Comments on: Maria Manso: Reviews

By: Joe (the original reviewer)

Joe (the original reviewer) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:06:27 +0000

I am sad to report that as of May 28, 2008, Yo and Maria have closed the restaurant in San Rafael. Maria got an offer in San Francisco she could not refuse, so they sold and shut down. Sad but possibly wise, since for some time, that won't be a pleasant tree-lined location… All the trees have been cut down in a city improvement program on 4th.

By: ralph m. stankoff

ralph m. stankoff — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:48:02 +0000

on my recent visit to san francisco,I and my fiancee had an opportunity to have dinner at maria manso restaurant,in san rafael,it was a very memorable experience,wich we will like to repeat very soon.the food was delicious and very well presented.the bar cocktails imfusions very nice,we have avery good time.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:29:41 +0000

As a San Rafael local, I've seen so many restaurants come and go on Fourth Street. I hope this one stays.

I've eaten at Maria Manso's several times now and have enjoyed it each time. All of the appetizers have been good – several exceptional. My favourite entree is the whole crispy striped bass which is indeed crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and complexly seasoned. Another highlight of the menu is the good selection of non-alcoholic beverages. Aimed at the adult palette, they are a refreshing alternative.

While it's not cheap, it is very tasty, and I encourage you to give it a try.

By: Rick O'Brien

Rick O'Brien — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 01:28:07 +0000

I recently entertained two friends from Italy at Maria Manso World Cuisine. It is difficult to impress people who come from the land of the best food on earth. The evening could not have been better. It started with the hostess, Yo speaking Italian to my guests and helping me explain the menu to them.

I started with the Warm Caprese Salad and my main course was the Havana Pork Chop. Both of my guests had the Coconut Curry Shrimp as starters with one having Chimichurri Surf & Turf and the other had the Hoisin Barbecue Salmon.

We ended the meal sharing the Dessert Tasting Platter that consisted of Chocolate Sin Cake, Traditional Cuban Flan & Coconut Sorbet.

All of the food arrived in a timely manner and was perfectly prepared. The presentation on each plate was a true work of art.

My only problem was my guests were upset with me because I had waited to bring them to Maria’s until the end of their vacation. I explained to them that it is an American tradition “to save the best for last”.

By: Sharon Johnson

Sharon Johnson — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:39:29 +0000

We went there with some trepidation after reading the comments posted on this site and I don't know if things have improved in the last 8 months or the folks who post on this site are exceptionally picky but we enjoyed our meal. We were there on a very chilly August night and had an early reservation, at 6 pm on a Sunday, so there weren't many people but I really enjoyed my meal. The restaurant is warm and inviting and the service was great.

They bring thin long deep fried chips to your table with an olive spread which I thought was more interesting than bread and butter.

I ordered a Cosmo which was good but not great. They were out of the mixed green salad so I got the Spinach salad–the rasberry vinaigrette was sweet but nicely balanced with the goat cheese. My dining partner ordered the lentil salad which was awesome. When we go back, I will order this. We split an entree–salmon with potato croquettes–and they set it down in the middle of the table and placed 2 large white plates in front of us which I thought was very nice. We didn't try the dessert but it looked good on the menu. The tab was $50 for two people with alcohol, 2 appetizers, 1 entree, and 1 coffee–not bad for a light meal in a beautiful restaurant. Maybe it's a hit or miss kind of place but it was a hit with us.

By: Griff Abbott

Griff Abbott — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 17:42:45 +0000

I was among a party of three who had at Maria Manso's in the week between Christmas & New Year's. We arrived at noon to an empty restaurant. During the hours we were there only one other table was occupied. The hamburger I had specifically ordered "medium" arrived blood rare. The very finely cut french fries arrived cold and greasey. The others in my party had similar reactions to their orders. We all were surprised and disapppointed by the poor preparation, will not come back.

By: L. Smith

L. Smith — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:33:16 +0000

This is a one star restaurant thinly veiled with a 5 star restaurant disguise. I was put off by how fake Yo, the owner, was towards her customers. She treats people she doesn't even know like long lost family – a bit creepy, if you ask me. The menus were bent and stained, there were fingerprints all over the dinnerware, the service took forever, and the food was definitely not as good as it was made to sound. This is a place for tasteless people to go and think they're getting a fancy 5-star meal, but it's merely smoke and mirrors.

By: E.J.Rothenberg

E.J.Rothenberg — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 06:39:43 +0000

Based on your 3 critics' recommendations we tried this restaurant once more having been disappointed shortly after it opened. It was a total disaster: the crab cake was lukewarm but overcooked – and consisted of a mushy filling mildly tasting of crab; the Maui dumplings were cool and gummy — and remained cool even after sending them back to be re-heated; the whole fish was overcooked, served on an ice-cold plate, and full of bones despite being fileted; the tofu was burned and bland; and the waitress never checked back with my wife to find out how she liked the crab cakes despite a discussion about how they were prepared initiated by my wife prior to ordering them. The only good thing about the experience was the ease of parking! The worst dining experience we have had in a long while.