Manny's in Elmhurst aims for neighborhood feel
After years of working at beer-focused chain Yard House's Glenview location, Kleomenis Papadatos decided he wanted to use the knowledge he'd gained there to open his own neighborhood bar. He partnered with his father to open Manny's Ale House at 683 W. St. Charles Road in Elmhurst in August. And the two are still trying to shape the concept based on customer feedback.
Motif: There are plenty of TV sets tuned to sports around the large central bar. The dining room features low wooden tables, a pair of TVs, a fish tank on one side and a cosmetic fireplace on the other. Beer signs are common throughout the space.
A backroom used for private parties including birthday parties and rehearsal dinners features a couch and projector screen along with bowling and golf video games, though the owners haven't decided if they want to get rid of the games or expand on them by adding bags and darts.
Food: We were disappointed with the steak sliders, which were tough and not helped by the largely flavorless sauce. We did, however, enjoy the pairing of the sweet and crispy onion strings, which are available as their own appetizer. The curly potato wedges also make a tasty side. For something lighter, try the Southwest salad, a bed of iceberg lettuce piled with avocado, black beans, diced tomatoes and red onion served with a pleasantly spicy ranch dressing.
The owners plan to expand the menu and add daily entree specials, with the goal of having something for everyone, including kids.
Liquid consumption: The drink menu boasts plenty of craft and seasonal beers from local breweries including Ale Syndicate, Destihl Brewing and Two Brothers Brewing Company available on draft or by the bottle. Kleomenis studied beverage management at Chicago's Kendall College and he's always talking to local brewers and his own customers to shape the beer selection. He plans to showcase Christmas ales along with porters and stouts on the winter menu.
Crowd: The spot draws a mix of college students, families and seniors for both dinner and sports watching.
Music: Manny's is currently experimenting with having music on Saturday evenings and the owners are also considering adding karaoke.
Service: Our server was friendly and happy to make recommendations but she took a while between check-ins and was hard to flag down.
Parking: The bar's free lot is tight on space so we wound up parking next door.
Overall: Manny's is trying to provide a place that locals can really call their own.
Manny's Ale House
683 W. St. Charles Road, Elmhurst, (630) 617-8700, <a href="http://mannysalehouse.com">mannysalehouse.com</a>
<b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday