Manifesto Tuscan Grato & Scotch Bar Menu

  • Sandwiches & Salads
  • Entree
  • Flatbreads
  • Small Plates
  • Happy Hour and Lunch
  • Sweet Side

Healthy Meal suggestions for Manifesto Tuscan Grato & Scotch Bar

  • Sandwiches & Salads
  • Entree
  • Flatbreads
  • Small Plates
  • Happy Hour and Lunch
  • Sweet Side

Visit below restaurant in Columbus for healthy meals suggestion.

Visit below restaurant in Columbus for healthy meals suggestion.

  • Suzanne M.

    Loved it, food, atmosphere and scotch were all great i will be back!

    (5)
  • Arnold L.

    Tonight was our initial visit, my wife and I. We met friends for dinner and I was a fan as soon as I entered the door. I do not know much about interior design but I know what I like and this place was warm and inviting. The hostess was quite friendly and we were promptly seated in a comfortable booth with a great view of downtown. The cocktail menu was impressive and the drinks we ordered, Vespers were very well made. The dinner salad was exceptional as well as the entree. The service was prompt and attentive without being a bother. We live downtown and will definitely return with our friends and neighbors. Lauren, the manager and drink specialist recommended a couple of wines in addition to a new drink she had discovered. Overall a delightful dinner, possibly a new favorite. Well done !

    (4)
  • Paul B.

    I ate lunch here today. What an improvement over the joint that was previously here in ALL respects. The decor is eclectic but very nice and a lot more space than was here before. It's dark so I think the place will really shine at night for dinner or drinks. I had the house salad and it was one of the best I've ever had. I also had the meatball sliders and they were delicious. The sandwich portions were huge, one of the guys took half of his back the office. Some others at our table ordered the flatbreads and they said they were good but I didn't think they looked that great. But I'm not a tomato guy and these had a lot of them. The alcohol looked impressive but it being lunch I didn't try any. I will say the Bloody Mary sounded great, they include a little Laphroiag scotch to give it a smokey flavor and the Bourbon smoked sea salt would add a lot IMHO. I'm giving it 4 stars for now but will look to revise my ranking upwards after another few visits.

    (4)
  • R. K.

    Great atmosphere if you like a cozy, low lit, and chill night out. Decor was beautiful, set up was unique with tables in every hidden corner. Menu had a good selection, drinks were great! I went on a Saturday night thinking it would be so jam-packed, but to my delight it wasn't! No one fighting to get to the bar or hovering around waiting to be seated. Food was delicious and fresh. My husband and I had the mussels, sea scallops, braised beef cheek, and jumbo shrimp bucatini and 2 salads... All perfectly portioned and we devoured it all!

    (5)
  • Jared M.

    We wanted a good place where we could sip on scotch and get some work done on our iPads. My business partner and I are involved in a local startup and we tend to do our best work over drinks. We frequent only those restaurants, bars, cafes where wi-fi is provided. We happened to come in during happy hour where certain drinks and entrees are half off. The atmosphere is perfect. We settled on an upstairs table overlooking the downstairs. The view of the gothic chandelier and space below was a great place to work, drink and eat. It would take you a few days to read all the quotes written about the place. The Manifesto and Steak & Gorgonzola flatbreads were nicely done and tasted great. The wi-fi is free and were provided a password by our server. Definitely coming back again. Impressive use of a space and great service.

    (5)
  • Raymond S.

    Lets start with the good things about Manifesto...it was warm inside. Now onto the bad.. I came here with a group for Restaurant Week...which to most folks this means the restaurant will showcase the best of what they have to offer, if this is actually the case Manifesto fell short by a long shot! Lets start with the cocktails....anyplace that is going to charge you $11.00 for a drink that includes Pinnicle Whipped...simple syrup and mixer should really rethink their game plan - fail #1. At least the beer was cold.... Lets talk food....i ordered the wild mushroom bisque....good taste but awfuly oily...served luke warm - fail #2 For my entree i had the beeftip and pasta...well it was basically hamburger helper only with a quarter of the flavor, uncook shells and wilted asparagas...the beef was at least tender....well all 4 pieces i recieved....fail #3 Desert time....lemon goat cheese cheesecake....tasted like it came from the Kroger freezer aisle...fail #4 Needless to say....as excited as I was to try Manifesto we will not be returning for a very very long time...or ever.

    (2)
  • Nicholas T.

    I thoroughly enjoy high end cocktails, but just because you charge like it is one certainly does not create an artful drink. Take a lesson from Sidebar 122 for a great cocktail. Non of the cocktails ordered at our table were considered for a second round by anyone. The food was just cheap, think GFS arranged artfully on a plate. The beef cheek tasted ok, but was cold and served on three chilled generic mountainous slider buns that just ruined any flavor. The horseradish sauce just seemed to be a slimy mayonnaise that you just couldn't escape, The scallops were burnt, not caramelized, but still had a good texture and not overcooked in the middle. The beef tips with pasta tasted almost exactly like hamburger helper spicy cheese with FOUR beef tips. Our goat cheese cheesecake had an overpowering lemon flavor and looked like it was just grabbed out of a sheet pan with bare hands and placed on our plate. We enjoyed our company and the ambiance, but the execution and taste of the food and drinks were just an abysmal fail.

    (2)
  • Rachael N.

    Dined here with some friends recently and had a great experience! The food was fantastic, and our server was very knowledgeable - was able to recommend some delicious wine and was very attentive. The atmosphere is dark and dramatic - the only thing that threw me off are the weird quotes on the walls. They remind me of something that belongs in a middle school library, not a sophisticated restaurant. We were treated very well, though, so we'll be back!

    (4)
  • Laura G.

    Was not impressed with service and food was mediocre at best. Prices did not align with quality.

    (1)
  • Bridget D.

    I have been to Manifesto for my third and last time. I've gone because of the convenience of the location next to Ohio Theatre, but no more! I'd rather walk from all the other awesome places downtown. The service was terrible and I was practially begging for their $8-10 drinks (since they were slower than molasses)..you'd think they'd want to get them out to me ASAP. They were not properly staffed for the show next door (which, I assume, are their main customers so they should be prepared for events). The first time I went was during happy hour so I guess it is not a bad place for that since they give specials. But otherwise, their food is nothing to brag about and their drinks are severely overpriced - you can drink cheaper at Ohio Theatre....I'd recommend Latitude 41, Elevator or Tip Top if you are in the area for an event!

    (1)
  • Chris F.

    I visited this evening, around 10 pm. Very nice atmosphere, but I can see getting very crowed and difficult to maneuver around the bar. There were two bartenders. I male and a female. The guy was very engaging and nice. The girl was inattentive. She happened to wait on me and I had to wait for prolonged periods during the process of ordering, getting food, and asking for a receipt. No recommendations given. The menu is very simple. The drinks are priced where expected for this type of pace. They were ok, but lacked the wow factor. Also, most drinks of this price are potent, these were not. I ordered the house salad with crab cakes. The salad was warm. The crab cakes, very small. This would have been okay if they were good. They tasted like bread and no discernible crab meat. Overall, great atmosphere doesn't mean a return visit. Mediocre food and drinks. The only outstanding part was the guy Bartender!

    (3)
  • Ryan K.

    I spent a bit of time here for a drink a couple weeks ago. The atmosphere is pretty cool and the scotch list is rather decent. The place is clean and certainly feels like a scotch bar with its dim lighting and interesting decor. At the time I decided to enjoy the lagavulin 16 neat which was brought to me quickly, courteously and spot on. I definitely plan on returning again.

    (4)
  • Catherine J.

