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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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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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

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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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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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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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

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

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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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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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

This place was a total mistake minus the space because I think that's the only thing going for them. I tried the oysters, aguachiles, cornbread, venison burger, shrimp and grits, lentils, muscles, and chilaquiles and nothing hit. I would solely come here to order a water and admire the interior design and architecture of the spot if that's what I'm in the mood for. If you care about service it was mid don't expect anything you'll actually appreciate. I'm putting Manuela in my top 3 worst restaurants I've ever been to. Highly do not recommend, LA has so much more to offer, do yourself the favor and go somewhere else. read more

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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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

Always so much fun to eat here. Not very kid friendly but they accommodate little ones well. I love going to brunch and walk around the galeries. 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 had corresponded with the restaurant as best I could to figure out if I could safely eat here with peanut and soy allergies. The phone does not allow you to speak to an individual and I did leave a message but never got a call back. I sent an email and asked specific questions about my allergies and what oil they use. I got a generic reply saying they could accommodate the allergies. I show up to the restaurant (and wait 20 minutes for the waiter to come take our order) only to find out that they do actually fry in peanut oil. I have had to go to the emergency room in the past after eating food cooked in peanut oil; had I known that's what they use to fry, I would not have made a reservation. Someone who could enjoy the food would have been able to have my reservation but instead I had to pay for parking in the arts district and leave hungry. I do not understand why my question about oil was not answered and why it is so hard to communicate with the restaurant before visiting. For a place that strives to be accessible and inclusive, this is really disappointing and reflects a lack of consideration for disability. read more

Manuela - 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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Overpriced, truly mediocre food. Fish I ordered was barely edible, and staff is rude. Avoid.

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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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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Love this place! Uber here, parking is not so easy. But rest assured the journey is so well worth it. THE CORNBREAD is something I dream about. Love the food, the bar, the service - never had a bad experience here. Great for a date night! 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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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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3.5 stars. The ambience is great. Expansive, industrial, Communal vibe. The drinks were refreshing. I enjoyed the cornbread although the sun chokes and cauliflower were a bit sparse, 1 note and salty. The grilled yellowtail was forgettable. The pork chop was hearty and amazing. The chicken was juicy and tender and generous. Overall a bit of a hit but a few opportunities for improvement. read more

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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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Barbecue oysters were wonderful. Drinks are proportioned adequately. Service is great, location is wonderful. Place is buzzing with great energy. read more

Gorgeous space, for starters. We sat on the patio and it was utterly charming on a warm fall day. Service was impeccable - quick to get what we wanted, make corrections (coffee arrived cold in a hot cup; strange!). The food was ok. The chilaquiles was a massive plate of chips smothered in so much sauce, a small amount of cheese, and a single egg with a gorgeous orange yolk. In other words, a hipster American version of the real deal. The server heard me out on this - we were laughing - and immediately brought me two more eggs to add to the pile. Much better but still too saucy. Companion, who has a home in France, had the onion tart minus the goat cheese, which he disdains (They declined to substitute another cheese, saying they do removals but not substitutions. Oh well.) He described it as a bit too sweet but otherwise delicious. It was our first time and there will be a second. read more

You know what? I'm not going to beat around the bush .... James B where are you at ? Let me talk to the Michelin Man! I need see someone's manager because Manuela isn't just good but it's Good Good! My family and I visit last Wednesday to celebrate my birthday and I'd read some good review and a few poor ones ( there's always a Debby Downer waiting in the wind). I was pretty confident that I'd chosen a good spot and per usual, I was right ; ) I'd had my kiddos in tow so I was a little anxious about their pallets and what they would actually eat... side note , I've raised them right but they stray sometimes ( ages 9-4-3). On this night the stars aligned because ..... Ambiance -10s across the board Staff - 10s across the board Drum roll please................. Food - 10s across the board We started our night with the Cast iron cornbread, cream biscuits, burrata salad , and the arugula salad . Y'all that burrata salad said " close your eyes and enjoy". Then the mains pulled up with a few sides... Heirloom half chicken, grilled yellowtail, Peads & Barnetts pork chop, and the Double R Ranch bone-in 18oz ribeye , Butterball potatoes, and Grilled okra. They' were all fighting for attention and at that moment I let them all speak. This review is already long but just know the dessert pulled up to the party late but still had time to shine- the Chocolate gooey butter cake and the bacon ice cream took a bow and closed the show. With all of our dinning choice in L.A ,Manuela is absolutely a must visit and revisit type of restaurant. Period! read more

