La Mancha Restaurant
2709 Sadler Rd, Fernandina Beach, FL, 32034
La Mancha Restaurant Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Fernandina Beach for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
2709 Sadler Rd
Fernandina Beach, FL, 32034 - Phone (904) 261-4646
- Website https://www.lamancharestaurant.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Ozzie M.
Awesome ambience. Brought me back to Spain. The food was phenomenal. I had the paella. AYCE 25/person. Best I have had in a long time. The scallops were out of this world. Sangria was refreshing. Both red and white. The music entertainment was extremely talented. Gipsy kings caliber. Mostly instrumental but oh wow theses guys are talented and this is coming from a guitarist. Come to Fernandina and enjoy this hidden gem. The waiting staff was attentive, friendly and not pushy.
(5)Scott W.
Mind blowing! You have to check this place out!! What are you doing reading this review! Go..Now! Jonathan will hook you up! Amazing service from this gentlemen. He was a perfect guide through this journey of deliciousness. The Sangria! Holy mother of god! Get it! So much flavor coming at you. Some of the best Sangria I've had. Then move on to the Gambos Mandragon! The homemade poblano sauce is absolute poblano perfection - a bit of heat but not so much as to overpower the flavor! The shrimp in the dragon are local and of course crazy fresh. The Chorizo - The fire.. Literally it's on fire - in a clay pot, when they bring it out. Delicious! We also tried the Mejillones Rubro Negro. These mussels! Just unbelievable. You have to try them to truly understand. Then move on to the Picanha a Palito. It's a perfectly prepared top sirloin with a creamy blue cheese sauce. They were meant for each other. THEN.. you HAVE to try the Espada de la Reyna! Words would never be able to do these epic swords, loaded with sooo much goodness, justice! So many flavors a coming at you. The shrimp wrapped around those wonderful large scallops. Pineapple, sweet onions, peppers.. All fire grilled to perfection. Gotta try it! Last but absolutely not least - the Tiramisu, paired perfectly with a delicious port wine suggested by Jonathan. It will blow your mind. The perfect amount of moist and sweetness to finish everything off. Gotta try it. If I could give this place 6 stars I would. Completely amazing dining experience. Highly recommended!
(5)Michelle Q.
Wow! Many restaurants say they have 'made fresh' or 'made from scratch' food. This restaurant delivers! Luckily, the restaurant was located right next to my hotel. We had a lunch buffet as part of the conference. I was instantly hooked on the homemade bread served in thick slices, and still steamy. We had pasta with meatballs. Between the balsamic vinegar dressing (so delicious I could lick off the fork) and the meatballs (spectacular flavor, not your average meatball!) I could have left happy. However, Amy brought over her sweet iced tea and I knew there was no limit to her culinary genius. I loved the lunch so much I returned for the homemade paella. When we entered it was simmering in a huge pan. The only thing that can top the flavor of the dishes is the aroma in the restaurant. A fragrant mix of herbs that is delightful. One of my colleagues received a slice of tres leches cake which she swore by. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and if you go on Sunday night they have live guitar music. A woman sat down to sing a short song during our dinner. We were completely blown away. She had the most amazing opera voice. All in all, I highly recommend adding this to your list of spots to visit. There are lots of options close by but this is definitely one that will appeal to someone wanting a meal to linger over and enjoy every bite.
(5)Daniel M.
I first look at the menu and i realized that a few items were a marriage of other cuisines, such as muzambique sauce (beer, garlic, onion, 4 types of chili peppers, cilantro and their own twist of wine and coconut milk) a classic all on its own. let me just say, this sauce is insane, but the flavors were intense . in terms of presentation the chef utilizes a brazilian clay pot that keep the heat so intense that even after 20 minutes of the contents being serve at the table the food was still hot. The chef himself is from Brazil, another chef is from El Salvador, so you already have central and south american flavors and cuisines merging in one pot, truly remarkable. I had a table for 5ppl and we ordered the Gambas (shrimp) ajillo, basically a garlic infused olive oil in which whole shrimp are cooked. The garlic flavor is intense and although i had it in other places, i always taste butter and garlic and the shrimp are always an after thought. Tonight the shrimp were the stars and they were shining! the eggplant with spinach and crab meat, is a dish that could easily be confused for an italian dish. Truth be told, i could have had it with pasta, only if pasta was available....sadly no pasta. Tons of eggplant, no skin ( clearly chef is anticipating to avoid bitterness and tough skin) The eggplant was cooked tender, perfect and the crab meat, motzarella and spinach combination along with the tomato broth were simply amazing. It was like having a tomato cheese broth. So good it dissapeared quickly and what ever sauce was left on the plate was quickly cleaned up with the loaf of bread that came to to the table. Be advise so for the table ordered the white rioja (only wine by the glass) to accentuate all of the appetizers we had ordered. The chef sent out a complimentary appetizer which was grilled top sirloin steak and shrimp with a blue cheese sauce, the steak was pounded thin, the shrimp were spread on top and drizzled with a blue cheese sauce, a must have in the menu. At this point we turned to red wine and i ordered a bottle of Vina Solorca Tempranillo Crianza ( if i did not know what I was drinking, i would swear, i was drinking a fine french Bourdeaux...) this tempranillo crianza is young and vibrant and full of body. (Keep in mind Ribiera del Duero has many fine wine makers and this is one of them) It held well against the shrimp, paella and the portugese stew. An awesome value at $40 a bottle. The ceviche had fish, mango, cilantro and fresh lime. A very simple dish that really got us talking about fresh seafood and simplicity. Because i am a wine snob, i could not have it, as the acidity would interfiere with my wine tasting, so i had to skip it. But the entire table was raving about the ceviche. For the main course we had the paella with seafood and the Portugese stew. My up most respect goes to the chef as this was a first time everyone in the table was trying Mozanbique sauce in a stew, i was blown away, and so was the rest if the table. He infuses coconut, peppers, onion,garlic, tomatoes, cilantro, beer, wine, and his proprietary selection of chiles to create a broth that i could literally sip out of the brazilian clay pot with a straw and the presentation alone is unique yet worthy of what it is intended.