A Mano

This new BYOB restaurant in Fairmount opened by Townsend Wentz is serving some of not only the most interesting food but combined with flawless service was for me one of the best dining experiences I have had in a long time.
The menu is small but each dish is created with the freshest ingredients available. The Gnocchi with Goat Cheese was perfection. If the Gnocchi is cooked just one second too long it can be starchy. These were amazing.
The Pork Shoulder entrée with basil Polenta was slow cooked and fell off the bone. Our friends had the Bronzino and Skate and both were amazing.
The chef Michael has a deft and subtle hand with spices and pairings of ingredients.
The fingerling Potatoes and Asparagus were a delight!
The service was flawless. Fo example, the plates are custom made so the shape while beautiful can cause a fork to slip off. My friends fork fell off the plate and as it landed on the floor the staff noticed instantly and a replacement fork was placed without noticing. Water glasses filled as soon as yours was ½ empty. Silverware replaced after each course. All the staff were knowledgable about all the food.
All in all just a perfect evening! The only downside is the space is a bit noisy.
I can not wait to go back!
Michael Lehman

Would hold off until they work out the kinks. Not a great experience. No reservations accepted — which is fine, until they offer a 30 minute estimate and still no table 50 minutes later (for two of us). Finally just left after we watched 2 tables seated in front of us — told they were there first, not sure about that. No help at all for the poor hostess (deer in the headlights look) as not once did a manager or senior server approach us to sympathize. Waiting for a permit to allow outside seating so couldn’t even have a glass of wine while we cooled our heels. Go to the city ALOT and have worked in the industry, all in all a pretty poor experience which left a bad taste in my mouth. I’ll have to read some really good reviews before I give it another shot. Only giving 2 stars because the menu looks good. Never underestimate the impact of a first impression.

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

A big praise hands emoji to A Mano. Finally a destination restaurant for Fairmount!
Must gets:
Squid Ink Alla Chitarra
Taleggio Polenta
Potato-​Goat Cheese Gnocchi
Cauliflower Mezzaluna
Seared Spanish Octopus
Assorted Antipasti Board
(It says for two, but if you come here solo and still order it, there is no judgement. Only respect.)
Maybe gets:
Pan Seared Branzino
Dessert
(We ordered all three of them and while all were lovely, none wowed me.)
Probably skip:
Braised Short Ribs
(Should have gone for the shank. This was a bit lackluster.)
Total bill for 6? $ 149. Not bad for all that yumminess plus some delish bread plus some BYO’d beverages.

My wife and I went early on a rainy Tuesday which is probably why we did not have to wait.
Since this was our first visit we both tried a different app., primi & main courses.
Every dish we ordered was very good and fine for one although if you are not a big eater some portions could definitely be shared.
Service was excellent and attentive.
It is a relatively small menu but the choices are varied and creative.
I think for a neighborhood restaurant it might be considered pricy, for a destination restaurant not very.

My wife and I responded to an excellent Craig LaBan Philadelphia Inquirer review a couple of weeks before dinner earlier this evening. No, I do not like waiting in lines (no reservations yet), but we were at a nearby doctor’s office, so we were able get to A Mano before the crowds. However, next time we can go for a walk along the parkway if we have to wait. And there will be a next time!
Who would have thought that this corner restaurant in an old, but still up-​and-​coming area, almost across from a huge prison (closed), would offer up some of the best food I have had anywhere? It turned out we did the right thing by sharing the arctic char crudo, cauliflower pasta, and lamb shank. We reluctantly had dessert, which did not disappoint. More than enough food for us because it is deliciously rich! My only suggestion is that in each of the 3 courses the chef add or substitute a healthier dish for those, like me, who like good food but watch my fat intake. Of course, I did not help myself by mopping up the sauces and gravies with the focaccia bread. My willpower caved! Most likely, next time I will cheat on caloric intake, just as I did tonight!
Let me add that the service at all levels of staff was outstanding and highly professional.

Everything we had at A Mano on Saturday, April 23^rd was incredible, but a special shout out for the skate wing with a very different presentation and flavors, the Earl Grey semifreddo and the panna cotta. I can’t say enough good things about the semifreddo. Hadn’t had a a truly new dessert in many years and this one hit the ball out of the park.
Go there, eat there, and tell a few people, but not everyone you know. We still want to be able to get a table!!!

Food is good.
Really liked the doughnuts.
Antipasti is on point.
Service was great, aprons are very shiny.
Crude with apples?! Perfect!
Escar-​go-​for-​it!

