Manning’s Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Minneapolis

Giving a 5-star review of any place usually meets with skepticism. How can a restaurant be perfect? Can a local "dive bar" be as good or better than a Michelin rated restaurant? For one, any review you find on the Googles or the Yelps are customer/user submitted. Rarely will you find a "professional" food review, whatever that might be worth. But for Manning's and my recent visit, here's how it played out.

Manning's is an established Como neighborhood bar and restaurant. It might even fit within the narrow definition of a dive bar given its location next to the train tracks, minimal windows in the dining area, and the kitchen smell that wafts through the place. But I visit this place exactly for that experience and it is top in its class for atmosphere. Sports games on the TVs, vinyl padded booths with worn Formica tables. Perfect.

The food? I have been to Manning's maybe 20 times in the past 10 years so I don't consider myself a regular. And I go there for burgers. It is the burgers I enjoy the most but they have so much more.

The burger is a hand formed third pounder with a nice buttery bun. The crinkle cut fries are crispy and they leave off the salt, letting me decide how much, if any, salt I want. And it is a big serving, more than I should eat but I push through.

And the best part? Tuesdays you get a cheeseburger and fries (or tater tots) for $10. Tap beer $4. All served by some of the nicest neighbors and friends (some may refer to them as staff) one would find working at the neighborhood bar and restaurant on the corner street by the...

TL;DR: Manning's continues to be a solid place to visit any time of day, a fact that has been true over at least two decades since I started coming here. Their food is great, their beer is kept super cold and the service is friendly.

Used to come here when I was in college (long before google maps was a thing) and recently visited for old-times sake when I was in the area and was pleasantly surprised to see that Manning's really hasn't changed, which is fantastic.

I visited at the end of lunch time on a Saturday and, asides from the waitress briefly forgetting we had arrived (in her defense we did pick a secluded spot out of site), service was prompt and definitely friendly.

Food We got cheese curds for an appetizer and even though they were breaded instead of battered, they were super squeaky meaning they were fresh and properly prepared. Great overall.

For a main course I had a Peanut Butter Bacon burger with American cheese added. Burger was prepared medium well but was excellently seasoned, juicy and very good. Bacon was thick cut and nice and crispy. For a side I got tater tots, and as a bonus they don't up-charge for tots like most places do) and the tots were...

If a ma and pa diner up north had a baby with a supper club in the middle of the city it would be Manning's. Great staff, good food, and a down to earth atmosphere. They accommodated our large group of 30 for Monday at lunchtime with a few weeks notice. They reserved the back room for us. The windows provided nice natural light. Hard surfaces reflected chatter which I loved but some found a little difficult to hear over - easily fixed with strategically placed soft material, even if portable. They serve breakfast all day during the week - a pleasant surprise. Bacon was tasty, eggs cooked basted soft as ordered, golden hash browns aplenty, and toast - well, it's toast. While I didn't order the open faced turkey sandwich it looked amazing slathered in gravy and I heard the mashed potatoes were "heaven". The prices are reasonable. Food and drinks for everyone totaled under $600 including tax and tip. Other perks include an accessible entrance, updated restrooms, and free parking...