    Manifesto's opening couldn't have been any more timely: it is a perfect cozy winter den. Think dark woods, fireplace, comfy couches and belly-warming scotch. Brought to you by the peeps responsible for De Novo, Manifesto uses the space previously occupied by the questionable Isabella's. There's a selective something-for-everyone specialty cocktail menu, and the biggest scotch list I've ever seen. The menu consists mainly of small plates and a few flatbreads. I think the concept of cocktails+snacks is perfect for the downtown location. You can have a full-on business dinner if you want, but long cocktail hours accented by delcious, sharable grub is in demand. The ambiance is... interesting, and mostly in a good way. The dark colors make the candles on the tables really glow, you feel cloaked and dreamy. The "manifestos" from famous peeps, inscribed on the walls, gives your brain some food for thought. I love the U shaped booths. But, the (albeit cozy) fireplace is one of those free-standing faux dealies. Some of the furniture is in really strange locations (like a single chaise lounge tucked in next to the stairs), and overall it feels like there's way too much going on inside of Manifesto. A lot of the oversized booths are so close together that I'm not sure how things function when business is busy. After a little while, some of the decor starts to look a little bit more homegrown than it should be. Our waitress was really awkward, but I suspect this will improve with time. She couldn't seem to remember who ordered what-- and stuck an Old Fashioned in front of my face (literally, just a couple of inches from my nose) waiting for one of us to claim it. I don't think she's waitressed before, but hopefully Manifesto will improve some training. The manifesto flatbread was aight. Not the most interesting thing on the menu, but we'd already eaten so this was for nosh purposes only. I appreciate that Manifesto has true FLAT breads, not pizzas called flatbreads. The crust was a tad on the too-crispy side and a little dry, but the fun goat cheese and other toppings made up for it. Anyway, these gripes are small-- I'm happy to have another fun option in my rotation downtown, and especially such a cozy one! They have breakfast, too!

    (4)
  • Stephanie B.

    This place is great, especially for a date night. The food was delicious and they had a great variety of drinks to try.

    (4)
  • David M.

    This place can be wonderful. I love their braised beef cheek and their pasta. Happy hours also a good deal. I don't know of another place where you can choose from 10 different scotches under $10. But they are inconsistent, I have had dishes arrive cold and service can be slow. Since, I work downtown I consider it a decent option, but is not a reliable place for special occasions

    (3)
  • christin b.

    Ok....where do I start?! I came here for the first time last night (11/5/14). My sister and I had tickets to the Ohio Theatre next door and got there early (5:45pm) so we decided to grab a bite to eat next door. When we walked in it took a minute to be greeted at the door. Which is fine cuz we enjoyed looking around. We were excited to Try a new place. When we were seated by the host she put us upstairs cuz that was the "available seating" besides the bar. When we got to our table there was a light fixture/chandelier that was so very low. I kept bumping my head on it every time I got out of my seat for the restroom. And they had one in the restroom too that I hit when getting up off the toilet. I think this is kind of a problem. But I get it it's the look that they are going for. Then when seated we were greeted by our server. (Can't remember his name) but he was friendly from the beginning. I ordered the mussels to start while we decided on entrées. My sister and I decided to get one item for the both of us to share cuz we weren't that hungry. We ordered the pork belly dish. When we were seated/ordered there were three girls to the left of us and the four tables were empty! Then slowly the other tables were filling up (after we ordered our food) then we got our appetizer and it was good but a lil salty for our taste buds. We didn't say anything cuz maybe it was just our palettes. Then it was 630pm the server came to us and said "I'm sorry your pork belly will be out soon, the kitchen is backed up!" We were fine with that cuz I'm a server and understand sometimes the kitchen takes awhile. Then 645pm came and we were patiently waiting still but getting concerned that we won't have enough time to eat. Our server told us not to worry and that we will make it but he is concerned for the other tables and that "WE" will be ok! Then we started seeing him bring out food for all the other tables and not ours!! But we were in such a good mood and excited for the show we did NOT complain. Then it was 7pm and the last table that came in got their dinners. And our server then came to our table and told us "I'm sorry but we are out of the pork belly dish. But I ordered you the beef cheek instead!" My sister and I looked at each other in awe! Then the we sat and waited some more!!! The table in front of us was amazed how patient we were with him and they kept saying he's on crack! Lol he was really weird the whole time and he got weirder and weirder as the time pasted! The table next to us was complaining her crab cakes were super dry and not tasty. We finally got fed up (7:10pm) and said can you please forget our food and just bring our check. He said ok then he ran up (and literally he was sprinting around the place) and we finally got our food (it wasn't even what we wanted) at 720pm and after we told him we didn't want it anymore! We were starving so we ate it real fast but it was so salty and we didn't like it all! But because we waited so long we just ate it all. Then he gave us our check and he charged us for the pork belly and not the beef cheek! But I remembered that there was a price difference. The pork was more expensive. It was a difference of a couple of dollars, it's not the money. But it's principle now! The other table was like "is he charging you for your food?! That's messed up!" And I agree! But there wasn't enough time to speak with a manager! So I let him know about the price that I didn't agree on! His response to me telling him the price difference was "oh, I don't know how much anything costs"! Are you freaking kidding me? You work here you should know the menu! So he took it back and over heard us talking to the other table about him. So he came back and had the nerve to say " oh by the way..I just took of the entree completely cuz I felt bad" wtf!! He felt bad?!! It was his mistake and he was being so weird the whole time! I'm going to end it there! Sorry for this being so long but I had to let you all know what my experience was like. I even left out some stuff! My sister and I will not be back and will tell our friends and people we know it's not worth the trouble! They food is all overly salty. We were not the only people to think that. The other guest thought the same! And I still left a tip! Ugh!! Can't believe I was even charged for anything!

    (1)
  • Luke S.

    The place looks awesome, but bad service, cold ambient temperatures, long wait times on our food arriving, food not arriving for our party at the same time, and mediocre overpriced food left a sour taste in my mouth. I had the spicy meatball sliders and the bread was stale and the meat was over spiced with pepper and dill. I liked the sauce though. We were here at night... Maybe try them during the day. Also, when it's so cold that everyone keeps their winter coats on all dinner, don't act surprised or be rude when we asked to be moved away from the window.

    (2)
  • Michelle C.

    Last night, one drink 'manifested' into... well, let's just say more than one drink. My lovely colleague and friend Christina brought me here for a relaxing and quiet end to the night, but things took a turn when a very rowdy group arrived and proceeded to do many rounds of shots. Still, I enjoyed the comfy leather bar chairs and the big screen TV which was showing game four of the Rangers/Bruins semifinals. Anytime I can see Henrik's dreamy face up close makes me a happy girl (PS, Rangers you still stink, I just think you're all extremely good looking). I digress. Tom, our bartender, was definitely spread a little thin as a one man show servicing the entire restaurant. He kept his cool and drinks flowed for all. He made me a gin and campari concoction that was light, citrusy and perfect for summer (even if temps outside had dipped twenty degrees since my arrival earlier in the day). He also exhibited an extensive knowledge of wine and provided some nice recommendations. My friend and I shared a turkey flatbread which was a tasty snack, though nothing awe-inspiring. I liked that it was light enough to eat later in the night without feeling like a lead brick in my stomach. We also got a taste of the mushroom risotto, which was very delicious if a little salty. I'd still highly recommend it. Manifesto seems like a great place for an illicit love affair. Or, you know, a laid-back drink with friends.

    (4)
  • Chris H.

    Stopped by after an evening at the OHIO Theater. We ordered a few small plates and drinks. Meatball sliders were very good. Tuna tartar was just what the wife wanted. (not for me). Anti pasta plate was more then enough for the two of us and finished the meal up with a bottle of wine.

    (4)
  • Christina C.