I have been hearing about A Mano since I first moved to Fairmount over a month ago. After hearing all the rave reviews, I had to check it out. Trust, I was not disappointed. This is probably the best meal I have had in almost a year!
A Mano is a BYOB nestled in Fairmount. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, located on the corner across from a convenient store. However, this restaurant is not only the best in Fairmount but from what I can tell– it’s a contender for best in the entire city!
While they don’t take reservations, when you arrive at A Mano they take your name and number and are happy to hold any wine or alcohol you may have brought with you. They text you as soon as your table is ready, so it’s super easy to head across the street to London Grille for a cocktail as you wait for your table.
We went on a sunny, warm Saturday evening and they had all their windows open offering an indoor/​outdoor vibe. We immediately ran into some old friends from high school who live in the area and told us they eat at A Mano at least once a week.
When we were seated, the waiter immediately came over to offer us water and uncork our (very large) bottle of red. He even asked us how we knew the couple I just mentioned– such a cute neighborhood vibe! He told us all about their opening back in January 2016 and the background of the restaurant.
Shortly there after, we were served with house-​made focaccia bread and olive-​oil butter. I could’ve eaten just that and been happy! Their menu is split into three courses, so for starters we had the lime-​roasted cauliflower and spicy lentil sausage. Both were impeccably flavored and cooked to perfection.
Next, we split the squid ink pasta and braised shank with polenta for dinner. The pasta was creamy but light– with olive oil, garlic, seafood and lemon. I basically could’ve bathed in the sauce. I kept «calling it quits» but quickly found myself with an empty plate. The shank literally fell off the bone and the polenta was as smooth as butter. We couldn’t have been happier with our choices!
The waiter did present us with some dessert options as well, which aren’t on the menu but I guess have been recently added due to customer requests. We were way too full for dessert, but won’t let that stop us next time.
A Mano is absolutely fantastic! It’s a magical combination of neighborhood vibe with exquisite thoughtfully crafted food. I plan on coming back many times over and recommend you do the same!

I’ve been to lots of restaurants in Philly. Well, let’s face it… if you live in Philly, we’ve ALL been to lots of restaurants here. It’s what we do best… eat and then pretend we’re food critics wherever we go because in Philly we’re so spoiled and eat such good food. Anyway, I digress. My previous food experience is an essential qualifier of this next statement: I had one of my best meals in Philadelphia at A Mano. My friend and I shared the cotechino, lumachelle, octopus, and branzino. At the end of the meal, I really wanted to approach the chef and tell him how much I loved everything, but then chickened out because I was certain I would fangirl all over him. I literally enjoyed the experience that much.
This is a much needed addition to Fairmount and I have already lined up two more sets of friends to accompany me on subsequent visits. I feel that the deliciousness that is A Mano must be shared. Enjoy!

This early Saturday evening visit was worth the wait and in many ways perfectly hit the spot. We came early, about 5:45pm on a Saturday, expecting a dinner rush and not wanting to wait. I know its really early, but we didn’t mind and prepared for this earlier in the day. And wait we did not.
We were seated right away at a prime two top right in front of a window-​with the great view of the Sunoco station across the street. Not the best sight, but the window was much better than being sandwiched against the wall. The rest of the interior is extremely simple. An olive green banquette across the far wall and simple dark wood tables. That’s about it. There is a semi open kitchen towards the back, and dim lighting.
Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable about all dishes, and let us in on a few specials. We ended up sharing three first courses, two secondis, a side of sunchokes, and skipped the main dishes all together, as they just didn’t stick out as much.
We went with the antipasti board, which for me as a pescetarian was very appropriate — grilled and marinated vegetables, anchovies, a yummy piece of buttery cheese, olives and a few charcuterie for the man to eat-​really one of the best of this type of arrangement I’ve had in a while and would definitely recommend if you’re on the fence. We also shared the pear and parsnip soup, which honestly I wish I had my own of because it was incredible and I didn’t want to share. Finally we shared a crudo which was small but tasty.
For the secondi course, we had the squid ink pasta with uni butter which was quite believably as amazing as it sounds. The other pasta we shared was the cauliflower mezzaluna, which is small ravioli type pastas with rich cauliflower in a little bit too sweet of a sauce. It was pleasant but glad it was a smaller portion.
We finished the meal with both the bomboloni (donuts) and something ice-​cream like (can’t remember what this is called!). It was so good. The donuts made me make weird noises while I was eating them. Kinda reminiscent of a child giggling while doing something they shouldn’t be doing. I dunno if that’s weird, but so be it.
Bonus points for BYOB. I wish I had more wine and or a cocktail, but that’s what my home bar is for. I will hopefully make it back before I sadly leave the neighborhood. Just remember to come early or be ready to wait, and to bring that sweet sweet cash with you.

I’m in complete agreement with many of the 5-​star reviews below. Simple décor with a major focus on the quality of the food. A Mano hits the nail on the head. So glad for Fairmount!
A few reviewers below complained of small portion sizes — they may be confused about the style of the menu. Portions were just right and each bite was better than the last. Fresh bread & olive oil butter, sausage & lentils, bright pesto gnocchi, tender lamb, sweet doughnuts & chocolate — beginning to end this meal was a pure delight to the senses.
Service was friendly and attentive. Arriving early was our key to not waiting for a table. Can’t recommend A Mano highly enough and can’t wait to go back.

Pretty amazing.
Each course was executed perfectly with great service.
The sausage is wonderfully spicy with a hint of sweet. The spring speck gnocchi was delicate yet complex.
The is the restaurant Fairmont has been waiting for — a truly excellent experience.
Place was packed but the service was attentive and perfectly paced.

One word to describe my overall experience at
A Mano: EXCELLENT! My girlfriend and I had been looking forward to visiting A Mano since we heard rumors about it a year ago. Townsend Wentz has proven himself as a great chef so we expected great things from his new venture.
As I read the other reviews I am stunned by the negativity and I feel that people are focused on the wrong things. I understand that a cash only restaurant in today’s America is odd and in convenient, but let’s not have it distract from what is really important. THE FOOD!!! The food is amazing, no doubt about that. The focaccia bread to start was warm, soft and delicious. We shared the sausage, squid ink pasta, gnocchi with wild boar, and branzino. Each dish was better than the next with unique, bold flavor profiles that left us wanting more. The presentation and service were terrific as well. The waitress did mistake my water request, but it’s understandable because of the loud room. And she quickly resolved the issue.
Besides the gripes about the restaurant being cash only, I see a lot of disdain for the high prices. I don’t have much to say about that Except that great food costs money and $ 25 for a dish isn’t unreasonable. If you want something cheap, there’s a bunch of good quick eats on callowhill.
Do yourself a favor and go to A Mano if you’re looking for a comfortable restaurant with amazing food and great service.

Food is way overpriced. Nothing original, new, or exciting. My escarole salad was drenched in Caesar dressing and wilted. Wild boar gnocchi was salty, wild boar was scorched. If you’re looking for good Italian, stick with bridgids.

After reading the reviews for A Mano I went in expecting it to be loud, crowded and hard to get a table. Either the hype of the new place has died down or I hit the place right. Walked and was pleasantly surprised to be seated right away, thought I might have to wait for my dinner complain to arrive but I didn’t and good thing cause there really isn’t any place to wait around in there. Its tiny but has a warm and cozy vibe to it I rather enjoyed the atmosphere but if smaller places aren’t your thing this isn’t the place for you. My friend and I took advantage of the BYOB option, partially why we picked the place.
I was mentally prepared for the meal to be expensive and knew it was Cash Only so I made sure to hit the atm beforehand which probably over did it but there are other things I needed cash for. It is pricey but the food was good and I would go back. We were given the option to have the pasta section as an entry size after reading the reviews I knew that wasn’t the way to go so I optioned to order a pasta dish as is, the buckwheat cavatelli, and a side of brussel sprouts which totally could of split with my friend since we started with the soup. The soup was a perfect call for a cold night so glad I decided to start that ways it was very flavorful and the hot temperature was just was I needed. I love mushrooms so the buckwheat cavatelli dish stuck out to me, it was super tasty it wasn’t as small and I thought it might be based on other reviews but it wasn’t super large either. The brussel sprouts were very tasty they have a small kick to them nothing over powering but enough that is enjoyable. Over all the place is on the pricier side but the food was good and I enjoyed the atmosphere.

