Mannings Restaurant — Restaurant in Clayton

Never thought I’d be writing anything negative about Manning’s, but here is my latest experience. Went in the day before to make a reservation for 5pm. Was told they were booked solid already (which is fine), but then also told if you come around 5, you should have no trouble getting a table. How does this make sense? Against better judgement, we tried anyway and sure enough there were at least 4 tables free when we walked in, making me think, they could have just done the reservation and not been so difficult about it. Drinks came quickly so one star for that. But they did bring everyone else’s drink together and mine afterward and since none where alcoholic beverages, this seemed weird. That’s when the trouble started. I have a food allergy that causes anaphylaxis. So I pick out what I think could work and ask the server (wife of the chef) and she says, yes that should work but I’ve asked her to check with the chef and she agrees to ask. The marinade has soy. I have a real problem with this because I’ve never had an issue with my food allergy being accommodated, so long as I’m at a fine dining establishment. By the prices, that’s what I thought this was. So normally, at this stage the server would have spoken with the chef and come up with a work around or alternative. No, she just says it won’t work, so I start looking at hamburgers. We ask about the bread. It’s not made in house and yes, it all has soy. There is not reason other than cheap use of ingredients to create an emulsifier that will make the bread smoother, for using soy ingredients in bread. Why MANNINGS, who was known for great quality food and accommodating to allergies would use one of the top 9 most food allergens in their bread and marinade, is a mystery. Especially, since I thought the chef himself has some food allergies. So at this point the server is just staring at me, like “what do you want to do”, so I explain it’s my birthday and we’ve eaten there in the past (4) years ago and didn’t have an issue so we are sorry we’ve wasted their time but we will just pay for our drinks and go. Now, she suggests that maybe he can cook the chicken I originally wanted but just plain without the marinade. So I say that would work. Everyone’s food comes out except mine and it looks so professional and appetizing. I’m served a baked potato on one dish and on a separate dish, the most unappetizing chicken breasts with no seasonings, no garnishing. I eat one bite and take the salt and pepper on the table to finish cooking my chicken breast that just looks like two white lumps on a side dish. The vegetables that were supposed to have come with the original dish and which the server said they could cook for me in butter instead of oil (which I guess they now use a cheap soy blend oil), are no where to be found. Since it’s not my server who brings out the food and just some guy who throws the plates on the table like he’s disgusted with them, I try to get the attention of my server but she’s too busy. I eat one chicken breast and my baked potato because at this point I’m starving and the rest of my party’s food would go cold if we waited for my vegetables. I hope they were just having a bad day yesterday, but I get the feeling, they are just using cheaper ingredients now and no longer fine dining. More like middle of the road, kind of like between, Applebees and a diner. My birthday dinner did not feel special. It felt like they went out of their way to give me poor service and made me feel like people with my disability just aren’t welcome. I gave an extra star because the rest of the dishes served did look good, so they can make food that looks appealing, they just chose not to go the extra step and maybe add some garnish and...

June 13, 2025 - This is yet another edit to my previous reviews below which I will write as a quick summary. Three of us came for a late lunch/early dinner. It didn't go so well. Long story short, the owner made good on our meal. Looking forward to coming back soon and trying another round.

Original pre June 2025 reviews below.

This is an edit to my review below from four years ago.. To summarize after 4 additional years of enjoying Mannings, probably 25 additional visits, the general summary is it's inconsistent. When owner/chef is not in the kitchen expect things to be a little different. A lot of good/bad inconsistencies from visit to visit. If I could underline the word INCONSISTENT I would. From the fried green tomatoes, to the chicken liver gravy, to the doneness of the burgers. This time, after over 5 years of ordering a side of gravy every two months on our visits, we see there is a $1.50 upcharge. Not a complaint but it goes with my inconsistencies and frequent hidden upcharges I reference below.. I have NO problem paying for extras, but the gravy this time was so watered down it wouldn't stick to the fries.. it was so salty it made the roof of my mouth shrivel up! Inconsistent. We are not ones to mention anything to our server at a place we really do love so much but whoever there is any type of very obvious inconsistency and we do,, they always acknowledge our concern very constructively and treat us very well. Bottom line, If Howard is not active in the kitchen at the time of our visit we can almost predict something will be off.

On a positive note, we were happy to see that Mannings was not enforcing a bogus and unnecessary mask requirement. During the height of "covid" we were often looking for places to dine in. Mannings was always our go-to place and we'll continue to supporthem. My wife and I look forward to many happy returns!

Original review from 2017: Weve been many times and it is one of my favorites, especially the burgers, but there are a couple of inconsistent drawbacks. On more than one occasion the amounts billed to not match the menu prices. We've been asked on a couple of occasions would you like to add chicken, cheese, bacon, etc. Of course we know there would be an upcharge but we never feel as if we have to look at the menu to get a price first. My advice- please do or you could be out $4 to add chicken to your $11 salad (that's just one example) Second, during the early part of the day they have a waitress we are not too fond of. Not really on the ball, we'll leave it at that but we'd actually avoid going there if that was our...

Alright, let's talk Mannings. You walk in, and it's not some precious, twee little joint trying too hard. No, this place has a pulse, a low hum of people actually enjoying themselves, the clinking of glasses a soundtrack to something real. I bellied up to the bar, the kind of dark wood that’s seen a few stories, and ordered a Killian’s. Cold, honest beer. No fuss, no foam art bullshit. Just a damn good red. Then came the "Drunken Chicken Sandwich." Now, I've had my share of poultry atrocities, the kind of dry, stringy bird that makes you question your life choices. But this… this was different. The chicken, clearly marinated in something that understood flavor, was juicy, practically weeping with it. Not some cloying sweetness, mind you, but a deep, savory marinade that spoke of respect for the bird. Slapped between bread that held its own, not some flimsy excuse for a carb delivery system. This wasn’t just a sandwich; it was a goddamn statement. A middle finger to blandness. Across the table, my better half was tackling the "Chicken and Waffles." A dish that, let's be honest, can go horribly wrong faster than you can say "syrupy mess." But here? The chicken boasted a crisp skin that crackled with each bite, giving way to tender meat. And the waffles? Not those airy, flavorless things. These had substance, a slight chew, the kind that soaks up the right amount of syrup without turning into a soggy disaster. She washed it down with a "Pear Martini" – a drink that, surprisingly, didn't taste like some overly sweet teenage concoction. It had a subtle sophistication, a whisper of pear that cut through the richness of the dish. Look, Mannings isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. They're not serving foams or deconstructed anything. What they are doing is taking familiar dishes and executing them with a damn fine attention to detail and, dare I say it, a genuine love for what they’re putting on the plate. This isn’t some culinary cathedral; it’s a neighborhood joint that understands the simple pleasure of good food, well-made drinks, and an atmosphere that doesn’t make you feel like you need to whisper. So, if you find yourself in this corner of the world, skip the precious, overhyped spots. Head to Mannings. Order the drunken chicken, or maybe the chicken and waffles. Grab a drink. Soak it in. This is the kind of place that reminds you why you bother eating out in the first place. It's real. It's honest. And it's damn good. You can taste the lack of bullshit in every bite. And that, my friends, is a...