    It's been long enough. I don't know why it took me this long to write a review. My suspicion is that I was too busy drinking Old Fashioned's here...but, that's just my suspicion. I'd like to get the funny out of the way first: Lining the walls of this entire place are quotes from president's past. Each is free-style, hand-painted, and frankly adds quite the character for the restaurant and the concept. The only problem is, I've counted three typos/grammar/spelling mistakes. I'm not telling you where they are - half the fun is finding them - but c'mon! Someone dropped the ball on that one. Consider your search like playing an altered version of 'Where's Waldo.' Besides the writing on the wall - haha, get it? get it? - this is a welcomed swanky scotch bar downtown. I always end up here for date nights, after-parties, or on a night that requires a low-key, relaxed, dark atmosphere, accompanied by a nice stiff drink. Speaking of drinks, order the bruleéd old fashioned - or have your bartender make you a version of an old fashioned. The bruleed is on their menu and incredible. They brulee the orange rind with the help of 151 - meaning they light that shit on fire right in front of you - and add bitters and Woodford Reserve. It comes in at $11, but will put hair on your chest - or, like me, just get you drunk. OK, on to the food. The best part about Manifesto is that people come here to drink and order smaller dishes. You can order things that are much bigger and much more affordable than tapas, but still are shareable and would stand alone as a meal without dragging or slowing you down. A huge value! But is it good? Absolutely!! The beef cheek is a MUST, the flatbreads are generally pretty appetizing and the eggplant rotelli has become a recent favorite. They seemed to have removed the lobster risotto from the menu (suspecting it's a winter item, rather than a spring/summer item) which is great, because it was kind of awful and totally dry. I have sent so many people here - which reminds me, it's been a couple weeks since my last trip! See you there.

    (4)
  • Annie W.

    My husband and I arrived here on the same night of Red White and Boom. The bartender clearly didn't want to be working there but I hate people who just base their reviews on service. So onto the food. The company that owns this restaurant also own Olivers, which we love, and De Nova, which we also love. We ordered tacos, awful. We ordered a Caesar salad which had no dressing but I love a side of anchovies. My burger, I'm sad to say was god awful. The bun I wanted to throw against the bartender's head, who lovingly had to force the kitchen to make us an amazing aioli and with three other people in the place, it was like pulling teeth to get it and he even said, we're going to have to make you an aioli The burger sucked. and that pains me because at Oliver's, it's amazing. The bartender working tonight needs to get another job. My husband and I laughingly tried to get his attention by shouting anything we could but he could give a crap. So I will never be back. That saying, got to Oliver's and De Novo. Two amazing restaurants. I'm hoping this was a bad night because living in downtown, we love trying restaurants and will throw money at anyplace we find to own it. This place blew arse.

    (1)
  • Matt H.

    Excellent food in a cozy and warm restaurant. The scotch list is pretty good for Columbus and the waitress was very friendly and very helpful. Great experience!

    (5)
  • Amy S.

    I have been wanting to try Manifesto ever since it opened. Walking back from Bicentennial Park Friday night, we decided to stop for dinner here. I such high hopes, but I have to (sadly) admit that I was a bit disappointed. Seating wasn't an issue on a late Friday night which was a plus because I was beyond hungry. I immediately knew what I was going to order (that's a first), after reading about the duck confit manicotti on columbusunderground.com . I made my boyfriend order the slow braised beef cheek, after he raved how good it was the last time he was there. We were brought some yummy bread to nibble on while we waited for our food- ask for some, it's worth it! The food come out and i was surprised to see that the manicotti was served so plain looking- a crisp manicotti shell filled with a (ground?) duck mixture, all happily sitting in delicious pool of sage brown butter. I didn't taste any cheese, which really disappointed me. Perhaps I should have read the menu because it used to be served with ricotta and it looks like goat cheese may have stole the cheese role...although I couldn't taste much of it. Overall, it was good but I won't be ordering it again. The slow braised beef cheek on the other hand was beyond good. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the truffled mushroom risotto was a perfect pairing. I used some leftover bread to soak up the scotch demi-glaze....YUM. Unfortunately, we were both a little hungry after finishing our meals- but it was a good excuse to walk somewhere for dessert! I definitely want to come back for happy hour, where the prices are a bit better (although not terrible to start with) for the amount of food you get.

    (3)
  • Sue K.

    This is the third time my husband and I have eaten at Manifesto for dinner. The last two times, we have been VERY unhappy with the overall dining experience. The food and beverages were very good. However, for a restaurant that is now established, they should have their act together. The kitchen seems poorly staffed to handle multiple tables at the same time. After ordering our dinner, we waited an hour to be served--which is not acceptable--especially since our waitress knew we were going to the symphony up front. In addition, when the food was served, either it was lukewarm and/or two of the people at our table were served before us. Until they get their act together, we will not be dining here again.

    (2)
  • Paul F.

    My wife and I went Last Friday, after a Catco show. Fearing the worst after reading numerous poor reviews, we were surprised and pleased with the quality of the food, range of unique dishes and attentive service. I put a lot of credence in Yelp reviews, but found the ones about Manifesto to be off the mark. We plan to return!

    (4)
  • Amy P.

    Happy hour is the time to visit this place. The five cheese flat bread is pretty much the only thing I will touch on the menu, but that's because I am what I describe as a simple eater. The atmosphere is different, and the staff seems nice and attentive. I've only visited a few times.

    (3)
  • Luis M.

    I have now been to Manifesto twice and have been glad both times. If you enjoy scotch, the list here is extensive and the "scotch geeks" are more than happy to provide information and recommendations, good ones. For my first visit, I had the manifesto flatbread. Tasty but too much meat (yes, too much), it kept sliding off when I tried to take a bite. I am a firm believer that you never take a knife & fork to a pizza or flatbread, you pick it up and take a bite. Don't get me wrong though, it is a good combo but I suggest going with the panini for this combo. Second visit, I had the beef cheek on risotto. It was outstanding! I will wake up with a hankering for this dish of fork soft luscious beef on creamy mushroom risotto. My mouth is watering as I write this. I also tried the crab salad which was bright and citrusy, not at all heavy, a nice summer dish. The penne with spicy vodka sauce was also quite tasty with a nice, slow spice that was pleasant without being obnoxious. Then desert. I ordered a Dalmore neat, scotch being my preferred desert. My dining partners had the Tera misu and the chocolate cake. The Tera misu is different, missing the chocolate powder and not stacked (look at the picture). It was luscious with a very smooth creamy inside, but came across as more of a pudding. As to the chocolate cake, well, I'm not much of a fan of chocolate cake and never order it. I tasted it, then tasted it again, then finished it. It was great, creamy and smooth with a good balance of chocolate and sweetness but not at all bitter. This is one good chocolate cake. Overall, I expect to be back regularly. The portion sizes are small, but so are the prices. The service is friendly and quick. The food is delicious and of course, there's the scotch...

    (4)
  • Crystal O.

