David Carter is a Barbados-born chef renowned for his successful restaurant empire in London. He has cultivated a diverse culinary portfolio, ranging from the acclaimed wood-fired BBQ at Smokestak and regional...
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We visited Manteca recently and came away with fairly mixed feelings. The restaurant itself is undeniably attractive – the open kitchen and counter seating create a lively atmosphere, and there was a real buzz about the place throughout the evening. It’s the sort of restaurant that immediately feels like somewhere you want to spend a couple of hours.
The food, however, didn’t quite live up to the expectation or the price point. We tried several pasta dishes, including the beef ragù, and while everything was perfectly enjoyable and clearly well made, nothing really stood out as particularly memorable. The beef ragù, for example, was tasty and comforting, but not something I’d rush back for or consider especially good value given the cost.
Unfortunately, the service was where the evening started to unravel. Our waiter himself was friendly and attentive, but there were some significant issues with the overall service. Despite having a reservation, we were left waiting around 15 minutes before being seated. We also ordered wine which didn’t arrive for over half an hour, despite us asking about it several times.
The biggest frustration came when one person’s main course simply didn’t arrive with the rest of the table’s food. We were assured it would be “very soon”, but it eventually appeared around 15 minutes later, by which point most of us had already finished eating. It was disappointing and put a bit of a dampener on the meal.
Overall, Manteca has a great atmosphere and serves good food, but based on our experience, the prices set expectations that the food and service didn’t quite manage to meet. I’m glad we tried it, but I’m not sure we’d be rushing back.
The menu changes every day. We didn’t go super hungry, so it was enough for two of us, but portions are more on the sharing side—especially the pasta, which felt a bit small.
The focaccia and asparagus were sooo good. I think the asparagus had an anchovy sauce inside—we loved it. I’d 100% order it again, but if you’re not into salty food, it might be a bit much for you. Same goes for the pasta. We had the crab cacio e pepe (I think that was the name?) and yeah, it was quite salty too. But honestly, we love salty food, so we were obsessed—the sauce was amazing.
I feel like this is one of those places you either love or don’t at all, there’s no in-between. We loved it though, would def go again 👍
Ahh and one downside—when you leave, your clothes smell like food. The ventilation could definitely be better.
Also, it’s the only place I’ve seen in London that charges for tap water—not very cool tbh.
Sadly, our experience was quite underwhelming overall.
The restaurant itself is beautiful and very cosy. It’s a large space, but the layout makes it feel intimate, so it would work well both for couples and bigger groups. The focaccia and ricotta we had to start were excellent and easily the highlight of the meal.
Unfortunately, the rest didn’t quite live up to that first impression, especially given the price. The vodka pasta was cooked perfectly in terms of texture, but the sauce felt a little dry. The plaice was nicely prepared, but there wasn’t much to it - very little flesh on the bone, so it didn’t feel particularly satisfying. We also ordered the beans and salad as sides. Both were fine, but the salad felt especially poor value at £7, as it was essentially a very small bowl of leaves.
What really affected the experience was the timing of our booking. We were able to book a table for 14:45, despite the restaurant closing at 15:00. As a result, we felt rushed to order, and while we were still eating, the staff had already started cleaning up around us. Everyone was polite, but it made the meal feel awkward and took away from the atmosphere. I don’t think bookings should be offered so close to closing time, as it really impacted what could otherwise have been a much nicer experience.
5 stars
Really enjoyed our meal at Manteca in London. The space is great, service was excellent, and the food was outstanding overall.
We ordered the focaccia with homemade ricotta: absolutely delicious and a perfect starter. Then moved on to the pasta and fish dishes, and everything was cooked beautifully with fantastic flavours. Every bite hit the spot.
Great atmosphere, attentive staff, and top-quality Italian-inspired food. Highly recommend if you’re in the area… we’ll definitely be back!
Wow!! What an amazing meal! Our server was so kind and attentive, came early in the evening and the vibes were great. The focaccia with any of the starter meats is a must - absolutely phenomenal, one of my best bites I’ve had in London. We got two of the pastas and they were both delicious. The portions aren’t too large, but we found it filling and worth it for the great overall experience. Would come again in a heartbeat!!
