La Mancha Restaurant

I am sorry to hear this place closed again if that report is accurate. There used to be a La Mancha restaurant on the corner of the same block that closed many years ago. I was happy to stumble upon this on Unilocal and think it was the same people who re-​opened. If it was, the food was always good We used to eat there 25 years ago before the neighborhood changed so much. They used to participate in Atlantic Antics when it first began (probably before most of the reviewers ever set foot in the neighborhood). They sold grilled fresh sardines on the street back then too.
I hope they do come back one more time and with a vengeance.

Good for tapas and wine!!! Nice soups too

Takes credit and it was snowtobering outside so we chose this unassuming restaurant.
Hot crispy bread was delivered immediately. Yum.
I drank tempranillo. He had Rioja. Then we switched as mine was too sweet.
He had the paella valenciana. I thought it was a bit dry but he loved. My chicken extrema was so yum. Moist with chorizo and peppers. Best chicken I’d had in awhile.
Also — great service. We’ll be back.

This is a great neighborhood restaurant. To the guy wondering why people give it 4 star ratings and what that means «for truly great restaurants like Minetta Tavern or Bouley» you are completely missing the point. Lots of great local nabe spots deserve high ratings — they serve a different purpose. If you like authentic Spanish food, great tapas, etc — tortilla, boquerones, «altar boys» and a great ham/​cheese combo plate in a nice laid back atmosphere, this is your place. If you’re looking for a $ 25 burger, Minetta Tavern is your place.
We often eat at the bar and chat with the owner who is a welcoming, warm guy.
Also — I had never eaten a steak at a Spanish restaurant but the one at La Mancha is ONE OF THE BEST I’VE HAD. High quality, cooked perfectly, and topped with an incredible blue cheese sauce… you must try it!

Just left La Mancha and I have to say thank you to Unilocal users for steering me to this great old school Spanish restaurant. Terrific paella, amazing steak. Service was real good and the folks at other tables had to tell me how long they have been coming to the restaurant and how much they loved it. Good find

Seeing a restaurant like La Mancha receive four stars leaves me questioning the culinary tastes of Unilocalers. People: if you toss out four star ratings to middling joints like La Mancha then what’s left for truly great restaurants like Minetta Tavern or Bouley?
That said, La Mancha is an overpriced disappointment. The food served here is on par with the worst neighborhood greasy spoons in Barcelona. The jamon lacks the nuttiness of great hams… The melon is tasteless. Shrimp in garlic is overcooked, greasy and swimming in an insipid pool of warm oil. The paella might as well be takeout Chinese fried rice. The chef/​owner must have been a busboy in Espana because he sure can’t cook.
As others noted, except for a few regulars drinking at the bar this place is EMPTY night after night despite the dearth of good dining options in the Atlantic-​Montague area. Why? Because locals try La Mancha once, maybe twice, and never return.
The owner must have signed a 15 – 20 year lease many years ago. That’s the only way this abortion of a restaurant can keep its doors open.

The service was top notch, the food was fantastic, and the drinks were strong. This place is great.

What a gem. Best sangria I’ve had in the city. Seriously — the guy behind the bar makes it right in front of your eyes, and it tastes like it is straight from Spain. It is fantastic. Also, great service. great tapas. And you can’t beat the open air seating near the bar.

A short walk from where we were staying, we stopped here for a later Sunday dinner. Most of stools at the bar were full, but we were the only ones in the dining area. Needless to say we got great service. The man in charge seated us and was super friendly.
I got the chicken ajillo, which came in a large pot still steaming from being cooked. I could only finish half because it was a large portion. My meal also came with a house salad and their special dressing, which was amazing. Others at the table ordered sardines (which were HUGE) and delicious, and paella (though they said the oysters were rubbery).
Older, classic interior and dimmer lighting; it would make a great restaurant for a date night.

Delish! Here in NYC for business and had to check this place out. It’s small, and was empty when we got there, but the guy woking the front was friendly. We ordered squid in it’s own ink, shrimp in garlic oil, picada a la mancha, and croquettes. The squid was the winner. Never had ink before, but it just intensified the great flavor. According to our greeter/​server, it was his grandmother’s recipe. Can grandmas ever do anything wrong? Besides that, other reviews are correct, servings are generous, but for 8.50 for tapas they better be. Maybe I’ve been spoiled with Chicago prices, but that definitely surprised me. Anywho, overall it was a good meal. Thanks, La Mancha.

It’s a rarity to find a restaurant where the patrons feel relaxed while enjoying AUTHENTIC Spanish food. Our meal commences with a Caldo Gallego and Camarones Al Aillo. The main course, La Paella Marinera or Valenciana and Pollo Al Ajillo are delicious. IN NYC YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER PAELLA. I’ve been to numerous restaurants and the quality of the paella cannot be matched. Authenticity matches its taste. La SANGRIA is a must for it is a sin if you leave without a taste. I’ve been to Spain and while I did not reach VALENCIA (home of the BEST PAELLA in SPAIN), La Mancha rivals Madrid’s and Barcelona’s eatery.

How has this place lasted here? Rarely crowded or even half full. Underwhelming food. And that’s being polite.