    Ok, let me first just say it sounds like this new restaurant didn't fare well through restaurant week. I won't make excuses for them, but I encourage you to give this place a shot. I had a totally different experience the Sunday after restaurant week -- not enough time for them to have radically changed the experience or the kitchen or the service staff, making me believe it was just the craziness of being a 7-week-old restaurant that garnered so many poor reviews recently. This is a fantastic date night place that will have guys and girls raving. I mean, who doesn't love a quote from Ron Burgundy interspersed amongst the words of great thinkers and Presidents, scrawled on the wall up to 20 feet high? The ambiance here is just killer... we wandered around for 20 min just reading the walls and snapping pics of our favorites. I'm a sucker for cool lighting and this place has it in spades. A huge triple-decker chandelier looks like it was just found hanging there and had been there for the past 90 years. Upstairs there are cool red painted smaller chandeliers and the bar boasts iron cutout hurricane lights. The view of the Capitol out the window from the front of the restroom is really lovely at night, one of the only spots in Columbus that can boast such a great streetview. On the meal: The hubby would drink scotch all the time if I let him, and he adored this place. I had two great wines, one on the recommendation of the server. Hubby got the beef cheek with risotto (sorry I'm not going to remember the actual names very well) and the meat was succulent and fell apart it was so tender. Risotto was creamy with lots of yummy mushrooms. My eggplant rollatini with prosciutto was heavenly -- the outside had just enough breading to be crunchy but not overwhelm and the marinara had an awesome spicy kick. Totally unique. All the dishes served are small plates, not tapas style but just not Olive Garden's greasy-pasta-in-a-dish-the-size-of-your-head. (For the record, I still eat there. I just hate myself later.) Cost-to-value here was pretty great I thought. Many small plates were in the $5-10 range. On dessert: The cheesecake had a hint of lime, as did the creme brulee filling in my chocolate cannelloni. That was probably my only "just ok" part of the meal -- cannelloni seemed like it was just out of the freezer and the crusty outside (which I expected) was hard enough it required considerable force to fork it into bite sized pieces. One other small complaint I have with concepty places, which is totally snobbish of me but still worth mentioning... I hate when the bathroom doesn't continue the experience of the restaurant. I thought it might, the entry area is still cool with a posh chair and cool planter, but inside the one-stall ladies room I was a little sad. There was a stainless steel seat cover holder with the actual sheets in a box on the ground, the sink was clearly original to the building (white, ugly hardware, coming out of the wall) and the florescent light made me realize how I actually looked instead of how I felt in the shadowy glow of the downstairs. Hopefully it's on the list to get a makeover soon. Last note, I wandered a little and discovered a great banquet/private party room in the upstairs. Great for a sexy little birthday soiree, hip and elegant wedding rehearsal or even a girl's night out. EDITED following message from the owner: I take back my criticism of the bathrooms - they are common to the building, the owner informed me. Not much you can do about that!

    (4)
  • Emma L.

    I've been to Manifesto a few times now, all for different occasions - Happy hour, Girl's Night, Date Night - which is pretty much how I arrived at 3 stars for this new Downtown bar. Happy Hour: 6pm, first time here, super hard to find. There's no sign on the outside of the building and an odd neon "open' sign that doesn't really fit with the upscale vibe they are going for. Had to drive around the block before I realized you enter through the Fifth Third building. Got seated right away in a cozy booth, loved the moody ambiance. Great happy hour prices (wish they lasted past 6:30). Ordered some wine and the bruschetta and received loads of balsamic-drizzled mozzarella, whole slices of sun-dried tomatoes and paper-thin cracker crisps that couldn't hold the weight of the mozz slices or tomatoes. Weird presentation but tasty on an empty stomach. Girl's Night: Wanted a cozy spot to catch up with a couple friends so I thought this was worth a second try. We went for a late dinner (around 10:30) and got seated right away. Shared a couple bottles of wine (their cheapest is $22) and some small plates. I had the arugula & goat cheese salad ($5), which was good but basic and missing something. I would have appreciated some more flavor. The portion was great though. We shared the butternut squash lasagna ($10), Manifesto Flatbread ($12, I think), and the fried mozzarella (around $6). Everything was just so so. The lasagna was good but again, missing something. Pretty one-dimensional all around. Date Night: Wanted to give this place a third shot because I really wanted the ambiance and cheaper bottles of wine. My fault for not realizing they'd be so busy for Restaurant Week - but I was willing to wait 30 minutes. This place is not conducive to waiting at all (and I don't appreciate hearing the staff complaining about being so busy). We were kind of perched on the stairs by the entrance until a spot in the "lounge" area opened up and we could take a seat and get a drink. While waiting, the hostess had to ask multiple times for me to stand so she could move the couch (physically move it) so a group could walk through. There is just NO space for giant couches if you can't arrange them for people to walk through. We finally got seated and service was slow, probably due to the crowd. Salad portions had shrunk (disappointing) and the food was again, just okay. We had the short-rib cannelloni ($10), which I was really excited about but it again lacked flavor. We also tried the Chicken flatbread (maybe $12) and thought it was good but not amazing. Overall I like the vibe of this place and it's great that new additions are coming to the Downtown area. I wish the food was a bit more complex, but it's okay. I'll probably recommend somewhere else next time.

    (3)
  • Hanim S.

    Kinda expensive, and when there is a show or special event downtown, expect to wait - and wait. We sat at the bar and our bar tender was awesome - he basically saved this review from being less than 3 stars. We will try again another time, but was not impressed with this first time visit.

    (3)
  • James B.

    Go elsewhere unless you're just looking to sample scotch. Being in a group of 8 we went to try out Manifesto. Enjoying scotch I was excited to see the options they offered. There is a decent variety of scotches with prices ranging from $8-26 on average. I was disappointed that our waiter didn't know anything about them, couldn't attempt to pronounce the names, and often forgot or mixed up what was ordered. The food delivery became comical quickly. After placing orders the dishes were mixed up and brought in rounds. Often with one person waiting 15 minutes for food after the other dishes were served. Visiting during restaurant week we expected it to be busy but the featured food to be good. There was a three course sampler for $20 we all tried. I went with the beef cheek sliders, scallops, and tiramisu. The scallops were good the rest not so much... With a few of us trying the tiramisu we noticed that they always left out either bread, cream, or chocolate on every one. Our waiter also informed us that most of them had back all evening. At the end our waiter went around the table asking everybody tell him what we ordered and drank so he could create our bills. After adding extra items to our bill and forgetting items on others we were eventually able to get everything straightened out and leave. By the time it was over we were all itching to get out and go anywhere else. All of this took a span of 2.5 hours.

    (1)
  • Dana W.

    Awful. Went last weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday and the service was horrible. Food/drinks was decent, but not worth it. The place was empty. We spoke with the manager when we were leaving (Desmond), and he just brushed off our concerns. Definitely will not be back and I'm sure none of the people we dined with (there were 10 of us) will be back either. Don't waste your time.

    (1)
  • Heather G.

    The food was awesome!!! The service was so/so and the bathroom looked like it was used by every homeless person in the city. I would try it again for the food but the service needs to really improve. The Mussels, Brushetta and Flatbreads are a must try.

    (2)
  • Josh H.

    We've been here twice, once for dinner and once for lunch. The dinner was good, but I think the lunch was probably better. For starters, the time we came for dinner we waited a long time for a seat since they don't take reservations (at least they didn't then, maybe they do now). For lunch, we were able to walk right in with no problem. The staff is very knowledgable about the large scotch list,which is nice. The food is good,but the scotch list is where it's at. They've got Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban for $5 a dram during happy hour (11 - 6). What a deal!

    (4)
  • Jennifer M.

    My husband and I looked for a fun and different restaurant to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We selected Manifesto because of the menu, ambiance, and the scotch. We ended up being very disappointed and actually left after having only a drink and an appetizer. We arrived around 5:30 p.m. so we could sit at the bar before our reservation to enjoy their happy hour specials. We were greeted nicely and we ordered our first round of scotch. When it was time to order another round and be seated at our table, we were told they were out of the type of scotch we wanted. The bar tender told us he just received a promotion and that he'll order 5 bottles of that type of scotch when he does the orders in the future then walked away without asking what we would like instead. When we were seated, we were taken to large booth in an empty room. Our server was rude, and the service was extremely slow considering the restaurant didn't have many customers on a Friday evening. We decided to leave because the atmosphere was unpleasant, defensive, and awkward. The concept of Manifesto is unique, but they have a lot of work to do when it comes to customer service.

    (2)
  • Natasha W.

    I ordered the fig and Brie flatbread. It was tasty but definitely not worth the price. I asked the waitress if any thing came with it and she said a salad but I never got one. If you are interested in a nice place with overpriced food, then this place is for you!

    (2)
  • Tommy M.