(yes some what pricey at $52 but worth its weight in gold) The portugese stew had fish, clams,mussels, shrimp and safron rice on the side..this whole dish stole the show at the table. This is a must have, this dish alone is the star of the show. Once again the Maitre'd came out and he asked how was our dinning experience, we told him that his food was amazing and that we were not sure if we could even think about dessert. He insisted on letting us try tres leches cake (Brazilian version of it) and creme caramel ( flan) Let me just say that the red wine paired well with the flan, so flan reign supreme at the table. The tres leches was a bit on the heavy side so we did try it but we were not able to finish it. Chef sent a complimentary shot of Tawny port 20 yr old for the table and that really sealed the deal for the evening. While perusing the wine list eddie our amazing server also allowed me to try a glass of the Jose Maria Periquita Reserva, which was a lighter red fron portugal and that wine was also an excellent contender, had i wanted to try a Portugese wine the Periquita is an excellent choice for the price and value. Normally I would have had dinner at Espana(histori Jacksonville and way more expensive) but tonight we certainly made the right choice. We were already staying at a luxury property nearby (Ritz Carlton Amelia Island) and eating at La Mancha really made our dinning experience that much more especial. The service, the attention to detail, the genuine care and comfort the entire staff displayed to our table and to the other guests was just out of this world.
(5)James B.
Visiting from out of town and stopped here for dinner. The flavor was unbelievable and the dinner was outstanding. Cannot go wrong
(5)Alex B.
This restaurant was amazing!! We are so glad that during our trip Espana near by was closed so we got to give this place a try! Such a great evening. Inside there was a great atmosphere and even live music with a Spanish dancer! Our server Eddie was great and did his best since it was pretty loud right next to the live music. The food came out so fast and was absolutely delicious! The seafood was so fresh and all the food was very high quality. Our favorite of the night was the homemade sangria and the scallops mondragon, a must try. The scallops were perfectly fried with a creamy poblano pepper sauce that was utterly to die for, we ended up getting multiple orders. Overall this place was an extremely pleasant surprise and we will definitely be coming again on our next visit!
(5)Dad C.
Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. I can tell you I was staying next door at the Hampton Inn and checked several places and did not want to deal with the crowds in the historical district...I went to La Mancha and that I was surprised ..I had the Paella and the Salad...nothing special but they nailed it on the Salad and Sangria alone....David was my waiter (aka Joe Biden) and he was a great guy that tried to ensure you enjoy yourself.....
(5)Kathy C.
What are signs of finding a great restaurant? You first read about it on Yelp and read about many great reviews. You walk in to the restaurant and immediately was impressed by the atmosphere and friendly staff that greets you at the door. You open up the menu and quickly realize you simply cannot order everything you want to try (even in 'cooperative mode' to share dishes amongst your party of four, and immediately have an internal debate on what to choose and coerce others to pick the items you want to try. You get your beautiful pitcher of sangria and tapas, and paella and everything just tasted from good to great to fantabulous! You shed a (imaginary) tear because you want to eat more as you leave, but you just don't have any tummy space anymore. So you vow to come back again soon.
(5)Jeanette M.
Great lunch! Very accommodating for families. The kids loved the spaghetti and meatballs. My husband and I split a burger and each had a side salad. It was all excellent and served promptly, beautiful presentation too.
(5)Maya C.
A friend and I were staying in a hotel nearby and not wanting to go anywhere near downtown Ameila Island for dinner during the Shrimp Festival, we walked over to La Mancha. Authentic Spanish tapas and seafood? Ok. Not sure how crazy it was gonna be we made a reservation 2 hours before with ease. By 7pm we walked in and were we sat down immediately. There were quite of few people there already, probably like us based on some of the convos I overheard, up for the Shrimp Festival and the beach. The wine list was impressive and I almost ordered a glass of Moscato until I remembered where I was and ordered a glass of Sangria. That was phenomenal and I knew I was just gonna have one glass hahaha. We decided to order only tapas because it's the best way to try everything. We started with the Antipasti platter: "Platter of serrano ham, chorizo, fresh mozzarella, tomato, roasted zucchini, eggplant and squash, drizzled in extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze" This was wayyyy more food than we thought it would be and we ended up taking at least half of it to-go. Everything on it was fantastic. One of their nightly specials was a smoked salmon appetizer. Excuse me...what? I love smoked salmon! I couldn't pass it up and ordered it. My friend doesn't dig salmon as much as I do so I ate the majority of it. It's served raw and drizzled in balsamic glaze as well and for a minute I thought I was in a sushi bar. So good! Then we ordered the Gambas Carmen Miranda, shrimp in a pineapple (get the reference?) with get this: creamy coconut honey mustard curry sauce. Who does that? This dish was the hardest to eat because it was so delicious. I wanted to eat the pineapple as well but I didn't think that it would be appropriate. After that we got the Almondegas de Carneiro - Lamb Meatballs in a Spanish Blue Cheese sauce. The meatballs themselves were awesome but I think the sauce was a little weak. If it was thicker and coated the meatball more that would be good. We were full by now but we still wanted dessert. We split a piece of Tres Leches. The cake was good but I think the presentation could be better. Would we come back? Absolutely! The atmosphere and the food are definitely worth the drive up from Jacksonville.