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My wife, son and I stopped here for lunch. First, the positives. It is really is a beautifully designed restaurant in Hauser & Wirth. Decor-wise, it's first rate. Our waitress was very nice and helpful. The food though was hit and miss --- and way overpriced. We ordered the cream biscuits with country ham and steen's butter, barbequed oysters with butter, parmesan and breadcumbs, and poached egg, green lentils, scallions, olives, marcona almonds and mint. The biscuits with ham was really good ---- but no better than a very good diner. At $14 for three biscuits it was way too expensive. The barbequed oysters were good but at $20 for four oysters it was really expensive. The poached eggs with lentils was a genuinely average dish --- bland, underseasoned with one olive and at $26 a lot of money for what it was. I think this is a great place to visit for a drink and a snack as the vibe is pleasant and the people watching is good. I don't mind spending a lot of money for a really good meal --- but the food here wasn't at the same level as the prices. read more

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Classy yet comfortable ambiance. Great service (we had George). Delicious food. Great cocktails - we ordered Carajillos read more

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I have been here a number of times after having been introduced to it a couple of years ago by a colleague. The ambience is nice with a Latin vibe albeit a little too dark to be able to read the menu with its tiny print. The Goods: * Biscuits are consistently great. Corn bread typically is also, but we did not order it last evening. * Albacore dip - the accompanying chips are quite oily, but works well with the dip. * Salad with mandarin orange slices was yummy. * Mussels as appetizer. * Pork chops - perfectly seasoned and mostly moist. * Complementary bday banana icecream I will pass next time on these: * Venison burgers cooked to medium but were rather flavorless (only salted). * Ribs - also rather flavorless without the bbq sauce. Server was attentive and had a sense of humor. Bus service was also good. The host/hostess station staff always seemed untrained and/or under staffed. Previously, I thought this was due to busyness, but last night wasn't the case. They just always seem to be not ready and not being able to seat you quickly. Also not the friendliest, not sure if they are underpaid or see too many unreasonable guests. But they are greeters, need to be able to overcome and act welcoming. These are QC/QA issues on the shoulder of management and attention to details. What they also have to realize is that their waiting area while spacious is fact a walkway for the rest of the building, it is neither comfortable nor hospitable. Work with the owner and fire marshal to furnish it to become more friendly. Room for improvement. read more

Manuela is a very well known American restaurant located in Arts District of LA. I went a couple of weeks ago for my friend's birthday, and I think the ambiance is definitely fitting for a large party. The interior of the restaurant is actually really cool and spacious, and the service was really quick and nice. However, the food definitely wasn't up to my standards. The food was average, with everything feeling a little under seasoned and bland. Not only that, but the ones that did have flavor always felt too buttery and heavy. Even the beignet that they're well known for were great for a couple of bites, but ended up being so dense and heavy. My favorite was probably the chilaquiles, but even then, there are better chilaquiles in the area. Overall, Manuela is a good spot for a big gathering, but I would look elsewhere for better food. read more

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We really enjoyed our brunch in Manuela's courtyard on a sunny LA morn. Felt like being in Italy. Service was lightning quick and attentive. The pictures don't do it justice. If you schedule late enough you can time it so you're done eating as soon as the art museums that surround it start to open at 11..grilled yellowtail was perfectly prepared! read more