Manteca

At the heart of Shoreditch, Manteca has a cool East London edge but still feels welcoming, and with the chefs fully on view, there is a real sense of energy in the room. You can see the care that goes into each plate, which always adds something special. It feels honest and grounded in craft rather than theatre for theatre’s sake.

The menu itself was refreshingly simple, with typed ingredients and no unnecessary waffle. It was clear, focused and easy to navigate, which we appreciated. The wine list, on the other hand, told a different story. It felt like a chance to “go down the rabbit hole” and explore off-the-main-road offerings and thoughtful pairings if you wanted to. The linework linking back to the logo was a nice touch visually. We loved the “rapid rigatoni” character, albeit slightly at odds with the styling of the pig motif; it felt playful and clever, drawing in the speedy lunchtime crowd with the promise of something tasty at a reasonable price for the area.

The service really made the experience. The team took time to explain the menu and guide us through it, highlighting the dishes that took the longest to prepare, making sure we were aware, just in case thiswas a time-sensitive lunch-time visit. In reality, we ended up having a leisurely lunch that felt completely unrushed. Dishes arrived at just the right moments, and the pacing was spot on. The waiting staff were genuinely interested in guests, sparking easy conversation rather than just going through the motions. It all came together to make lunch feel relaxed, personal and very enjoyable.