(5)Kevin J.
Delightful lunch with great service. Ordered the chorizo which was as good as anything I have had in Spain. The plantains were better than the ones I had in Costa Rica. The beans were tasty and the yellow rice was perfect. My parents live a little over a mile away and I will be back on a Sunday for paella night.
(5)Michael B.
Very tasty. My wife and I really enjoyed our dinners. The kids each for butter noodles with meatballs. The meatball (there was only one) has a lot of spice; not for kids. Also, it was $12 each...for buttered noodles and one meatball. They did love the noodles. The shrimp and sauces were excellent, but the scallops we're so-so.
(4)Donna W.
Go...go now...don't wait...outstanding service with amazing food. Oh my stars in heaven! My husband took me to La Mancha for my birthday. The food was AMAZING!!! Our server Eddie was attentive, courteous, and there at just the right time. We had one of the specials, a dinner for two which included steak & lobster tail. It was delicious and the steak was awesome! It came with five sides which were just as good: plantains (yummo), saffron rice, steamed veggies, potato wedge & potato salad, and house salad. I also had the sangria which was refreshing and delicious. I already look forward to going back and wish we hadn't waited so long to try this amazing restaurant.
(5)Zach R.
Food was good, service was good, sangria was good. We ordered two meals for 2 for 4 people and it was plenty of food.
(4)John B.
I've never written a review on any site before. I had to log on for this restaurant though. The food was unbelievable and the service was fantastic. This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time.
(5)Michael A.
Great food, great prices. Highly recommend the Churrasca. Good place to eat while you are in Fernandina Beach, FL.
(5)Amy G.
Our server (I wish I could remember his name!) was amazing! He was funny, charming, and attentive to our table. The food was also very good. I started with a glass of wine and the Scallops Mondragon. The scallops were tender and cooked perfectly, while the roasted poblano pepper sauce provided a great balance of savory spice. I chose the Salmon Isabella for my entree. The Grilled fillet of Alaskan salmon was served over arugula, diced tomato, and topped with a special caponata. It was good; however, I wish I would have asked if it included olives, because that the one food I really don't like. I was able to sift out the olives, and overall, it was a tasty dish.
(4)C M.
Came here for our wedding anniversary. This was also our first time to Amelia Island. I called ahead an made a reservation on a Thursday night. There were a few large parties there so I was happy I did. I requested a corner table as I knew I would have to nurse my son during dinner. The hostess was friendly and on arrival gave me my pick of corner tables, which I thought was very nice. The waiter was quick and friendly. He was taking care of 3 large parties and our table, but never broke a sweat. We started with the Ceviche La Mancha and Mejillones Rubro Negro. If you've read my other reviews, I really like mussels and get them as an appetizer almost everywhere I go. The mussels were steaming hot, with a delicious tomato based sauce and slices of chorizo. Very good. The ceviche was fresh tasting, served in a hard taco shell with fresh mango around. Out of the two we liked the ceviche best. For the entree we both had paella, the Paella Valencia and Paella Alacantina. Both were delicious. All the paella is pretty much the same, the difference is what meat you want. It came out piping out. One thing that was consistent was large portion sizes. We both had leftover paella to bring home. For desert we wanted to try the tres leeches however they were out, and so they gave us flan on the house for our anniversary. We also wanted to try the white Sangria, they were out and so we tried the red, amazing! The parking was good, bathrooms were clean. Did I mention they had live music? A man played throughout the evening on his guitar, and he was really good. All in all, this was a wonderful experience. I really can't find anything negative to say about this place. We will make the hour drive back to eat here!
(5)Faisal S.
Excellent Spanish food with a Portuguese option. The Seafood cazuela was excellent. The rice was cooked al dente. The tapas were very good too. I live Spanish food and Portuguese and eat it in Newark and Chicago where I can. This place is great with authentic flavor. I also love the flamenco music playing in the back ground. Espana is good place but this place is better.
(5)Wanderlea S.
It's an ok restaurant IF you are not a fine food connoisseur. The food was salty and super greasy. Making Long John Silver your next best option for seafood. The people are nice, but again, loud. Other than that, nothing else.
(2)Tara S.
Excellent tapas. Great service. The tomato bread was quite different than what I have eaten in Spain and was closer to a tomato paste with anchovies on it. The bread is out of this world delish The shrimp in cayenne coconut sauce will have you licking the plate for every delicious drop of the sauce. The clams are in a buttery chorizo flavored pool that you will want to drink right from the casserole. The steak in blue cheese sauce could use more blue cheese crumbles otherwise is a great dish as the meat is so tender that you can cut it with a fork. We sampled a few of the desserts. The chocolate mousse cake has a light and creamy texture The limoncello and tres leches were both so sicky sweet that my teeth ached. The location is great with ample parking and you can take an after dinner stroll down to the beach
(4)Shapechanger V.
This place is good but not that good. Certainly not 4.5 as Yelp indicates. The service is stellar though. Wonderful waitress and fantastic owner. Good sangria. Neat menu with lots of interesting stuff to choose from. Flavor was kind of lacking considering the 4.5 rating and prices. I think it's worth a shot but we won't go back.
(3)Kraig K.
Great food and service. Way better then other local places that are over crowded and over priced. Best medal I have had in a very long time. Walk Down street from sliders, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kayla M.
