I yesterday had the pleasure of dining at a charming Italian restaurant and was blown away by the experience. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles and a cozy atmosphere. The decor was elegant, yet casual.Our server, Bruno, was exceptional. He went above and beyond to ensure that we had a delightful experience. He checked on us frequently, making sure that we were happy with each dish.Speaking of the food, it was absolutely divine. Each dish was bursting with flavor and expertly crafted. The portions were generous, so we were too full to finish our desserts, even though it was the best tiramisu that I had ever tasted. I highly recommend trying the salmon squid ink pasta, which were some of the best I've ever had.Overall, I can't recommend this restaurant enough. From the atmosphere to the food to the outstanding service, it was a truly unforgettable experience. Thanks to Bruno and the entire staff for making our evening so special. We will definitely be back!
Rawsee
I had tried for months to get a reservation at Mangia Cuchina and Bar and finally was able to get in at 9:00pm on a Thursday. I had built up such a high expectation because of how diffiuclt it was to get a reservation, but learned a few things when I finally got there. To begin with the space is very small, with 10 or so tables and a small area at the bar for 2 -3 people. In addition, their operating hours are narrow being open Wednesday to Sunday. So I could understand why it was so diffuclt to get in. The staff, from our waiter Bruno to Polina the GM are terrific people. Service was awesome and friendly. However the food, in my opinion didn't quite live up to the hype. We started with a couple of appretizers. The arancini was one large baseball-sized deep friend rice ball with a cheese filling that was too much in proportion to the rice. The pistacio cream that came with it was just ok. I guess I was expecting a nice red sauce with is common with an arancini of that size, which I have come to know from Rome, Italy to be called a "supli". Taste overall was of but somewhat underwheling and not as "comforting" as I expect. I would definitely have preffered smaller arancini and 2 per order which would have made sharing easier. The pollpetti (smallish meatballs) were dry and lacked spices. Again, OK, but not up to expectations. The spaghetti al salmone, was a squid-ink pasta with a thin layer of smoked salmon on top, I would have preferred the smoked salmon to be more incorporated into the sauce. Again, the dish was tasty but didn't tickle my palette the way I expected it to. We finished with a cannoli dessert and some nice pressure-free conversation with Bruno filling up our waters as we lingered. So overall, and after writing this review I would bump it up to 4 stars, but my expections with the food, should have rated this higher. I don't think you will be disappointed, but I would take a dinner at many other places, like Salvio Volpe, ahead of trying for weeks to get a reservatuon at Mangia.
Natalie W.
Tasty food and good service. This restaurant is tucked away from busy streets and can be hard to find. The restaurant isn't very large, so I recommend making reservations. We tried a variety of dishes and overall it was a tasty meal. Portions were decent and prices varied for each dish but the quality of food was good. Burrata in carrozza- this was an interesting dish as the burrata was on top of what seemed like puff pastry ring. It was served with tomato coulis which went well with the burrata. And the balsamic caviar added a nice hint of acidity. Polpo- one of my favourites of the night. The grilled octopus was crisp on the outside, but also was tender. The salsa verde added freshness to the dish. The potato salad served with it looked deceivingly like guacamole, so I didn't expect it to be potatoes. I thought that part of the dish was just okay and tasted a little bland compared to the rest of the dish. Fritto misto di mare- fried calamari, prawns, mussels, and fish. Everything was crisp, although I wish the calamari was a little larger in size. But the prawns and mussels were good. Ravioli all'aragosta- ravioli with lobster and crab. It was decadent and the squid ink tuile was a nice touch. It tasted very good. Spaghetti vongole & bottarga - my favourite pasta of the night. Presentation was nice. There was plenty of clams and was delicious. It wasn't too heavy and I could probably eat this whole dish on my own. Medaglioni al funghi- a heavier pasta with a creamy sauce and had plenty of mushrooms. Guincale and carciofi risotto- creamy risotto that was delicious. Definitely a heavier dish, and glad we shared it! Tiramisu- presentation was lovely and had a strong coffee taste. One of the best tiramisu I've had. Lemon eclair- was just alright. The lemon was refreshing but the choux puffs themselves was just okay. It had to be eaten with more of the sauce served on the plate. With so many dishes, there were some that stood out more than others, but it was overall a satisfying meal. The only thing that was not so great was the focaccia served at the beginning of the meal. It wasn't served warm and would have benefitted from being a little toasty. Other than that service was great and I'd come back when I'm craving pasta.
Annabelle Sun
Amazing experience to dine in at Mangia. Bruno served us with his passion and we feel like traveled to Italy. The food and wine are awesome, portion is quite generous:) will come back again.More light on the side table will be great :)
Jamie D.