We’ve been going to La Mancha since we moved to Cobble Hill 3 years ago. The cuisine is Spanish, and it is really solid (and filling). We usually get the Paella Valenciana (better than most places in Manhattan) or the rich, winter-​fare Chicken Villaroy. The bread is always served warm, and the dressing they put on their house salad is crazy addictive. The apps and tapas are also good; the bocarones and chorizo are personal faves.
The place looks a little run down, but it still has tons of charm – from the drunk lady at the end of the bar (ALWAYS there) to the welcoming and gracious owners.
This place and Pete’s are the most solid dining options along the west end of Atlantic Avenue.

a solid standby — nothing outstandingly good or bad, i’d say. actually, i agree with everything that Kurt V said in his review. the food was tasty, but not spectacular — and, frankly, it’s a little pricey for something that’s not spectacular (before tip, it was just under $ 80 for two people, including a small pitcher of sangria. that’s not cheap, and i’ve had better meals for the same amount of money, or even less.) but, the food wasn’t bad: we shared one paella (exactly as Kurt observed, the rice isn’t crispy on the bottom, but the flavors are still good) and one of the steak-​smothered-​in-​blue-​cheese (i’m blanking on the spanish name, forgive me.) both were good but not fantastic — so it’s not like we didn’t want to eat them, we did, but neither one inspires me to go back for a return visit. the sangria, too, was decent but not the best, and (again, just as Kurt said) the staff was very friendly but very overworked: there was one guy who seemed to be owner, host, bartender, and waiter, and then there was one server who actually brought out our food and cleared our plates.
we do live a couple blocks away, which is why we went and why we’d ever go again, but generally i think i’d prefer to walk a little farther (i.e. to smith street) and get a better meal. Kurt said «If you are seeking a memorable meal, or live outside of walking distance, there are probably better options» — but that you’ll be happy if you’re nearby and manage your expectations — and i agree 100%.

La Mancha is a solid option for a local spanish restaurant. It is a good place to go if you live in the neighborhood and are craving some croquettes. If you are seeking a memorable meal, or live outside of walking distance, there are probably better options.
Some tips on dining at La Mancha:
The tapas (which don’t appear on the online menu) are good, but not exactly tapa in size in proportion. They are huge. 3 tapas is enough for 2 people.
The paella, while having the correct flavor components, lacked the crispy rice on the bottom. If you solely eat paella for the crispy burnt stuff, you’ll be disappointed. However, if you just like saffron rice + other goodies, you’ll be happy.
The service is slow; The servers are good and friendly, but they are understaffed. Expect a leisurely pace.
In the end, if you want to chow down on some Spanish grub in the area this is a good option and if you keep your expectations in check you’ll be a happy camper.

Love this place! Great Tapas, even better Sangria. And the owner and his wife are fantastic and make the place special with their friendly greetings and love for their work!

Can’t remember exactly what we ordered but everything was good. From the mushroom tapa, to the sangria and paella negra, I was happy with everything! No disappoitment.

This place changed management a few years back. Got rid of the flamenco dancing and guitar, and improved the food.
Solid Spanish fare and also a nice tapas bar scene. Good drinks (including great white sangria), and the management is friendly.
The crowd tends to be a bit older, and it has a laid back vibe – but also will remind you of Spain.
If you’re looking for good Spanish food and more than just tapas in the Brooklyn Heights area, this is the place.

Wednesday night after a watching a movie at the Court Street movie theater, 3 girls went for a drink and a bite to eat at La Mancha.
They sat at the bar (the bartender even asked the regulars to move so that they had enough space — one had a shopping bag).
They received a nice little menu and ordered aTempranillo (yum!), the peasant soup (just right for a slightly chilly night after the rain) and they shared a dish of manchego cheese, jamon serrano, nice hot and greasy (slightly crispy on the edges) chorizo and juicy, sour green olives. They also had a couple of baskets of hot and fluffy bread with room-​temperature butter.
The place had a good vibe, it was quiet enough for them to hear each other and the service was just right: friendly but not imposing.
I would love to come back here for dinner sometime.
One suggestion: a great addition to the bar would be little hooks for purses and coats…
This restaurant makes for a good reason to leave the house or a nice little place to have a ‘tete a tete’ with a lover or catch-​up with friends.

My first encounter with this restaurant happened a while back when I was at the Atlantic Antic street festival. After an endless number of vendors, their booth caught my attention because they were serving sangria, which was a nice contrast to the traditional beer in a cup. Fast forward a few months later, I decided to come here for dinner (and a pitcher of sangria) with a friend. We sat up at the bar because there was a family with small children running amuck in the dining area. The bartender was immediately receptive and surprised us with a complimentary apetizer of mussels with diced garlic. The entrée brought another surprise since the portions were enormous! So big in fact, I was a taken aback. I decided on a «mariscada», which is a seafood platter consisting of mussels, clams, oysters, lobster, shrimp and scallops. My friend ordered salmon steak «al ajillo» and as he struggled to finish even half, admitted it was the largest piece of fish he’s gotten at a restaurant. If you go, make sure to bring an appetite.