If you are looking for an amazing dinner with some atmosphere La Mancha is the place to be! We usually enjoy our dinners here in Sunday because of the live Spanish guitar. The sangria is one of the best on the island, and I haven't even talked about the best part... The food!! For tapas we had shrimp with coconut pineapple and curry sauce which is served in a whole half of a pineapple. The chargrilled shrimp and scallops are hands down the most delicious I have ever eaten! It can get a little pricey but, in my eyes it is totally worth every dollar!
(5)Cody S.
Highlights - The food was quite good - The service was really great Lowlights - The decor. It was not terrible but they could do much better - The exterior of the building. You don't think you're walking into a $$$ level restaurant when you're in the parking lot. Again if you can get past what your eyes see the food and service is good.
(4)Alex U.
Delicious food and impeccable service. We enjoyed our meal so much we went back again the following night! Both waiters were very informative and offered great suggestions regarding the specials/menu and wine. They were attentive and the delivery of the food was timed perfectly. You can tell this restaurant is run by people who know how to do it right! The food itself was top notch. We loved the gambas carmen miranda and the grouper ceviche was excellent. Our whole party enjoyed every dish we ordered. Thank you La Mancha for two wonderful dining experiences. We hope to be back very soon!
(4)Allen L.
I agree with all the 5 star reviews. The service was first class. Paella was great. Fresh baked bread and vegetables made that day. No complaints about this restaurant and a nice and quiet atmosphere.
(5)Jason E.
Came on the recommendation of a client. Not much to look at from the outside but this was truly a great dining experience. Got a half pitcher of Sangria that was fantastic, and I don't even drink wine. Flaming Chrorizo was fantastic, Coconut Curry shrimp dish was insane as well. Wanted to try everything. Can't go wrong here.
(5)Rachael A.
Deliciously spiced dishes, wonderful service and recommendations by Mac. Wish we lived closer!
(5)Steve L.
Outstanding large business group experience, completely beyond what I'd hoped for for my clients and friends. For us the service was as friendly and personal and attentive as the food was terrific. Our group of 12 was split whether they were more impressed by the wonderful variety of seafood or our great server and the fun manager. My only tip is that the dinner for two is really enough for 3 or 4 regular people. Seeing it arrive was to know what it was to be a Roman senator at a feast. Dazzling. Great wine list too. Very fun atmosphere with outstanding food choices. At least one of our party went back again the next night because he wanted the whole experience again. Highly, highly recommended.
(5)Makrsch 9.
Decor is bright and lively, which matches music. Here on a mid summer's night and it's busy but not crowded. Walked nicely and politely to our table. Bread is served, but then a pause. By the time the waiter shows up and asks if we want drinks, we are ready to order dinner. Garlic shrimp tapas look great, wonderful flavor and great texture. Five mid-sized shrimp, but hey......-it's tapas. The Caldierada is impressive. The combination of coconut and tomato in the broth is great. The cayenne adds a nice touch, but not too much heat. The seafood is neither stingy or excessive, just enough for two hungry adults. In fact we can not eat it all. Sit back and finish the Pinot Noir with just a touch of heat on the palate. Nice. Looking around I get the feel of people and movement, but the decibel level is low and I feel neither isolated nor crammed. Just comfortable. There is a little bit of a chain restaurant feel, but ever so slight. Great value for money. The place is a keeper.
(5)Matt H.
This is my favorite restaurant ever!!!!! I got some sort of chicken with rice, slaw and artichoke. The chicken was amazing especially since I don't like chicken normally. There weren't a lot of dessert choices. But otherwise the food was amazing!!!!!! The bread was super yummy too!!! (who doesn't like bread!?) :)
(5)Thomas S.
Very good Tapas restaurant. Probably one of my favorite place on Amelia Island. My favorite thing to get for date night is their dinner for 2 plate which comes with enough food for 4 people. I would suggest this resturant to anyone visiting the Island.
(5)Bob A.
We visited 3/14/15 and were seated close to the kitchen door - close enough to be forced to listen to the pounding music throughout our entire meal. I didn't notice it at first, but as the evening advanced, the noise became more and more obvious. The food was pretty good and the server was very enthusiastic. The kitchen was a tad slow. If you go, avoid the tables near the northwest wall.
(2)Jayson I.
Great food, great service and great prices. What else is there to say. This is not Mexican fare as I originally thought, it is authentic European Spanish fare. Fantastic!
(5)Tricia N.
No flavor. Had the lump crab meatball and 1/2 was hot and 1/2 was cold. Steak was rare and asked for medium rare, the sauce it came with had no flavor. Seafood kabob was nothing great except the presentation. The sides it came with were bland and unappealing. Overpriced and underwhelmed. Won't be back.
(1)Mark S.
Not terribly impressed, but it may have just been an off-night for them. Service was slow, they ran out of Pinot Grigio, and some of the food came out only mildly warm. However, the dishes were generally good and so was the dessert. As we left, they were telling another couple that they were out of one of the desserts, as well. The server did her best, but still not impressed.
(3)Julie B.
Fabulous service. Our waiter (David) gave wonderful recommendations that were spot on. Good location for a group or small party. Menu has choice of both tapas and entree selections. We had a mix and all were wonderful...except the sirloin tapa was a bit gristly. Ask got recommendations and you won't be disappointed. Live music is a plus!
(4)Fred B.
I have probably eaten tapas in 8 countries and 20 states. Last summer we spent 2 weeks in Spain, during which I dined primarily on... you guessed it... tapas. This includes going back 3 nights in a row to the same excellent tapas restaurant in Sevilla (Seville) for dinner. La Mancha is REALLY good. Far better than I would expect for Amelia Island in northern Florida. Great sangria. Great tres leches cake. Really excellent tapas and entrees. Very friendly service. Fair sized portions for the price. All in all we LOVED it, and would go back... tomorrow night again for dinner. Loved it.