Initial email to the restaurant to confirm our dietary accommodations was great. Response from GM was friendly and knowledgeable, but with the main message being to confirm with server specifics but that many items can be adjusted to suit dietary needs (gluten free). We had a 9pm table reservation, but we had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated. No problem! Server had no idea about dietary accommodations, and wasn't willing/able to confirm with anyone else in the restaurant (eg. Kitchen). Was such an embarrassing exchange. He told me to refer to the email from the GM (which essentially said most meals can be accommodated - just ask server). Unfortunately, I was unable to choose a preferred dish as couldn't take the risk without any guidance. Then, a few minutes after our meal arrived and part way through our wine around 10, we were told the kitchen was closing as chairs were being put up all around us. We were rushed out as the waiters stood by the bar waiting for us to leave. We even had to take our wine with us! The food that my party had was really nice so props there for sure, but we were rushed and the restaurant wasn't trained on the food they were serving. When this happened about two weeks ago, we did reach out to the GM about our experience before posting our review, but with no response.
P2892MWjamied
Initial email to the restaurant to confirm our dietary accommodations was great. Response from GM was friendly and knowledgeable, but with the main message being to confirm with server specifics but that many items can be adjusted to suit dietary needs (gluten free). We had a 9pm table reservation, but we had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated. No problem! Server had no idea about dietary accommodations, and wasn’t willing/able to confirm with anyone else in the restaurant (eg. Kitchen). Was such an embarrassing exchange. He told me to refer to the email from the GM (which essentially said most meals can be accommodated - just ask server). Unfortunately, I was unable to choose a preferred dish as couldn’t take the risk without any guidance. Then, a few minutes after our meal arrived and part way through our wine around 10, we were told the kitchen was closing as chairs were being put up all around us. We were rushed out as the waiters stood by the bar waiting for us to leave. We even had to take our wine with us! The food that my party had was really nice so props there for sure, but we were rushed and the restaurant wasn’t trained on the food they were serving. When this happened about two weeks ago, we did reach out to the GM about our experience before posting our review, but with no response.
Ana Julia Büttner
This restaurant has real authentic Italian food. The music playing was the most popular in Italy, such as Lunapop and Tiziano. The olive they serve is the best one (people who appreciate olive oil need to try bread with olive oil). Arancini was perfect! The Carbonara was terrific, I cannot describe how much I loved it, and it is the authentic one; the pancetta was excellent! And for dessert, I ordered the Canolo, the best one I have ever eaten in my life. I have water in my mouth now, remembering all these foods: Grazie tanti Bruno, Alessandro e Vicenzo per proporzionare la esperienza “di essere” in Italia.
Jen Murtagh
Wow. All I can say is how did we not hear of this restaurant until now?! We just found our favourite Italian restaurant in Vancouver.The service, food, menu and drinks were the best we have ever had and we’ve dined extensively in Italy and in Italian restaurants in Vancouver. Food presentation, quality, freshness and flavour were top notch. Absolutely delicious. The only challenge was deciding what to eat because everything sounds and looks amazing.Fantastic cocktails and an authentic Italian experience. We will be back (and often) ❤️??Thank you for making my birthday an incredibly memorable one.
Peter Cross
My wife and I came this evening on a whim. Have been wanting to try this place since a colleague told me about it. Wow! I was very impressed and so was my wife. The food is exquisite and the service is outstanding.We had the octopus appetizer with potato salad. So perfectly cooked and seasoned. My wife had the crab and lobster ravioli and I had the salmon spaghetti for our mains. Again utterly flawless.We topped it off with tiramisu and cannoli. Both superb! Can not think of a single thing that was less than perfect. Will be back again.
Kathy P.
