Restaurant in Makati, Philippines
Reliable Italian at mall prices, done right.
A mano is a reliable casual Italian in Power Plant Mall, Makati, with a technically sound pizza program and pasta that holds up to scrutiny. Founded by Amado Forés, it sources at a quality level above its price tier and has expanded to four locations on the strength of consistent execution. Book for a weekday lunch if you want the best experience with the least noise.
A mano is one of the more reliable Italian options in Makati's mall dining circuit — not because it tries to replicate a Roman trattoria, but because it standardises quality across four locations without sacrificing the things that matter: properly leavened pizza, well-executed pasta, and a service team that doesn't make you feel like a number. Founded by Amado Forés and operating out of Power Plant Mall in Rockwell Center, it sits in a price bracket that makes it an easy yes for a casual Italian lunch or a low-pressure weeknight dinner. If you want serious tasting-menu ambition, look elsewhere. If you want a carbonara that holds up to scrutiny, a mano delivers.
The name means "by hand" in Italian, and the kitchen takes that framing seriously. Pizza dough is fermented and properly leavened — head pizza maker Jonathan Redoblado has worked to standardise the product across all four current locations, which is harder than it sounds. The style sits between traditional Neapolitan and a more contemporary approach: fragrant, with a crust that has real structure. The pasta program is similarly grounded. Spaghetti carbonara and tagliatelle bolognese are the dishes most often cited as benchmarks, and they read as Italian cooking done with discipline rather than shortcuts.
The product selection is a notable differentiator. The kitchen sources ingredients at a quality level that Italian restaurant operators in Manila typically reserve for fine dining, which is part of why a mano has expanded while competitors in the same casual tier have contracted. Raspadura , a ribbon-shaved aged cheese from Lombardy , appears as a pizza topping and is worth ordering on that basis alone if you haven't tried it. The drinks menu includes non-alcoholic options at prices that won't distort the bill, and the service is warm without being intrusive.
For the food-focused visitor, the daytime experience at a mano in Power Plant Mall is the smarter call. Lunch sees lighter foot traffic through Rockwell Center, which translates to a quieter room and faster kitchen times. The menu doesn't change between lunch and dinner , a mano doesn't operate a separate lunch set , so you're getting the same pizza and pasta regardless of when you arrive. What changes is the atmosphere. Evenings in Power Plant Mall bring more ambient noise and fuller tables; the room gets energetic in a way that works for groups but less so for a solo diner or a two-leading conversation. If you want the full a mano experience with the fewest variables, a weekday lunch is the move. For groups of four or more who want a relaxed dinner pace, weeknights before 7:30 PM are preferable to weekend evenings, when the mall draws broader foot traffic.
The drink menu adds value in the evening context: the non-alcoholic options in particular make a mano work for mixed groups where not everyone is drinking. This is a more thoughtful inclusion than most casual Italian restaurants in the city manage, and it keeps the per-head spend manageable across a table of varied drinkers.
For Italian specifically in Makati, Crosta is the peer comparison that comes up most often. Crosta skews more premium and operates with a narrower, more chef-driven menu; a mano is the better call if you want flexibility, a larger group, or a lower average spend. For Filipino cooking at a comparable casual-to-mid level, Hapag is in a different category entirely , tasting menu, significantly higher price point, advance booking required. Helm and Inatô operate at different cuisine registers but are worth knowing if your Makati dining itinerary extends beyond Italian. Kása Palma is the relevant alternative if you want something with more Mediterranean range.
Location: R1 Level, Stall 144, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City. Reservations: Walk-ins are generally manageable, particularly at lunch; booking is easy and recommended for weekend evenings or groups. Dress: Smart casual; mall-appropriate. Budget: Price range not confirmed in available data, but positioning and ingredient sourcing suggest a mid-range spend per head by Makati standards. Booking difficulty: Easy. Group size: Works well for two to six; the format suits shared ordering across pizza and pasta.
Yes, with appropriate expectations. A mano is not trying to be Hapag (Filipino) or compete with destination dining at Toyo Eatery in Manila. It is a well-run, ingredient-conscious casual Italian restaurant with a pizza program that has more technical rigour than the Power Plant Mall location might suggest. For a food enthusiast passing through Makati, it is worth a lunch visit, particularly if you order the raspadura pizza and one of the pastas. For a special occasion or a meal where the room and the menu need to carry serious weight, consider Antonio's Restaurant in Tagaytay or Asador Alfonso in Cavite if you have flexibility on location.
For broader context on eating and drinking in the area, see our full Makati restaurants guide, our full Makati bars guide, and our full Makati hotels guide. If you're planning further afield, Linamnam in Parañaque is worth the short drive for Filipino cooking at a serious level, and Lantaw in Cebu is on the list if your Philippines trip extends south.