(5)Jerry M.
Sometimes you just get lucky! After a stroll on the beach and staying in a nearby hotel, my wife and I just happened to stop in LaMancha. What a find! We shared 3 Tapas and all were excellent. Service was great and drinks delightful. If staying on/near Fernandina Beach, would highly recommend a stop at LaMancha!!!
(5)Pam F.
Great meal with wonderful service. We decided that ordering tapas first and dinner was too much food. However, the cerviche was terrific. Also, the torte. You can certainly make a meal of the small plates. For our dinner, we had the skewers of shrimp and scallops which were fantastic. The grouper was also highly praised. It was a delightful evening with good friends celebrating the holiday season.
(4)Abe G.
What a local gem. Stayed at Ritz Amelia Island and hotel recommended this rest. I can't say enough. Service was perfect, food is fresh, hot, and overall fantastic. We had the olive/cheese plate, seafood bisque, kids cheese pasta, and filet with mushrooms. Everything was perfectly prepared, piping hot, and top quality. Prices are very fair given quality.
(5)Corey R.
Yum! Fast, affordable and very tasty. Server was friendly and knew the menu like his first borns bday. Thumbs up for this place!
(5)Lisa B.
Wonderful food! Impeccable service! And the owner was always checking on us and all other guests, to make sure everyone was having a great time! My only down side, is this place is not in Jacksonville!!! We will definitely be back!!! We may have just started new tradition!!!!
(5)N P.
There are many times when I go to a restaurant and have no clue what to get. Here on the other hand was meat or seafood? Once you choose that then anything you pick of the menu will please and delight you! We had a paella seafood for two and it was fantastic! FRESH is the key ingredient here and they deliver as promised! It was $55 for two but damn worth it. I knew we were in for a treat when we walked in and saw a sign " never trust a skinny chef"! ;)
(5)K S.
This place intends well, but the tapas leave a lot to be desired. If you're a fan of authentic Spanish dishes, this may not be your ideal location. The pan con tomato, a staple in Spain, is bread with pasta sauce. It's not poor tasting, but it's what you would - and should - serve kids after school, not in a restaurant. There were four other dishes we ordered, all tapas, two shrimp, eggplant, crab meatballs, and each one comes with the same yellow sauce. The shrimp and crab were actually quite bland on their own, though the eggplant was decent. There is a subtle flavor difference in each sauce, but that may be more to do with the food than the actual sauce. The experience was a disappointment after such praise with Yelp. Perhaps the main courses are better, but I'm suspect. This misses the mark considering it's clearly marketing itself as a tapas restaurant.
(3)Carol D.
Should have followed initial instinct to turn and run when realized that the restaurant was almost connected to a Day's Inn. Looks like a fast food place from the outside (which apparently it used to be). Staff really tried, but they would fit better in a fast casual concept than in a restaurant that tries to be upscale and fails badly. Could go on with the details, but poor excuse for a simple green salad - how hard is it to render a decent green salad? Frozen frites cooked in semi-rancid oil and the olive oil accompanying the bread, which was actually quite GOOD), was just awful. Entrees were okay, accompaniments quite mediocre. Save your money for a better place.
(2)Liz A.
This place was great! Before coming to the area I check some reviews and knew I wanted to come here. The outside does the food no justice at all. The menu has a lot of options so Andrew our great server suggested some options for us an it was phenomenal. The meal option was for 2 and even w 3 people there were leftovers to bring home. I highly recommend this place and would love to come back!!! Thanks Andrew for your great service and suggestions!
(5)Robert O.
Dined at La Mancha in Fernandina Beach, FL. Excellent food and service. Enjoyed 5 items off the Tapas menu! Feb 11, 2014
(5)Charles W.
The atmosphere was relaxing. Service was excellent. Ordered the paella Alicantina the flavor was delicious, but pan seared a little too much, but was flavorful. Otherwise would have been a five.
(4)Briana P.
My family stopped in for the first time last night. All I can say is "wow!" This place has such an inviting atmosphere, and the food is excellent! Our waiter, Joshua, was always on top of things. He told us about portions to make sure we didn't waste money, and gave us great advice. I ended up ordering the Pasta Johanna which was delicious. It's a different spin to the average Alfredo. My mom ordered the pollo medina and was pleasantly surprised. If you like lemon, order the Medina. Last but not least, my dad ordered the salmon. He loved it! Tell the waiter how you want your fish cooked! If you don't, your fish will have a slightly under done center, but it's still great. Worth the money in my opinion.
(5)Jessica P.
Both my husband and I had fantastic meals here. I had the filet in a blue cheese sauce and my husband had the ribeye surf and turf special. The meal was excellent, service superb, and sangria hit all the right notes! Tuesday night is live music and 1/2 price sangria - a must try. Don't judge the restaurant by the outside - the inside is white table cloth with a classy yet down to earth ambience. We will be back!
(5)Wendi C.
Best meal of our vacation. The paella was great and the white sangria was amazing!!! Fabulous service- absolutely top notch. It came recommended to us and we highly recommend LA Mancha!!!
(5)Julie V.
Amazing food and great service! So glad we took the chance to try it! The paella was amazing!
(5)Meghna P.