If we aren't eating, we are probably talking about eating. This is the meaning of MANGIA in Italy and in our world too! Mangia Cucina & Bar was full of rich and intense flavours in every bite. From the beginning of our meal with authentic handmade ravioli filled with lobster and crab and ending with a dark chocolate tart with chocolate caviar, I extremely enjoyed this cozy dinner with top notch service in the cutest converted heritage house. On the table: Fritto misto di mare - fried calamari, prawns, mussels served with lemon and verde 21 Ravioli all'aragosta - hand made ravioli filled with lobster and crab served with garlic chili and cherry tomato in white wine reduction topped with squid ink tuile 34 Spaghetti vongole and bottarga - hand made spaghetti local clams cooked in classic white wine reduction with garlic and chili served with bottarga veloute 29 Crostata al chocolato - chocolate tart filled with chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate caviar and raspberry purée 11 Italian old fashion - bulleit bourbon, disaronno, red vermouth 14
Mangia Cucina & Bar was recommended by a buddy that's ate there several times. It's Sicilian style Italian food. They also operate a speciality grocery shop, La Bottega Di Mangia, out in Yaletown. We dropped in on a Thursday evening with 7:00pm reservations. The inside is charming, cozy with a warm, relaxed ambiance. Service was excellent and our waiter very knowledgeable. The menu is split into antipasti, insalata, pasta, risotto, secondi and dolci. Entrees are in the $27.00 to $37.00 price range. - Spaghetti al salmone ($30.00) - spaghetti had a firm al dente bite. Cured salmon was done well. I enjoyed how they mixed in a few regular chunks. - Ravioli all'aragosta ($34.00) - my uncle devoured it. - 2x Seafood cioppino ($37.00) - had a couple spoonfuls of the broth; good flavour but man, it's a small portion. - 2x Espresso ($3.00) - a couple of strong espressos to end the night. - Cannolo al pistacchio ($11.00) - for the price, you'd expect/hope for two pieces of cannoli. Not the case but it was tasty. Not too sweet and the pistachio cream was fantastic. - Tiramisu classico ($11.00) - more of a custard style tiramisu but well balanced, airy and creamy. MC&B is a perfect spot for date night. Pricey but the quality is there and the pasta hit the spot.
Alexander Wolf
Wonderful food, service and ambiance. The space is very intimate and elegant. The food was artfully presented and carefully prepared. The gnocchi was to die for. The lobster ravioli and Frito misto were delicious too. We also had the pistachio cannelloni that was unique and delicious. All the food was delicate and tasted homemade. It didn't feel overly rich or salty. This venue seems to be fully run by Italians which adds to its vibe. They treated us really well. Special place.
Simone Sortwell
One of the best Italian places! I highly recommend Mangia to anyone looking for an authentic Italian experience. The restaurant is quaint with a charming intimate atmosphere. The service is top notch, the food is delicious, cocktails are remarkable and the deserts are delectable.
Liam Hang Fung Lau
This is a solid Italian restaurant. I consider it one of the best that I’ve had here in Vancouver. Their mussels are amazing, and the sauce is wonderful! My friends and I sat on their balcony seats; the place is also windproof and got heaters beside it. 10/10
B B.
The pasta was good. Food and experience was good overall as well. The flavour profile is comforting but nothing exciting. Great neighbourhood restaurant!
I yesterday had the pleasure of dining at a charming Italian restaurant and was blown away by the experience. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles and a cozy atmosphere. The decor was elegant, yet casual.Our server, Bruno, was exceptional. He went above and beyond to ensure that we had a delightful experience. He checked on us frequently, making sure that we were happy with each dish.Speaking of the food, it was absolutely divine. Each dish was bursting with flavor and expertly crafted. The portions were generous, so we were too full to finish our desserts, even though it was the best tiramisu that I had ever tasted. I highly recommend trying the salmon squid ink pasta, which were some of the best I've ever had.Overall, I can't recommend this restaurant enough. From the atmosphere to the food to the outstanding service, it was a truly unforgettable experience. Thanks to Bruno and the entire staff for making our evening so special. We will definitely be back!
I had tried for months to get a reservation at Mangia Cuchina and Bar and finally was able to get in at 9:00pm on a Thursday. I had built up such a high expectation because of how diffiuclt it was to get a reservation, but learned a few things when I finally got there. To begin with the space is very small, with 10 or so tables and a small area at the bar for 2 -3 people. In addition, their operating hours are narrow being open Wednesday to Sunday. So I could understand why it was so diffuclt to get in. The staff, from our waiter Bruno to Polina the GM are terrific people. Service was awesome and friendly. However the food, in my opinion didn't quite live up to the hype. We started with a couple of appretizers. The arancini was one large baseball-sized deep friend rice ball with a cheese filling that was too much in proportion to the rice. The pistacio cream that came with it was just ok. I guess I was expecting a nice red sauce with is common with an arancini of that size, which I have come to know from Rome, Italy to be called a "supli". Taste overall was of but somewhat underwheling and not as "comforting" as I expect. I would definitely have preffered smaller arancini and 2 per order which would have made sharing easier. The pollpetti (smallish meatballs) were dry and lacked spices. Again, OK, but not up to expectations. The spaghetti al salmone, was a squid-ink pasta with a thin layer of smoked salmon on top, I would have preferred the smoked salmon to be more incorporated into the sauce. Again, the dish was tasty but didn't tickle my palette the way I expected it to. We finished with a cannoli dessert and some nice pressure-free conversation with Bruno filling up our waters as we lingered. So overall, and after writing this review I would bump it up to 4 stars, but my expections with the food, should have rated this higher. I don't think you will be disappointed, but I would take a dinner at many other places, like Salvio Volpe, ahead of trying for weeks to get a reservatuon at Mangia.
