"About Last Night..." Gia finds the things magic is made of

Monday, June 29, 2009

Otherwise known as Mana Food Bar on Division. The cool summer breeze was perfect for an evening at this delightful Polynesian food bar. I was wearing a gorgeous halter dress, courtesy of BCBG (though others next to me were in shorts and flip flops), and the buzz in the air was not from bugs, it was from the magic of this tiny secret. However, I should warn you...all dishes are served sans meat. That's right...no beef, no chicken, no nuthin.
Minimalist comes to mind when you walk in. Large wood bar chairs await you but what comes to mind is the feel that even if you are indoors, you feel outdoors...strange huh?
We opted for outdoor seating, what with that great breeze and all.
A novice at the veggie menu I solicited some Mana 101 to understand all the wonderful choices. But first, as always, a well chosen cocktail. Known for it's selection of sake I opted to try the cucumber sakerita, which is like a margarita but different. It was tangy, and refreshing with thin slices of cucumber. I also loved the naked bottle of water that awaited each patron. No label, no ice, just water.
It was time to dig in. We ordered almost the entire menu. Pickled vegetables, and Hummus with to start. The hummus was the best I had ever eaten...great texture...amazing flavor. From the noodle dishes we chose the lasagna, a bit traditional with eggplant, peppers, mozzarella and basil. It was good, but not the best choice as it lacked the uniqueness of the other dishes (but my date insisted so, ya know). Moving on to the hot dishes....Baked goat cheese with tomato sauce and toast...tangy, warm, soft and creamy. Bi Bim Bop (which really just makes me want to sing the Black Eyed Peas...Boom Boom Pow), and the most famous menu item...the Mana Slider. White Castle....MOVE OVER. These little goodies take about fifteen minutes to make so order early. Tiny little brown rice and mushroom burgers with a spicy mayo on a warm little bun that have a wonderful texture and extremely delicious taste. I could have eaten at least three, but I must remember to be a lady on a date, and truthfully, there was so much food I was beyond full. We had to cancel the order for the Spanikopita (which secretly I think is the coolest word ever...think I'll name my next dog Spanikopita).
An amazing night...Thank you Nick - you cook a good meal.


Mana Food Bar is located on 1742 W. Division 773.342.1742

Labels: dating and dining, vegetarian restaurants, wicker park dining