Manifest Bread — Restaurant in Riverdale Park

Stopped in at Manifest Bakery yesterday AM after my niece (who lives nearby and goes there all the time) brought over a few lunch treats last weekend including Manifest's yellow bean salad and savory peach focaccia. All the items on display, including the loaves of bread on the racks behind the counter, looked like YES. Picked up a cardamom bun (should have bought out the entire tray), and a loaf of sourdough bread in addition to the focaccia and bean salad. Proceeded to devour the bun in the car before I could even drive a mile away – I couldn’t help myself. Abandon hope all ye who bite into it because it’s that good. Shared the bread, salad and focaccia for lunch and dinner and then regretted that I didn’t keep it all for myself. The loaf of bread had a thick crispy crunchy crust and a soft/moist inside with a subtle earthy, sour tang. We kept trying to deciper the flavors in the yellow bean salad, but gave up – it’s indescribably good – esp. scooped up with crusts of their bread. The thick and chewy focaccia with savory and tart toppings (peach, raisins, onion, capers?, thyme?, other great bits) and just the right amount of char was as addictive (just gotta have it) as I remembered. In fact, everything had a depth of flavor that was really impressive. These are some seriously high end eats. The pricing is very reasonable considering the quality, care, and inventiveness. And the laid back, simple setting in Riverdale right next to the small town MARC stop feels wonderful. Looking forward to when they can add outdoor (sidewalk?) seating. I live in Northern Virginia and have to say, it’s definitely worth the drive. I absolutely have got to go back and...

Go! We ordered from them in December, and I've been checking their website since to see when they were opening. Finally! Husband and I both had gazpacho ($6.5), split a wonderful cheddar/apple sandwich ($13), each had espresso ($3.5) and each had a raspberry/pistachio financier cake (2 for $5.5). With tax, just over $40, but we had $10 off from their app. If you go on the website, there's $10 off a purchase of $30. Quality is amazing! A nice surprise for me, as a diabetic, is that they have some lower carb options, like the gazpacho. They also have frittatas on the menu, which would work. The financier cakes were small, but flavorful and pretty. Bread, of course, is really special, and they have lots of variety. We were there for lunch around 1:30 p.m. They were out of some items, like their "piggy bites" grab and go sandwich, but there was still plenty to choose from, including whole loaves of bread, which another review said can be hard to find after 10am. Staff were super friendly, and the cashier walked us through the whole app discount process, which was helpful. Set up and menu reminds me of Paul (French cafe that used to be in DC), as far as great sandwiches, coffees, special desserts, great bread. This is wonderful for Riverdale -- great addition to Riviera Tapas, Banana Blossom and 2 Fifty BBQ. Definitely worth the drive to Riverdale from Bowie. Usually closes at 3pm, but they have Pizza Night on Thursdays, and I want to try this out. I know they are going to do...

I come from afar for the breads, which have great flavor and texture; the baked goods and sandwiches look delicious, too. I’m withholding a fifth star because of the service. It’s friendly as can be, but ridiculously inefficient. Only one person taking orders so the line snakes onto the sidewalk and people who just want to buy a loaf of bread have to wait behind people ordering complicated Macha lattes with half oat milk and half flaxseed milk. Even after you’ve ordered and paid for your bread, they don’t simply give it to you but place your order in a pile of orders to wait its turn amidst all the custom orders. Twenty-five minutes this morning waiting just to buy a loaf. Hey Manifest, please figure out a better system. I love your bread! And a separate rant, while I’m at it, that is not Manifest’s fault. They charge tax on bread to go! It’s not considered a (non-taxed) grocery item because it’s being sold in a bakery-cafe. So Marylanders have to pay tax on healthy bread sold by an independent, artisanal shop but not if they go to the supermarket to buy Wonder Bread. Legislators,...