Tasty food and good service. This restaurant is tucked away from busy streets and can be hard to find. The restaurant isn't very large, so I recommend making reservations. We tried a variety of dishes and overall it was a tasty meal. Portions were decent and prices varied for each dish but the quality of food was good. Burrata in carrozza- this was an interesting dish as the burrata was on top of what seemed like puff pastry ring. It was served with tomato coulis which went well with the burrata. And the balsamic caviar added a nice hint of acidity. Polpo- one of my favourites of the night. The grilled octopus was crisp on the outside, but also was tender. The salsa verde added freshness to the dish. The potato salad served with it looked deceivingly like guacamole, so I didn't expect it to be potatoes. I thought that part of the dish was just okay and tasted a little bland compared to the rest of the dish. Fritto misto di mare- fried calamari, prawns, mussels, and fish. Everything was crisp, although I wish the calamari was a little larger in size. But the prawns and mussels were good. Ravioli all'aragosta- ravioli with lobster and crab. It was decadent and the squid ink tuile was a nice touch. It tasted very good. Spaghetti vongole & bottarga - my favourite pasta of the night. Presentation was nice. There was plenty of clams and was delicious. It wasn't too heavy and I could probably eat this whole dish on my own. Medaglioni al funghi- a heavier pasta with a creamy sauce and had plenty of mushrooms. Guincale and carciofi risotto- creamy risotto that was delicious. Definitely a heavier dish, and glad we shared it! Tiramisu- presentation was lovely and had a strong coffee taste. One of the best tiramisu I've had. Lemon eclair- was just alright. The lemon was refreshing but the choux puffs themselves was just okay. It had to be eaten with more of the sauce served on the plate. With so many dishes, there were some that stood out more than others, but it was overall a satisfying meal. The only thing that was not so great was the focaccia served at the beginning of the meal. It wasn't served warm and would have benefitted from being a little toasty. Other than that service was great and I'd come back when I'm craving pasta.
Amazing experience to dine in at Mangia. Bruno served us with his passion and we feel like traveled to Italy. The food and wine are awesome, portion is quite generous:) will come back again.More light on the side table will be great :)
Initial email to the restaurant to confirm our dietary accommodations was great. Response from GM was friendly and knowledgeable, but with the main message being to confirm with server specifics but that many items can be adjusted to suit dietary needs (gluten free). We had a 9pm table reservation, but we had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated. No problem! Server had no idea about dietary accommodations, and wasn't willing/able to confirm with anyone else in the restaurant (eg. Kitchen). Was such an embarrassing exchange. He told me to refer to the email from the GM (which essentially said most meals can be accommodated - just ask server). Unfortunately, I was unable to choose a preferred dish as couldn't take the risk without any guidance. Then, a few minutes after our meal arrived and part way through our wine around 10, we were told the kitchen was closing as chairs were being put up all around us. We were rushed out as the waiters stood by the bar waiting for us to leave. We even had to take our wine with us! The food that my party had was really nice so props there for sure, but we were rushed and the restaurant wasn't trained on the food they were serving. When this happened about two weeks ago, we did reach out to the GM about our experience before posting our review, but with no response.
Initial email to the restaurant to confirm our dietary accommodations was great. Response from GM was friendly and knowledgeable, but with the main message being to confirm with server specifics but that many items can be adjusted to suit dietary needs (gluten free). We had a 9pm table reservation, but we had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated. No problem! Server had no idea about dietary accommodations, and wasn’t willing/able to confirm with anyone else in the restaurant (eg. Kitchen). Was such an embarrassing exchange. He told me to refer to the email from the GM (which essentially said most meals can be accommodated - just ask server). Unfortunately, I was unable to choose a preferred dish as couldn’t take the risk without any guidance. Then, a few minutes after our meal arrived and part way through our wine around 10, we were told the kitchen was closing as chairs were being put up all around us. We were rushed out as the waiters stood by the bar waiting for us to leave. We even had to take our wine with us! The food that my party had was really nice so props there for sure, but we were rushed and the restaurant wasn’t trained on the food they were serving. When this happened about two weeks ago, we did reach out to the GM about our experience before posting our review, but with no response.