For Italian, Crosta is the closest peer , more focused, slightly higher price point, chef-driven menu. For something with broader Mediterranean range, Kása Palma is worth considering. If you want Filipino cooking instead, Hapag is the standout in Makati but requires advance booking and a higher budget. Helm and Inatô fill different cuisine niches but belong on any serious Makati shortlist. See our full Makati restaurants guide for a complete picture.
Yes. The casual format and mall setting make solo dining comfortable at a mano , there's no social awkwardness around a single cover, and the menu scales down to a pizza or a pasta with no pressure to over-order. A weekday lunch is the leading solo timing: the room is quieter, service is attentive, and you won't be competing with larger groups for the kitchen's attention. The non-alcoholic drink options also make it easy to have a full, unhurried lunch without defaulting to wine.
Order the pizza with raspadura , it's the clearest demonstration of what the kitchen does differently from standard mall Italian. The margherita is also well-executed and a useful benchmark. On the pasta side, spaghetti carbonara and tagliatelle bolognese are the most consistent options. The ingredient quality is higher than the setting implies, which is the core insight for first-timers: this is not a default mall dining stop, it's a restaurant that has expanded because the product holds up. Booking is easy, dress is smart casual, and the service is friendly without requiring any particular advance knowledge to navigate.
Probably not the first choice for a formal special occasion , the Power Plant Mall location and casual format work against a celebratory atmosphere. For a birthday dinner or anniversary where the room and the experience need to carry weight, Hapag is the stronger call within Makati, and Antonio's Restaurant in Tagaytay is worth the trip if occasion dining is the priority. A mano works well for a relaxed celebration among friends who want good food without ceremony , a four-leading sharing pizza and pasta in a lively room is a legitimate occasion in its own right.
Bar seating specifics for a mano's Power Plant Mall location are not confirmed in available data. The casual format suggests counter or bar-adjacent seating may be available, but it's worth confirming at the time of booking or on arrival. For a solo diner or a pair, the general floor plan of a mall restaurant at this level typically accommodates flexible seating without a prior arrangement.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a mano | Handmade, that is made with hands. This is the essence of this restaurant, opened by Amado Fores, a young and ambitious entrepreneur who loves Italy. It is his love for Italy that has been the common thread in the restaurants. In the menu you will find pasta, risotto, pizza and whatever your choice may be, you will find a selection of products that would make any Italian restaurant envious, in terms of quality. The style of the pizza is a mix between traditional Neapolitan and contemporary. Fragrant and well leavened, Jonathan Redoblado has succeeded in standardizing the product in every point of sale (currently four, but we believe there will be more in the future). You must try the pizza with "raspadura" and even the classic margherita is really well done. Among the pastas, the spaghetti carbonara and the tagliatelle bolognese are truly delicious, just like in a great restaurant in Italy. The drink menu allows for a fun time, even with non-alcoholic options, at very reasonable prices. The service is friendly and kind, the best seasoning to it all. | Easy | — | ||
| Hapag | Filipino | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — | |
| Kása Palma | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — | ||
| Crosta | Unknown | — | |||
| Helm | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — | ||
| Inatô | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
Comparing your options in Makati for this tier.
Crosta is the most direct peer comparison — it skews more premium with a tighter menu, so it suits occasions where you want a more considered experience and are happy to pay for it. For something farther from Italian entirely, Hapag and Toyo Eatery represent destination Filipino dining in Manila. Within the mall-casual bracket, a mano at Power Plant Mall holds its own on pizza and pasta quality without Crosta's price premium.
Yes, more than most Italian spots in Makati. The stall format at R1 Level, Power Plant Mall means you are not sitting awkwardly at a table for four. Ordering a single pasta — the spaghetti carbonara is the most referenced dish — or a pizza by the pie is a practical solo meal, and the service is noted as friendly rather than formal, which makes eating alone comfortable.
Start with the pizza: head pizza maker Jonathan Redoblado uses a Neapolitan-influenced dough that is properly fermented and leavened, and the raspadura pizza is specifically called out as a must-order. The carbonara and tagliatelle bolognese are the pasta benchmarks. Walk-ins are generally manageable, especially at lunch, and the drink menu includes non-alcoholic options at reasonable prices, so you are not forced into a full spend.
Not the obvious first choice for a milestone dinner — the stall setting at Power Plant Mall is casual rather than occasion-appropriate. If the occasion calls for Italian, Crosta is the more considered option in Makati. A mano works well for a low-key birthday lunch or a relaxed group meal where good food and a reasonable bill matter more than atmosphere.
The venue data does not confirm a dedicated bar counter seating arrangement. Given the stall format at R1 Level, Stall 144, Power Plant Mall, seating is likely table-based and relatively compact. The drink menu does include non-alcoholic options and a broader selection suited to casual dining, but if bar seating is a priority, confirm directly with the venue before visiting.
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