A Mano Reviews

What a great, little Italian restaurant! BYOB, cozy dining room, fresh take on traditional food. Our server, Patrick, was excellent—friendly, knowledgeable, efficient. Enjoy!

This is a byob and Cash only restaurant. The meal was amazing. We had the octopus, roasted cauliflower mezzaluna, gnocchi, arctic char, and chicken milanese. The chicken dish is quite large. The arctic char was the only thing that was not outstanding. Do not skip dessert. The bergamot semifreddo was interesting, satisfying, and different than anything you have ever had.

Our dinners were amazing. We arrived early, and requested a seating change as we did not want to sit too close and in the middle of two four tops. The staff took a moment to confer, then seated us at a table which was fine. I had Barramundi with eggplant, and my husband had the duck with pistachios and beets. We ordered the shaved broccoli and cauliflower appetizers. We shared a dessert - mousse with salted caramel and a cookie pieces that was a blend of perfection. Our meals were excellent - cooked to perfection. The service could not have been better. If we lived in the neighborhood, A Mano would be our go-to special place. We may make it that regardless.

Due to size of the group, we were required to do the chef’s tasting menu. Nice, well prepared courses and for the most part, large enough for the group. Our server, Sara, did a great job. However, I felt the price of $65 per person was a bit high.

We had an amazing dinner celebrating our 40th Anniversary with our children. Every appetizer, pasta, entree and dessert were delicious and beautifully plated. Service was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. We spent 3 hours wining and dining. Such a lovely experience. Will definitely be back. Highly recommended. You won't be disappointed. 👍👍👍👍

The food here is very good. Our table of 4 had 3 different appetizers/pastas and 3 different entrees. The branzino got rave reviews from both people who had it. In addition, the skate and pork shank were very good. Heads up for those looking for a quiet spot. It is extremely loud inside which made it difficult to talk during dinner.

Good food, small portions and overpriced. You must choose either a three or four course dinner for 48 or 68 dollars . No alacarte selections.

Newly opened A Mano is getting rave reviews in the Philadelphia area. We visited during the DNC week and had a great meal. While the waitress indicated that they recommend 3 dishes each, we only had two and were satisfied. For starters, I had the Seared Spanish Octopus which was great. It was served with cockels which I had never had before but I felt added very little to the dish itself. My daughter who is a pescatarian had the Artic Char Crudo which she raved about. My wife enjoyed her shaved vegetable salad. For main courses, my wife Parsley Cavetelli which is the main reason she wanted to visit the restaurant, so she was happy. I enjoyed the Gnocchi which had English peas and was made with goat cheese. We did find the restaurant to be incredibly noisy. It was difficult to hear the server and my daughter also asked for them to turn down the music. There is outdoor seating so if the weather is nice, I would recommend that. Service was also a bit odd in that my appetizer (which was warm) came first and we waited awhile for the other two cold appetizers to be served. We will be back.. Also please note BYOB and cash only.

Townsend does it in Fairmount. Fabulous, inventive, home made pasta, great service, outdoor seating on Fairmount just a few blocks from Rocky. We live 2 blocks away & we've been coming since it opened. Always great. All pasta is fabulous--Bolognese sauce heaven. Cauliflower appears several places--order it. Braised pork shank is crying out for Pinot Noir. Branzino is great. At first you could not reserve a table but they now use Reserve. Go!

Great food and great relaxed vibe and great service. Staff showed great effort. We were running late for a show and was very accommodating in rushing dessert and check.

Superb food and great service. Every dish we had was elaborate and had great flavors combination . A must try in Philly . Go early, no reservation

Sadly our first experience with this restaurant was excellent,,, second trip was a disaster. As a special treat my husband booked it for Valentine's Day Dinner. He booked in advance and our seating was for 8:45. We verified our reservation as asked and were on time. They were seriously overbooked and when we arrived we were told our table would not be ready for twenty five minutes. We were told to go across the street and get a drink. Quite frankly eating after 9:00PM on a weekday is not to our liking and getting a drink was the furthest thing from our mind. Why weren't we contacted that our reservation was that delayed? I quite frankly hated waiting in the door area....It was awkward at best! Not a pleasant experience...after waiting around for approximately twenty five minutes we just left. We luckily were immediately seated in another restaurant on the street. We are residents in the Fairmount area and we will share our Valentine experience with anyone that wishes to hear it. Sadly, great food obnoxious hostess. We will not be back!

Amazing food. Very nice service. I had called early in the week to make reservations and to ask about gluten free options. Not only did the reservationist highlight on the reservation that one member of our party needed to be GF but she went through in detail all of their GF options. Service at the restaurant is friendly, knowledgeable and appropriately present - not in your face but was there to refill waters before you needed it and the food was served quickly. Each course was amazing and in particular the GF pasta dish was superb. I had the skate. The preparation was incredibly delicious and unusual. I can't wait to return!!!

