In the hustle and bustle of downtown Gainesville lies an intimate Italian bistro that you’d swear belongs on a Greenwich Village street corner.

Manuel’s Vintage Room provides great food in an intimate setting that’s perfect for dates and dinners with special friends. On any given night, co-owner Manuel Chavez walks the dining room, chatting with guests, while his son and head chef Marco fires up the kitchen for the night’s festivities. It’s a perfect combination.

By Erin Everhart; Photos by Rodney Rogers

SPECIAL SERVICE AND SPECIAL FOOD

Manuel’s is the epitome of customer-friendly. They’ll decorate your table for a special occasion or alter a dish if an ingredient doesn’t suit you. The service is commendable, with wait staff presenting your meal to you and changing silverware after each course.

Manuel’s menu includes interesting specialities like Rigatoni Vodka and Conch Fritters. Once or twice a month, they offer a prix frix dinner of specialty foods matched with fine wine that is a major draw.

Speaking of wine, the wine list is extraordinary, ranging from a $300 bottle of California Cabernet to a $27 bottle of Argentine Malbec. This isn’t a place that sacrifices quality for price.

A TASTE OF EVERYTHING

The two-page dinner menu may seem small at first glance (with only eight entrées), but it offers five pastas with 10 sauces and daily specials. It features traditional Italian dishes, but Marco also draws on his Mexican ancestry to toss in Spanish-style elements, bringing flavors from around the world.

Calamari is the traditional beginning to any Italian meal, but if you want to try something different, start with Manuel’s Conch Fritters ($7). They are battered, fried and served with a caper-cream sauce.

PASTAS AND SALADS

The entrées are served a la carte, and the pastas are a great complement to your meal—big enough to split two ways but good enough to be a main course. If one of these is your entrée, be sure to pair it with a fresh salad or appetizer to fully satisfy your appetite.

The Arugula Salad ($7.50) is a good transition between courses, with peppery Florida arugula leaves topped with marinated tomatoes in a balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

The rave (and arguably favorite) item on the menu is the Lobster Ravioli paired with the Truffle Cream sauce ($16). You can actually see the thick pieces stuffed in the pasta shells, and the sauce is—to be cliché—to die for. It’s lighter than Alfredo but thicker than a butter sauce, with a hint of sweet blended in.

CHICKEN AND FISH

The Chicken Limone ($14) has a classic taste—lightly breaded chicken pan-sautéed in a white wine lemon butter sauce—but is far from simple. For a kick to your taste buds, Manuel’s Chicken ($14) is sautéed with habanera peppers in a white wine butter sauce. It’s fiery, but the spice doesn’t linger too long.

Another frontrunner in entrees is Manuel’s signature fillet that is finished with gorgonzola and proscuitto sauce. It’s oozing with flavor and so tender you can cut it with a fork.

DIVE INTO DESSERTS

You can’t end your experience at Manuel’s without diving into their desserts. The cheesecake is drizzled with chocolate and topped with blueberries and raspberries; it’s not as thick as New York-style, so you won’t feel guilty or full after devouring every morsel.

Whatever your price range, Manuel’s Vintage Room is the perfect hideaway for an intimate dining experience.

Manuel’s Vintage Room is located at 6 S. Main Street. It is open for lunch Tues-Fri, 11am-2pm and for dinner Tues-Sat 5pm-10pm. For more information, visit their Web site or call 375-7372.

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