    We (4 of us) set out to try Manifesto based on some positive reviews we had previously read. A few foodie friends had given it a "not bad" review so we decided to give it a try and we love anyplace with artesian cocktails. The décor sets a cool vibe, multi levels, round booths, welcoming benches with dark painted walls and famous quotes (manifestos) scrawled across them. Not much in the way of Tuscan grato though. We were seated in a round booth. It was late December; we found the ambiance warm but the restaurant quite drafty. The place was busy and it took some time for our server to greet us (yes this is some foreshadowing). Another 15 minutes past before she came back for a drink order, at which she took the order from only three of us. Strange we thought. She returned with the three drinks we ordered; Jalapeno Peach Martini, a gin martini called the Corpse Reviver and the special of the day, Bruleed Old Fashioned. Even after placing the three cocktails at our table of four, the server again walked away without taking our 4th's drink order. We were perplexed. The Jalapeno Peach Martini was excellent, the Corpse Reviver was OK although the Gin was bruised, not something I would expect for a $10 martini. I should preface my review of the Bruleed Old Fashioned by stating I am an Old Fashioned snob so my expectations for this $11 cocktail were high. Sadly, I was very disappointed. What kind of place fancy themselves as an artesian cocktail bar and puts crushed ice in an Old Fashioned? That was only the beginning of the disappointment of the drink. The bartender should drop by Mouton in the Short North or Origin in Toronto to see what a great Old Fashion should look and taste like. Our server did not smile once, seemed to not care about service and knew very little about the menu. Although, our intention was to have a full dinner here, we decided due to the poor service we would try a few small plates and move on to better digs. We ordered the pureed cannellini beans with crisps, Mussels and the arugula and goat cheese salad. Strangely, the server once again left out one of us when taking our next drink order. The food arrived quickly and was as our friends had said "not bad." The beans had a nice consistency but little flavor. A16 in San Francisco set the bar incredibly high for cannellini beans for me, but these should have been better than they were. The mussels were good and the salad as expected. We finished the food, paid our bill and were out within an hour. With better service, we would have been there for two hours and probably tripled our bill. In summary, the ambiance was great; the drinks were far from being of artesian quality and were overpriced. The food was OK and priced appropriately. The service was horrible for what would be expected. This would probably be our only time visiting this Tuscan Grato.

    (2)
  • Kevin P.

    Absolutely fantastic!!!!! Atmosphere, service, and people are top notch! New favorite with deNovo!

    (5)
  • Jodie S.

    My friends and I were here a few weeks ago for dinner before a concert. Had never been before, and must say we were all so pleased we look forward to returning. We tried several of the drinks the Filibuster Mule, excellent, my friend had the Manifesto Old Fashion and claims its the best she ever had. Dinners were great, I had beef cheeks, so tender they melt in your mouth. Mushroom risotto was very tasty as well. Let me just say, you won't be disappointed! We got to meet the Chef and Matt, our waiter was vey helpful with entree selections and drink suggestions. Very good wine list as well. This is a must try, love the interior of the restaurant, warm and cozy!!

    (5)
  • Abigail K.

    Pros: margaritas are fresh and delicious without any hint of a mix. I loathe sweet and sour mix. Cons: seat in front of the bar is "not actually a seat" according to bartender. So we took our business to the patio. Drew promptly served us two of the aforementioned delicious margaritas, then patently disappeared. A female server (so sorry, forgot your name!) took our orders for a second round that was served in wine glasses instead of a margarita glass and an app that never appeared. If you aren't in a rush, I'd go for slowly served margaritas.

    (3)
  • Erick B.

    Blueberry Mojito was excellent, great bar staff and dessert! Very friendly, clean and inviting.

    (5)
  • Ken L.

    The food was good. I especially like the spinach artichoke dip. The waiting staff was very friendly and the manager was especially nice and helpful. If you go there, try the "beef cheek" which I didn't get but got to try. It was perfectly cooked and tasted like the best fancy pot roast (which I know can seem to contradict which is why you should try it) you will ever have. The only thing I would steer away from is the ice tea. I think their ice tea maker either needs replaced or the type of tea they used needs re-thought. It had a flavor more like the juice from a can of corn then tea. In the kitchen they are big fans of bread crumbs and seem to put it on everything. If you are into this, welcome to the pleasure dome. I like the location, setting, staff, and food choices. Oh.. and round ice cubs if you choose to have a well aged lovely beverage.

    (4)
  • Anna S.

    I've come here for lunch, but honestly, Manifesto's not-so-secret-but-amazingly-good deal happy hour is truly the star here. Great prices on scotches and apps, and every time I am here for lunch, I'm sad that I didn't come for happy hour instead. However, the lunch is quite good too and thankfully, doesn't suffer from overcrowding as other places do during the noon hour. On a recent visit, I had the sausage and kale soup (ok, little on the sour side); house salad (good); and fig and Brie flatbread (star of the meal). Everything was decent and service was quite attentive. No complaints and will likely come back!

    (3)
  • Jeff A.

    The Walleye was wonderful and my wife's tenderloin was so good I only got 1 bite. Wednesday evening and no one else in the place, kind of strange...

    (5)
  • Mari G.

    Was there during a business trip and decided to venture out of my hotel room. This place was so delicious and I would recommend it to anyone. The only slight con was that the staff didn't look happy to be there. Maybe that was my perception, but I was put off a little by it.

    (4)
  • Katherine M.

    Any place where you're welcomed by a sky-high chalk mural portrait of Ron Burgundy is a winner in my book. Decor is so cool! Both upstairs and down. It's an elegant interior plastered with a satirical demeanor and wall art that's guaranteed to start conversation... like a stripper in an evening gown. Great date place and happy hour, and food is incred also! This sounds crazy but my favorite other than the unique design, was the Antipasta platter - awesome variety and servings! Steak gorgonzola bruschetta killed it. Apps were unbeatable and could've left there with painful smile lines just from the drinks and starters. It's a hidden gem in a quiet area downtown. Would advise cabbing/ubering - parking is a rare find, but definitely worth the trip. Absolutely perfect for a pre or post theater event, or perhaps a night at Shadowbox.

    (5)
  • Heather L.

    Great patio experience. However, it did take more than ten minutes to get someone to the table for our order. They were quick with the food and the Caprese salad was great tasting with delicious heirloom tomatoes and the tuna tartar was small, but good. Our biggest complaint was their serving us the core of the tomato, which was obviously, inedible.

    (3)
  • Mike W.

    We came here a few days ago. I live in the area and have been coming here for quite some time. I was totally disappointed to learn that Chris our regular bartender was gone, but such is life and they have good drinks and food. It wasn't bad, try the flatbread.

    (3)
  • Michael C.

    Called ahead for a reservation prior to this evening's show. Was told that they weren't taking any additional reservations, but if we showed up around 6:15 that we could get in for a walk in. We arrived at 6p. To begin, they appeared shocked that we would attempt to walk in without a reservation. She was very wasn't and attempted to seat us at the bar. The bar tender began spouting off that people shouldn't show up at 6p for a 7:30 show. I very promptly put him in his place, explaining that if they weren't willing to serve the customers that someone answering the phone shouldn't be directing people to walk in at 6:15. The manager stood there and said nothing. Further, if you depend on a wheelchair, take note. There are several steps to get down into the restaurant. There is an lift, but they evidently feel that a better use for it is for house plant storage and display. I gave it one star, only because I couldn't give it a zero.

    (1)
  • Lauren W.

    After seeing the mixed reviews, I had some reservations about going here. However, our experience was really great! We stopped in for a night cap so there weren't many people there. The bartender was all about educating his customers, which I personally really appreciate. He was super knowledgeable and friendly (and I think he was proposing the next day, so I hope she said yes!!) In addition, this place is really cool! Their decor is really unique and interesting to look at and the ambience is laid back and cozy. I could have walked around for 2 hours just looking at the walls. I'm not sure what the wait service or food is like, but the bar service and drinks are truly fantastic! If you're on the fence because of the mixed reviews, my advice is to take the chance. You'll definitely find a new favorite scotch!!

    (5)
  • Jen R.