If you are looking to have a nice night out in Philly then save yourself the frustration and pass on this restaurant. We were a group of five and we dined at Amano late Wednesday night. The food was good, but the pretentious management really put a damper on our night out. The management thinks they are so great they don't need to answer the phone because potential customers are just not as important as those who are sitting in their less than half full restaurant. They also don’t take reservations and because they don't take reservations they don't feel it is important to answer their phone. We called three times that day but because they didn't answer their phone, we couldn’t give them a heads up that a party of five would be coming. We didn't know they were cash only either which caused an inconvenience to some in our party. Even though the restaurant was less than half full, we still had to wait more than 20 minutes for our table. The manager refused to put a chair on the end of one of the many open tables to sit our party because it might interfere with other diners. While we waited, we asked if we could have some glasses for our champagne, but they also told us NO. They also made an error on our bill and overcharged us. The hostess was sweet and our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly, but the operations manager was the rudest. Her body language was really off putting and when our group had asked to speak with her regarding our inability to get ahold of the restaurant during the day, she never came. Instead she sent one of the waiters to speak with us. The food was well prepared and tasty but with attitudes like that, you will only be left with a disappointed meal and money out of your pocket. With so many other good restaurants in Philly, this one will never make it unless they act a little more cordial to their customers. When we were leaving we asked them if they might start answering their phones because not getting ahold of a restaurant to ask a question, might frustrate potential customers. The waiter smugly laughed and answered with a “probably not.” Apparently they are not willing to listen to their customers and that translates to not caring about them either.

We went out for Date Night. We always try new places. Although this place had good reviews, we were not impressed. 1. Italian restaurant not one person spoke Italian? Or was Italian? 2. Portion sizes were small and expensive 2 scallops appetizer $16? When I think Italian ristorante I think “abundance” ! 3. Half order of ravioli (5) to an order they were small $15? 4. The veggie boratta was good and a decent portion for an app ( figures they could give away veggies). 5. Lamb shank was the only thing that actually matched the price to portion I believe it was $24? Not sure. The food was very good in flavor. I would not go a 2nd time $89 + tip I left hungry. However our server was delightful.

The beef tartare appetizer was perhaps the best tartare I've ever had. Thoroughly enjoyed the rabbit primi and the branzino secondi was superb. Great dinner with superb service.

Other than the noise level we think it is great! We have been there a number of times and never disappointed with the food or service. And a BYOB.

We have been waiting for A Mano to reopen after the pandemic. It was SO GOOD to be back. Food was superb - as it always was. Staff was upbeat and hospitality was first class.

We're "foodies". This was the first time we had tried A Mano, and we were really pleased with every aspect of the food and ambience of this Fairmount establishment. Be sure to order the pre-fixed meal.....and get ready to eat a lot! It is definitely worth the extra expense!! Service was also outstanding. Only downsides are PARKING is terrible in that area....so use the public / pay lot across the street on Fairmount. Also....this is a CASH ONLY establishment, which is kind of weird as you're peeling off $20's to make your departure.....but so it goes. All tolled, this is a very good spot for top notch Italian fare. Give it a try. You'll be wanting to go back.

My wife, daughter and I enjoyed a great meal at A Mano. My wife had the barramundi and she thought it was delicious. My daughter had the smaller portion of Tomato Gnocchi which had well-seasoned chicken sausage. I had the Braised Pork Shank, so tender the meat yielded to a light touch of my fork. Portion sizes were very good. We passed on desserts, but only because we had a late lunch. Bring your own wine and remember to bring cash since they don't take credit cards.

This place was absolutely packed on a Friday night… No social distancing here! It was very noisy as well. If those two things don’t put you off then go there for the food!It was the best tiramisu I have ever had and I sampled tiramisu all over Italy many tomes! All the appetizers were amazing as well as the pasta dishes. We only got a three course meal so we didn’t have the entrée after the pasta. It would be a lot of food if you had 4 courses. It’s a price fix menu so those are your only two options. But you get a lot of choices for each course. We will return to this restaurant! Service was amazing.

Friends took us here last night knowing full well we were Vegan and this was not a Vegan place. However he knows the staff and this place is one of his regular spots. The staff bent over backwards to help us. Our server asked what we liked and she would try and get kitchen to cook it. We told her surprise us and boy were we surprised. Out came a pasta, lemon and pepper dish that was to die for. What a great place. I will be back for sure.

After reading the Philadelphia Inquirer food critics review of this restaurant, my family and I really wanted to try it. The only problem is they do not take reservations. So we decided to try our luck on a Sunday night at 6:30. Luckily we were able to secure a table for 4, and as soon as we sat down, the rest of the restaurant filled up, too. The food is spectacular. It is a creative, modern take on Italian food. If you want pasta with gravy, this is not the place for you. We shared many of the dishes, and there was not morsel left ! The house baked Focaccia was terrific, as well. All of the wait staff was professional, but friendly, and made us feel welcome! It's a BYOB which is a huge plus. The only slight drawback, is that it is cash only..

