My fiancee and I treated ourselves to the restaurant at Hotel Manisses after seeing their menu in a guide to Block Island restaurants at our b&b.

We called ahead and were told that seating was first come, first served after 7p, and when we arrived around 730p we were told there was approximately an hour wait. We ordered a bottle of wine from the bar and sat at a secluded little table on their grounds. Our hostess tracked us down after only about half an hour and said a table was ready for us, which was nice.

The food here was fantastic. We ordered the pear bisque, mussels appetizer, and a cheese plate to start. We should have ended there, because the portions were quite large, particularly the cheese plate, which also included crackers and mounds of grapes and berries. We ate the cheese before our entrees and had fruit for dessert. It was really very good. My fiancee ordered filet mignon, which was very tasty, and cooked just to her specifications, and I only wanted a side of the lobster mashed potatoes, which was excellent. We left completely stuffed, and the prices were very reasonable considering the quality of the food and the portions that were served to us.

Our only criticism is that the staff didn't seem like it was quite at the same level as the food and the setting; with the exception of our hostess, who was very pleasant and efficient, the bartender and server with whom we interacted didn't seem that prepared in how to interact with customers in an elegant setting such as this one. They were definitely not rude or inappropriate, but could have been a little more personable and attentive, in my opinion.

We would definitely go back to this place, though, the next time we are on the island; we left so full that we could barely walk back to the b&b. The food was, truly, excellent, with a great atmosphere in which to enjoy it.