Great food, ok service. 1st visit: my friend and I shared the Churrasca na tabau, it was so delicious and enough food for more than 2 people! My friend knew the people so had a great experience!! 2nd visit: my husband ordered pollo medina, the sauce was so sour and over-powering but chicken was perfectly cooked and he liked it, so that's what matters. From tapas menu, I had lamb meatballs, which were very good and I also had the eggplant rolled and stuffed with crabmeat. The eggplant was undercooked and the taste was too crabby for me. Their Sangria is perfect! Flan is also good.
(4)Wendy E.
very delicious! been to Barcelona and this morning reminded me of the tastes! great sangria!
(5)Ch J.
The food is unbelievable and we'll worth the price. Go during nights that they have live music or specials. So so good!
(5)Dave D.
Not sure what the hype is on this one. This place is very expensive for what you get. I ordered the Grouper with scallops and they were both cooked within an inch of their life, VERY well done fish (yuk). Not terrible food, but when you are paying 4 star prices and getting mediocre food, I would not be back.
(3)Liz B.
We live in St Mary's..right over the border in Ga. This evening we visited LaMancha for dinner. What an excellent experience! We made our meal from tapas..shrimp in a coconut milk sauce, scallops, crab cakes of a sort and a spicy sausage dish. The last was flaming when brought to the table. Our waiter David was outstanding. He made a suggestion for the wine that was perfect. We had dessert despite our best intentions. Excellent cakes. All in all, they exceeded our expectations by far. We'll be back.
(5)Megan W.
I ordered a platter of Quijotera a la Mancha - basically meats, cheeses, veggies, and olives - and it was the best thing about my trip to the Island. It was gigantic and delicious. There was no way I could finish it but I wish I could have. I had sangria and it was delicious as well. I came down from D.C. for work and this restaurant was far superior to the Spanish tapas restaurant that we have here, which is owned by a James Beard winner.
(5)Arisa P.
Excellent seafood and tapas. The service is prompt and thoughtful, and the food is all delicious and fresh. If I had any complaint, I'd only wish the portions were smaller so I could try even more things on their menu.
(5)Jerry N.
Excellent... I got the churrasci en tabua... Omg... Don't judge a book by its cover... Food is really good! Also try the Sangria...
(5)Richard H.
Really pleased with entire experience. Quiet Tuesday night which made it very intimate. Food excellent and beautifully presented. A unique, authentic menu (lived in Italy, traveled in Spain). Terrific service. Will return!
(5)Michele B.
We are thrilled to find a new restaurant, with a new type of cuisine, at LaMancha. Having been to Brazil, and loving the food, we were game to try. Don't be put off by its location in front of the Days Inn, in what was a Shoneys. The food was flavorful and plentiful, with a casual friendly atmosphere. Highly recommend!
(5)Scott T.
We went here for dinner on vacation for my fiance's 40th birthday. It is very nice on the inside. The owner said they were going to add a patio in the front in the future. We had several small plates and they were all great. We had paella for the main course and it was outstanding. We will come back during our next visit.
(5)Aleida S.
My God this was incredible. Best meal I've had in Fernandina Beach and so much of it. Must try the Caldeirada a la Portuguesa. It's a seafood dish similar to Paella. The service was wonderful and for all the food you get, prices are very reasonable. Great wine selection.
(5)Earl G.
Dined at LA Mancha to celebrate a birthday (14 year old granddaughter). She chose La Mancha on her own from a previous experience eating tapas. Our dining experience was excellent. Presentation was impressive. Service was satisfactory. The special that night was paella with an "all you can eat' feature. Normally that means a buffet but this was prepared special for the evening in a huge baking pan and served by the chef personally. Of course there was an expansive menu of other Spanish dishes. Likewise the Spanish guitar music, live, provided the appropriate background for enjoyment and table talk. All in all, a good addition to Fernandina Beach. My suggestion to the owner, choose a different exterior paint décor. My initial thought was a Taco Bell restaurant which is a disservice to what you encounter inside.
(5)Cathy P.
What a disappointing experience! We've been to Spain many times and had high hopes given the reviews. The lamb meatballs were hard as rocks, the shrimp mondragano was mediocre but the shrimp were a bit dry and the paella was also a bit dry. We went on Sunday night which was advertised to be Fat Sunday with all you can eat paella for $21.95; however, the bill came with paella at full price. We told our server who talked to the manager who said the price had changed but they hadn't had time to update their table tents (or clearly the server who told us it was $21.95 at the start of our meal).
(2)Ginger S.
Amazing cuisine with unique flavors. Everything is cooked with character and presented with flair of the finest dining. Try the shrimp pineapple tapas and the calamari mango salad.
(5)Lu L.
The best steak EVER! Paella was wonderful. Seafood fresh and expertly cooked. Flan was SO worth the calories White sangria was citrusy but not syrupy. I will remember it this summer when it will be the prefect hot day refresher. It was a very busy New Year's Eve. We had no reservations but were seated in the small bar area. Our waitress, the owners and hostess were still very attentive to our needs. My only suggestion would be to have bar height seating not counter height seating at the bar. Looking forward to our next time and will make it a regular stop.
(5)Emmy S.
The best restaurant in Fernandina Beach by far. We weren't super hungry so we shared two tapas and split a bottle of red wine. Everything was perfect, including the service. We will definitely go back to try more things on the menu.
(5)Amy O.
Dined here on a road trip late at night as we had just gotten into Amelia island and were starving. Great service though we were there on a weeknight an hour before closing. The calamari salad was slightly lacking in the category of greens (very light colored romaine), but was otherwise delicious. We had an eggplant crab appetizer that was simply decadent as were the royal scallops. I rarely give 5 stars or even review a place, so the only reason this place missed the extra star in my book would be the creaminess of the food (that may add a star for most people).
