trendy and popular, buzzing with the young Technorati. Manuela is one of those. I give the service a 4 as everyone was attentive and the wait staff serviced us sufficiently, even charmingly. We got there early and within an hour, the place was buzzing with diners and excitement. The decor is beautiful and begs for parties and celebrations. We had several dishes, the Diver Scallops, the cornbread, the Arugula Salad, the venison burger, the cauliflower, and the date ice cream. All of it was delicious but the salad was outstanding. The Diver Scallops are not a dish I would order again. They were good but not great. All in all, a wonderful meal and I would go again for sure. read more

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Didn't take a picture of all the food but the lentils Benedict, biscuits, and latte were great. Service is a bit slow but the atmosphere is great to enjoy. Ambiance is well lit and classy. read more

Manuela - Cream Biscuits - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This review is a 4.5 for dinner. Here's everything we had: Snap peas: flavorful, with a crunch and bit of heat. Love. Cauliflower: so good, cauliflower cooked to perfection Biscuits: MUST GET Smoked albacore dip: this one surprised me the most. I thoroughly enjoyed it Roasted chicken: super tender, crispy skin, large portion (a breast and a thigh), delicious white bbq sauce Mocktail: ta ta Tiana - The ginger in there is actually a ginger simple syrup. It's wayyy sweeter than I expected. No for me. Bf got does the carrot match the drapes: if you are into a savory drink this one is really good and the flavor builds They were out of the ricotta dumplings which was heartbreaking. I'll be back to try those. Overall the food was so good and you can't beat the vibes of the restaurant. Service felt like it was a little bit slow and lacking- they seem understaffed, but our server was nice and all in all I had a solid experience will definitely be back. read more

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We really loved visiting this location. It was so beautiful and the vibes were great. We really loved our little gem salad that we tried and the drinks were delicious. Service was good and the waitress was very nice. read more

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I honestly really like this place, it's really pretty and the staff are super friendly. The food is unique but delicious! I don't think I've had one dish that's bad. I love the decoration, the open seating, the energy, just great. It's a great place to hang out with friends and family, the environment makes it comfortable to chat for hours. They also have delicious coffee! Perfect! read more

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First dining experience in the arts district and visiting this hidden gem, Manuela, didn't disappoint. Atmosphere is a mixture of modern and industrial which was perfect for a holiday business meeting to accommodate casual and dressy attire. Service was great as staff worked well as a team. Variety of food options catered to vegan and other dietary restrictions in our party. Menu was a little overwhelming at first because it list ingredients and you can't necessarily visualize what dish is but everything we tasted was amazing. I had yellowtail which was one of the best fish dishes I've had especially for a white fish. Can't go wrong with biscuits as its butter layers were to die for. And my Florida Man cocktail was a nice balance of Smokey and sweet. Our party ordered majority of the Small & Town Share and a few desserts items and all were delicious. The only item we didn't like was Maple Blue Cornbread as this was more of a savory dessert and the bacon fat ice cream was a little odd. Would recommend Manuela and I hope to return with more friends. read more

Manuela - Grilled Local Yellowtail, Castelvetrano Olives, Red Onion, Celery Aioli, Lemon - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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