    Meh. Each time I've been here, the service is really slow. Food is overpriced. The drinks I've had there in the evening are pretty good, but each time I've been seated in the evening I feel like they seat us in the deepest darkest corner of the restaurant on the second floor as if to hide our average appearance from the swankier guests who they want to have in here. One time we were seated upstairs in the corner booth by the bathrooms when there were several tables open downstairs and the only other party upstairs was a huge party of loud, obnoxious, drunk business men basically talking about how large (or small) their genitals probably are or aren't. I'm sure the waiter forgot about us too since we were barely attended to. I've been here twice before shows at the Ohio Theatre and each time we've been nearly late for a 2 PM show when arriving to eat at noon. On my last visit I ordered a bloody mary. It took forever to be served, had to flag someone down to order another one, and when the second one was delivered it tasted like it was made with lemon vodka. Gross. Also, if you've never been here before it can be a task to figure out how to get into the place.

    (2)
  • TJ R.

    Enjoyed everything we tried. Service was good. Drinks were strong. Lighting was unusually low in the dining area, making the tiny font menu even tougher to read. Several patrons were using flashlight apps on their phones!

    (4)
  • Lisa R.

    Follow-up review - manifesto no longer has an Italian flair, it is Mexican, sort of... It was disappointing. The 5 star rating no longer applies. I paid about $24 for a big bowl of cheese with shrimp and various seafood, the name of the dish escapes me. It was too hot (to the touch), by the time it cooled the seafood was over cooked. The seafood was shell-on so it was covered with gooey cheese and I had to then peel off the shell, the fish was mushy so overall it was. Messy difficult process. I didn't complain at first because I thought it would be better when it cooled, it wasn't. The ceviche only had tiny cocktail shrimp in it, the presentation was nice, but the flavor was unimpressive and bland. I was particularly disappointed because I took my friends from Brazil there as a place I thought would be impressive as a Columbus private owned establishment. Our party of six walked away with a "meh" feeling about their meals.

    (2)
  • Courtney B.

    Second visit. Server nice, but maybe had too many ppl come in at one time, so we didn't have the most attentive service. Food overpriced. $20 for bowl of chicken penne is too expensive. Food is average. Pairing focaccia with pasta salad is just too much carb for the average person. Cold and drafty interior downstairs. People at other tables were complaining about the temperature and how long it was taking to get their food...Decor starting to look dated. Nice view of the statehouse. Clean dining room....Decaf coffee seemed like it was sitting on the burner too long....I don't really "get" the theme of this restaurant...Scotch+Italian-ish food+quotes from Calvin Coolidge and Depak Chopra written on the walls (in Elvish-looking calligraphy)....it seems like they need to tweak their concept.

    (3)
  • Megan H.

    The atmosphere is really cool here, and they have a great selection of scotch. However; I attended a birthday party in the upper "party room" tonight and had a very bizarre experience. First of all, the waiter turned off the playlist that was playing to entertain guests without asking anyone or informing the birthday guy. Then, after he delivered the message for which he needed a captive audience, he didn't turn the music back on. Even after he was explicitly asked to pay the music, it remained off until a party guest found the room with the audio controls and turned it back on. Then, because service was taking a very long time, a guest asked to "un-order" her food. Since it had already been prepared, the staff delivered her meal to someone else who ordered the same entree, but then someone else brought her another one. She informed that waiter that she did not intend to pay for a meal that she cancelled, and he responded that he would call the cops! By the end of the night, several bills were calculated incorrectly. The manger said he would "discipline" the staff member who threatened to call the cops "according to company policy" and did not charged the threatened member of the party for her food or drinks. He also mentioned that the party drew around 50 people total and he only staffed that area for around 25-30. Bottom line: the beef cheeks she risotto were heavenly, but communication among the staff and customer service were terrible.

    (2)
  • Amy K.

    You had one job. One of few restaurants within walking distance of the Ohio Theater. How are you surprised when you become crowded before a show? I played my part right, arrived on time for my 5:30 reservations prior to a 7pm show -seemed reasonable to me. Our $20 bill could have easily been $100+ with any form of even mediocre service. We were only offered one round of cocktails and the food we ordered, was never received. From the attitude-laiden, unhygienic* host, to being ignored by our server, to the "sorry not sorry"-style apology we received upon leaving; you're loss, Manifesto. I will gladly patronize Dirty Franks around the corner before stepping foot in your establishment again prior to any Ohio Theater performance. (*unhygenic = profusely blowing his nose behind the bar without washing his hands and "greeting" guests with a bloody gauze-bandaged thumb)

    (1)
  • Lynne B.

    This place is overly priced for mediocre food. See my photo of pizza that I ordered for carry-out. $11, and it doesn't even come in a cardboard pizza box.

    (1)
  • Sara M.

    Food was ok. Service was horrible. Waited 10 minutes with food in front of me for silver ware. People in my party were brought the wrong food. Then we waited about an hour for our checks to be printed and then corrected. Probably won't be back. Ps vegans beware, there is little to no options unless you want arugula with tasteless dressing.

    (1)
  • Jacky W.

    I love this place. The chef has been very considerate after informing him about my dietary restrictions. I'm a vegan, and I never worry about being able to have a great meal here. I've had a few different meals here, and the food is always great. I most recommend the vegetable bake and vegetable panini. The entree salad that I ordered last time was the same size as the side salads my friends ordered, but mine was twice as expensive. The drinks are very good, as well. The happy hour is one of my favorites downtown! And I love the historic chic vibe of the place. Be sure to check out the funky president quotes on the walls!

    (5)
  • Steve A.

    Really disappointed in this restaurant. The service wasn't horrible but the menu is odd and I'm not sure why they label themselves an Italian food establishment. But that aside, the food was just not good. Flatbread was cold. The meats tasted wrong. And the tortilla soup was tomato soup with chunks of cheese thrown in. Overall the dining area felt unclean and the staff seemed like they just wanted to go home. Had high hopes for this place that unfortunately weren't fulfilled.

    (1)
  • Adrienne C.

    Wow! this place's cool-factor surprised me as soon as I walked in. The low ceilings, dark lighting, cozy barspace, and artsy wall designs (profound quotes about life, love, etc) really capture the speakeasy vibe that I assume they're going for. The happy hour (3:30-6:30 on weekdays) was fantastic! $4-5 scotch cocktails?? YES PLZ. Also, my tomato soup was bomb. GEt that. i was impressed. i usually never have occasion to say that about tomato soup.

    (4)
  • Den W.

    This place is the restaurantification of mediocrity. The food was average at best. Crabcakes are 90% cake. Bruscetta was 4 tiny pieces of bread (probably straight out of the bag they came in from Giant Eagle) w/ a sad little topping. The pasta was average (a la Olive Garden). We sat at the bar - so, we also got to enjoy seeing all of the dirty glasses folks sent back from their tables, and listening to the employees bicker at each other and complain about customers. No customer, anywhere, in any context, should ever have to hear employees complain - but, in this case, it was particularly annoying since the person who seemed to be the manager, or maybe owner, was standing in the bar area the whole time participating in it. Finally - and what surely ought to be a crime - neither of the 2 bartenders know how to make a Manhattan. It has bitters in it. It just does. How does a place the touts liquor and drinks not know how to make this simple classic cocktail? On a positive note - the bartenders were nice and attentive.

    (1)
  • Charlene A.

    I am giving them 1 star because the environment was so beautiful. The food was a "0"...my daughter and I both ordered pasta dishes. We were served a very generous portion that arrived in a nice large dish. We almost didn't recognize the meal because the pasta appeared to be swimming in soup. Horrible, no two ways about it! I will not return.

    (1)
  • Mike B.

    A great place to go if you want to pay way too much for scotch... For a scotch bar, they have a paltry selection that's available at any liquor store. There are no descriptions on the menu, and everything is loosely grouped together by region. Try wings in Bexley, a real scotch bar (and oddly enough, Chinese restaurant). Yes, I'm being critical. They have good service, it's charming and comfortable inside. But if you're going to call yourself a scotch bar, then put your scotch list on the back of your drink menu, I'm calling you out on it.

