Manuel’s Tavern

I like the food, for the most part… The lasagna, cheesesteak, french dip, chili, burgers, and chicken fingers have all been good. The side salad is a pretty healthy portion of greens, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc… The veggie burger needed more firmness and flavor — not very good… Great place for meeting a group, because you can actually hear each other talk. Brian, Bobby, Michelle, Carol Anne, and others who’s names escape me have always provided great service. Can’t wait for the reopen, and hope to see most, if not all, of the same faces.

I love this place. It is great for getting together with a group, watching a game, Sunday brunch… just a great neighborhood spot that we have loved visiting. Love how easy it is to walk to. Love how easy parking is. Love how great the staff is… and how delicious and consistent the food is. I am sad it is closing and changing but hoping it will still be the same place we have always loved.

Manuel’s Tavern is a true iconic bar. Opened in 1956, the bar/​restaurant is almost as much a museum or time capsule as it is a bar. Loyal patrons have brought signs, photos, memorabilia, and even a stuffed gopher creating an eclectic décor. It is well worn and has somewhat of a dive bar feel, but I hate to lay a dive bar label on this place. Manuel’s décor is the real thing that newer bars try to imitate by going to yard sales and antique shops. The tavern encompasses four different rooms and just feels like it goes on forever. The space alone is reason to visit Manuel’s.
But they also have an extensive beer list and good food which is another reason to come in. Many craft beers on draft as well as an extensive selection of beers in bottles. The food is really good for bar food. Appetizers including nachos and wings as well as Sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, and comfort foods (meatloaf) provide something for everyone. Lots of tv’s around to watch sports.
Manuel’s is closing toward the end of December for renovating. My understanding is that the positions of the photographs and other memorabilia are painstakingly being photographed so they can be put back in place after the renovation. I’m looking forward to a return visit after the renovations.

I actually knew the actual Manuel. His beautiful and sweet daughters went to my high school. I’ve been going there since I was too young to go there, and remember slipping into the bathroom when it was ID check time. It is awesome that they do so much to engage people, offering free meeting spaces.
Three stars instead of my more frequent gushing choice of stars is because the food is not as good as it could be. My group met there. I had lobbied for a vegetarian option. They gave us veggie mini quiches. They did not make me happy, because they were dry and sad. The mustard sauce for the chicken tenders helped a little. I went there another time and enjoyed the authentic yet wholesome dive ambience. But I did not enjoy my veggie burger and fries very much. It was OK, but not great. And those things can be great.
So maybe after the remodel they will also perk up their food? I will always go there, just as a native supporting a native establishment.

I love the lore and history of the place. This was my first time here in at least a decade. Got the Kobe-​style burger and enjoyed it, but felt it was pricey for the size. The service was awful though. After getting our orders our server disappeared entirely. Never checked on us, etc. We ended up flagging down another server to get refills, to go boxes and checks. He said our server had been moved to handle a larger party and our table had «fallen off the map.» Nice, right? This was 2 pm on a Sunday, post brunch, so they weren’t exactly busy. Needless to say the tips left reflected the bad service. In short, I wouldn’t hurry back.

Stopped in here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. Overall, the service was good but it took forever for our food to come out. The food was good though. I had the wings which were really flavorful and huge! I definitely would come back just for the wings. My son had blueberry pancakes and he was ecstatic because they were huge and full of blueberries! My other sons both had chicken tenders which were standard. My husband had the chicken nachos which also was a huge portion and very good. Neither of us could finish and took our food to go! We definitely will return if only for the wings. :)

Manuel’s may be a cool bar with numerous maze-​like rooms and it’s own parking lot, but definitely skip the food. I had high expectations going in because I’d seen good reviews, but I’m betting that people were more referring to the bar, itself. The service was average. The atmosphere is kind of bright and, like I said, confusing with all the rooms. If they are going to set it up more like a restaurant, at least do a good job with the food! But I digress…
Nothing was seasoned or flavored in any way. I ordered the tuna steak which came with yellow rice and I chose broccoli as the other side. A pretty healthy dinner, but bland as hell. The tuna steak had a dollop of mango salsa on it, but the steak, itself had not been marinated or seasoned in any way. There wasn’t enough salsa to dress it up, so bleh. The yellow rice was okay, but I had to add salt and pepper and a little hot sauce to give it flavor. The broccoli had simply been steamed and served to me. Ugh. I don’t understand what’s going on here. Did they send a bartender back there to make the food or do they have a real chef? Hopefully the bar staples are better; nachos, burgers, stuff like that because that’s the only food I might attempt again. Plus, it’s kind of overpriced = a winning combo. :/

We had quesadillas and tater tots. Good food! Cozy atmosphere. The vibe is casual yet full of history. It’s a tee shirt, shorts and sneakers type of neighborhood treasure. A bonus: ample parking!

