Join Harden's Platinum Club for Member's Benefits - save 60% with our special offer!
RestaurantsLondonSohoW1D

Harden's says

Opened in summer 2023 after years of pandemic-induced delay, this Soho seafood specialist (named after a much-loved 20th-century original) over two storeys of the Bateman's Buildings, between Greek and Frith Streets, is the first major opening from the Wolseley Hospitality Group since it was acquired (and renamed) from ace London restaurateurs Corbin & King last year.

survey result

Summary

£67
  £££
2
Average
2
Average
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Fabulous, opulent surroundings… but the food does not match up”, sums up the copious feedback on this 2023 Soho revival of a post-War seafood institution (sited near Leicester Square and closed in 2006), long planned by restaurant impresarios Corbin & King but – following their ousting in a management reshuffle – ultimately launched by its successor company, the Thai-owned Wolseley Hospitality Group. A “very well designed and comfortable environment tucked away in Bateman Buildings just off Frith Street” – the “dramatic” dining space incorporates “lush, marine-themed” decor replete with murals, friezes and statues. But while some fans do hail “beautifully fresh seafood” (and “especially the early-evening oysters-and-Champagne offer”), there are too many complaints of “very disappointing” meals with food that’s “variable” or even “poor all round and a rip-off”.

Summary

£68
  £££
2
Average
2
Average
2
Average
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Down a dodgy alleyway in Soho”, this “spectacularly camp new seafood emporium is presided over by a sculpture of Poseidon with mermaids perched at the corners of the bar”. Named for a “venerable” post-war fish and seafood institution that for decades operated just north of Leicester Square (to close in 2006), this “massive investment” is not a relaunch as such, but a homage to its former namesake by restaurant impresarios Jeremy King and Chris Corbin, who ironically ended up parting company with owners, The Wolseley Group, before the project’s ultimate debut in June 2023. After its first year in operation, it still feels like a work in progress. To fans it’s “OTT… in a good way” thanks to the “amazing decor” and a menu of “seafood heaven” (“Monkfish Wellington is an instant classic”). The verdict is split though by critics who think it’s just “ludicrously opulent”, “soulless” and “formulaic” (“as charming as a motorway service station, with decor that Bet Lynch would have been proud of; and overpriced food that’s more ‘Tesco Finest’ than catch of the day”). It doesn’t help that service can still be “a bit rough around the edges”; but with work it feels like this still has the potential to be a worthwhile institution in the making.

Summary

Few openings are as long anticipated as this resurrection of a long-defunct, once-famous seafood destination. Conceived when its owning company was still run by Jeremy King and Christopher Corbin, the final debut is the first major test of the ability of its successor, The Wolseley Group, to launch a new site. The business that forms the inspiration for this debut was in Chinatown, just off Leicester Square, and shuttered in the early 1990s. This revivified version is in ‘Bateman’s Buildings’, tucked between Soho’s Greek and Frith Streets. Set over two floors, it’s an all-day operation with a large outdoor terrace. Dishes encompass everything from moules marinière to a wide range of crustacea, a ‘catch of the day’ and a classic Dover sole.

Summary

This long-planned and long pandemic-delayed Soho seafood restaurant may be delayed still further by the management changes at Corbin & King, now renamed as The Wolseley Hospitality Group. It is envisaged as a ‘fun and affordable’ venue along the lines of stablemate Brasserie Zédel. But – in the absence of Jeremy King and Chris Corbin – who will now provide the vision for recreating the original Manzi’s, which was, for decades, a treasured standby for theatregoers on the south corner of Chinatown?

For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Manzi's?

1 Bateman's Buildings, London, W1D 3EN

Restaurant details

No dress code

Manzi's Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of Manzi's Restaurant in W1D, London by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of Manzi's restaurant.
Martin B
A polished performance - reasonable priced ...
Reviewed 2 months, 2 days ago

"A polished performance - reasonable priced crowd pleasers all delicious. Crab, prawn burger, F&C, steak. Room beautifully detailed in design. "

Report this comment
Chinye A
Great dishes, great service, shame about th...
Reviewed 5 months, 14 days ago

"Great dishes, great service, shame about the location & view"

Report this comment
Ben L
Food was good but not exceptional. I was ab...
Reviewed 9 months, 21 days ago

"Food was good but not exceptional. I was able to get a Saturday evening reservation at short notice, and the restaurant was spacious, not too loud despite the low ceiling, and had charming fish-themed decor. Will be coming back for their very affordable set menus"

Report this comment
S R
Very good fish restaurant...
Reviewed 10 months, 26 days ago

"Very good fish restaurant"

Report this comment
David A
This was overpriced, not particularly nice ...
Reviewed 11 months, 17 days ago

"This was overpriced, not particularly nice food. But the main reason none of our party will be returning is the service. Is was dreadful. They were slow, rude and dismissive. We were unpleasantly surprised."

Report this comment
Chinye A
The yellowfin tuna starter was simply delic...
Reviewed 11 months, 22 days ago

"The yellowfin tuna starter was simply delicious!"

Report this comment
Have you eaten at Manzi's?
Post your own review of Manzi's and contribute to our annual restaurant review guide.
Post your own review

What the Newspaper Critics are saying

Daily Mail

In a week of multiple disappointments, Tom Parker Bowles was politely but firmly dismissive of this revival of a classic West End seafood institution by the people who took over the Wolseley group from its founders, Corbin & King, declaring airily that “Manzi’s is not bad, but one simply wouldn’t return.”

The sparse and “noticeably older” crowd on the day Tom visited did not help matters: “the room has all the atmosphere of a Trappist wake.”

More importantly, the food was clearly not up to scratch: “a yellowfin tuna tartare lacks that all-essential clean acidity, sullied by an overly creamy dressing. Worse still is my friend Olly’s hake, so aggressively salty it’s inedible. He takes one bite, grimaces and leaves the rest. Hey ho….” 

Tom Parker Bowles - 2025-11-09

Prices

Availability 2 courses 3 courses coffee included service included
Always £23.50 £29.50

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Veggies Pudding
£10.50 £26.80 £4.00 £8.25
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £36.00
Filter Coffee £6.50
Extras  
Bread £3.00
Service 15.00%
1 Bateman's Buildings, London, W1D 3EN
Opening hours
MondayCLOSED
Tuesday12 pm‑9:30 pm
Wednesday12 pm‑11 pm
Thursday12 pm‑11 pm
Friday12 pm‑11 pm
Saturday12 pm‑11 pm
Sunday12 pm‑5 pm

Best Fish & seafood restaurants nearby

Barrafina
Spanish restaurant in Soho
£70
  £££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
Burger & Lobster Soho
Burgers, etc restaurant in Soho
£84
 ££££
3
Good
3
Good
2
Average
The Seafood Bar
Fish & seafood restaurant in Soho
£87
 ££££
3
Good
3
Good
2
Average

View more nearby restaurants »

Best similarly priced restaurants nearby

Kapara by Bala Baya
Israeli restaurant in London
£65
  £££
4
Very Good
3
Good
2
Average
Barrafina
Spanish restaurant in Soho
£70
  £££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele
Pizza restaurant in Soho
£65
  £££
4
Very Good
2
Average
2
Average

View more nearby restaurants »

Restaurant news

View more ›

NEWS
Black and blue (truffle and lobster) at Gallic launch

NEWS
When 8 is lucky for dim sum

NEWS
Margate's dining boom sees two new openings