In a great location in the centre of Rathmines, Lucio Paduano’s pleasing Italian restaurant reflects his passion for creative and high quality food.
“I am very proud of Manifesto’s commitment to creating exceptional food with premium ingredients. I am passionate about bringing the very best from my home in the Campania region, in southern Italy to Dublin”
It’s not a fancy place but tables, along the brick walls, are well sized for comfortable enjoyment of a meal - and, as it\'s a popular spot and fills up quickly, even midweek, the fact that tables are a bit close together contributes to the buzzy atmosphere.
Arriving diners are welcomed by the aroma of the wood-fired pizza oven, just inside the front door, where chefs are constantly at work making delicious pizzas. Not surprisingly these are very popular and, with a range of 20 to choose from, there’s a pizza for everyone. Names are evocative too - Sophia Loren, Al Pacino, and the house speciality, Don Corleone...
Menus are written in Italian, with an English translation and all the expected choices are offered - the usual antipasti, pasta, meat, chicken and fish - but with some interesting dishes among the popular fare.
Antipasti include beetroot potato dumplings and rabbit roulade, for example, while cured meats offer wild boar and venison. Wild boar also features on the pasta course, stuffed in ravioli and cooked in Montepulciano red wine.
The cooking is good and there are some very tasty meat dishes, including Saltinbocca di vitello alla Romana (pan fried veal escalope lined with parma ham and sage in white wine, veal juice( which is and served on a bed of roasted potato, while fish lovers will enjoy and Parmigiana de Spade (layers of sword fish with pecorino cheese, aubergines and “piennolo” tomato).
Everything is made freshly in-house by Lucio and his team every day, including pasta, sauces. breads and desserts - and he makes a point of ensuring that gluten free options are available, even the classic sweet treats like tiramisu.
Every area of Italy is well represented on the long wine list, with many available by the glass (from €7) and, in true Italian style, the service is genuinely warm and friendly.
All round, a very pleasant neighbourhood restaurant.