I came here a few weeks ago for something a group called The Seedling Project was putting on. It was a bunch of people creating live theater with just a week to prepare, and at the end of each week, the top groups continued on for another week, and the two lowest groups had a chance to create a whole new short. Each play was between 5 – 10 minutes, and there were 5 groups, I believe.
We were stationed off in the back room, where there was also a bar, albeit a smaller one. I got food the last few times I was there, always a burger, and their burgers are pretty decent. Since the show was free, and I was just paying the $ 10 for food, it was a most excellent deal. I tried the Kobe style burger the first time (around $ 13), which is a monster of a burger at 10 ounces, smothered in spices, on a challah roll. The second time I ate here, I opted out for just the regular Manuel’s Burger which is just ¹⁄₃ pound burger on a Kaiser roll for around $ 7. French fries also come with the burgers, and they were the thicker, steak cut fries; very delicious.
It’s not like service was top notch here because it was super busy and there were just two people behind the bar, but they give you a huge glass of water which was sufficient for me. I imagine it’s a different type of place to hang out when something isn’t taking up the back room.
PROS:
–Love that they support the local community. A lot of things go on here, with all sorts of groups.
–Free parking lot.
–Food is decent here, and the fries are delish.
–They give you a huge glass of water.
–Friendly staff.
–Cool, sort of hip atmosphere.
CONS:
–They had two parking lots, a main one, and an overflow lot. Despite that, there was very limited parking.
–Typical bar-​type bathrooms. Two or three stalls, and honestly disgusting.
THE VERDICT:
This place is just cool. I love that sure, they are a bar/​restaurant that serves decent food, but they also support the local community, which I really really like. People seem to having meetings, seminars, and other get-​togethers here. The Atlanta Science Tavern hosts discussions here, and I’m sure other groups do as well. For around $ 8 you can get a decent burger, grab a beer, and just hang out.

This is a go to spot for us. Manuel’s if full of political and Atlanta history. It has seen it’s share of Presidents stopping by.
The food is very consistent. I was craving Brunswick Stew so we stopped by. A bowl of the stew with a grilled cheese was perfect for a chilly, rainy, day. My husband had the club sandwich which he really enjoyed.
Don’t miss the chance to eat in and experience Manuel’s before they change it to keep up with the new development.

Cool spot. It’s as if time stood still in this tavern. Eclectic. Great selection for craft beers and good food.

I. Just. Don’t. Get. It. Literally, it’s a standard bar, average drinks, average service, a little pricey, in fact. Cool memorabilia of American politics covered in 3 inches of dust for décor. By far, the most interesting part of the few times I’ve been.
There. That’s all there is. I don’t hate it. I don’t love it. It’s just… there.

You can find Manuel’s Tavern at the corner of North Ave and N Highland Ave NE. This is a largish building with large ad murals of Manuel’s and Coca-​Cola painted on the side (recreations of original murals). Parking can be found behind the building or in the lot across North Ave.
I had a chance to visit Manuel’s Tavern several nights ago — first time in a few years. A bit auspicious as I’ve heard the building is being remodeled to make adjustments to conform to the new housing development soon to occupy the adjacent parking lots. I used to live a bit further South on N Highland Ave near Elisabeth St, so Manuel’s was an old favorite and regular hangout for me.
Manuel’s was opened in 1956 by Manuel Maloof transforming the previous Harry’s Delicatessen into an Atlanta institution. Manuel’s had more of the charm and character exemplified in the old sitcom «Cheers» than any any bar I’ve ever visited, with regulars that appear as if by magic once the sun went down to sit at the bar or attend one of the many meetings that Manuel’s fully supported. You’ll find the likes of Atlanta Science Tavern and various political organizations calling Manuel’s home over the years. I’ve seen many arguments start, continue or finish there while watchers-​on enjoy a pint of bitters and the abundant bar fare.
Besides the rambling interior spaces, the menu is fairly straightforward (although there are two different versions that I’ve seen and photographed for your enjoyment below). Manuel’s is first and foremost a bar so the food fulfills the promise of your best of bars — burgers, sandwiches, and a great hot dog which all can come accompanied by fries or other fried sundries. This isn’t your basic weight-​watcher food so don’t come here expecting to eat a salad (well, you might intend to eat a salad, but once you smell and see this stuff you’ll probably loose your resolve and succumb to the inevitable).
This most recent night I forewent my usual hot dog or wings and went for the J.J.‘s Special. This is a½ lb Angus burger on grilled wheat toasted bread with sauteed onions. It also comes with both Swiss and American cheese and of course both fries and onion rings (I sometimes call it the heart-​attack special). It’s delicious and not your typical burger.
I also enjoyed a nice pint of Bell’s Two Hearted IPA which Manuel’s fortunately provides on tap. This is a delicious IPA and one of my favorite to find «loose» and not restrained by the confines of a bottle.
Other items I recommend: the chile cheese fries, the nachos, the wings, any of burgers, the chicken sandwich, the club, the house pork chops, and the hot dogs if you’re a fan (I am!).
The service was fantastic — our party had about 20 people and we were all served quietly (there was a meeting going of after all) and efficiently — it’s always top notch here whether you’re seated at the bar (my favorite) or at a table or booth. I spent slightly less than $ 20 with the tip.
(longer review also posted to my food blog)

