4 /5 John McCartney: Manuela is a solid lunch spot in the Arts District and it’s easy to see why it’s listed in the Michelin Guide. Set inside the Hauser & Wirth Arts Complex, the space is beautiful, with an open-plan kitchen and a strong art-forward atmosphere that makes it feel intentional and thoughtfully designed.
I went with work colleagues for lunch recently. We were hoping to sit outside, but were told the outdoor tables were reserved for larger parties. That didn’t totally add up, as we saw smaller tables outside available during our visit. We were seated indoors instead, which wasn’t ideal, but fine.
Another small miss: the restaurant is pretty rigid about seating the full party only once everyone has arrived. For a weekday lunch, that felt a bit unnecessary, especially when many spots are more flexible.
Where Manuela really delivered was service. Our server, Lauren, was excellent. Very attentive, warm, and on point with timing. We didn’t feel rushed, but we also didn’t feel like we were waiting around. Since we were hungry, we asked her to curate our lunch, and she nailed it.
Standouts included the cream biscuits with Col. Newsom’s aged country ham and Steen’s butter, baby market lettuces with pickled carrots and ricotta salata, chicories with persimmon and maple vinaigrette, green salsa chilaquiles with crema and fried egg, hanger steak with jerk rub and pickled green mango, blistered snap peas, roasted cauliflower, and Butterball potatoes. The food across the board was solid, thoughtful, and well executed.
Overall: good food, strong service, and a great setting. Not sitting outside and the inflexible seating policy were misses, but still a reliable Arts District lunch spot, especially if you’re already at Hauser & Wirth.
