Mana

As a vegetarian, I was super stoked to come here. In the end, like other reviewers, I found it to be pretty bland.
The sweet potato dumplings were spot. on. highly HIGHLY recommend.
Then I got the curried tofu. The curried tofu itself was good, the rice was bland, the kale was bland. I probably won’t ever go back. but it wasnt horrrrrrrible.
Also, the waitstaff was totally fine – I know other reviewers had negative things to say about that.

Mana is a very good vegetarian/​vegan restaurant that also serves seafood. The dishes are prepared with organic, local, sustainable, farm to table ingredients and they also serve filtered water.
We went at 5:15 pm on a Saturday and it was fairly empty, but filled up around 6:30 p.m. as would be expected. We started with the split pea soup, which was excellent and flavorful, not too salty, served very hot. Because my dinner companion is on a low-​salt diet, we asked for everything to be low salt, and it was. The wild salmon was delicious and served with steamed root vegetables and bok choy and cous-​cous with cranberries. The butterflied shrimp was also excellent, served with broccoli and snow peas and layered on a bed of cous-​cous. We also had a nice pinot noir wine, a light red which was fine with the food. For dessert we had a delicious blueberry upside down cake and the fruit parfait with cashew cream which needed more agar or jello to really make it gel, but had a great flavor.
The service was also fine, we got the soup almost immediately and the other dishes didn’t take longer than you would expect. They also do a take-​out business so when it gets busy and there are only 2 waiters handling everything it is a little slower but we really didn’t have to wait long for anything.
So the food was delicious, served hot, organic and sustainable, nicely presented and flavored, and it’s a small place, but the atmosphere is quite nice and cozy. We would definitely go back.

Well, I’m a picky eater, but I gave it a try with my date. it was surprisingly nice. they have a variety of plates to choose from (including appetizers and different cuisines). in addition, their cooling and drinking water is filtered. We didn’t get to try dessert, but their kale and avocado salad as our apperizer was delicious!!! enjoy

Came here today for dinner with my boyfriend. We stumbled upon it passing through the neighborhood. Decent service and casual ambiance. The place has an extensive tea list which was refreshing to see!
Menu is very health conscious and reflects a blend of Japanese and American dishes. We ordered the vegan high protein burger and the salmon teriyaki for the main dishes. We ordered the veggie dumplings to begin.
Overall, pleasant experience. The food tastes very healthy… if you know what I mean. Just like unseasoned veggies. Unlikely that we will be back… I prefer something with more distinctive flavoring. Others have commented on the lack of seasoning as well. The salmon teriyaki was a little runny.

I understand vegan or vegetarian food can limit your choices but man… put some seasoning on the food!!! Not even salt? I should have gone to the market and start eating food from the aisles and it would have been better!
I hated this place. I went a couple of years ago and still remember the lack of flavor. Rice without any ingredient or seasoning… just plain white rice from the pan. Steamed vegetables that they just put in the steamer and that was it. Everything on the steamer! There are other cooking methods you know…
I guess I’m not the only one who thinks the same about this restaurant because it’s always empty! I still don’t know how they survive

Took my parents here because my mom is a vegetarian.
Service was friendly and a little slow as noted in previous reviews.
Food was not bad for vegetarian fare, but then again I’m not a vegetarian. Price was good for the area and the genre.

I still find it very hard to find good organic or vegetarian spots on the upper west side. Luckily, Mana exists. The food is delicious, there is a great variety, it’s light, and it’s good for you. We’ve been several times and admittedly, the staff can be a bit slow at times, but it’s a small price to pay for such a good place.
I typically get wild shrimp over couscous (which is insanely good). Just a warning to those who aren’t big cilantro fans (like myself). They put it on or in a fair amount of the food so let the waiter know. They can easily not include it when they cook the meals so don’t let that deter you from going.
It’s a casual environment, cosy, and the staff is very nice.

