Carin R.

Unfortunately, the experience did not fully live up to our expectations. I had noted in our reservation that we were celebrating birthdays, and also mentioned this to the host upon arrival. However, this information never made it to our server. The food was mixed overall. My friend sent her dish back as the duck was undercooked and to tough to eat when brought back out. The scallops with salsa verde lacked flavor. The standout dish at our table was the half chicken, which was excellent and we were told had just returned to the menu. When it came to ordering dessert we ordered the cookie dough fondant. I laughed when the waiter brought it and asked where were the candles and he said no one told him. He did make up for it and brought a complimentary dessert with two candles. The restaurant itself is quite impressive, with a grand atmosphere and a variety of seating options suitable for both large groups and more intimate dining experiences.

Wendy B.

Wacky cute fun spot in Soho. It's huge. Mushroom Pasta & Chicken was my favorite! Wish the potato is crispier, just a little.

Josephine L.

Not gonna lie: Even though I'd done my research, I still half-expected Gene Wilder to start singing about pure imagination when I walked into Manuela and saw the gorgeous rainbow mushroom chandelier. It felt like I had stepped into a candy wonderland designed by ex-EDC ravers. But it wasn't a world of sweets, it was just Manuela being a colorful Art Basel of a restaurant. Fortunately, the five-star visuals of this beautiful new outpost from LA are matched by the five-star flavors of their (albeit pricey) farm-to-table, locavorian dishes. - Cream biscuits with country ham and butter: Rich, buttery and flakey to the point of embarrassment (wear a bib if you're clumsy). The fact that they arrived piping hot only added to the delicious decadence. - Atlantic tuna carpaccio with pickled chanterelles, salsa verde and mint: I adore all things crudo and carpaccio, but this might be the first time I've had such a dish with PICKLED mushrooms. It was divine, and I was left wondering why no other chef has thought to do this. - Dry aged beef tartare with Calabrian chilli, garlic aioli and toast: At first glance, this looked like a plainer tartare than recent ones I've had, but there's something comforting about a back-to-basics approach that lets the naturally rich flavor of the beef shine on its own. The light touch of chili was just right for a bit of flavor enhancement, and the buttery toast was perfect to sop up remnants. - Heirloom tomatoes with sungolds, garlic chives and thyme vinaigrette: As a diehard tomato lover, I've not come across an heirloom tomato salad I didn't like, but Manuela's has to be one of my favorites in recent years. Not mentioned on the menu is that the tomatoes like on a bed of sumptuous, freshly made, basil paste, which just makes them taste even better. - Pan-seared Maine halibut with summer squash and bouillabaisse: Halibut is one of the harder fish to sear just right, in my experience, but the team here did it perfectly. The bouillabaisse sauce was perfectly seafood-y without being too briny, while the paper-thin slices of squash were crunchy satisfaction. My only quibble is that the halibut and sauce were lukewarm, while the squash was piping hot. - Romano and yellow bean panzanella: Threw this in because I can't resist a crunchy long bean dish. The beans were perfectly julienned, and the dressing was tart without being overwhelming--a rare feat, in my experience - Fig bakewell with creme fraiche: We decided to spend our remaining calories on this scrumptious tart, and I have no regrets. It had a moist, caky texture with tons of fresh figs, and the crust was buttery perfection. For libations, we opted for the gingery and zesty RX Spritz, as well as the green juice perfection of Doctors Orders. If you're torn on which to choose, go for Doctors Orders--you'd have to be born without a tongue not to like this. And yes, prices are steep, on par with most upscale Manhattan restaurants that are nice enough to impress your i-banker Tinder date on your 6-month anniversary. However, for once, I'm not griping about the dent in my wallet because I actually felt the near-perfect quality of each dish justified the cost. At the very least, I'm already planning my return visit to Manuela, and I can't remember the last time a ~$100-dinner had me doing that.

Clara S.

After seeing the beautiful interior in this restaurant, we decided to do a cute girls night sesh in Manuela. The interior is stunning, but we were disappointed that the back tables didn't have a view of the colorful mushroom-shaped tree interior. I'd suggest sitting at the bar if you want to come here for the vibes. Service was... not the best. I felt like the hostesses in the front were lowkey rude? Not too sure why I wasn't seated right away when I was on time and there the restaurant was pretty much empty. They didn't even bother to come get us to get seated (which they told us they would do), and we had to go up to the front to ask to be seated. As for the food/drinks: - Cream biscuit: 100000/10 (some of the best bread I've had in a restaurant this year! Tbh I'll come here just for this... it was mouthwateringly buttery and soft and just... plz try this) - Fluke crudo: 8/10 (interesting combo of fluke and mushrooms) - Scallops: 10/10 (great scallops that comes with corn salad) - Potatoes: 10/10 (sooo glad we got the potatoes! Loved the crispy tater tots + spicy mayo dipping sauce) - Cocktails (hot spell): 8/10 (decent but superrrrr spicy!!) Overall, I'd def come and sit at the bar for the cream biscuits.

Amazing little gem. Long Island Fluke was amazing. So bright and flavorful. Paired with a nice glass of prosecco! Perfect!

Lesli B.

I recently had Sunday brunch at Manuela upon the recommendation of a friend. It was so tasty! The food was amazing! I had the pancakes with crispy bacon on the side and my friend had the truffle egg toast with caviar. Both were decadent and delicious. The atmosphere of the restaurant is Art gallery (with notable artists) meets open kitchen restaurant. I found the service friendly but not obtrusive. All around perfect SoHo Brunch experience!