Allow me to become the thousandth person to point out that Manuel’s Tavern is an Atlanta institution. Established in 1956 when Manuel himself decided to turn the existing sandwich and beer joint into a neighborhood bar like those he’d experienced while stationed in Europe during WWII, the place affectionately known to regular’s like myself as ‘Manny’s’ is still a terrific place to get a beer. However, your food options now include much more than sandwiches. You’ll find most standard bar/​tavern fare here, and it’s all perfectly good at reasonable prices. There’s also a warm sense of community here. You may not be interacting with your fellow patrons, but everyone is so gosh-​darn nice.
I make it a point to get to Manny’s for team trivia on Sunday nights. This has given me the chance to try several dishes, as I don’t like to always get the same things. Nothing at Manuel’s has ever disappointed me — but nothing has ever blown me away, either. If I had to pick a favorite sandwich, I’d go with their corned beef reuben — it’s always perfectly gooey with lots of meat and cheese. The burgers don’t have a whole lot of taste, honestly but they’re definitely not *bad.* They just don’t stand out from any burger you’d get anywhere else.
The service is very friendly and usually prompt, the beer selection is more than adequate, and I absolutely love the atmosphere here. Everything is woods and dark, which really gives it the old-​time bar feel. I’ve never walked away from a meal at Manuel’s and regretted it!

I find myself going back here all the time for meetings and social events. I have long known that Manuel’s was known for political meetings and important gatherings in Atlanta. I finally helped make history when I came for the first Bernie Sander’s meeting in June. Look around at the walls for the other important icons Manuel’s has catered to.
I tried the Reuben. It was your basic Reuben and I love how they gave me the sauce on the side. I have never been a fan of that thousand island sauce though it goes well with Reubens, I like it sparingly. I really wanted to try the sweet potato tots but opted for the Black beans and rice instead. Their beans and rice are perfectly seasoned and moist.
I love that they offer many craft beers at cheap prices. They also offer a fine Bloody Mary if you come for weekend brunch.
I loved the Ghirardelli Brownie dessert with Vanilla Ice Cream. It was fudgy and gooey.

This spot is like a museum of Atlanta history. I stopped by during the day on a Monday. The place had a few customers that I could tell were regulars. I grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered a PBR on tap. Beer was fresh. I got 2 chili dogs wit mustard and onion to go. The food was ready in about 10 minutes and when I got home and popped open the lid I noticed beans in the chili. I usually don’t like beans in chili when it’s going on a dog but this place was different the chili was great and was not overwhelmed wit beans. The dogs and buns were grilled which added great flavor and texture to the dogs. I would definitely go back here! They were the perfect drunk food even tho I was sober…

Great bar, excellent food and friendly wait staff. Perfect place to meet a group of friends.