Had the BEST dinner here Dec 23. The bread set the tone. The charcuterie was wonderful. My sis and I had parsley pasta with snails and bone marrow sauce. Unbelievable!! Highly recommended. Plus it’s a BYOB!

I was horrified by the decibel level in Fairmount's newest restaurant. I could not hear my friends seated across from me without screaming. Please do something to avoid customer deafness. Only open a few days, I went for dinner with friends. Northern Italian menu not your mom dishes. It was suggested that you choose from one of each listed category on the menu. First, second and third courses. The cauliflower first was good but not spectacular. The Branzino was typical high end tiny portion but well presented on a bed of 3 slices of turnips. Tasty but overall experience was underwhelming. time to improve.

I have been here 2x , and like it a lot. Great food , attentive service. I have been here with my niece,both times, and we love this place,and will be back soon I just wish they had a liquor license!

For a niece's graduation, I suggested A MANO. We were 14 and could not have had a better experience. We chose a set menu and it was all delicious, plentiful, and beautifully served. The staff was super-friendly, and the placement mid-room worked well for both service and conversation. Everyone else was a first-timer and the "reviews" were uniformly high-praise. Thanks to a no-longer-hidden gem. We'll be back!

One of the best Italian restaurants in Philadelphia, A Mano specializes in handmade pasta and fish entrées. The three courses (suggested but optional) are served as small portions usually, and just the right amount. It's BYOB, cash only,and pricey. But worth it. We go early before it gets too noisy in the small 'intimate' space. The service is A+.

Perhaps we should try A Mano again to improve upon our first experience. Portion sizes are surprisingly small. The atmosphere is a bit cool.

Service was the friendliest and kindest I have seen since pre-pandemic. All courses were absolutely tasty and the homemade bread was delicious so much so I had to comment and ask about where it came from but of course they said it’s a Mano so it was made by hand at the restaurant.. intend to go back for Mother’s Day wonderful small place BYOB

Friends who live in Fairmount encouraged us to go here so we went a few days ago. We love small plates/sharing and enjoy unique combinations of food. However, the combinations here didn't create Gestalt, just confusion. But more than that, the place relies on salt to make things taste good. This is an old trick in the restaurant business since initially your taste buds like the salt; but then your brain kicks in and you realize it's just a salty mess. As for the service, they act friendly but you can tell it isn't sincere. Our waitress would let us order piecemeal (that is order a few things and then see what else you wanted to order); this is a very normal thing to do at a small plates restaurant but here it was forbidden. They were in a big hurry to take our order and a big hurry to have us finish up. I think there are plenty of other BYOBs and small plates places to go where you will actually enjoy the experience and not feel bloated with salt afterwards (naming a few: Melogranno, Audrey Claire, South Helm.

My return visit to A Mano was an extraordinary disappointment, three dishes were served to our table, two of which were left uneaten because they were too salty to be enjoyed, and one was marginal. Not a stellar night for the kitchen, I cannot recommend the establishment for a dinner out with friends, keep looking.

Fabulous food. The roasted cauliflower is to die for. Knowledgable staff. BYOB so price is good. Lots of fun and terrific food.

We continue to return to A Mano as our go-to place for incredible food. A Mano is at the top of any food we have had - anywhere in the world. Chef Michael has a knack for putting multiple flavors in dishes that do not compete - nor meld together into one taste - but rather stand together, individually weaving savory tastes that complement and enhance one another in a culinary dance. We had another FABULOUS meal - as we have every other visit!

We are in this area often before the wonderful lecture series at the Free Library. A Mano is as good as any restaurant in Center City. My wife had fresh well seasoned bronzino and I flipped over the Pork Shank, which is the signature dish. The well seasoned meat fell off the bone. Surprisingly, there was very little fat. We shared asparagus that was served cold and excellent. BYOB and cash only. We appreciated the good wine glasses that few restaurants offer for BYOB patrons. Captain Makai

We have been here twice now and both times we have absolutely loved both the food and the service. We like getting an appetizer, three small pastas and a main dish. The pastas choices are varied and inventive and the main dishes are generously sized. We got the pork shank today and wow. Tender, full of flavor.... I'd order that for my last meal on earth in a heartbeat. We would normally cross the bridge to go to Zeppoli for this level of Italian cuisine, but thankfully, now we don't have to. And the servers are wonderful. We have gotten Lauren as a waitress both times and feel so lucky. She's always been superb, as is Joe. Thank you for good meals and to many more...!

Our family stumbled on this gem at the end of an afternoon of museum touring. We wanted coffee and a snack, and wanted to avoid the chains. We mentioned this when we went in and were seated by the gentleman at the door. The room was about 1/3 full. After a minute a woman came to the table and told us we couldn't stay, the table was needed for the dinner service. It was 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon. She directed us to a ( closed) diner down the block. I was so astonished by this that i thought the owner should be aware that the employees are throwing money out the door.