    (2)
  • Mike C.

    Great location and food is very good. I would do the arugula salad and the beef cheek. Mixed drinks are well made!

    (4)
  • Brian D.

    Manifesto is a welcomed addition to the downtown lunch scene. On days when I don't want a desk sandwich, something tossed on a bagel or mediocre soup (i.e. just about every day at work), this place fits the bill. Manifesto offers a number of "right sized", economical lunch options. The flatbreads (which you can also have as a panini) are all fantastic. The meatball sliders are great too (although not filling enough to hold me over for dinner). After several recommendations, I finally tried the braised cheek as well - and there is a reason it is one of the menu favorites. While I rely on Manifesto primarily for lunch, I've also been there for an after work happy hour and a before theater dinner. That is the beauty of Manifesto, it easily meets the needs of a gourmet, yet economical lunch, a great place for a drink (love the Sazerac and on-tap beers) and an evening meal which is convenient to downtown theaters. I hope that downtown can continue to support this type of gourmet development.

    (4)
  • Elle B.

    This place can be hit or miss, but during a busy theater week you as customer must understand, everyone is showing up right before the show begins(or right after the show ends). Then you all expect impeccable service. christin b. your review was a little harsh towards the staff. For someone who claims to be experienced in the restaurant industry, I would think you could appreciate how hard wait staff work to get you to the show on time. You were unhappy with your choice of seating, but did you make reservations in advance?. I guessing you bought your theater tickets in advance. Your server probably wasn't on crack, they were probably just as concerned as you where about making the show on time, but just keep in mind you weren't the only table that evening trying to get to Lion King. Your "sprinting server" was probably doing his best to accommodate all the guests that evening. The lay out of this place makes it a real workout for staff when they are busy. When I dine out I to want staff to appear as if they're enjoying the experience right along with me, but in a perfect world......... Bottom line, you will have a much better experience if you avoid busy theater times. christin b. I do understand your frustration over the sold out menu item though. But your poor experience, should not give way to calling wait staff "weird". It really doesn't aid in a review of the restaurant. As the busy holiday season begins, I really hope that diners remember 1 thing. Your wait staff, they're human too. They are your server, not your servant. I don't work in the restaurant industry, never have. But have witnessed many abuses by diners toward wait staff. It may be a special night out for you, but this is there livelihood.

    (3)
  • Eileen S.

    Stopped for a glass of wine and a late night snack. We ordered the cheese flatbread. It was so greasy I had grease dripping down my hand and all over my clothes. I couldn't finish one piece.

    (2)
  • Steven M.

    This is a great lunch spot, mostly because happy hour starts in the a.m. That's right. Happy hour starts at 11 and continues into the evening, so you can great deals for lunch or to end the work day. I love their unique plates. They have a solid beer selection, but they're really known for their scotch. I'm planning on doing a tasting in the winter to see what that's all about. The ambiance is fantastic. Any history buff would love the decor. Great setting in the heart of downtown.

    (4)
  • Doug O.

    I'm not a big scotch fan, but I had a good experience at Manifesto nonetheless. The bar area is a cozy little grotto with a very warm feel to it. The happy hour prices are very good, with several $4 and $5 scotch options. The flatbreads are absolutely delicious and were well-discounted for happy hour as well. When I ordered a bourbon on the rocks, it was a bit pricey, but they gave me a very generous pour. Our server was attentive and friendly. I would go back. The atmosphere is a bit strange, perhaps because Manifesto is located in the lobby of an office building. The bar is dark and cozy with low ceilings, making you feel like you're in a cave, but the main room has super tall ceilings and is much brighter, and then the upstairs has a very different feel to it too. There are cutesy sayings painted on the wall in the bar, which makes you feel like you're in a little bit classier version of Roosters.

    (4)
  • Michael G.

    We went before a show, not an Ohio Theater show, even though it is next door. Poor planning for us. We came at 6 on a Saturday. We had intended to go on Friday, but when I found out THEY DO NOT TAKE RESERVATIONS (plus they have a growing happy hour), I said no-way on taking a chance. So we went on Saturday. The symphony was performing the same night, so by the time we left, 730, the place was rockin'. I always enjoyed the apps at DeNovo (they own that too), and that's what you get here, disguised as small plates. Sizes are generous; the wife and I had 4 selections and one drink each in our hour stay. We were plenty satisfied. The offerings are inventive, prepared well, and tasty. Looking forward to trying more. The seating is tight all over. You are on top of your neighbor. Seats by the bar and the TV are really crammed in, we had trouble maneuvering (and we're not large!). Our coats ended up on the floor, the only place we could find. Servers, mostly 20-something females, are attentive, and seem to be well-trained, but their inexperience did show. Bartenders are on it, our drinks were great; an Old Fashion and a Sazerac. Manifesto will be a hit with the Ohio Theatre and downtown crowd, but I'm not sure about the no-rez policy. We'll see how that goes.

    (4)
  • Karen M.

    We had so much fun with Ann the bartender who taught us about manly drinks! My date ordered an amaretto sour...not manly! Best Long Island and Manhattans that I've had in a long time...not a scotch drinker but the selections looked really good! I love that gimlet I ordered came with fresh lime juice. I can't wait to go back here!

    (4)
  • Bridget H.

    What a great addition to Columbus! I loved the ambiance of this place! We sat in front of the fireplace and had a few drinks while we waited on our table. ....So warm and cozy on a cold winter night. The Bartender was very friendly and made me my favorite "French 75" ;) Great service, and it wasn't packed! ....which was nice for a change. Lots of great dishes on the menu.... .....I went straight for the Braised Beef Cheeks, over a wonderful Wild Mushroom Risotto ....DIVINE! I'm looking forward to going back for lunch

    (5)
  • V A.

    I love going to places that think outside the box. Manifesto has a cool vibe and unique menu. The walls are covered with quotes from movies, Presidents and other. I ordered the gnocchi and steak for dinner - amazing, full of flavor! My only drawback was our waitress, she was a little loopy; she got one of our wine bottle orders wrong (after opening the wine), broke the cork on another bottle order and she ordered the wrong appetizer for our table. Be sure to double check your order!

    (4)
  • Andrew Z.

    Lunch 5 stars. Pros: Italian dip was amazing. Good portions ft or 12$. Lightly toasted bread with capivolla, promescuto, with a mild olive oil vinaigrette kinda flavor. Pasta on the side was similar to a chicken salad. The chicken salad sandwich on a crossaint is also very tasty, but probably a 4 star. Great atmosphere, semi formal. Definitely worth visiting again with a cute lady friend, =p. Cons: dipping sauce is a oily tomato dip. Somewhat lacking in flavor however.

    (5)
  • Edy D.

    Manifesto just opened today. The decor is beautiful although it's described as a 'Man's Bar'. I enjoyed a warm Triple Ginger Biscuit w/ Orange Glaze and a Double Chocolate Biscuit. I couldn't decide between the two and glad I got both. I look forward to enjoying lunches, Happy Hours and dinners here. As a suggestion, since Manifesto is located right next to Ohio Theater; make sure you call for reservations!

    (5)
  • Lars F.

    We came here on Sunday night around 8:30 PM. Wow is everything quite. A nice place right in the center of town with outdoor seating. Inside looked really cool, a great decor, and friendly staff. The hummus was absolutely fantastic. Maybe the best I have had. The beet salad was okay and the Manifesto flatbread seemed out of place. Almost thrown together without much thought to presentation, although it tasted pretty good. The braised beef cheek was right up there with the hummus. That was so good. I nice selection of Scotch and wine. I had the cannoli with some kind of sauce that really added to the cannoli. My co-worker had the tiramisu which was good. A different take than the standard. When the theater next door let out, the quiet night turned to controlled chaos, but that discoursed quickly.

    (4)
  • Brian W.

