Manny's Deli and Cafeteria: No telling who you may rub elbows with
Published: Mar 18, 2009
Manny's Delicatessen and Cafeteria has been a Chicago institution since 1942. Although it is extremely casual — consider the word cafeteria — this is a place where everyday workers rub elbows with the city's high-powered politicos.
The draw is Manny's food. Known for their generous corned beef sandwiches (always lean and warm) paired with a potato pancake, they also serve everything from turkey legs to chop suey, burgers, chicken and salmon, as well as daily specials.
This is a cafeteria in the sense that you take a tray and move along the line, but the food is anything but standard cafeteria fare. Piping hot, fresh bins of daily specials such as chicken pot pie, stuffed cabbage, short ribs and lamb shank are dished out by a friendly staff.
The stuffed green peppers are well, stuffed, and they hint of interesting spices. If you're watching your diet, Manny's offers fresh entre salads such as chicken breast caeser as well as veggie burgers.
On the both hot and cold sandwich bar, popular choices are brisket or pastrami, pan-fried liver and onions and fresh mozzarella focaccia. For an easy-to-order balanced meal, try the President's Special, paying homage to what President Obama, a frequent diner, orders: corned beef sandwich, potato pancake and a slice of cherry pie. The cherry pie is good, but you might want to try the rice or bread pudding.
Manny's also serves wine and imported beers. Besides great food, the service and atmosphere are both genuine blue-collar Chicago, even though it is a stone's throw from the thriving Loop. There's one important thing to remember: If you're heading there for breakfast, lunch or dinner, go hungry — they don't skimp on portions.
- by Lori Rotenberk , Chicago Reporter for HelloMetro
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