Prior dinners a few years ago were great. What happened? Sugar appeared in most courses, throwing the dish off balance. The hamachi crudo had sweet candied lemon instead of the savoury salty preserved lemon on the menu. Similarly the Uni Buccatini instead of salty brine of uni was unpleasantly sweet- why I asked- apparently someont thought it was a good idea to season with orange juice. The server graciously subbed for the more umami Porcini Lumache- but where was the porcini and salt? Oh yes- the extra salt was on the grilled branzino- almost inedible. The place was packed, no one checked vaccination status, there was so much smoke from the cooking my eyes were burning by the time we left. Hopefully no Covid from the exposure which would be adding insult to injury. The bright side- wonderful accomadating servers.

Delicious food in this attractive restaurant with friendly service. A 3-course menu costs $48. It is also possible to choose 1 main course (average $33). You get focaccia for free (see photo). A starter can also be chosen as a main course. A small portion costs about $20 (see photo of pasta dish with red sauce) and a large portion costs $33 (see other photo). Delicious food. Strange that you have to report your name and telephone number to the host. Why?

What a gem on the restaurants in here. With a little polishing it can become the Hope Diamond. Someone talk to the staff how to serve table properly. Portions were perfect on handmade pieces of pottery we scored well with appetizer and pasta. Only two complaints the beef shank with polenta needed much more sauce and a little bit more flavor and the noise in the dining room needs looking at Big Time. Would I go again ? In a heartbeat only to explore other dishes that looked fabulous even the antipasto . But bring your own wine and cash since they do not accept credit cards . You leave satisfied but not overstuffed as you would at most Italian restaurants . Would I go again? You bet if only to explore other dishes that looked interesting such as the antipasto the cauliflower and the veal carpaccio and when was the last time you had a semifreddo with a flowered herb in the mix. No espresso since there's no room in the tiny kitchen comma but the coffee was great. It seems everybody including the chefs are under 30. I could not spot a red sauce anywhere and that was a delightful change of pace.

This is a relatively small, modernly furnished restaurant. The atmosphere is modern techno. The servers were very attentive, without being intrusive. They were very friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable about the dishes and their preparation. The high spot of the evening, however, was the food. Everything we ate from the Seared Spanish Octopus, to the Lumachelle all'Amatrciana, and the Pan Seared Skate Wing were exquisite; fresh, perfectly prepared, and beautifully presented. This restaurant deserves the very best rating. Added to everything else the prices are quite reasonable and it's a BYOB. Be aware that reservations are very difficult to get.

Small menu; small portions but tasty food. Without liquor since its a byob my bill for 2 was over $100 w/o dessert or coffee. The pork shank was dry however the pasta dishes were delicious but minimal portion size. Restaurant was rustic on the inside - located on a corner with outside seating. Service was good.

Four of us went to A Mano on a Saturday evening. The small restaurant was crowded, but we were greeted at the door and immediately shown to our table. (We had reservations) Every dish on the menu was difficult to imagine and we were having a hard time deciding. Then we noticed the chef's offering, that was three sharing dishes of each course. That way, we could taste twelve different foods. What are the chances that four people would all LOVE all twelve? But we did! The wait staff was asking which were our favorites--a difficult decision. This was definitely one of the best restaurant meals any of us have ever had.

Townsend Wentz is quickly becoming one of my favorite chefs in Philadelphia and A Mano does not disappoint. Only knock was that the service felt rushed and failed to live up to the food.

There are a number of very fine Italian BYOs in Philadelphia. There are fewer in this neighborhood north of the Parkway and west of Broad so this is a welcome spot. And the quality of the food and the service make it well worth repeat visits. This is a neighborhood place with a very pleasant feel and solid value. The pastas are done to perfection and if there is not a great deal of creativity, I did not care. I went home happy.

First A Mano is a BYO, cash only restaurant, but PLEASE don’t let that stop you from going. The food is delicious, one of the five best meals I’ve ever had. They offer a four course chef’s choice, family style menu or you can order off the menu I highly recommend the mushroom small plate and the pork shank or the goat cheese gnocchi. The atmosphere is cozy and the service excellent without being overbearing.

A local told us to give this little neighbourhood restaurant a try. It was a bit of a hike from downtown, but well worth it. It is a cash only BYOB, so that is something to keep in mind. Service was very friendly, and our server knew the menu inside and out. We tried the grilled octopus appetizer, and the flavour was spectacular. The mains that we tried were also excellent.

Tod Wentz owned Fairmount location with sensational homemade and handmade - thus the A Mano - pasta dishes. No reservations and no cards, but no matter, this is cutting edge dining. Non-adventurous diners may struggle, but foodies will rave. We had two apps, four primi pastas and shared a dessert. Perfect for two. BYO keeps the price down. Go there soon!

It was my first time at this place. Overall everything was good. Good food, friendly staff. Very nice location.

