When you first enter Social Manna it’s hard to know what to look at first! The venue is beautifully decorated with memorabilia and history that works to create a homely but sophisticated feel.
For me, I was drawn to the various collections of spoons on the wall. The spoons began as a small collection by owner Sandro but after putting a call out to the Vic Park community on Facebook, the number of spoons on the wall continues to grow with locals donating both spoons and memories! For Sandro, the spoons are symbolic of the amazing community Social Manna has created in just under two years of running.
You’ll quickly understand why Social Manna has such a dedicated following of Vic Park locals and has won various awards in its short lifespan. Sandro credits this hospitality to his late mother, a woman who showed him the hospitality industry taught him how to create such an amazing environment and hospitable nature; a skill he now passes on to his team.
When we were seated at our table we got the chance to take in everything around us. If you visit Social Manna be sure to look up and check out the impressive row of Pez dispensers that have been collected since the 1980s.
Also check out the collection of bottle lids from the late 1920s that were found during renovations and pay homage to the building’s history.
Each table also houses a small collection of novelty books such as The Little Book of Lizzo: Quotes and Wisdom to make you feel good as hell and Pocket Kardashian Wisdom that are definite conversations starters!
The Food!
On our visit, we tried the Oat and Rice Porridge Arancini, the Smashed Avo and the Philly Cheesesteak Hoagie.
The Oat and Rice Porridge Arancini consists of saffron poached dwarf pears, rhubarb, pistachios and natural house made yoghurt. I can assure you it is like no porridge you’ve ever had before. With beautiful flower decorated presentation, the combination of the Arancini with the yoghurt and rhubarb is pure decadence!
The Smashed Avo is always a classic for the most seasoned of brunchers and Social Manna’s encompasses everything a great smashed avo should be – fresh avocado, roasted cherry tomatoes, poached egg and grilled haloumi. The Social Manna touch is the green goddess dressing, a delicious dressing made in house that adds an exciting new level to the dish.
Lastly for mains we tried the Philly Cheesesteak Hoagie. The chef on premises is part American, so it was imperative it tasted perfect! After an extensive trial and error process when creating the dish, the final result is nothing short of delicious – grilled steak, American style cheese, caramelised onion and peppers in a fresh baked hoagie roll served with potato waffles. It’s a melt in your mouth combination that will have you eager for your next bite!
Our food was accompanied with Social Manna’s stunning new summer drinks – the Virgin Moscow Mule with strong ginger undertones and the Summer Butterfly Iced Tea which is a fun purple concoction. Both were presented beautifully and will make the perfect summery accompaniment to your meal!
We also tried their coffee which is created using beans from the award-winning Pound Coffee Roastery. I personally tried a latte which was beautifully smooth with the hearty coffee taste you want from your brew.
The Cake!
Social Manna also create special order cakes. With owner Sandro being the former head chef at Rochell Adonis Cakes & Confections, you know you’re in for a treat!
Cakes can be ordered with 48 hours’ notice so they’re perfect for a last-minute event or surprise.
We were lucky enough to try a sample of the Red Velvet and it was everything you want in a Red Velvet – a perfect consistency with a moist, velvety crumb, topped with delicious cream cheese frosting!
So, if you have a birthday or special event coming up soon, make sure to contact the team for your perfect cake.
If all that isn’t enough to coerce you into a visit – Social Manna is a completely plastic free workplace!
With amazing hospitality that is a credit to Sandro and his team, eco-friendly production, made to order cakes, great aesthetics and spectacular food, be sure to check out Social Manna for your next social gathering!