There’s some serious love-​or-​hate going on in the reviews for A Mano so far. I think I fall right in the middle.
BYOB, cash only, and no reservations at this location turns into a loud mess. We gave up on our first attempt last week, and managed to get in last night with no wait, because we hit the front end of the dinner crowd. 8:00 and later, this place is a zoo. There’s no waiting area, so you either stand outside, take a chance by going over to London for a drink, or crowd in the dinning room. The latter seems to be everyone’s approach in the winter, so it gets loud and a bit uncomfortable, because the upscale clientele does not like to wait in a cramped space with wine in-​hand. (God help the hostess… that’s a rough job at this place.)
I found the service to be strong all night, and our server was approachable and knowledgable about the menu. The house sourdough bread she started us with was fantastic: chewy, fresh, and subtle flavor. We went with crudo, tripe, and cauliflower for antipasti. The crudo was good (vibrant, and the apple/​sunchoke components made it somewhat unique). The cauliflower is advertised as roasted, but is served cold. Not my favorite, and overpriced for the small portion. The tripe is a real winner. It’s something I never see on a menu, is easily under/​over cooked, and people are scared off by it. If you go, order it. It’s spicy, perfectly cooked and well-​priced for the portion. Goes great with a funky red wine.
I was expecting the pasta course to be my favorite of the night, but it ended up being a major letdown. The squid ink pasta with mussels is a joke with a $ 15 price tag. It’s literally four small bites with four small mussels. It’s a little insulting to customers paying that price to bring out a micro-​plate of pasta at an Italian BYO. The flavor was good, but it was tough to enjoy when you’re rationing out noodles.
Our main course was the pork shank, which was the exact opposite of the pasta debacle. It was massive and more than enough to share ($ 26 price tag was very reasonable). The polenta and pickled fennel worked perfectly with the tender, flavor packed meat. My only complaint was that there was only enough fennel salad for three or four bites. Not good, when there’s a 20oz pork shank sitting on the plate. Fortunately, they brought us a little extra.
Overall, we left with the same feeling as our recent trip to Neuf: fun to try it, but not worth a return visit. With no reservations, it’s impossible to walk down with a group not knowing if you’ll get seated, and the price point is really pushing it.

As a resident of Fairmount, I was excited to have a new restaurant in the neighborhood.
Unfortunately this restaurant did not excite me. Walked in, they asked if my whole party was here, told me it was cash only, and waited for us to answer. I said the other couple was parking and then my boyfriend needed to go to atm across the street. Instead of seating me, they made me wait by the door awkwardly with two bottles of wine in my hand. Let’s keep in mind that it wasn’t busy and there was about 4 – 5 tables available.
We brought a bottle of red and a bottle of white. Our waiter didn’t bring a wine chiller so we had to ask. He brings it, puts the bottle of wine in it then leaves. It’s empty, no ice. What is my bottle of white going to do in a secluded tube with no ice? We had to ask for ice and he seemed annoyed. Isn’t it normal to put ice in those things?
Anyway food comes and its small portions and subpar. I understand small portions at a fine dining restaurant but this is an Italian byob in Fairmount, let’s be honest!!! This place is ridiculously overpriced. For one small portion of pasta and two entrees 95 $ is not what you’re looking to spend at a byob in Fairmount. Nuff said.

Be still my Italian food loving heart!
On a cold weekday evening, my friend and I hopped on over here. Luckily there was barely a wait for a table – they are walk in only – this may get a bit crazy.
I wanted to eat everything but my friend and I settled on a few dishes.
The Arctic char crudo was on point. I have never had a crudo with a light hint of vadouvan curry but apparently I am a huge fan. Roasted cauliflower is never wrong and it certainly wasn’t here.
The house made focaccia with too melty butter made it hard to eat but I’m kind of glad I didn’t waste belly room on this.
Pastas are small-​but made sense for the price. Ain’t nothing wrong with uni and squid ink cut with the lovely acidity of lemons. The cavatelli had a nice texture with the buckwheat.
So by this point I probably should have gone with a lighter entrée. But… meat!
The short rib is good – well made and flavorful, perhaps a bit salty if you don’t eat it with the celery purée.
But the pork shank. Man. That is what my dreams are made of. Fall off the bone flavorful meat and the accompanying polenta – I just want to swim in it!
Dessert selections were good – Classic and the perfect way to end a meal.
Cash only right now.

I typically like to try a place at least a few times before reviewing, but our dinner at A Mano was so phenomenal I didn’t want to wait. We had high expectations, and our entire experience lived up to them. Took a bit of a chance going to a brand new restaurant with a 3.5 week old baby, but with no reservations this place is gonna get competitive, so we wanted to get in early.
Started with the arctic char crudo and slow-​cooked tripe, both were great. The crudo was especially delicious — both were on the small side (appropriately priced for the amount of food). Next we shared three pastas — the squid ink, amatriciana, and gnocchi. The squid ink was amazing, really interesting flavors, unique dish. The amatriciana was also pretty incredible, with a sort of smoky richness. The ragu gnocchi was also really good, but the other two were the standouts. The pastas are also on the small side, but so rich in flavor it made sense.
We shared the pork shank entrée — this was unreal. When it came to the table, it fell apart with a tap of the fork, leaving us wondering how they got it to the table intact. The polenta and fennel slaw underneath were both wonderful and paired beautifully with the pork making the whole dish a highlight. This dish was the bulkiest part of the meal, and was substantial enough to fill all three of us.
Overall a really satisfying dinner, and with relatively little publicity and no visible sign (that I saw) it was already packed on a Wednesday night. this one’s gonna be a hit.