Manny's Deli today was an absolute gem…read more
The funny part is, I had no intention of going there today.
Manny's has always been on my list, but this morning I was actually heading to Lou Mitchell's. I got there, saw the line, and immediately decided I didn't have that kind of patience in me . So I changed plans, headed over to Manny's, and somehow the place I wasn't even planning on visiting ended up being exactly where I was supposed to be.
I walked in having absolutely no idea what I was doing, and there was a woman standing there looking just as confused as I was. She looked at me and said, "This is my first time."
I laughed and said, "Mine too. Let's do it together."
And just like that, we were off.
I decided I wanted breakfast, so one of the guys pointed me back toward the first counter and told me, "He'll take care of your breakfast. If you want anything else, come back and see me."
Perfect.
I ordered scrambled eggs with corned beef hash, hash browns and toast, then worked my way down to the hot bar where I added some macaroni and cheese and a knish.
And THAT was the move.
Everything was really good, but the mac and cheese and the knish were the stars of the entire meal. Manny's is famous for the gigantic deli sandwiches, but after today, I'm convinced the real adventure is working your way through that hot bar. The sides are where it's at.
While I was waiting in line, one of the guys behind the counter noticed my Dave Matthews Band shirt and started talking music with me. He told me he liked Dave and that he was a huge Phil Collins fan.
I told him I'm a Phil Collins guy too, and we ended up having this completely random, genuine little conversation about music in the middle of a busy Chicago deli.
Before I left, I told him I was glad he shared that with me and hoped he had a great day. We laughed, said goodbye, and went about our lives.
And honestly, that little interaction was almost as good as the food.
That's what I loved about Manny's.
It didn't feel polished or manufactured. It felt like Chicago.
Great food. People actually talking to each other. A little confusion when you first walk in. A stranger becoming your temporary partner because neither of you knows what the hell you're doing. A random conversation about Dave Matthews and Phil Collins. And somehow, by the time you leave, you feel like you were part of the place for an hour.
I went looking for Lou Mitchell's today.
Instead, I accidentally found Manny's.
And I'm really glad I did.
Manny's, I'll be back.
Next time, though, I know exactly what I'm doing.