Manolo's Boutique Wines & Bistro — Restaurant in Winston-Salem

I truly wanted to like Manolo’s Wine & Bistro, but my experience here with a friend was one of the worst I’ve had dining in Winston-Salem.

From the moment we sat down, things went downhill. We waited about 20 minutes without being offered menus or even asked if we wanted drinks. My friend eventually had to go to the front herself to grab menus for us. Throughout the night, we never had an assigned server—five different people approached our table at random, which made everything disorganized and frustrating, even though they were individually polite.

We ordered the chef’s special ravioli, which we were told was $25, but when the bill came it was $45. On top of that, my friend had to ask 3–4 times for the salad that was supposed to come with it.

I ordered the Margherita pizza, which tasted like it had been frozen and thawed. The sauce tasted straight out of a can, and the cheese was shredded mozzarella, not the burrata advertised. There was no pesto and no fresh basil, even though the online pictures clearly show basil and that is in the description of the meal. I had to request basil separately.

When I questioned the missing burrata, one server told me that “burrata and mozzarella are basically the same thing.” As someone who has traveled to Italy and other parts of Europe, I can confidently say they are not the same. If a restaurant advertises burrata, it should serve burrata. If not change your menu.

Another server later told me they had recently changed the menu and were now using mozzarella, but offered to bring burrata and basil. What she brought was two slices of mozzarella, not burrata. At that point, I had to send the pizza back. Thankfully, they removed it from the bill, which I appreciated—but the dish should never have been served that way in the first place.

To be fair, the atmosphere and wine were good, and the servers were friendly. The issue is clearly with management, communication, and training. This restaurant has potential, but with the way things are currently being run, I don’t see it lasting long. I haven’t had such a disappointing dining experience in many years, and I sincerely hope they turn...

I have many thoughts on this new and budding restaurant here in Winston-Salem, and they are all positive. The atmosphere and space are stunning, the historic home in downtown Winston shines as an event space or a place to have an elevated meal with loved ones or friends.

I have gotten to know some of the staff during my visits. Behind the bar, Chad makes a great old-fashioned, and Brady, a server, is always attentive and kind to me when I come in. I have gotten many different things on the menu, but sometimes, I end up finishing the meal and then realize I did not capture the moment before I licked my plate clean. If you are also interested in the history of the house, you must speak with Chad who is a history buff and is quite knowledgeable about this elegant home and its history.

The space is gorgeous inside, with stunning features that are uncommon in homes today. The downstairs interior design is well done and makes you feel like you are at a wealthy relative's house. I greatly appreciated the inlaid designs in the original wood flooring in the home; it was so unique, and to put that sort of craftsmanship into something you step on every day is inspiring. The back patio is an area where I am delighted to sit in this gorgeous NC weather, having a nice glass of wine or craft cocktail. This will be my summer destination. I also know they open the space for private events.

I have sampled many things on the menu, but as I said before, sometimes I eat it all before I get a photo. But, one of my recommendations is the “Rustica”, a pizza with fig spread and prosciutto, a great sweet and salty, and pairs great with an Italian red. I also had chicken pot pie, which was a special one week, and Seafood Carmine, which was a special creation by Chef Carmine, with mussels, clams, shrimp, fresh tomatoes, white wine, and garlic. I really enjoy my meals here, and am always eager to see what the weekend specials are, when I am planning to come out.

The parking is abundant as well, however you must take 4th and a half street access it from the what is the backside...

We really wanted to love this place, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. The "hidden gem" video made Manolo's look like a high-end experience, but the reality fell short. While the food wasn’t terrible, it certainly wasn’t memorable, and not worth the $100+ bill.

We tried the goat cheese dip (the bread was overly hard), a pizza (which lacked the promised pesto), the chicken skewers (much smaller and less appealing than pictured), and a chicken entrée. None of the dishes stood out.

Additionally, the menus felt cheaply made, with inconsistent font sizes that gave off an unprofessional vibe. Overall, the experience didn’t match the expectations set by...