Walter Manzke

A Southern California native, Walter Manzke began his fine dining career in Los Angeles working alongside esteemed Chef Joachin Splichal of Patina. From there, he traveled around the world working with renowned chefs Ferran Adrià and Alain Ducasse. After a few years in the Bay area opening successful Relais & Chateaux properties, he returned to Los Angeles to make his mark on the city as Chef of Bastide, then moved on to take over the kitchen at Church & State.

Chef Walter has several restaurants to his name. Domestically, he and his team have opened numerous critically acclaimed Los Angeles concepts, including Petty Cash Taqueria, Sari Sari Store, & République. Working alongside his wife and business partner Margarita Manzke, they have opened sixteen Wildflour Bakeries in the Philippines.

In one of the most anticipated restaurant debuts for Los Angeles, Chef Walter sought to further his passion for Parisian cuisine with Bicyclette Bistro, which opened in 2021. The following year, Manzke Restaurant—a tasting menu concept and his most ambitious project to date—opened upstairs. In 2023, Manzke received one Michelin Star.

Regarded as an “unassailable cornerstone of Los Angeles dining” by Los Angeles Times Restaurant Critic Bill Addison, Chef Walter’s restaurants have pushed him to the forefront of contemporary French cuisine, earning him recognition from the Michelin Guide, The James Beard Foundation, The Los Angeles Times, and journalists from across the globe.