Angel C.

10/10 Would Recommend The ambiance was amazing from the moment we walked in. The floor manager (Dave), made us feel welcomed as soon as we got to the table. Our server Nahume, was very attentive considering how busy it was that night. The food was incredible and well paced. The Wild Mushroom Tagliatelle was one of the best dishes we've ever had. Will definitely be back with more appetite. Only disappointment was not having enough room in our bellies for more food. Glad we took leftovers home; best midnight snack ever. Looking forward to our next visit.

Paul W.

Great food and service. The atmosphere is amazing. The art on the walls sets this place apart.

Koriey H.

Had the pleasure of dining here with friends for a birthday dinner. Upon walking in I was in awe of the bright lights, quirky furniture and beautiful people. Think of a very trendy reso in the middle of the most popping place in NYC--it was a movie. Absolutely want to give props to the playlist with a flow of Solange, Tupac and even some Acid Jazz. The music was top tier. Now on to the food which was DELICIOUS. I can appreciate a nicely curated menu and this spot didn't disappoint. -Chicken in the white bbq sauce was chefs kiss. Skin was perfectly crisp and the chicken was moist...don't forgot to squeeze that lemon on top. -Cream Biscuits served with a butter and ham was the Beyoncé of the night. These biscuits were made with love and layered with goodness. So good we ordered another round for the table. -The roasted cauliflower and potatoes were the perfect accompaniment to the chicken. The date vinegar on the cauliflower was insanely good. I also had a chance to taste the Sunchokes side and was blown away...def cop! -the Crudo and Albacore dip were underwhelming -drinks also underwhelming. I had the Bohemian Boulevard and La Pera Loca Service was top notch from the host to the runners. I was extremely impressed with the table service (pre bussing, resetting, water service). Also the fine dining touches didn't go unnoticed (folding the napkins when the guest leave, coat check and food wrap-up pick up at the end of service) and I appreciated that as well. FYI the place is a little pricey but in my opinion I believe it's worth every dime. I'll be back.

Michelle K.

This place is such a quirky and eclectic place / restaurant / gallery experience! It's especially fun to people watch since everyone has such interesting outfits. The food also was great in my opinion! It's definitely pricier than I'd like -- considering beans are more than $20. But. I loved the beans haha. And the duck, pork, and cabbage were great as well.

Katarina K.

Hauser & Wirth gallery opened their second NYC restaurant after their success in LA, and it truly feels like dining in an art gallery. The beautiful bar features artwork by Mika Rottenberg, and you can also spot Louise Bourgeois' iconic spider sculpture. With an open kitchen and rooms filled with art, you know that this place feels truly special. I loved sitting near the bar and open kitchen to catch all the action. Service was attentive but never intrusive. They gave us plenty of time to chat and decide on the menu without feeling rushed. We really appreciated that, esp given that we are in nyc. Overall, the food was solid, with the biscuits being surprisingly good- warm and crispy on the outside. We all enjoyed the chicken. The flavorful oyster mushrooms were a standout even among the carnivores. PS. The unisex bathrooms downstairs have a friendly attendant.

Glenn B.

My gal pal the singer Carole Pope suggested we dine at the NYC outpost of Manuela after we enjoyed an enchanting brunch in the LA version's garden last year. This being NYC and over-commercialized Soho, instead of an enchanting garden, there were two cavernous rooms filled with blue-chip art: a Cindy Sherman photo here, a Philip Guston painting there. One of Louise Bourgeois's famous spiders seems poised to jump on you as you descend to the bathrooms, which are outfitted with bright Louboutin-red toilets. The restaurant's art draws an art-world crowd, and you can't swing a starving artist without hitting a quasi-notable art dealer chowing down on the $42 BBQ chicken. We were greeted warmly and led past the psychedelic mushroom forest of the bar area into the main room. It's strangely not difficult to get a reservation here, perhaps because the menu doesn't exactly cater to foodie Instagrammers chasing their next avalanche of Likes. That said, I thought the food was excellent. We shared the cream biscuits with ham and absolutely heavenly butter--a fan-favorite staple from the LA location--and also the butterball potatoes with dill onions and crème fraiche, and the broccoli rabe with tonnato and red chili. I ordered the soft-shell crab special which came in an absolutely divoon Thai-basil sauce--or something along those lines--and washed it down with two rather expensive martinis ($25.50 each). The decor is quite impressive, with vibrantly colored tables designed by the artist Mary Heilmann, whom I knew from the Soho art world in the '90s, and they made me feel a bit wistful. Manuela seems to aspire to what the Odeon was in the '80s, with artists, dealers and Jay McInerney table-hopping furiously, except with the added bonus of art--so you can avert your gaze in case a chattering, coked-out art collector lands at your table.

Alan L.

Where do I start, I've been a fan of this restaurant since the opening day. The decor the ambiance the people the community is what brings this place to life. The hospitality from the time you walk in it's hands down White Glove service the service behind the bar and around the restaurant is the best you're going to get in SoHo. I'm a fan of steak so they're steak and eggs dipped in butter and garnish with mushrooms, I have to taste the best French I've ever had. Oh and I must say their biscuits makes red lobsters cheese garlic biscuits look like Play-Doh. As far as the drinks you must try the hot spell it's made with a different type of love.