Living in Washington, I get the chance from time to time to eat at places like Sam & Harry's, Morton's, The Palm, Capitol Grill, and Ruth's Chris. Morever, I've also eaten at the major steakhouses in Chicago. None of these, however, is quite as good as Manny's in Minneapolis. While its steaks aren't discernibly better than what you'll eat on a good night, say, at Morton's (when the broiler cook is paying attention), Manny's side dishes, desserts, and portion size (on the far side of ample) completely roll over the competition. However, the metaphorical meat and potatoes of Manny's is the service. The waiters are clearly trained to be a little irreverent, but they're attentive, knowledgeable, and unflappably accommodating. If you want to share something, if you have a special request, if you want to bring in your own wine (no corkage fee), they handle you with total aplomb. If you wanted to celebrate your birthday with a food fight, they'd probably just stand back and discretely protect the other diners from flying t-bones. As far as the decor goes, be advised that this isn't a dark and clubby restaurant -- it's bright and brash, the sort of place where what you see is exactly what you get (they don't try to hide anything). The tables are large and sturdy (as are the cocktails), the silverware and glasses are solid and chunky. Basically, you'll know what you're in for the moment you enter, because the first thing you see is a huge portrait of menacing bull with balls -- shiny ones -- the size of a blacksmith's fists. Its expression says, "Eat me, or I'll eat you." By the way, I eat at Manny's maybe twice a year, so I'm not a regular, and I certainly don't drop Big bucks, and yet I've never felt taken for granted there.
Minneapolis, MN
Manny's in Mpls: Best Steakhouse?
Tim A. wrote: >Living in Washington, I get the chance from time to time to eat at places >like Sam & Harry's, Morton's, The Palm, Capitol Grill, and Ruth's Chris. >Morever, I've also eaten at the major steakhouses in Chicago. None of >these, however, is quite as good as Manny's in Minneapolis. > >While its steaks aren't discernibly better than what you'll eat on a good >night, say, at Morton's (when the broiler cook is paying attention), >Manny's side dishes, desserts, and portion size (on the far side of ample) >completely roll over the competition. However, the metaphorical meat and >potatoes of Manny's is the service. The waiters are clearly trained to be >a little irreverent, but they're attentive, knowledgeable, and unflappably >accommodating. If you want to share something, if you have a special >request, if you want to bring in your own wine (no corkage fee), they >handle you with total aplomb. If you wanted to celebrate your birthday >with a food fight, they'd probably just stand back and discretely protect >the other diners from flying t-bones. > >As far as the decor goes, be advised that this isn't a dark and clubby >restaurant -- it's bright and brash, the sort of place where what you see >is exactly what you get (they don't try to hide anything). The tables are >large and sturdy (as are the cocktails), the silverware and glasses are >solid and chunky. Basically, you'll know what you're in for the moment >you enter, because the first thing you see is a huge portrait of menacing >bull with balls -- shiny ones -- the size of a blacksmith's fists. Its >expression says, "Eat me, or I'll eat you." > >By the way, I eat at Manny's maybe twice a year, so I'm not a regular, and >I certainly don't drop Big bucks, and yet I've never felt taken for >granted there. I agree. I've eaten at Manny's once, several years ago, and it was excellent. Morton's (Dallas and San Antonio) is similar, and also my experience at both places was excellent.