(4)Poppy M.
Beach towns aren't always known for either varied choices in dining or particularly dazzling choices. We found both at La Mancha. Reservations were easy - we used Open Table, but you can call them also. Between the two of us, we had the Tortilla Flamenca $9 (layers of sliced potatoes, spinach and manchego bound with eggs and baked) - very good, filling and lots of cheese!; Mussarela de Bufala $15 (imported buffalo-milk mozzarella layered with basil, tomato slices, drizzled extra virgin olive oil & a balsamic glaze) - if I had known how good the buffalo moz would be, I would have made this my appetizer, dinner and dessert! The only downside, while not THAT important: the basil was pretty wilted; Scallops Mondragon $13 (panko-encrusted scallops on a bed of creamy roasted poblano pepper sauce) - fabulous also; Almondegas de Carneiro $12 (lamb meatballs served with Spanish blue cheese sauce) - a little on the dry side, but extremely flavorful. The plate should probably been dressed a little better as it was just brown meatballs in a white sauce - no color, very drab; Snapper a la Dulcinea $28 (snapper filet topped with sautéed shrimp, lemon, butter, kalamata olives and caper sauce) - this was a very pleasant surprise in that it was cooked perfectly. I'm always a little nervous about ordering a thinner fish in restaurants because they can be overcooked very easily. This was not! Since there was a little mix-up about whose table we were, we waited a little longer to order than we cared, but the owner caught it and asked the waiter to make sure we received complimentary desserts. Very nice, but hardly necessary if you review our selections above! Either way, our waiter didn't ask what we'd like (we'd have said "thanks, but no thanks!") and just plopped a flan down in the middle of the table with two spoons. Nothing heinous, but it stood out to me as someone who had spent over 20 years in the B&B/restaurant/catering/bar business. None of the little hiccups would stop me from recommending La Mancha to everyone! I hope the owners/chef are fabulously successful and that Fernandina has welcomed them with open arms!
(4)Chris C.
It doesn't look like much from the outside but it's decorated very cute and the food is really good. I had a Caprese and fried goat cheese salad which was great. The tres leches was good but not my favorite. I would def recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Van S.
The food here is of good quality, the staff is very attentive and you walk away feeling full and statisfied!
(4)David S.
Good portions, good flavors, steaks were a little too charred for my liking, but dishes across the board were served quickly and piping hot. Compact wine-list has a good variety of styles and prices. We were pleasantly surprised after reading some poor reviews.
(4)John R.
Absolutely loved it! We did the tapas, and they were all terrific. My favorite was the flaming Portuguese sausage.
(5)M H.
Great restaurant! Found it through Yelp, and have had great luck with recommendations so far. The dinner itself with delicious- had an appetizer of eggplant stuffed with crabmeat, spinach and mozzarella. We very good- but rich, so glad I shared with my husband. We shared an entree because we heard portions were huge- it was a skewer with peppers, onions, shrimp and scallops. It was "presented" to us at the table and served after removing the food from the skewers. It was delicious. Had a pitcher of Sangria, which was the best I have ever had. Overall, a great experience. Our waiter was very nice. I almost gave it four stars because I felt like we were in and out in less than an hour, and for a "five star" rating, that seemed strange. However, the service, food and Sangria were so good that it definitely deserves that rating. Great place for a casual dinner.
(5)Brian G.
Honestly, I'm not too sure what all the hype was about this place. As an avid foodie and someone who is not familiar with certain areas, I rely on opentable, and yelp reviews to help guide my taste buds. Boy have I never been so disappointed. The restaurant was awkward; weird set up and in desperate need of a designer. For 730 on a Saturday, the restaurant seemed dead. The hostess was nice yet I felt I impeded her texting conversation. The waiters overall service was painfully awkward. The food was over priced for four lamb meatballs and overcooked pasta. My partner got a paella dish which barely had any seafood. There was large bones in the fish and the rice was burnt to the dish. The manager came by, which was nice, however, he was unprofessional in the way he looked with his dress shirt untucked. When we left no one was at the door but two employees were right there yapping. Not even a thank you. I've gotten better service at an att store!!!!
(2)Denna M.
I really came into this restaurant with great references & an open mind. The space was open and neatly decorated. There needs a little more ambiance - maybe candles on the table? Ok so our server brings us our warm bread and it smells great - but I'm always put off a bit by pre-wrapped foiled butter. The bread was no great shakes either. "Just ok". We ordered two tapas - 1 of squid and oysters and the other a shrimp ceviche. The ceviche was excellent - fresh cilantro, onions, good flavor. The oysters/calamari dish was dry and nothing special. We ordered a Caesar salad. It had fresh Parmesan, a dressing that did not impress me and was overall average. Shortly after our salad arrived our main course arrived. We sent it back. We also ordered another glass of wine and waited quite a while for it to arrive (service issue) - others were served and our server realized he forgot us. Our main dish was a polilla. It was flavorful and had a good taste - might have been slightly dry since we sent it back a while ago since it arrived just after our salad arrived. Our dessert was a home made flan. The flan was delicious! My husband asked me if I would come back and my answer was "maybe". Nothing spectacular boarding a disappointment given the fact I received two great recommendations and it did not measure up. There are a number of excellent restaurants on the Island - so I will continue to explore before returning (if I ever do).
(3)Blake P.
Excellent food and great service. We started with empanadas, they were very good. Also had a calamari topped salad with mango dressing, it was fantastic. Then had a charcuterie dish with Serrano ham that was good and a great shrimp dish with coconut milk in a pineapple, best dish yet. I would highly recommend this place. great food, big portions for a tapas place and the best service I've had in a long time. Cant remember the guy's name, but he made it a very enjoyable experience.