My husband & I had a wonderful dinner at A Mano Restaurant in Fairmount. The food was delicious. We both had the fish which was cooked to perfection. The menu is not your typical Philadelphian Italian, but the different selections expand your tasting experience. I suggest checking the menu on line before booking or just be adventurous.

We had a fairly pleasant experience arriving early on a Friday evening. We were "made" to order our entire meal at one time, all three courses. The food was fantastic both in taste and presentation. But, we were dismayed with the speed and quickness that our meal was served. We couldn't even finish the bottle of wine we brought to the restaurant, over 3 distinct courses! We had an appetizer each and no sooner had we finished them, the second course was served. And then while we were still eating this course, the entree came out. This was very disappointing as there was no "rest" or chance to savor what we just ate. We didn't think of this place as a "fast food" option, but we thought it was a fine dining establishment that just didn't take reservations or credit cards and was a BYOB. Unfortunately, that is what we remember about our visit and do not remember much about the meal itself.

I took my family here for dinner before a concert and found A Mano to be worthy of all the praise it has garnered. The food was excellent and the service professional and attentive. Just be sure to plan ahead and bring plenty of cash because credit cards are not accepted.

Looking for and found something new in Italian food in Philadelphia. If you looking for a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs please don't go here. If you're craving 9 cheese ravioli it's not here either. If you are looking for an interesting and imaginative take on Italian this will be your new spot. A concentrated menu, where everything is reasonably priced and well portioned, is what you will get. Antipasti with anchovies, charcuterie, local cheese, duck prosciutto, peppers, zucchini,mushrooms, mortadella (to die for),beets etc. were all fresh and tasty. Braised Pork Belly was perfectly cooked and presented. Seared Octopus was crisp and tender. The Cavatelli, cauliflower and potato goat cheese dishes were all on point. The Pork shank, Chicken Milanese and Skate are all up to the task of satisfying taste buds. The 3 sides offered were all delicious. We tried all 3 desserts...all were perfect but the semifreddo was in a class by itself. Bring friends and share everything. Too busy eating to take pictures. 5 easy stars!

I usually like an open kitchen. However this place is so tiny that the heat generated is uncomfortable. The noise level also makes conversation difficult. For apps and primi platters we tried the roasted cauliflower, the pasta with crab, octopus, and cavatelli with escargot. Good not great. Pork belly was the highlight. For main we had pork shanks - delicious, chicken Milanese - fair, skate wing - very good. My recommendation: stick with the pork choices. They were the best offerings on the menu.

My family and I went here on a Tuesday evening with my two year old niece. The food was very good. Despite not being a family restaurant, the wait staff was very welcoming. (In our defense, we had walked by and seen several children dining the night before and were welcomed and seated before realizing the restaurant was more upscale than we had assumed, and my niece was thankfully well-behaved.) There is some noise in the restaurant due to the open kitchen, but we could carry on a low conversation easily. There wasn't a huge selection on the menu, but the offerings were very tasty. I enjoyed the duck breast, and my mother's portion of frutti de mare was very generous. They only take cash.

For the second year in a row, my daughter, partner and I have dined at A Mano in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia on my birthday (which I share with my daughter). We started with the assorted antipasto appetizer board with mixed meats, cheeses, olives, etc. Yummy! Next we shared a pasta dish and chose the squid ink chitarra. Melt in your mouth! Each of us ordered an entree: I had the branzino, my daughter ordered the short rib and my partner ordered the skate wing. Each of us shared a little bite with one another and all I can say is that each entree was simply amazing! For dessert, the staff did bring the dish with a lighted candle but it was all very discreet and it turned out that our server also shared her birthday with her daughter so we felt like the stars were aligned. A Mano is a BYOB, cash only no plastic establishment which you need to know before going. We will more than likely go back again next year for our birthday as it has been such a good experience two years running. My only recommendation is that you start way ahead of your hopeful date to get a reservation. It's a busy, popular place!

Fabulous dinner and selections. Visited here twice and brought excellent wine to pair with the food. One of the best restaurants in the city.

A Mano replaces a deli at the corner of 23rd and Fairmount. Opened only little over a week, doesn't have a sign yet, but it is attracting sizable clientele and for good reason: quality food. A Mano fills a need in the area for a BYO eatery offering good service and excellent Italian style fare at fairly reasonable prices. Last Friday four of us went for a dinner and found a line of people waiting as the place does not take reservations; also, its cash only. We were told the wait was about 30 minutes but it was close to an hour before we got seated but the weather was good so we didn't mind the wait. We had four different dishes and all were excellent. Staff was very attentive. A Mano seems bound for success here. However, there are a couple of issues that might compromise level of success. One is the limited space, a rather small rectangular space that is arranged to seat about 50 or 60; many may not want to wait for long outside in bad or nasty weather. And two, the level of noise in a confined space plus the music; it was very loud the night we were there. Regardless, it offers excellent food and service.

