Mano a Mano — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

My wife and I came for a belated Valentine's date and were thoroughly impressed. The lobby with the front desk is surrounded by a dark light absorbing curtain, separating it from the dining area, which reminded me of Little Bad Wolf. The dining area is dimly lit by ceiling lamps reminiscent of the hats worn by Devo in the music video of "Whip It", and booths that were all occupied by customers. Despite it being very busy it was still possible to have a coherent conversation at our table. The service was exceptional and welcoming. Our server went over the menu and their recommendations since it was our first time. Their happy hour special was also available, but we opted out since it only offered pizza if you buy a bottle of wine. The prices of the food are expensive and I'd want to say the flavors and portions compliment it, but that wasn't always the case from what we tried.

The complementary focaccia and spread was a fantastic start. It was crispy on the edges and soft, fluffy, and airy in the center. Our order of smoked sardines which I paired with the focaccia elevated it even further. Tiny fried calamari was true to its name, it was tiny fried calamari. It was good, but not ground shattering.

Our entrees consisted of the carbonara and the lasagna (special of the month). I was disappointed with the carbonara. The flavor profile didn't bring back the memories of my favorite pasta dish. The cheese and egg were a bit too creamy and the sauce overpowered the black pepper. The lasagna on the other hand was impressive. Multiple thin layers meticulously prepared, that it almost appeared to be like a crepe cake covered in ragu. It was very satisfying.

A beautiful, romantic, and intimate restaurant that is worth the try.

Paid street parking is limited, but there is valet available (cash only, or venmo/zelle). No pets inside. Reservations available online. Happy hour...

We were celebrating our 5th anniversary and decided to try Mano a Mano for the milestone.

The space was lovely, with a distinct '70s vibe in both the furnishings and music—something we didn’t expect but really enjoyed. It was a bit dimly lit, so reading the menu might be tricky for some.

As for the food, the appetizers and main courses did not disappoint. The zucchini flowers and eggplant were splendid—definitely dishes we’d order again.

The pacing of the meal was almost perfect. The main courses took a little while to arrive after the appetizers, but it wasn’t a huge deal and was preferable to everything coming out all at once or too early.

We ordered the mushroom ragu pasta and, I believe, a butternut squash dish. Both were delicious, though the squash was sweeter than expected—not unpleasant, just surprising. My only critique is that the portion size of the ragu pasta could have been larger; I wanted more immediately! We also appreciated the extra bread provided, which was perfect for soaking up the flavorful sauces.

For dessert, we tried the tiramisu and the apple cobbler with popcorn ice cream. Both were okay, though not particularly memorable. I’m not a big tiramisu fan, but my partner enjoyed it. The cobbler was a little too sweet for my taste, and the popcorn flavor in the ice cream didn’t really come through. Next time, I’d likely skip dessert in favor of an extra appetizer or two.

Overall, it was a pleasant experience, and we left happy. The staff were incredibly welcoming, offering the kind of attentive service you’d expect at a high-end restaurant in River North—a very pleasant surprise. They’re clearly striving for excellence.

We also greatly appreciated the complimentary champagne they brought out for our anniversary. It wasn’t necessary but definitely a thoughtful and...

Jess the owner told me to come back proteins have been added, sooo you know I did! Service is always outstanding. I love the vibe of this dimly lit restaurant. For fun on Special they had a white Negroni I love, switching it up to one of those every now and again. Started with the mussels. I usually like them in a white sauce better but this red sauce was unbelievable could not get enough of it. Wanted to put my face in it . Tried the lobster ravioli this time very good And for a protein, we got the veal I've never had this presentation deep-fried before, but it was friggin delicious. You know I had to End dinner with a lil amaro service. Everything was just fantastic thank you guys so much for adding proteins to the menu. Can't wait to return again soon, Great spot!

… I first went to this place back when it had only been open a few months. Our server Johnn was just incredible. Pretty cool place that’s definitely sort of like a dark chic parlor restaurant vibe and cute. The food was good but the main problem in reason I probably won’t be back is because there are no proteins on the menu. We started with their focaccia but it was really more of a Piadina or a flat bread. We thankfully opted to get the mortadella on it because honestly without the protein, it wouldn’t have been nearly as good, but it was delicious with the mortadella. We also got their zucchini blossoms and their carbonara pasta . Finished with the dessert we thought was gonna be kind of like an ice cream sandwich, but it was really more like an Italian doughnut. To be noted that the Mezcal Negroni was one of the best Negroni I’ve ever had in my life !!! Everything was pretty great about Mano A Mano the biggest thing that got us was just, no proteins on the menu. Ambiance is nice...