    Went to the Grand Opening here, so got to try several appetizers. Flat breads, sliders, lamb, everything was really good. The space is dimly lit, warm, and cozy. Lots of interesting nooks and spaces, all with the scrawling manifestos of past Presidents and others on the wall. I'm not a scotch person, so stuck to the wine, which was fine. If you are a scotch person, I guess that's the main attraction, with lots to choose from at reasonable prices. Anyway, another winner by the people who brought you De Novo. This one a bit more of a bar space, but still wonderful.

    (5)
  • Shannon H.

    I've yet to sample the food, but the solid scotch list was certainly worth a double take. The bartenders' were willing and capable of advising on their selection, which in my book is a huge plus. Aside from the scotch, this bar gives off a warm, inviting feel from the darkly painted walls, low ceilings, and multiple lounge chair/couch options (assumedly to assist in the event of being overserved?). Ideal for the Winter, but I'm not sure how this vibe will translate to my cravings in the hot Summer months. They seem to be attempting to appeal to patrons of both the male and female persuasion. The quotes from famous leaders and politicians are scrawled in nothing short of a curlicue font, and despite the otherwise gentleman's club vibe, there are some distinctive feminine touches (see the light fixtures over the bar). It makes for a slightly unexpected mashup. Personally, I would have been on board with an unapologetically man's man establishment, but at least Manifesto offers a place likely to please most everyone in the group. I'm sold. I'll be coming back, there's more sampling to do.

    (4)
  • Darin C.

    Food was good, portions little small, great environment and fun reading the qoutes on all the walls from famous people.

    (3)
  • Devon H.

    Food Is great- Service was horrible. WE booked two weeks in advance for a party of 15 at 4pm for a 6:30 play. They knew we were coming and were still not prepared. I personally helped the waitress carry food up the stairs when I went to find her to tell her we needed our checks. We were late to the play and by the time we wanted to leave the server/manager could not figure out our bill. The waitress did fine with what she had but management clearly does not know how to staff for a party of 15 before a show. WE all decided we would not come here again because of the management.

    (1)
  • Laura C.

    Love their menu - perfectly priced, designed (food option wise), and portioned. The braised beef cheek with risotto is amazing. So tender you do not need a knife. Also, the service staff is beyond well versed in the beverage menu. I'm not a scotch drinker but the waiter was able to recommend a scotch mixed drink that I was able to drink and enjoyed. Great decor and vibe. Awesome date spot or meeting up with friends for happy hour. Note that this place is not well marked from the street (especially at night). You enter through the 5/3rd building's dated brass revolving doors. Manifesto is immediately to the left. Easiest parking would be across the street underneath the State house. Hopefully the owners will open up a 3rd restaurant in the Short North area that's more accessible on the weekends and for bar hopping.

    (4)
  • Carol S.

    First time there it was a huge success. This time, not so much! The cranberry meatballs were dry as a bone, the tuna cups had no flavor nor did the salad. The food was really tasteless but the manager did comp the meatballs and show an interest in our disappointment. Would I go back, probably not.

    (2)
  • Larry H.

    Didn't even know that Manifesto was open for brunch/lunch on Sunday, but went there and couldn't have been happier. We had the beef cheek with risotto along with the Pomodora Diavolo. Both were really great, as was the beet salad. And we enjoyed talking with Alex the manager. A good morning experience certainly to be repeated. Hope others try it also.

    (5)
  • Chad E.

    Where can I even start... This place is just amazing. It's almost like two different restaurants in one. The bar area is very cozy and dark. Reminiscent of a basement speakeasy. The rest of the restaurant area is classical and well lit. Lots of open space and quaint booths upstairs. The service was amazing, we never once were without drinks or in need of anything. We came to celebrate a special occasion and the staff went out of their way to make that happen. I would highly recommend it to anyone. By far one of my new favorite restaurants and scotch bars.

    (5)
  • Patrick R.

    We've been here several times and it's always been pretty good. Recently the food arrived barely warm and we had some raw garlic. It's generally inconsistent food but the drinks are great.

    (3)
  • Jeff P.

    This is a cool little downtown hotspot. Tucked in a little corner across from the capitol building, you'd never know it was here. The food was great. The service was great. This is just a great, cozy, loungy, spot for a fun night. And...they specialize in scotch! My favorite. Great place for a date.

    (4)
  • Melodye M.

    I tried their restaurant week menu, which was a really great deal: creamy and oh so delicious wild mushroom marsala bisque, tender lamb lollipops, and a very generous and light lemon goat cheese cheesecake. Everything was superb! We got there early enough to capitalize on the excellent happy hour specials (which last until 6:30) so my boyfriend tried a $6 steak and gorgonzola panini (usually $12) and the $4 tuscan hummus dip (usually $6). Both of his choices were also very tasty! The atmosphere at Manifesto is very cozy and somewhat modern. The booths with the red chandeliers are quite special and romantic. We also had tremendous service from our server Morgan - she gave great recommendations and was attentive but relaxed (i.e. checked up on us when needed, but gave us good space). All in all, I had a wonderful first experience at Manifesto. Highly recommend!

    (4)
  • Cyrus S.

    Crisp, trendy, clean setting. The wall is lined with quotes from all of our presidents. A fitting touch for a place across the street from the statehouse. The happy hour menu is excellent- 3-6:30p. Everything is around $5: food, scotch, beer, wine. Outside of those times, the full menu looks a bit pricey. But hey, if you're a young, working professional with ample disposable income to spend on beautiful presentation of the otherwise mundane, this is your place!

    (3)
  • Mike C.

    Have dined here twice now, and had a great experience each time. The food is delicious and very reasonably priced, given the quality of the offerings. The decor/setting is terrific--makes me want to camp out regularly, if my waistline would permit it. Nice service, even after an error had been made: two complimentary desserts were quickly delivered to the table as penitence. Damn good, too. Will be back often.

    (5)
  • Nate H.

    Nice place to come chill after work. It's relatively new. It's classy, has an upstairs and downstairs area. The thoughts on the wall are thought provoking. Would come here again.

    (4)
  • Mark N.

    This place was spectacular. The swanky atmosphere, fantastic cocktails and stellar service will have me coming back regularly.

    (5)
  • Anthony R.

    This is probably our sixth or so trip to Manifesto, each time more disappointing than before. On this particular visit, we noticed that they slimmed down their menu, and not for the better. They seemed to have gotten rid of some of the best items, leaving behind a lot of stuff that is just ho-hum. We contemplated an escape and going elsewhere, but we decided to give it a shot. Being residents of the downtown area, we want the restaurants to do well. We managed to choose a few items that looked okay, preparing ourselves for disappointment but hoping to be surprised. We started with the Antipasta Plate. Nothing special. The cheeses were very standard and one of the meats tasted like bologna. Next we had the Mesculan Insalata. Not bad, but it had an offensive amount of sun dried tomatoes. The dressing wasn't bad. But again: so-so. Then the Braised Veal Meatball came out. It was pretty tough and parts of it were cold, which made me think it was probably microwaved, pushing the disappointment level up even higher. Finally we ended with the Beef Cheek, a dish we've had in the past. The beef was delicious, but the Broccolini Risotto it was served on had a bizarre flavor that didn't pair well with the beef. In conclusion, since our first visit, I can definitely tell the quality of ingredients has decreased and a lot of shortcuts are being taken. On a positive note, the staff there was very nice and courteous! Won't be back until the menu is changed.

    (2)
  • Neil R.

    Not the usual place i would go but came here to meet up with my cousin who drove from NY and his friend n gf. Very upscale dim atmosphere with a lot of dark wood. The bar area is a bit tight as there is 1 foot of room between a post and chairs to walk in between. The small side dishes were excellent but of course the portion sizes were small and over priced. I don't see myself going there again but it was worth the experience.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :10:30 am - 1:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Late Night
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Categories

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

Manifesto Tuscan Grato & Scotch Bar

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