Currently, Manuel’s Tavern is a perfect example of «it’s what’s inside that counts.» The building and décor is so dirty, and so badly outdated; BUT the great news is that it’s being sold, and all newly redone to make it a (hopefully) beautiful new Manuel’s Tavern! It stinks of the past decades of cigarette smoke in here. If you’re in any way a germaphobe, I suggest that you keep your eyes down so that you don’t see all of the dust hanging from the AC vents above your table/​food.
Now the great things about this place?
No smoking allowed. Yes, some of us in Atlanta love eating in places that don’t allow smoke to be blown into our faces.
The history… obviously many many people love this place enough to keep it in business, and are regulars here.
The service… all of the employees who helped our table were amazingly nice, prompt, helpful, and just all around great!
The food! We were here as a party of two. We shared the chips with homemade jalapeño cheese dip, as our appetizer. The chips seem to have been brought in from elsewhere (I say that, because they were not warm/​hot, nor did they have any bit of oil from being freshly made), but they were good, and a nice thickness that stood up really well with the cheese sauce. The cheese dip was hot, and had a great kick to it!
I had the Southwestern Chicken Grill sandwich with fries. That sandwich is HUGE! I’ve never had so much chicken in a sandwich before. It was really really delicious. The chicken was really moist and flavourful, the bacon was perfectly crispy, and the avocado that topped it all off was perfect. I ended up not even finishing half of the sandwich. Sadly, I wasn’t too impressed with the fries. Even though I specifically ordered them hot and crispy, they were just warm, and not at all crispy. I brought them home to recook them just the way I like them.
My beau had the French Dip sandwich with fries. He really liked his fries sandwich a lot. His only two critiques were that he would have liked cheese on the sandwich. (I reminded him that French Dip sandwiches don’t usually come with cheese on them, but that he could request that they add some one next time.) His second critique was that he would have liked a hotter horseradish sauce to schmear on his sandwich, rather than the mayo-​d down horseradish sauce that they make here.
(We might have to bring our own next time.)
The sweet tea here is great, and they serve it in huge cups. This is a great thing on hot days!
Overall, we had a great experience here & look forward to coming back. We really can’t wait to see what the future renovations of this Atlanta institution bring!

Cool place for a Sunday brew or two. I’ve long known that this is an Atlanta institution, but having lived in Lake Claire for nearly two years now, an out of town friend and I popped in for some suds. The experience? Great! A thumbs up. We pulled up to the bar on a couple of stools and had a good time. I like the vibe in this place, lots of wood all over the place, booths suited for two, three, or four behind the bar, and what looked to be a lot of dining space in addition. I feared that the place would be swarming with hipsters, but I found the mix of people to be quite broad, and I felt right at home. The service was great, the glasses clean, the beer fresh and tasty. We had some Blue Moons on tap, and how can you go wrong with that? I’ll have to return sometime to check out the fare.

I love this place. It has a really laid back feel and I got some super cool sandwich with nutella on it… who doesn’t like nutella?
My dad had his 50^th birthday here and reserved a room with a bar and everything. He ended up having around 100 people show and there was plenty of room for everyone and a band. We had an awesome time and the manager and the entire staff was so helpful and friendly.

It pains me to give an institution like Manny’s only 3 stars. I hadn’t been in years, but last night was all around just ordinary.
Food — nachos, French fries, Brunswick stew. Meh. We all ate our food, but no one loved their food. When going out to eat is supposed to be a treat, MEH is a disappointment.
Service — speedy once order was taken, non-​existent after. We bussed our own table after getting sick of staring at the dirty dishes.
Atmosphere — fun and casual, but the chairs? Sweet Jesus on a Stick! My ass hurt after an hour, and my friend’s back hurt.
They of course have a great beer list, but two we ordered were out. The server had to do a lot of «I’ll check to see if we have that» for foods and beers, and then never returning. Argh.
I’d go back for an event but I probably would not choose it on my own, with so many other great bar food options within 2 miles. I’m sorry, Manuel’s.

