El ManantialTravel World, Come Home to BestWe have been through many choice locations, including Florence, Rome, Vancouver, San Diego, and have not had such good seafood. This is a local gem that is always consistent because the enterprise is one big family, and the food is the best to be had in the area. Mangia, mangia!6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWe are fortunate to have thisWe are fortunate to have this fine family-owned restaurant in our neighborhood.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, service & a fair price!A business associate from San Francisco and I went to El Manantial to catch-up over dinner. What a great find. The maitre d' was accommodating with our seating preferences, service started promptly and was well timed throughout our conversation and meal. My martini was perfectly made. The wine list was compact, but covered all of the major varietals, regions and price points. The escargot was a cross between the classic French preparation and the more savory Italian style. The duck was perfectly cooked, beautifully presented and served in a generous portion. Next time, we will have to try desert. I'm already planning to take my local Reston friends there. Cheers!6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed Our First Time!We were looking for something new to try and remembered this being mentioned by a friend that it was a great spot so we decided to check it out.We definitely were not disappointed! The service was great...the atmosphere was relaxed and the noise level was great. We had an appetizer of the manchego cheese (you can't really mess that up) and the shrimp in red sauce. LOVED IT!! I had the paella and my fiance had the petit chateau. Both dishes were full of flavor and definitely did not disappoint. We each enjoyed a glass of wine (mine was white, his was red). The waiter was very helpful in pairing the wine to our selections. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be back with friends. Don't let the empty shopping plaza fool you!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMReston's hidden gemService is personal, food and wine are great. People watching is interesting. Reston movers and shakers, including RES himself can be spotted here.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful!Truly a great meal with the added befefit of outstanding service. Everyone should try this restaurant as it has become one of our favorites over the past 3 years. Always consistently high level.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always, this restaurantAs always, this restaurant is absolutely perfect. If you have not been yet, i very strongly recommend it5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMSimply the Best!Excellent as always! El Manantial has truly become the favorite place for my family and friends to dine, to celebrate, to enjoy! We relish being able to converse over delicious food in an atmosphere where noise and loud music are NOT the norm - so different from other local restaurants. Thank you to all at El Manantial!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMBrunchI had been to El Manantial a few times before for dinner only, always leaving thinking to come back. I was unsure how it would be for brunch, on Mother's Day no less. Well, my family and I were happily surprise by the service, ambiance and food. I had the soft shell crab special, others had pasta, salmon, lamb, and even chicken. All of our plates were cleaned out! Delicious food, warm greetings from the moment you walk in, attentive service- overall wonderful experience. Will definitely be going back.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMI keep forgetting about this place.Which is unfortunate because they never disappoint. My wife and I had the sea bass and it was wonderful. The calamari appetizer was cooked to perfection and we love the eclectic wine list - the Primitivo Puglia is our favorite.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMNeighborhood delight!El Manantial is a totally unexpected delight. Located in a sad little half-leased strip mall in Reston, there's never any trouble with free parking. It's superb food and friendly, expert service make it a neighborhood gem. For Mother's Day, it was crowded and lively, a little higher noise level than usual, but that was ameliorated by two flamenco guitarists playing some lovely music. Wine list features Spanish wines, several of which we have enjoyed enough to search out in wine stores later. We have taken friends there several times, and they have always been delighted by the experience. We highly recommend it.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMy friends were so pleasedIt was my friend's birthday and we had a wonderful meal with excellent wine. The Lobster Fricassee was fabulous. I will be back again and again.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat food, servicewe love this restaurant. At lunch, She had the soft shell crabs, I had the steak. great food as usual. The Fuentes family treat all their customers as family.
truly a neighborhood gem5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant is alwaysThis restaurant is always a pleasant experience. The warm greeting makes you feel at home, the food is good, and they are always willing to cater to special needs--with a smile! It is an inviting upscale decor, while at the same time feeling like you are with family!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMgroup dinnerExcellent across the board. Good food, excellent service and attention to detail.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMMy salmon was wonderful -My salmon was wonderful - we did a girls night out and enjoyed their sangria too! Yum!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyable eveningWe enjoy going to this restaurant with friends or just the two of us.... you can have a conversation and hear each other, you feel welcome every time you visit and they value you as a customer. The food is consistently good. You know you will have an enjoyable evening every visit.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWent with a friend for lunch,Went with a friend for lunch, that has been gone for awhile; not only was the food good, but we were not pressured for our table (although they were very busy.) My husband and I have been for dinner and have been pleased with the food always. It is a wonderful place for food, wine, and conversation.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMI keep coming back for theI keep coming back for the food, the wine, the service.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWe are regulars at Reston'sWe are regulars at Reston's secret gem. Hidden is a dying town center, El Manantial thrives on good food and good service.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant was outstandingThis restaurant was outstanding in all areas. Excellent food choices and variety. Nice breaks between courses and excellent service.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMEl Mantanial is definitelyEl Mantanial is definitely a neighborhood gem. I've had two lunches and one dinner there; all have been first rate. The staff is professional and knowledgeable. El Mantanial is a little pricy, but definitely worth it.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMEl Manantial is a terrificEl Manantial is a terrific family run restaurant in Reston, Virginia. It's great for lunch or dinner. Would be a sensational place for business lunch, because it's quiet. You can talk to one another in a normal voice, and hear the other person! Additionally, Humberto or Mario can seat groups where they can have private conversations.
The Fuentes family goes out of their way to make sure you have a pleasant dining experience. Humberto has constructed a superb wine list, at reasonable prices, representing many different countries and styles of wine. Chef Enrique presents a fine plate of food that is perfectly proportioned. You may be full after a meal, but you always feel the tasting desire for more. Please, don't forget desert.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is always top notch!The food is always top notch! The wait staff is knowledgable and friendly.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food. The fourExcellent food. The four in our group had the sea bass, barramundi, venison and osso buco. All delicious!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMA wide-ranging menu, somethingA wide-ranging menu, something for just about every palette. Entres expertly prepared, nice presentation.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMA Reston gem off the beaten pathAlways a good spot for a business dinner lunch.
It's in a secluded part of Reston, so no parking issues to deal with like at the town center. The space is large enough to enable conversations to remain private. The food is consistently good, and the service is excellent.
I've only ever eaten lunch there, but it hits all the right notes for refined business lunches.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had requested a quiet table,We had requested a quiet table, and the maitre d' was most accommodating. It was a wonderful dining experience.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMYOU should come here.LOVE the oysters! This is one of our favorite restaurants, unfortunately stuck in one of the worst excuses for a shopping center in all of northern VA. On the bright side, there's always plenty of parking! Enjoy the food! It's always wonderful.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything was great - serviceEverything was great - service and food and excellent wine selection. Very comfortable with a relaxed atmosphere.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was great. Service wasFood was great. Service was outstanding. Good place for a small business lunch.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMlight and healthy if you choose.Always a good choice, this time a late light dinner w salad and pizza with great crust!2/23/2013 12:00:00 AMEm Manantial is Reston's secretEm Manantial is Reston's secret gem.The brothers could give lessons on how to run a restaurant to Gordon Ramsey,2/23/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways excellentAlways enjoy this place no matter what. It was good to see a healthy crowd, which did not affect out good service or experience!2/14/2013 12:00:00 AMhow do you keep getting better!I had a great osso boco! Flavorful and tender as the best I have had outside Italy! I have said before that they keep getting better and they still have yet to stop. With a big menu full of diverse choices, this classically trained Chef makes every dish as though it were his signature dish. The staff makes each visit seem like a special occasion.1/22/2013 12:00:00 AM