Manita Rosedale — Restaurant in Toronto

Tucked away in the trendy Rosedale district, Manita presents itself as a humble, unassuming wine bar and restaurant with a strong focus on Spanish cuisine. Despite its modest appearance, this intimate spot buzzes with energy, so securing a reservation is highly advisable—as waiting space is limited to the outdoors.

The evening commenced with expertly crafted martinis and Negronis, which packed a delightful punch and set a vibrant tone for our dining experience. To start, we enjoyed two crostini creations: one adorned with anchovies in garlic butter, the other with Manchego cheese and quince jelly (“membrillo”), both offering a perfect balance of salty and sweet. These were followed by indulgent ham croquettes, rich and satisfying—while on the pricier side, their quality makes them worth every penny.

Next, we were treated to Manila Clams, succulent and subtly sweet, bathed in a fennel-infused broth with a hint of liqueur. While the absence of bread was felt, leaving us longing to savor every last drop of the broth, the portion was generous, allowing each of us to enjoy a hearty serving.

Manita’s veggie burger with fries proved exceptional, though the allure of their seafood offerings remains tempting for a future visit. We couldn’t resist adding the Sardine Conserva, a delightful tin of Spanish sardines kissed with olive oil and lemon, paired with griddled bread, cheese, garlic butter, and a medley of red pickled sweet chili peppers and fresh herbs. This dish was a revelation, an utter delight that transported us straight to the Mediterranean coast.

In every bite, Manita offers an authentic taste of Spain—unpretentious, bold, and brimming...

Food 5* Service 5* Atmosphere 4* (only due to noise, perhaps turn down the music just a bit)

Otherwise, a great 1st visit. We used to go to this location when it was Rosedale Diner, disappointed when it closed but it couldn't have been replaced with a better venue that Manita.

Service was excellent through-out from our main server to all that came to the table to deliver drinks/dishes or very discreetly clean the table of plates.

The entire meal from appy's to mains were excellent. Menu is on the smaller side, the execution of the dishes is on point. Quality over quantity. Some dishes took up back to San Sebastian when we visited while living in Germany. Some of the best food we've had anywhere has been San Sebastian and in general Spain.

Place was busy. Please do yourself and the staff a favour and make a reservation to avoid disappoint. They did managed to find a few walk-ins tables when we were there but I suspect as time goes on, and more people know about this location, reservations will be a...

Just going to share my experience. Friday night 8.30 pm Got sat in the upstairs seating area. Tight space. Cant sit comfortably. It got warm in the restaurant very fast. Never have i ever taken so long to decide what i want to eat for dinner. Limited options. Ordered the mediterranean platter. Got served something that looked like a side plate of family meal food. The bread was nice. Everything on the mediterranean plate was warm and at room temp. The hummus, the other dip, the long strips of cucumbers piled next to the bland roasted red peppers on top of some pickled kohlrabi or celeriac. Nothing was cold. Even the beer was warm. Overpriced. Pretentious. My friends ordered kale salad with chicken, the burger & chicken brochettes. The burger was the best. Guessing they grind their own patty since they serve it medium rare...