The next stop on our culinary tour around the downtown Winchester Walking Mall was Manolete’s Cocina Gourmet. This building has housed a handful of interesting businesses, but it seems to be very stable now with the residency of Manolete’s. As the full name implies, they are a gourmet cocina, offering up plenty of traditional Mexican drinks, food, and vibes. So happy Manolete’s is now a staple on the Walking Mall.
Price 💲💲💲out of 5
The menu, both for drinks and food, is quite extensive at Manolete’s, so they have something for everyone. While some of the lunch specials will only set you back between $10 and $15, there are gourmet specialities on the menu, like the $89 Tomahawk steak. I love a restaurant that is diverse enough to be a place where you can go to get a quick, easy lunch, or splurge a bit for a celebration. Manolete’s offers amazing cuisine for any budget.
Ambience 🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳out of 5
Like with many Mexican restaurants in the area, Manolete’s has a ton of traditional Mexican decor. What sets them apart, however, is their extensive bar and wine selection, all which have a home on the walls throughout the restaurant. This spot is surprisingly massive for being on the Walking Mall. There are plenty of seats, a giant bar, and even an outdoor seating area. All the staff was incredibly friendly as well.
Drinks 🍷🍷🍷🍷 out of 5
Manolete’s definitely pulled out all the stops for us, making a handful of their most popular drinks. Here is a review of everything we sampled:
Fresh Margarita Matador – a house speciality, this margarita was made with tequila, agave nectar, and fresh squeezed orange and lime juices. This was the perfect combination of sweet from the fruit juices and salt from the rim. Nice and fresh.
Mojito – while it may have been a basic Mojito, Manolete’s version popped with the fresh taste of mint. A mixture of rum, sugar, fresh squeezed lime juice, and that refreshing mint, this is the perfect drink for a warm summer day.
La Reina – this drink was insane, served with smoked rosemary. It is a whole presentation for sure. This is a mixture of watermelon and lime juices, in-house jalapeno-infused tequila, and Triple Sec. This drink is spicy, but the fresh fruit juices help cut through the punch from the tequila and Tajin rubbed rim.
Food 🥩🥩🥩🥩 out of 5
Now let’s get into the dishes. We were in for a treat, as we got to sample a handful of their most popular dishes, including:
Guacamole Dinamita – made tableside, this fresh made guacamole was so good. They added grilled shrimp to the top of it, which was such a unique spin on tableside guacamole. I loved the presentation AND the taste of this dish.
Ribeye Tacos – my oh my, these were insanely good. The ribeye was so tender and juicy, creating one of the best taco experiences I have ever had. I usually go for birria tacos, but this has opened up a brand new door for me. If you are in the mood for tacos, get the ribeye tacos.
Nachos Manolo – I love when restaurants provide you with plenty of premier ingredients. These nachos had all kinds of meat – skirt steak, pollo asada, grilled shrimp, and chorizo, covered in melty cheese, pico, and sour cream. So many different flavors in every bite. The nachos are a great starter for the entire table.
Carnitas – this plate is served steaming. Tender, juicy grilled pork served on a bed of roasted tomatoes and onions, smothered in salsa verde and served with homemade tortillas. Very rich and decadent dish.
Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
There are so many hidden gems on the Walking Mall, and Manolete’s is another to add to the list. In my personal opinion, Mexican food is the hardest cuisine to truly stand out in, as there are so many spots (including another really solid spot on the Walking Mall). But Manolete’s is adding their own unique twist to their cuisine, and with such a massive menu, there is plenty of reason to come back time and time again.