Meet two veg: Manna, Primrose Hill

Scout London recently took on two courses of vegetarian food at Manna in Primrose Hill.

Manna is one of the oldest gourmet vegetarian restaurants in Europe, with well over four decades of meat free culinary history. In fact it goes further than being vegetarian: it delivers an exclusively vegan menu, sources only the finest organic and ethical ingredients, and pursues broader initiatives to promote sustainable living. These undertakings necessarily come at a price, with three courses starting at around £30 per person before drinks and service.

The spiced jerk tofu, plantain and sweet potato kebab was the star of the starters, packed with such a depth of flavour that it would win over the staunchest of bean curd sceptics. The raw maki rolls were not far behind: the wasabi pea coulis delivered a real punch and perfectly complimented the visually stunning and delicately flavoured sushi.

For the mains, the nut roast was a little disappointing: it was on the dry side and the sauce was too rich to counter this. However the enchilada casserole was superb, with the black beans and mole sauce setting the taste buds racing.

All in all, it’s easy to understand why Manna has thrived for so long: it is firmly committed to its ideals and delivers fantastic fayre. It may be one of the pricier vegetarian restaurants in town, but you get more than you pay for as evidenced by a strong customer base that continues to grow in size and loyalty.

Manna
4 Erskine Road
Primrose Hill
London NW3 3AJ
020 7722 8028

Transport: Chalk Farm