Ritodhi C.
Yelp
A lot of vegan restaurants are gimmicky, so I often approach these sorts of places with pessimism. But Mantra was a nice change of pace as the menu, while justifiably pricey due to the quality of ingredients used, was tasty and clearly technique-driven. They undoubtedly use the best meat substitutes, and our meal featured some fun surprises. We did visit fairly early in their development, thus while the interior was what I would call urban minimalist, there was a great deal of construction outside that made for a fairly ugly view. There was only one front-of-house employee, but he did a wonderful job explaining everything and serving us. My thoughts on our meal:
Coconut Calamari - A dish that blew my mind and is an absolute must if you dine here. The taste is indistinguishable from the squid counterpart, though of course the texture can't quite compare. I wish the pieces were a little on the larger side.
K-Seoul Pizza - gluten-free crust with vegan mozzarella, sauteed mushrooms, and a syrupy sauce that was tangy, fruity, and spicy. A fragrant and fresh tasting delight, though part of me wishes it was less saucy.
The Lioness - a Lions mane crab cake sandwich of sorts. If you've never had this particular shroom, it's super meaty in texture and really tasty. The flavors were there, but I found the actually patty too thin and the gluten-free bun a tad too chewy. The thick-cut fries were well seasoned and fluffy. Overall, probably would try something else instead of paying $18 for this dish again.