Manna
4 Erskine Road,
London, NW3 3AJ
Being vegetarian, the first thing I sought out upon moving to London was a decent vegetarian restaurant. And I was very lucky - for the first and best friend I've made since moving here is arguably an expert in such things! I remember calling her up, well past 7 p.m. one evening, and asking for her vegetarian restaurant tips - and she sent me to Manna. I've been back often since, and see it as a quiet standby for absolutely lovely food.
Tucked into a quiet street in Primrose Hill, Manna is one of London's oldest vegetarian restaurants. It has a good reputation largely because the food is very consistent - and wouldn't disappoint a meat-eater - and because they've really worked on their credentials. The kitchen is certified organic. Their menu offers a lot of gluten-free and vegan options. They sell their wheat-free muffins and sweets in nearby shops. Probably the only thing missing is a selection of sugar-free puddings, though they sometimes have them on special.
So my lovely friend and I popped in for a last-minute Sunday supper, finding the restaurant fairly quiet - you'll normally need a booking - and sat ourselves at a quiet table in the back. I've always loved the wallpaper in the dining room, with its silhouetted birds on branches climbing up beige walls. It feels a bit like a cozy living room.
On this most recent visit, I will say the service was a bit haphazard. Our server seemed unduly overwhelmed, and they were playing some depressing Neil Young on repeat for the whole of our visit. But the food might actually be good enough to overlook this.
The menu covers some staples - pumpkin seed and fennel sausages perched atop mash, meatless meatballs with spaghetti - as well as some more exciting offerings, like enchiladas and curries. We went for a selection of the starters - by far the most varied option - and a couple of sides. This included the most lovely, plump, and minty summer rolls, some gluten-free quesadillas, the most crisp and rich cashew cheese croquettes, sauteed spinach, and the most incredible marinated fried tofu. This tofu was insane - the closest thing I could compare it to is fried chicken, which basically means it was really damn good. The croquettes came with red pepper jelly, which I then ate on top of everything else I could find. It all made me really happy - one could not miss meat at this meal.
So Manna - a good option if you're near Regent's Park, and it can go either way, from casual to smart. I've been here for casual dinners after a long walk and for celebratory birthdays - they do both well. Oh, and as I love pudding a lot, I can't finish this without mentioning how lovely and dainty their petit fours are - with a coffee, after a lovely meal replete with tofu, they make a perfect ending.
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