Manta

Manta was the setting for my 3rd Sydney Festival Fast Festival Feasts (FFF). I was looking forward to it as it had got some rave reviews, and because at one time, Steve Manfredi was at the helm.

Food

Their specialty is seafood, and for the festival, the menu was Tagliatelle with braised cuttlefish, pine nuts, currants and gremolata. The food did live up to my expectations. The pasta was fresh and had real bite. The cuttlefish was cooked expertly, so it was very tender. The slightly oily sauce matched the pasta and the cuttlefish perfectly, with the pine nuts adding crunch, the currants adding sweetness, and the gremolata adding colour. Too bad we didn't get our wines until we were halfway through our meal to enjoy.

Rating - 7.5

Atmosphere

You know what they say. Woolloomooloo wharf is where the rich folks live. On a glorious Sydney evening, we watched people walking home from work, exercising around the wharf, and some people starting to dine. The whole strip was quite empty at this early hour though, I suspect it will get full later.

Manta itself is like all the other restaurants on the wharf, with the blue and white walls, a huge outdoor seating area, with awnings to block the harsh sunlight. We were seated outside, but unfortunately, it just got too hot and sunny. Because we weren't really enjoying ourselves, we didn't stay long, but I can see how you can lounge here and watch the day go by.

And finally, a bit about the restaurant decor itself. Whites and neutrals, the feeling is sunny and relaxed, suits the setting but nothing unusual about it.

Rating - 1.5

Service

We arrived just after 6pm to an almost empty restaurant, and was greeted by an immaculately dressed Maitre 'd. Upon informing him that we were there for the FFF, we were seated and asked if we'd like any drinks. We said we'll like some time, then they left us alone. We had decided on the drinks order, but they never came back, just kept chatting to themselves. If the restaurants says it opens at 6pm, I expect them to be ready to serve customers at 6pm, not still polishing glasses, lighting candles and setting tables while we were there. The waiters were very rude too. They never informed us if we'd actually ordered, and a waiter actually gave us food menus when we asked to order drinks. They asked for our choice of wine but after I ordered the red, they informed me that there was only white, so what was the point of asking at all? Needless to say, they didn't give us water and we had to ask for it, and they never bothered refilling our long empty glasses either. I wonder again, is this the normal service, or was it the service for FFF patrons?

Rating - 1

C-factor

Well, for $25, we got a great meal, an ok glass of wine, no bread or sides, and rude and incompetent waiters. They also charged our bill incorrectly. We were charged for the coke which substituted for the wine - it would've set me back $4 if I didn't step in to correct them. I think I would say the price is pretty good if only the waiters weren't so up themselves.

Rating - 0.5

Brownie Points - 10.5

Info

The Wharf Woolloomooloo
6 Cowper Wharf Road
Woolloomooloo
NSW 2011
Phone (02) 9332 3822
Website