Mana is excellent — good, fresh food in a beautiful, quaint atmosphere.
The food is great. There are so many vegetarian options — the okonomiyaki is particularly delicious. It’s kind of like a pizza with a twist. They also have fish options too, which are also tasty. The salmon corn chowder is hearty and warm — perfect in winter time.
The tea selection is also great. I love the cool spritzers and the fresh ginger tea. So tasty.
Definitely a great spot for some fresh, clean food.

I’d love to give Mana a higher review. Yummy, healthy food in my neighborhood? And affordable to boot? The service/​lack thereof was just inexcusable during my visit here, so three’s gotta be my max. But — I enjoyed my meal enough that I’d like to grant Mana a second chance. I guess I just can’t go famished next time.
Came here on a Sunday night around 8:15 to find it pretty busy. It’s a tiny restaurant, so it doesn’t take much to make this place seem full. The ambiance is very cute. It’s like you’re sitting in a small village somewhere overseas — reminds me of my trip to a tiny town in the Asturias (Spain). So points for décor — a rustic vibe in NYC is always a nice change of pace.
If only the service was as warm and friendly as the environment. Okay, it’s not like they were rude and blatantly neglectful, but it probably took 20 minutes for someone to come to our table. As I said, this is a small establishment, so making your way to a new table really shouldn’t be that difficult. At times, I found myself questioning whether or not there were even employees here. Between this wait time and needing to physically get up and walk back to the restaurant to ask for more water, I already had a bad taste in my mouth — and we hadn’t even gotten our food yet. But speaking of food…(see what I did there?)
I ordered the Tempeh Temptation which was quite tasty. The food was good enough that I’d like to return. I’m a health nut, so menus like this are music to my ears. Everything in my meal was fresh and flavorful. I had only eaten tempeh once before (and didn’t know what it was at that time), so I took a chance — and I’m glad I did. I personally like it better than tofu, and I think it’s more nutrient dense too. The tempeh is served with bok choy, mushrooms, beet salad and some kind of couscous. I could eat bok choy and mushrooms everyday of the week, so this dish was almost a no-​brainer for me.
So, definitely a mixed review. There were a ton of other menu items that looked appealing to me, but maybe I’ll try take-​out next time.

Mana is great! We just happened by it and it looked so inviting and open air, we went in. We scored a table by the large open french windows which was perfect for the perfect almost summer evening.
The service was very friendly if slightly inattentive. The décor is super adorable, imitating the «outdoors inside» aesthetic.
For appetizers, we had the fried veggie dumplings which were just ho hum. But the tempeh temptation entrée was great — with a lovely soy sauce base and lots of fresh veggies including bok choy which I love. It was served with couscous and shredded beets. Our other entrée was the broiled salmon with ginger and it was cooked to tender perfection. That was served with a tiny cup of brown rice, and some very bland kale.
I also love that Mana is exactly my diet — lots of fresh veggies, some fish, and no dairy. It’s like they know my exact diet. A tiny bit pricier than I expected, but it’s good.

This place is SO cute. Our waiter was incredibly nice and attentive. Being a vegetarian, it was awesome to have so many options on the menu. The high-​protein burger is super good. Definitely an unusual taste, but I was into it. The salad it came with tasted like it had a miso dressing, which was delicious. The curry of the day was a bit of a cumin overload, but overall it was great. I would definitely recommend Mana if you want a casual but vibrant atmosphere.

Mana a really great pescatarian restaurant that’s good for both the ethical eater and anyone who just wants a quality meal. Everything is fair trade, wild-​caught, or a whole food, and as a result it all tastes delicious and fresh. The salmon avocado sushi is amazing (with brown rice and extremely fresh salmon, it’s very different than what you’ll usually get from a Japanese restaurant), and sweet potato dumplings are another highlight. The high-​protein vegan burger was OK, but not spectacular, so vegans may want to try other options. The good news is that unlike a lot of other restaurants that specialize in ethical food, this one doesn’t charge an arm and a leg. The only problem we had was the food took a very long time to arrive. That may have been a one-​time thing, but consider getting there before you’re too hungry or it could be a rough wait for dinner.