(4)JaneAnne F.
I have eaten here 3 times in the past 2 weeks. Service has been varied. One night we had a great waiter,the other 2 nights, not so good. Do not be in a rush at this restaurant. The red sangria is good. We enjoyed the all you can eat paella on Sunday night. I did not like the smell of the restaurant on Sunday night. The smell had floral notes trying to hide the fishy smell.
(3)Tina S.
This will be on our list every visit to Fernandina Beach!! Found this place on Tripadvisor. Always try places that come highly recommended on that website! Our Server was Mac. Not the Joshua that everyone raved about on the previous reviews. But he was good, maybe new? timid and soft spoken. Not outgoing like the other servers we observed but he did keep an eye on us and brought us whatver we needed. Would have liked suggestions on specials and how to read the menu. Tapas, entrees, salads. since we had never been there before We had: Caldeirada a Portuguese Fresh fish, octopus, clams, shrimp and mussels stewed in a blackened clay pot with coconut milk sofrito, cayenne pepper and a fresh cilantro, served with saffron rice. 47.90 for two. Someone said this place was pricey? $67 for 3 drinks and dinner for 2. Too much food to eat. Where does that person normally eat? Wasn't sure if the manager or owner was the one walking around, but he was very friendly and checking on everyone. Sangria was very good too. Don't let the ugly color paint on the building or the fact that its in a Days Inn motel parking lot. This place is great!
(5)June C.
This place was a short walk from my hotel..what a find..when I walked in fairly early the place wasn't busy so I sat at the bar..but after an hour it was packed...I went with the tapas menu and kept ordering..dangerous! Not cheap..but not crazy expensive! Total enjoyed..plan on coming back tomorrow for paella night! A 5 is high praise with one visit and 3 items..but I couldn't find a complaint...staff was sweet and accommodating...I'll see if it's the same tomorrow!
(5)Victoria S.
We have a new favorite place to eat. The atmosphere is great with real Spanish and Brazilian music, no mariachi stuff here which is very good. They also have exotic specials like Kangaroo and the like. The staff is friendly, very funny, passionate and informative. The chef is fantastic and hand cuts the steaks for the restaurant while bringing authentic recipes from south America, Spain and Portugal. We ordered the Cauldeirada de Portuguesa (sp?) for two and WOW we ate the whole thing. The fish was buttery and amazing; what impressed us the most was that the chef can make the octopus not chew like rubber, it was soft. Over all we love it!
(5)James W.
I took my wife here for her birthday and I was thoroughly impressed with the sangria and the pinapple curry shrimp tapa. The blue cheese filet was a $50 piece of meat, cooked to the right temp. Great service and I really like the decor. You need to go into this place, don't just drive by and mistake it for a cheap mexican joint.
(5)Zombo T.
I have eaten at La Mancha at least 7 -8 times since they have opened.For the last three visits, I have vowed not to return. The quality of the food and the live music brought me back 2 of the last 3, despite service deteriorating markedly on each return visit. The last and final dinner, however, will be the end for La Mancha until reviews on service improve. The server was inattentive and generally missing for what turned out to be a 2+ hour meal. Incorrect food was delivered to our table, dirty tapas plates were left stacked beneath fresh deliveries, refills of bread and water were easier obtained in Darfur, and the final bill was horribly inaccurate. Numerous random items were added, others were omitted, and the issue was so exasperating to rectify that I just paid the bill so we could all leave. (The final bill was within reasonably accurate range price-wise - just not even close to the correct record of actual items ordered, except for two tapas and the bottle of wine) The problems with La Mancha are 100% curable for management: hire better and more empathetic wait staff, train them properly, and pay attention to what is going on just beyond the hostess stand. The kitchen is good and the live music / guitar player nights are great. But the service on my past couple of visits will keep me away, and most recently was bad enough to actually compel me to write a negative review.
(2)Sandra A.
Dined at La Mancha in our wedding anniversary, we had a lovely dinner, the restaurant is impressive good, the staff are very friendly. Loved it!
(4)Edie G.
Everything we had was absolutely delicious! The staff was helpful with recommendations. The service was outstanding!
(4)Susan S.
No. We were skeptical of this restaurant because of the location in a Days Inn facility in the former Shoney's, but the rave reviews fooled us. It was Valentines Day so I took this into consideration, however, our service was very poor. The server was a bit stretched but the couple at a nearby table were visited numerous times by the man who I assume was the owner, two other employees and our shared waiter. We manged to get one glass of wine which we ordered with dinner. The 2nd was ordered (and charged for) but never arrived. We sat with empty water and wine glasses. As I said it was a special day, so that could have affected the service. Just know that this place looks inside much like its former self. An outdated restaurant, only painted inside to resemble a neighborhood Mexican Restaurant. The Valentine decorations were red tinsel garland draped in odd places and red heart shaped mylar balloons stuck here and there along with a few other cardboard hearts taped up. Strange. The bread was really good, so I settled in and tried to overlook the decor. The Caesar Salad was recommended and I did not care for it, my husband liked it. He had the mixed Paella and we both agreed it was very bland. The shrimp and fish seemed to be decent quality though. I had shrimp in poblana (sp?) sauce and it was just passable. It is very close to what I have been served in recent years on cruise lines. As far as comparing to the long standing Spanish restaurant in downtown Fernandina I did not find it anywhere near as good. I confess I am totally confused by the reviews. I would give them another chance, but the atmosphere is so unattractive, I think I will have to pass.
(2)