A Mano Coffee Bar & Kitchen — Restaurant in London

Edit: the owner has replied ‘We have recognised that this review has been placed with malicious intentions to harm the business and has been flagged as inappropriate.’ Because they want to censor what they feel is a ‘bad review’. This was a genuine experience I had at this restaurant. I also emailed them about my experience in the restaurant before and got no response. Very poor.

Really disappointed. Would give 0 stars if I could.

Came here with two girlfriends from work tonight for an 8pm table on a Saturday. Found the restaurant maybe 2/3 full which seemed quiet compared to other times I have been. The waitress was very polite and helpful which was nice, and was good with my friends nut allergy. However it went downhill from there. One of my friends found a hair in her pizza, but wasn’t personally that offended by it and didn’t complain (I was quite horrified however). By 9 ish a woman who appeared to be the manager asked us if we wanted anything else (after mains, soft drinks, dessert and a tea) we said no we are ok thank you, and she pushed us to take the bill. We said ok and it was promptly split between the 3 of us (£90 total). About 915 we were one of 3 tables left seated and were just about to say goodbye when one of the staff burst out the bathroom and exclaimed ‘it happened again!!’ While holding an empty bottle of vodka. She took it straight to the manger I mentioned above and immediately they all started to glare at us. We thought perhaps they wanted us to leave as it was 920 but there were still another table left seated with full glasses of drink so we thought it was ok for us to have 5 mins to say goodbye (and I was still finishing my cup of tea!) and they are open until 11 apparently. Suddenly the manager comes over and barks at us ‘you have finished your meal and paid your bill. You have no reason to be here. Leave the premises’. We were absolutely shocked to be spoken to like this and gathered our things and left. I dropped my friend home and drove back past the restaurant 15/20 mins later to see the other table still seated in the restaurant and then I realised that they must have asked us to leave believing that we had drank the vodka in the bathroom (if they check the cctv they will see that only one of us popped into the loo for about a minute - without her handbag I might add). I feel absolutely offended and I think the way we were treated was appalling. I usually come to amano once or twice a month with various friends and family, and get takeaway. Seriously reconsider if you’re thinking of coming here. I won’t...

The waiter Micheal was a nice guy, the food was good. That’s where the positive feedback ends.

The service was so poor, it became laughable.

At least 5 staff members and no more than 5 tables to serve. Took over 10 minutes to ask if we wanted a drink and only asked, once I called them over.

The food all came at different times, akin to going to a Wagamamas restaurant. No explanation or apology.

It took over 10 minutes to clear the table, again only did so when prompted by us.

Asked for the kids meal ice cream, but was then charged £6.95 x2 for adults ice cream.

Ordered a tiramisu, told it wasn’t available. So ordered a different dessert.

Told they had no vanilla ice cream, so would be served vanilla and raspberry.

Back to a Wagamama service, the kids ice cream turned up, then had to wait for the rest of the tables desserts, only to be told after another 5 minutes waiting that the Panna cotta was frozen.

After some more waiting the rest of the tables dessert arrived, not with the promised vanilla and raspberry ice cream, but with chocolate instead. No acknowledgment or explanation.

We asked to remove the discretionary service, which they initially refused to do so.

A litany of mistakes, slow service, intermittent food deliveries, an overall poor experience.

We were stuck in there for 2 hours and 30 minutes for a 2 course meal....

How anyone can rate them anything less than 5 stars is beyond me. I’m so grateful to have this lovely restaurant nearby. 😭 I’ve always been spoiled by my Italian friends and family with delicious food when I visit, so I’m quite picky. Don’t let the “cafe” in the title fool you into thinking they just make smaller meals and bites; it’s a full blown restaurant.

The quality of the ingredients is outstanding. Their pizza is way better than most places that actually call themselves “pizzerias”. Pizza fritta is salty, delicious, and addictive. And get the gelato they stock, if you haven’t tried it it’s very popular in Italy and just awesome. 🥰

The customer service is also top notch. I called to have a custom order, they thanked me for calling and asking, and accommodated with no fuss. I never ever feel like anything I ask is a problem. Please support this lovely restaurant! x

Note to management: the extra mozzarella option for pizza on Deliveroo doesn’t show (it’s ok on UberEats), and please consider adding spaghetti bolognese for my abnormal husband who I wish loved pappardelle as much as I do! And maybe one day gnocchi so I can die of...