Manuel’s Vintage Room

Amazing little Italian restaurant! Gotta try the pear purses, sooo good! The ambiance was cool too, reminded us of a place in NYC we ate at. Definitely will be back!

What Happened?!
My wife and I have always made visits to Manuel’s for special occasions. After tonight, we won’t be returning on any occasion. The service was abysmal and our wait staff could barely navigate the cozy space. Be prepared to be bumped, pushed, and –in my case– have dirty silverware dropped in your lap. I expect better from this establishment. After over an hour of staring at each other our food finally arrived. My ‘Manuel’s Chicken’ tasted like a concoction I threw together on the fly in my home kitchen. I ate half and dropped the leftovers in a downtown trash bin on the walk back to our car. This place used to be really special, what a disappointment.

Ok food. Awful service.
Sat for 15 minutes until we begged the waiter to please let us order drinks and appetizers.
We were done with our appetizers and the waiter never took the entrée orders. Juggling dirty dishes, drinks and menus all at the same time on a tiny table takes skills.
Very impersonal staff, didn’t care if one person got their pasta 10 minutes before all the dishes. By the time the food came most of us had lost their appetite.
Also personal advice for the manual staff: don’t turn people away when the restaurant is half empty. Trust me, you guys need as much business as you can with the quality you provide. /​sarcasm

Hands down the best Italian restaurant in Gainesville! it is a bit pricey, and there are only a few tables. The sefvise is spot on and food is amazing. The owner was nice and treated us like family, even though it was my dad and I’s first time. going there. the menu has a small selection, bit the food is delicious! Great spot to take a date, but be prepared to spent money lol

Outstanding restaurant. We were greeted by Manuel when we first arrived. The restaurant is small inside w/​some outdoor seating as well. The calamari appetizer was excellent as was the oil w/​pesto served with rolls. The salads & pastas were all excellent too.
Will definitely go back. Best restaurant in G-​ville.

First off this place is not given the Unilocal credit it deserves! I thoroughly enjoyed my visit.
My husband and I arrived around 7:30, and they were packed but fortunately for us they had a cancellation and sat us immediately. The atmosphere is quaint and romantic, with little tables, dim lighting and candles. The servers were very knowledgeable and extremely polite.
The food, was amazing! I ordered the shrimp and mushroom pasta, which is one of their popular dishes. While I typically don’t order pasta dishes, I loved this one. The shrimp tasted fresh and it was seasoned perfectly. My husband had the gnocchi with a beef bolognese sauce, which I tried and also enjoyed. He was happy with his choice as well. We didn’t make room for desert, but it did look delicious.
We can’t wait to go back!

With an air of quiet confidence, Manuel’s was recommended to me over the years by a few people who poured over their experience. The lack of ego makes it all the more easy to say that this cozy room is home to the most authentic Italian cuisine I have eaten in recent memory, with an ambience that lifts you out of quaint Gainesville and into the perfect date night.
The Space
Tucked into a small slot downtown, Manuel’s might be a hard to find if you were relying on your eyes. A faux-​Miami night club and American/​burger bar sit on either side, acting as concrete camouflage, but neither detract from the rustic charm. Step in and feel the warmth of a small, charming dining room that would sit about 25 (so consider a reservation). Not many places offer both the intimate environment and high-​end plates, so look forward to easy conversation. Around the walls are little cute bits of inspired decoration, including paintings and other small, themed pieces.
One of my favorite surprises was the visibility of the kitchen. For me there is just something mesmerizing about knowing the hard work I’m watching will directly translate into the fantastic meal to come.
The Service
Starting before even arriving, Manuel’s has both premium and fluid service. We needed to call in and make sure our reserved table would be handicap-​friendly. Approaching the door, a server was outside waiting to open the door and insure the place they chose accommodated the wheelchair properly. Once settled, we swiftly received bread and oil, had our wine selection served to us, and never went without check-​ins on how we were enjoying ourselves.
Expect a finely-​tuned staff: you are offered to taste the wine to confirm it suits you, your water never warms with the room, and all work to keep an eye on every table. Professional, courteous, and informed.
The Food
Authentic. Fresh. Delicate. There is no mistaking you will be in love with your bites when the pasta is made in-​house, this on top of Italian cuisine already being a warm hug of feel-​good. Starting from the crisp, yet soft bread and pine nut-​infused olive oil into the luscious, decadent entrees and ending with one of the indulgent desserts, I challenge you to find a mediocre meal (I’ll be happy to eat it for you)!
Our table of 4 enjoyed two of the special (filet mignon bathed in a goat cheese sauce), Lobster Ravioli, and the Gnocchi Daniela (my meal), as well as splitting one serving of homemade Tiramisu. I did not sample all of the dishes, but trust the looks of bliss on everyone’s faces that must have mirrored my own.
The Gnocchi Daniela comes drenched in a rich, smooth fontina cream sauce with a splash of vibrant marinara in the center (add fresh parmesan upon request). Bite after bite, the warm, smooth gnocchi balances a perfect chew with a pillowy, smooth center. The acidity of the fresh tomato sauce dances with the richness of the cream to continuously satisfy. I see this dish pairing nicely with many different wines but I bet the staff would advise you regardless.
Having dove into the above, dessert was a must. We all had generous portions of bread, as well as the meal, and found splitting the one serving between us all the just-​right amount. This tiramisu is the best I have ever had: a cool, smooth square of silky heaven soaked in a spectacular milky espresso, drizzled with chocolate and joined by fresh berries. So outstanding I plan to tuck this dish away as its own, singular reason for stopping by, perhaps paired with a café for a late-​night treat.
Final Thoughts
The wine selection is vast, from single glasses to half bottles and even beauties from Manuel’s private cellar. While a weekend date night is everything you want, I feel compelled to encourage coming on slower days for the chance to meet Manuel himself, which I did not get. Trust me when I say I will make plenty of opportunities to do so now knowing what a treasure I’ve discovered.

As much as I love Gainesville, sometimes I can’t help the sudden onset of wanderlust. When the weekend rolls around, every so often I find myself imagining that I’m somewhere far far away like Tokyo, Barcelona, or Paris. But if I ever feel the urge for an Italian getaway, I’ll have no further to travel than Manuel’s Vintage Room.
Located in the heart of Gainesville’s downtown, Manuel’s is somewhat of a small space. However, the small space works, because it creates a cozy and intimate dining experience. I was impressed by the extensive wine list and I had a hard time deciding on an entrée because I wanted so badly to try several. But I settled on the night’s special, which did not disappoint. It was an 8 oz. filet mignon covered in a creamy goat cheese sauce with a spicy kick. The plate was also garnished with red peppers and arugula. It was absolutely outstanding. I will say that I ordered it medium rare, and it came out closer to medium, but it was too good to complain. I also sampled a little bit of my date’s entrée, the Gnocchi Daniela, and that was top notch as well.
For dessert, we split a tiramisu. It had the perfect amount of moisture and I particularly enjoyed the strawberries and blueberries on top. I would definitely recommend Manuel’s f

This restaurant gave me hope for the Gainesville restaurant scene. I went for my birthday recently and can’t wait to come back.
MUST HAVE: The lobster ravioli with truffle cream sauce is delicious! Real chunks of lobster. You will be cleaning the sauce off of your plate with the bread. The portion might not fill you up though but it’s worth it.
I tried a little bit of the pesto sauce from my brother’s goat cheese and pesto pizza and was impressed. In my experience it’s not that easy to find good pesto at restaurants so I was very happy.