This restaurant has real authentic Italian food. The music playing was the most popular in Italy, such as Lunapop and Tiziano. The olive they serve is the best one (people who appreciate olive oil need to try bread with olive oil). Arancini was perfect! The Carbonara was terrific, I cannot describe how much I loved it, and it is the authentic one; the pancetta was excellent! And for dessert, I ordered the Canolo, the best one I have ever eaten in my life. I have water in my mouth now, remembering all these foods: Grazie tanti Bruno, Alessandro e Vicenzo per proporzionare la esperienza “di essere” in Italia.
Wow. All I can say is how did we not hear of this restaurant until now?! We just found our favourite Italian restaurant in Vancouver.The service, food, menu and drinks were the best we have ever had and we’ve dined extensively in Italy and in Italian restaurants in Vancouver. Food presentation, quality, freshness and flavour were top notch. Absolutely delicious. The only challenge was deciding what to eat because everything sounds and looks amazing.Fantastic cocktails and an authentic Italian experience. We will be back (and often) ❤️??Thank you for making my birthday an incredibly memorable one.
My wife and I came this evening on a whim. Have been wanting to try this place since a colleague told me about it. Wow! I was very impressed and so was my wife. The food is exquisite and the service is outstanding.We had the octopus appetizer with potato salad. So perfectly cooked and seasoned. My wife had the crab and lobster ravioli and I had the salmon spaghetti for our mains. Again utterly flawless.We topped it off with tiramisu and cannoli. Both superb! Can not think of a single thing that was less than perfect. Will be back again.
If we aren't eating, we are probably talking about eating. This is the meaning of MANGIA in Italy and in our world too! Mangia Cucina & Bar was full of rich and intense flavours in every bite. From the beginning of our meal with authentic handmade ravioli filled with lobster and crab and ending with a dark chocolate tart with chocolate caviar, I extremely enjoyed this cozy dinner with top notch service in the cutest converted heritage house. On the table: Fritto misto di mare - fried calamari, prawns, mussels served with lemon and verde 21 Ravioli all'aragosta - hand made ravioli filled with lobster and crab served with garlic chili and cherry tomato in white wine reduction topped with squid ink tuile 34 Spaghetti vongole and bottarga - hand made spaghetti local clams cooked in classic white wine reduction with garlic and chili served with bottarga veloute 29 Crostata al chocolato - chocolate tart filled with chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate caviar and raspberry purée 11 Italian old fashion - bulleit bourbon, disaronno, red vermouth 14
Restaurantji Recommends
Mangia Cucina & Bar was recommended by a buddy that's ate there several times. It's Sicilian style Italian food. They also operate a speciality grocery shop, La Bottega Di Mangia, out in Yaletown. We dropped in on a Thursday evening with 7:00pm reservations. The inside is charming, cozy with a warm, relaxed ambiance. Service was excellent and our waiter very knowledgeable. The menu is split into antipasti, insalata, pasta, risotto, secondi and dolci. Entrees are in the $27.00 to $37.00 price range. - Spaghetti al salmone ($30.00) - spaghetti had a firm al dente bite. Cured salmon was done well. I enjoyed how they mixed in a few regular chunks. - Ravioli all'aragosta ($34.00) - my uncle devoured it. - 2x Seafood cioppino ($37.00) - had a couple spoonfuls of the broth; good flavour but man, it's a small portion. - 2x Espresso ($3.00) - a couple of strong espressos to end the night. - Cannolo al pistacchio ($11.00) - for the price, you'd expect/hope for two pieces of cannoli. Not the case but it was tasty. Not too sweet and the pistachio cream was fantastic. - Tiramisu classico ($11.00) - more of a custard style tiramisu but well balanced, airy and creamy. MC&B is a perfect spot for date night. Pricey but the quality is there and the pasta hit the spot.
Wonderful food, service and ambiance. The space is very intimate and elegant. The food was artfully presented and carefully prepared. The gnocchi was to die for. The lobster ravioli and Frito misto were delicious too. We also had the pistachio cannelloni that was unique and delicious. All the food was delicate and tasted homemade. It didn't feel overly rich or salty. This venue seems to be fully run by Italians which adds to its vibe. They treated us really well. Special place.
One of the best Italian places! I highly recommend Mangia to anyone looking for an authentic Italian experience. The restaurant is quaint with a charming intimate atmosphere. The service is top notch, the food is delicious, cocktails are remarkable and the deserts are delectable.
This is a solid Italian restaurant. I consider it one of the best that I’ve had here in Vancouver. Their mussels are amazing, and the sauce is wonderful! My friends and I sat on their balcony seats; the place is also windproof and got heaters beside it. 10/10
The pasta was good. Food and experience was good overall as well. The flavour profile is comforting but nothing exciting. Great neighbourhood restaurant!