Very nice little place. The (I think) owner was so thoughtful — she came around to every table. The food was great. I loved the sautéed greens — they were in an awesome ginger, garlic sauce. The curry veggies were really great, too.

PIcked this place for my birthday. I made reservations being its not a huge place. Staff was awesome and the décor was nice. As i waited for my party I had some Green Tea and some apps. The Sweet Potato dumplings were good and the edamame had a tasty soy sauce. Also orded a Cobb Salad with another good sauce. Once the party was set I ordered my entrée, the Salmon Burger. The Salmon was good and came with a side salad. Overall the quality of the food was excellent. They advertise farm to table and the freshness did not disapppoint. all the food was fresh and presentation was good. They have mostly vegan menu along with fish. I am pescatarian and opted for the fish. My party had Fish Taco’s which were recommended and Shrimp (which was tasty!!). I opted for the vegan cheesecake but the Strawberry Shortcake was the winner. A good veggie choice in the UWS, with reasonable prices.

Food was very good so definitely worth one visit but not the best veggie option. Casual, reasonably priced place!
Creamy Polenta with wild mushrooms — highly recommended!
Salmon Burger arugula, dill cucumber sauce, side of market greens — very good!
High Protein Burger house made burger of sprouted mung beans, tempeh, arugula, avocado mustard sauce, red onion, side of market greens — good!

We were so happy to find Mana on a cold night after a whole day of exploring the UWS. The place has such a calming ambiance combined with a warm and homey vibe.
We ordered macrobiotic plates and they were delicious. Carrot-​ginger dressing was one of the best we tried. Veggie burger was OK, but not the best and overpriced. Delicious pea soup. Very interesting selection of teas, which are served in individual iron tea pots. Adorable! Deserts were uninspiring, strange in taste; not recommended.
Overall, we had an enjoyable dinner and conversation. Every table was taken, but people were polite, not loud and the noise level was very comfortable.
Service was friendly, if brisk.
Will definitely try to go back and taste other items on their menu. Skip the desert though and definitely try different teas.

Go here! The food is great, service is awesome and prices are reasonable. The tea list is extensive and unique as well.

Went in for a quick lunch. Got the curried vegg and rice. Very warm and flavorful. Will go back again for sure!!! Very quiet and great place for a quick bite
REVISED!!!
Went back because it was so delicious. Realized they have a $ 20 minimum on cards! I didn’t bring cash. I didn’t even know that is legal anymore. It’s a little crazy! I left so sad and hungry.

I love this place. The food is simple and good. They serve vegan and vegetarian food as well as fish. They also have a great selection of teas, as well as non-​alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.
If you’re looking for a healthy, simple meal, this place can’t be beat. I’m a big fan of the seaweed salad and all of the tofu/​tempeh mains. The menu has a full range of hearty winter meals to light summer ones.
The restaurant is not usually crowded, which makes it a perfect place for calm, quiet conversation — or just a place where you can eat and think.
Mana is also great for dining alone — there is almost always someone with a book.
The food portions are probably on the larger side, so if you’re not a vacuum, you’ll probably have a little bit to take home too.

I’m a big fan of the food at Mana and have been coming here for years. Anytime I feel the need to «cleanse» after a week of hamburgers and pizza, I trek up to 91^st street. Ambience is cute although there is rarely anyone eating in the store — which is why I always get take out.
My go-​to dishes are the steamed sweet potato curry dumplings, the gomaee, the simple plate or the incredible salmon teriyaki. All main courses are huge. Imagine a steaming plate of brown rice, steamed kabocha, carrots and turnips, seaweed, beans, and tofu or tempeh. Just delicious, hearty, healthy meals. The sauces at Mana are all also excellent (miso sesame, carrot ginger, etc).
I only say 4 instead of 5 stars because some of my favorite items have been removed from the menu. Bring back the cabbage wakame salad! I feel empty without it.