Finally made it to A Mano as we make our way through Food and Wines list of the best Italian restaurants in Philadelphia. The entrees that we chose were both delicious and the service was great..... after the generous antipasti board, a first and a second along with our entire bottle of wine no comment can be made about dessert because we were too full to consider. I'm sure we'll be back after we complete the circuit.

Browsing for a nice restaurant near the PMA, I ran across this. It was WONDERFUL. Small but spacious seating, only a 10 minute walk from the Museum, plain lovely décor, indoor and outdoor seating AND BYO! And it gets better. The food was delicious and well served. I could have had the veal carpaccio twice, and we both enjoyed our branzino. Everything clean (nice bathroom) and attractive and good service. I will race back again for sure! GO GO GO we can't afford to lose this option in this neighborhood.

We were walking around, looking for a good restaurant for dinner after spending the afternoon at the Philadelphia Art Museum, and we noticed what looked like a fairly busy restaurant with shiny windows from the outside - except there was no sign! So, we opened the door and inquired, and sure enough, the restaurant had opened only a month earlier and their sign was not ready yet! The staff - from Tom the owner to Peter our server to the hostess who first greeted us - were all so attentive and friendly! Peter was also kind and sweet and not only served us great food but gave us great service! I am vegetarian, and there were a few - not a lot - of veggie options on the menu. However, they adjusted some items to make them vegetarian, which I appreciated very much. The restaurant is sparkling, attractive, and comfortable. We will plan to return and bring our vegetarian teen and twenty-something children!

We had made a reservation at 'A Mano' because we were traveling to Philadelphia and had heard very high praise for this place. When we got to the restaurant, it turned out that we had made a reservation at 'A Mano' restaurant in Syracuse, NY! We were befuddled, upset, and wondering what our group of 7 was going to have to do to find a place for dinner. Amazingly enough, the maitre d' asked us if we could be patient for a few minutes, maybe 10, and that they understood there had been a error (because we showed them the confirmation email -- although it was a confirmation for Syracuse!!). They could not have been more welcoming and helpful. A short time later we were seated at a very nice table and the tasting menu began. I can honestly say that I do not remember the names of the dishes or the order in which they were brought out, but each of us found some of the varied dishes to be delicious and plentiful for the entire party. The restaurant wait staff was utterly pleasant and patient. 'A Mano' is a BYOB restaurant and the wait staff opened the first and then the second bottle we had carried in. By the time the tasting menu desserts came out we were all full, but... the desserts were so tasty and delicious that we had to throw caution to the winds and enjoy them--all of them. I wonder if the restaurant's cash-only rule would turn off some potential diners. I hadn't experienced that rule before. It didn't concern me last night as long as that rule is made clear when one is making the reservation, so it will be understandable and do-able. The restaurant staff's easy warmth and their professionalism rate a very high number. We were grateful to them for their willingness to squeeze us in and for their very scrumptious variety of food.

My first visit to this restaurant and I am already plotting out my second. Every dish we had was delicious and the waitstaff was very good about checking on my allergies. I may have to go back and just eat all the starters because it was so hard to decide. We were a party of three and there was no disappointment to be found.

A hidden gem in Fairmount, just north of Center City. The menu is prix fixe. You can choose a 3 or 4 course meal. BYOB. There is no exterior sign except on the door.

What a fantastic little restaurant. The service was wonderful. JP was an excellent server. The pork shank meal was absolutely delicious. There was a special appetizer that had pork belly and totally worth trying. We tried two antipasti too, great. And the best part was the BYOB!!! Very enjoyable and tasty meal.

There is considerable attention paid to the pasta selections, but the entire menu is very interesting. The pairing of ingredients is inventive. We particularly liked the cauliflower mezzaluna and the lump crab pasta dish. The skate was perfectly cooked in a colorful presentation. However, the freshly baked focaccia was worth the visit alone.

Three of us had a terrific dinner at A Mano in Philadelphia. It’s a cash only, and we brought our wine with us. We decided to try as many tastes as possible, so we ordered the family style chefs menu.......and tasted everything! Fantastic!

Friends took us to A Mano on the Saturday evening after Valentines day. Because of late planning we had a 4:30 reservation. After a day of walking around Philly, and light lunch, this was a welcome time for food. There were also few people at first so we got oriented and perused the menu comfortably. Taking advantage of BYOB certainly underscores the ability to get a good value for a night out. The 4 of us shared 2 appetizers (including the generous antipasta board), 3 primis, and 3 secondi. That was plenty of (all delicious) food! The food is complex - several to many layers of tastes. Certainly special and attentive preparation went into all of it.

GREAT food and perfect atmosphere. The food here is fantastic. Every dish that came out was somehow just as good or better then the previous. The waiters recommendations were spot on and his overall service was excellent and easy. The restaurant is small but not overcrowded and not stuffy. Its like a perfect mixture of casual and elegance. A Mano really checks every box for a great dinner experience.

