The Mantel Wine Bar & Bistro Awards

The Mantel Wine Bar & Bistro Restaurant Review:

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming exterior of The Mantel. Once you step inside, you'll be embraced by the warm elegance of a friendly staff. The small dining room, accented by soft jazz, is intimate, but conversation is easy. The tight quarters require careful maneuvering by the servers, who navigate the room with the same deftness with which they guide diners through the menu. Start with a glass from the carefully selected international wine list. Be sure to try the lobster bisque, then follow it up with the spinach salad, topped with bacon and fig marmalade. Servers frequently drop by with amuse-bouche offerings from the chef. The pasta menu features a four-cheese tortellini with grilled chicken, portobello mushrooms, leeks and bacon in a Gouda cream sauce, as well as burgundy beef tips over penne. For seafood, try the grilled Atlantic salmon with tomato basil risotto, blue crab salad and asparagus. After a heavy meal, look to a light sorbet with fresh fruit to wrap things up.