The Manhattan — Restaurant in Southington

(Last visited November 4, 2022.) We heard about a new tapas place that opened up in Southington and decided to take a ride to check it out! Here's how it went and why we need to get back here as soon as possible.

Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right off of Eden Avenue which is a branch off of Main Street is this gem. There is a small private parking lot, but I parked on the street which was free at the time. Inside is wide open and I loved that feeling. It was fairly quiet inside which I didn't mind. The decor was very 1920s speakeasy-ish (if that makes any sense). Red table cloths, wooden floors, black and white brick walls, very classy for sure. The bar is off to the left and the dining rooms are to the right.

Service: I can't remember who took care of us per-say, but the owner definitely checked in on us often to make sure we had everything we needed. As a matter of fact, I think once he saw our cameras and phones out taking pictures, I think he actually took over. Lol.

Food: We tried A LOT here, so here goes. The Classic Manhattan: Four Roses' bourbon, Dolin sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters gave this straightforward drink classic flavors.

Marinated Olives: Black and green olives with Chef Fabians' secret marinade. Olives aren't my thing, but these were delicious when served with some of the bread here.

Lamb Empanadas: Served over grilled apple with sweet chili sauce. These were incredible. I'm a big fan of lamb so that could do it. Lol. These were my favorite tapa of the evening. So tender, flavorful and delicious with the sweet sauce.

Seafood Spring Roll: The spring rolls rotate out so you may have to come in on a special day to catch these. It was stuffed with crab meat and served over a mixture of delicious sauces!

Brussels Sprouts Salad: This thing was BEAUTIFUL and my wife's favorite. The sprouts were actually shaved and shaped into this mountain of a dish and served over like a croquette or something. It was executed so well.

Lomo De Cerdo: These are pork medallions served over toasted bread with mozzarella cheese and tomatoes. These were tender, super flavorful, well balanced and also done very well.

Sauteed Octopus: It's chunks of tender octopus served with fingerling potatoes, tomatoes, shallots, Spanish paprika, olive oil and sherry vinegar. Octopus isn't my thing, but these were good for what they are.

Artichoke Hearts: These were sauteed in garlic, tomatoes, capers and a white wine sauce. Delicious. What can't they do here?

Codfish Croquette: These are served over a tobiko and balsamic aioli. They were very basic, simple and made sure the fish shined in this dish.

Southington Manhattan: So this place offers many variations of The Manhattan, but the Southington version features Bulleit Rye or bourbon, Dolin sweet vermouth, orange bitters and an expressed orange peel. This was a great take on The Manhattan, but was not better than the original, not worse either. Lol.

House Meatballs: These were served in a gorgonzola cheese sauce and were super tender. I loved them and could've ordered many of these along with the lamb empanadas.

Value: This place isn't cheap, don't expect it to be, especially if you go crazy with the tapas like we did, but how could you not? There was SO MUCH to try! Our appetizers were between $9.00 and $15.00, but be mindful. Just bring your wallet because this is a place where you're going to want to explore the menu.

In conclusion, I loved this place so much. Like, we didn't even make it off the tapas menu to try the entrees! Make...

This is a newer restaurant/bar. The wife, I, and another couple went here for dinner on Valentine's Day (evening). The food was good. Portion sizes were good, as we all had leftovers. The staff was friendly and engaged. Our waiter was a guy named Will. He has a great attitude. Chef Ray Gennaro actually came to the table to see how we liked the meal, which shows he truly cares. The manager also came by to see what we thought. They were all looking for feedback, which we thought was great. It is nice to see people that are passionate about what they do. There was live music there and we all thought it was terrific. They were all very talented. It was not too loud, and it was certainly appropriate for the dinner setting. They have an extensive drink menu, featuring... Manhattans. There are other options too. My friend was drinking something called the Side Car, that he enjoyed. If you're looking for a new place to dine in, this may be just the ticket.

The wife and I returned here tonight (3/6/20) to try the pizza. I got the Manhattan Special. It was tasty. The crust was good. It didn't get soggy from all the toppings. They had live music again tonight. It was a duo; Braiden Sunshine and Jason LaPierre. They sounded very good... Like last time we went here, several people checked in with us to see if we were happy and/or needed anything. Good times... Update: Finally returning here post pandemic, the wife and I came here to have dinner, drinks, and watch some live jazz... We started out with one of their specialty martinis called the Salted Caramel-tini. It was tasty. While looking at the updated menu, we were brought some warm/hot bread that was good. For the main course, I had Chicken Parmigiana, and the Mrs. dined on the Seafood Pesto. Both dishes were great. For dessert, we finished our meals off by splitting a slice of Strawberry Cheesecake, which was also enjoyable. Word to the wise; Food prices are a little above average, but they clearly have a chef, not just a cook... and that is the difference. The music, performed by Jason (guitar/piano) & Madeline (vocals) was on point and great to experience. Our server Mellisa, did a wonderful job! It was another great night at The Manhattan! It was nice...

The decor was nice, feels like you're back in the 20's. There were a lot of customers in there dressing the period as well as staff. My wife and I were looking for a place to sit and have a nightcap as well as a few desserts after having dinner elsewhere. Thought this place would fit the bill but it's not quite there yet. They only have like 2 desserts on their menu and when my wife asked for a decaf coffee they seemed surprised. We got two orders of cannoli and I also got a martini. The cannoli and the martini were very good. My wife got no spoon to stir her coffee and I had to go to the bar asking for napkins as the server did not give us any napkins or plates for our cannoli. I also had to go to the bar afterwards looking for someone to run my card. I can't make a judgment on any of the other food as we already had dinner when we arrived. I'd say this is a good place to get a martini or an "old fashioned" and sit and chill if you're into that sort of thing. There was a band playing. They were good but the music didn't match the period. The service needs to be a little better organized too but I do know they're just starting out so I hope to see improvement the next time we go. I do think this place has the potential to be a nice sort of after hours place too if they can get some more desserts and hot beverages on the menu and maybe some adult coffees. Southington already has enough bars and pizza places. Dressing one up to look like the prohibition is not enough to give them an edge. It needs a little more then that to give them an edge but I think they're heading in the right direction. Also there was a funny smell in there. Smelled like being next to a beauty salon and we kept getting that chemical smell mixed with rotten eggs that smells sort of like women getting perms. Not sure what that was all about but it was a little off putting. They need to get rid...