Italian with a more contemporary twist than Old Establishment, the menu is limited but I compliment the management on it, and classics are updated the way they would be in fashionable places in Italy. Everything is done right, with service an important part of the experience. Wait staff is actually TRAINED, I put big capital letters there, because it is rare these days to be served with excellence. BYOB saves a bundle and prices are reasonable in a clean, modern environment. My only personal disappointment is the open kitchen: back home I had to put every garment I was wearing for a wash, as the smell from the food was too overpowering. I would actually recommend that a look over to the adequacy of the aeration be made.

Small, casual, just about perfect. Came here with some friends and between us, we pretty much ordered everything on the menu. Hard to pick a favourite because everything was so good. Can't wait to come back.

Wife and I decided to venture into the city to try this new restaurant. Stupendous idea and I believe their food is better than Vetri. Their Calabrian Seafood Stew is awesome. Comes with swordfish, 2 scallops, prawn, cockles, mussels comes in this bouillabaisse flavored (heavenly) stew. We were planning to try their black ink pasta, but they have since switched to a summer menu. No worries...this stew satisfied our palate. My wife got the parsley cavatappi with escargot...very well seasoned with olive oil and the sauce is such a joy. For appetizer we got the Antipasti Board as suggested by JP (he is an outstanding server)...great idea since the seafood stew is already rich instead of getting the crudo and octopus. Dessert is their semifreddo dusted with mint flavored sugar granules and some chocolate. Very highly recommended...just plain heaven. BTW, cash only and BYOB...since we forgot to bring a bottle, I had to run next door at London Grill (heavily marked up...$12 bottle CA wine sells for $32).

Food quality is very good, however, a bit pricey. I ordered a $16 pasta meal as a main dish and was charged $32 for not much more than 25% larger portion. Inside is so noisy that we had to eat outside. Waiters need training as our food and the table's food next to us was mistaken three times. We even received the incorrect bill. A once and done experience.

I don't usually write rave reviews. Unfortunately I usually write to complain. Not the case here. This restaurant is small, you need to get in early, but it's certainly worth it. Every plate was delicious, and beautifully presented. You want to eat even when full because the taste of the food is just exquisite. The staff is attentive, friendly, and very service oriented. Drop a spoon or a fork and its replaced with a new one within 3-5 seconds. I got to see this first hand, approx 4 times with my niece and nephew. Absolutely impressive. If they keep this up at this level I have no doubt it will raise in ratings very quickly.

We were back at A Mano for New Year's again. It was a fixed menu - not typically my favorite thing when out to eat - but we knew chef Michael would not disappoint, and he didn't. Four courses - prawns first, lovely, tasty. Mushroom ravioli second - to die for! Oh my. Incredible layers of flavor in the sauce. Pork cheek third - each bite rich and rewarding. Finale was a beautiful semifreddo - perfectly light, to finish a fabulous meal. We continue to find A Mano our first choice of restaurants in the area.

This restaurant had excellent reviews, and is a BYOB, which is always a plus. We were prepared for both the higher than expected prices and the fact that it's a cash-only place. This is a small restaurant, the waitstaff is friendly, and attentive enough. The food: the focaccia was surprisingly rubbery and salty. Rubbery like if you warm bread up in a microwave oven. We always share everything, so often we will just order different food to taste. The raw oysters had chopped peppers and some other flavors on them. We appreciated the chef's creativity, but found that fresh naked raw oysters are more to our liking. The beet salad: again, the chef was trying too hard to be innovative. Broccoli rabe with Italian sausage and beans: very tasty. Parsley cavatelli with some "straw (bleached out, sorry) mushrooms and escargot looked attractive but taste-wise, hm, not quite fabulous. My mushroom ravioli was more to our liking, although the hazelnuts and foie gras? More for the "wow" effect than actual taste combination.

We had wanted to come here, and finally did. Beyond worth the 1 hr. drive into the city. The food was superb - one of the finest meals either of us could ever remember, rivaling our couple most memorable meals out of 4 trips to Italy. Every dish was unique; sauces were rich and complex; everything worked. We will definitely return - again and again and again. We had the grilled spanish octopus with chorizo and cockles - incredible flavors; corzetti (pasta coins) with paprika and corn - to die for; swordfish - which was moist and tender - unlike any swordfish I've EVER had - and branzino with fennel and olives was excellent. Dessert was some kind of slightly frozen mousse - superb. Nothin' but the best. BYOB; and Cash.

Big group of 14, had the tasting menu It was just delicious, I can't pick a favourite it was all so good. Such an amazing variety of dishes with plenty for everyone. The staff are clearly passionate and knowledgable about every dish.

We had dinner with old friends on a Saturday evening. The place is small and tight and loud with all that BYOB wine flowing! The menu was limited but good quality italian, not special in our view. One last thing, it's all cash, no credit cards! It is across from Eastern State Penitentiary- cost $25 to park!