Manuel’s Tavern is a neighborhood bar in Poncey-​Highland at the corner of North Ave. and N. Highland Ave. It’s caddy-​corner from Videodrome and across the street from Chevron and the original King of Pops stand location. Manuel’s is popular and is viewed by many locals as an Atlanta institution. It’s been around for a long time (since 1956).
The tavern’s long-​standing history is what gives the business most of its character and charm. The place is big with multiple rooms and bars. Some of the rooms are newer than others, though one can tell the place has been around a while. There’s plenty of seating at the bars, booths, and tables. There are numerous TVs, a small space with arcade cabinets, and free Wi-​Fi. The clientele is diverse and the atmosphere is laid back. Smoking inside is allowed. It’s easy to get comfortable here with the relaxed, friendly, and unpretentious vibe.
Manuel’s has about 30 beers on tap and 60 in the bottle. It’s a classic bar serving typical bar food — soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, wings, nachos, etc. They serve brunch on the weekends (Sat-​Sun, 9:30am-2:00pm) and the kitchen is open late, closing at 11:00pm-midnight most nights, ideal if you’re looking for a late night meal or snack. While many items are under $ 10, I’d expect to spend about $ 10 – 15 for a meal here.
Foods I’ve tried include:
Kobe Style Burger — 10 oz. American Kobe style beef blended with spices and grilled, served with lettuce, tomato, and onion on a challah roll
J.J. Special — ½ lb. burger on grilled wheat toast with onion, Swiss and American cheese, served with fries and onion rings
Meatloaf plate — slice of homemade meatloaf, tomato-​onion gravy, roll, mashed potatoes, collard greens
I’ve found the food to be generally mediocre.
I was disappointed in the Kobe Style Burger for a few reasons. The biggest reason is the meat didn’t taste very good. It was slightly dry, tough, and not flavorful. I’m not sure if I tasted any spices on the meat. The veggies were fresh, but the challah bread was smushed and didn’t do a good job of holding the burger together. Halfway through eating, the burger had already mostly fallen apart. The flat, soggy roll wasn’t appetizing.
I will say the beef patty was plenty big and the burger looked great when plated. However, looking at it is one thing and eating it is another. The price, $ 12.25, just adds to the disappointment. That’s a «gourmet» burger price for a burger that’s not very good. The Holeman & Finch burger ($ 12) and burgers at burger joints like The Vortex and Farm Burger, to name a few, are less expensive and significantly better.
The J.J. Special burger fared better. This burger is essentially a patty melt with toasted whole wheat bread, cheese, and onions. Unfortunately, the burger patty suffered a similar fate to the Kobe Style Burger above — just not very tasty. At least the cheese and onions alleviated some of the meat’s lack in flavor. The onion rings were good and the fries were OK. I like the long pickle wedges served with the burgers.
The meatloaf plate looked like a traditional Southern diner «meat and two» meal. A generous serving of meatloaf gravy was poured on top of the meatloaf. There was so much gravy that the meatloaf was completely hidden by the gravy. The gravy was runny and very «tomato-​ey.» Lots of tomatoes were used in the gravy and there were several easy-​to-​distinguish bits of tomato in the sauce. The sauce wasn’t like the more «normal,» thicker meatloaf sauces I prefer. It’s different. The sides (greens and mashed potatoes) were OK. Texas toast was supposed to come with the plate, but an ordinary roll was served instead.
Service is good. The staff is attentive and food orders come out from the kitchen in a reasonable amount of time, even during peak hours.
A great thing about Manuel’s Tavern is the parking. In a neighborhood where parking can come at a premium, Manuel’s has two free parking lots: one behind the tavern and one next door. The lots are large and there are many spaces. There are even spaces reserved for electric cars. If all the spaces are taken, park along Williams Mill Rd, the residential street that runs between the two lots. And, if you’re ever strapped for cash, there’s a Bank of America ATM located in one of the parking lots.

I used to go to Manuel’s 30 years ago, when I had a full scholarship to GTech… which lasted a scant year before they tossed my ass out. Back then, Manny’s was darker at night and… cheaper. It was a destination when I was damned near broke. Not so much any longer.
It’s not ridiculous, and it’s certainly not pretentious. Although they do have two dedicated electric car charging stations out back that cost something retarded… I goofed around with the touch screen on a station and can’t remember how much it cost to twirl up your dooshmobile, but it was at least 10x what home-​delivered electricity costs. So there’s that. Typical for all of the smug assholes in ATL.
On my recent visit, I had the lasagna (see pcicture). It was okay. Nothing special, but it wasn’t bad. The beers were cold. The bathroom was reasonably clean. No complaints, overall.
After one of trips to the head, I popped back out and stood there for maybe 10 minutes watching a (what looked like) septuagenarian man and lady playing a pinball machine. They were serious about it and were pretty good. Point being, there is a full spectrum of generations that frequent the place. They might have arrived in one of those electric dooshmobiles, but I doubt it… people that have had some experience in life and paid attention know that those conveyances are shams. They are fodder for ephtards that prefer form over substance.
Definitely an A-​OK (says Unilocal for three stars) place to linger and loiter. The food is okay and not Flip Burger-​crazy priced. The service is okay, but certainly not stellar. Lots of TVs, but all of them are small and difficult to see, if you are over 40. Comfy like old folks like me (and the pinball players) prefer. I could easily feature me going back to Manuel’s and having a great time among friends. It doesn’t seem like a place for solo folks, though.

Came here for dinner and drinks, could have gotten better wings on a walmart shelf. Got their classic ones with terry sauce, didn’t enjoy them at all. Way too sweet for my taste, but perhaps someone else would like them, so 2 stars is not because of that.
Our bartender looked like she was dreading every moment of her day and although she didn’t mess anything up, wasn’t that nice and gave off the presence vibe that could have been just as well filled by an empty space.
Jalapeño poppers were extremely hot (temperature wise, not spice) and the first bite was treacherous. A heads up would have been nice.