Around Town: The Mouthwatering Mana Food Bar

Mana, which loosely translates to "the things magic is made of", offers just that. . .their menu is a blend of vegetarian, vegan, & gluten free dishes, all of which are utterly spellbinding. For those of you under the impression that a strictly vegetarian restaurant cannot be as delectable as its meatier counterparts, Mana will absolutely prove you wrong. Their sole location at 1742 W. Division in Wicker Park is tiny & hardly sizable enough to accomodate all the hungry guests arriving on a busy evening at one time, so a wait may be in the cards (Mana does not take reservations). A street-side patio is open from March-October which allows for more seating, decreasing the possibility of standing around for a table.  Fortunately, if you must wait for a table, the time spent is fast forgotten when the tapas-style plates begin to arrive. 

My personal favorite item on the menu is the Mana Slider (brown rice & mushroom burger topped with spicy mayo) which ever so slightly beats out the Burrito (spicy sweet potatoes, black beans, white cheddar, arugula and crema) & Curry (cauliflower and kale in yellow curry, over black pepper lentils with pickled apple).  The Ravioli (sweet pea filled ravioli, tomato, almond-mint pesto and asiago cheese) is also worth a delectable mention due to its unexpected almond-mint pesto.

Do yourself a solid & plan an evening at Mana. With prices at about $5-10 per shared plate, it won't break the bank either.  

To take a closer look at their menu, click this link: http://www.manafoodbar.com/
To visit their Yelp! page, click this link: http://www.yelp.com/biz/mana-food-bar-chicago