A Mano is a casual restaurant with a friendly feel to it. The service is terific, too. The food e was for the MOST part wonderful and appealing. We had a variety of appetizers and they were all very tasty and I particularly liked the polenta. Actually, the only thing that prevents me grom rating this restaurant as ‘excellent’ is the desserts. We had quite a few at our table and I didn’t think they met the same standard as the rest of the food, which my wife and I did really enjoy. All in all though, I thought this is a very good place to have a casual Italian meal.

Our first time here. Friends suggested we go with them. We brought two bottles of wine. It’s BYOB which helps offset the pricey menu. We began with the cauliflower app. Very nice but the portion was rather small for the price. Also shared the pasta with escargot. Excellent choice. Would have liked a bit more fir the $ 30 entree size. Not many snails in the dish. The bread is yummy. Bring cash. No Credit Cards accepted. For mains we had the cod, swordfish both delightfully prepared and so tasty! With coffee $126/couple. Will be back!

What a shame. We liked the menu selections and appreciated the nice fresh things-- like the appetizer sampler, with delicious cheeses etc-- but most of our other dishes were tainted by a cacophony of seasonings, primarily salt (even the otherwise delicious focaccia bread was salty). The walnut ravioli was too sweet-- none of us could finish it although we felt that it should have been wonderful. There's a good chef there but he or she needs to trust the food to shine through. Other comments: The service was fine if a tad slow (but it was busy). Seemed very pricey for a BYOB.

We had dinner at A Mano, while visiting friends who live in the neighborhood. Great dining experience!! Our party of 5 went on a Tuesday evening, without reservations. Spur of the moment decision. Restaurant was almost full, but we were able to be seated right away. I would definitely reserve a table on weekends. Staff very friendly, efficient. Food is wonderful!! Small plates, so we ordered an assortment to share. We had burrata, roasted cauliflower, braised pork belly,octopus, tomato gnocchi, smoked tomato corzetti, pappardelle all'amatriciana, braised pork shank, skate wing, Tuscan kale. Everything was PERFECTION! Finished with coffee and desserts, delicious. Definitely will return! BYOB. Cash only.

Our third visit to A Mano - and we were treated to another exquisite meal. Several new dishes since the last time we visited - we tried several of them. Burrata with roasted beets was excellent; charred Spanish octopus was treated differently than the previous grilled version, but equally as pleasing. Braised pork belly was over the top - luscious and rich. Squid ink pasta with calamari had so many flavors, I couldn't stop dipping the lovely sourdough bread in the sauce, and the parsley cavatelli with escargot and tiny, pale beech mushrooms was delightful. The staff is attentive but not overbearing; remembered us immediately and welcomed us back. Chef obviously cares about his dishes and his customers. It is truly our #1 choice in Philly.

My husband and I went for date night a couple of weeks ago and will definitely be going again. Go early or swing by and not your name down and the hostess will text you when a table is ready. Remember, byob and cash only. Service is great. Felt like we could have stayed 2 hours and not be bugged. Delicious, inventive, and hearty dishes. Seriously, my husband and I were stuff....that pork shank, wow! So good. Also, the pastas are freshly made and beautifully presented. We didn't have room for desert, but if it's half as good as the meal, it is likely great. Get a babysitter and head to A mano for an evening out with top notch food.

Two friends and I went to A Mano on a Friday night. The host and servers were friendly and attentive and the food was delicious. As a celiac, I was informed what was gluten free or what could be changed to make a dish gluten free. The entire experience was pleasant and happy. Since it is a BYOB, it also is cost effective. I highly recommend A Mano for a special night out.

Incredible Italian cuisine. Went as a family for Father’s Day. Service was great and food was incredible. Highlights included the Pork Belly, Rotolo, and the Sicilian Swordfish which was one of the best sword fish dishes I’ve ever had. Tiramisu to cap it off was excellent.

Outstanding!! The best bread I have had in ages. Food is great and service is wonderful. Also good for people watching on Fairmont ave. Will be back maybe tomorrow!

Had a wonderful dinner. The antipasto was delicious. Chicken Milanese was tender and very good. Service was exceptional. Our server isahiah made the night very enjoyable.

Our "go-to" place in Fairmount - anniversary dinner was spot-on! One did 3 course; one did 5 course. Beef tartare was superb; Burrata and Heirloom tomato was very tasty There was a change to the Gnocchi, and it was absolutely divine. The Saffron Rotolo had wonderful layers of flavor. Swordfish special was very good - though not quite as memorable as my first swordfish at A Mano in 2017, which I actually featured in a sermon! Both the Panna Cotta and the Lemon Olive Oil Cake were on the money. We LOVE A Mano!

The food here is terrific, and the staff could not have been friendlier or more attentive and professional. We had a great time sitting outside on a gorgeous warm night, despite the location across from a gas station. Still has charm, with lots of neighborhood people walking around. The interior is attractive, very simple in design. One of the best antipasti platters one could ever have, and the pork shank is divine. You could spend a lot of money here, but you can also keep the price under control by sharing the exquisite pastas and ordering fewer secondi. Also, it's BYO, so we could enjoy a first class meal for a reasonable price.