I have come to realize that planning any kind of get-together as adults is probably more difficult to plan than when we were kids. I am not sure if it was because mom and dad were better planners than we were or if we are just too socially awkward to give a straightforward 'yes,' 'no.' or 'maybe so.' So after countless texts, rescheduling, and overall confusion, my friends and I finally managed to secure a date for Trivia Night at The Manifest.
Since I was a bit early for Trivia Night, I waited outside for a bit for my friends to arrive. It just so happened that one of the guys who works at The Nighthawk happened to be having a smoke break outside, so we got to talking for a little bit too. Once my friends arrived, we all headed into The Manifest. I think prior to the pandemic, I only visited a handful of times whenever there were pub crawls since The Manifest was one of the bars that would participate in those events. I also vaguely remember The Manifest having more of a club vibe, so I was pleasantly surprised to see how nice the interior was.
The inside of The Manifest reminds me of a modern industrial type of New York City apartment with the exposed brick walls, concrete floors, and wood and metal tables and chairs. The lights are bright enough to provide customers ample navigation of the bar but dim enough to allow for a cozy setting. As you make your way towards the end of the bar, you come across a little atrium with exposed ceilings and lots of (real) plants as well as the bathrooms to the left and pool tables for those interested (not sure if this section is also considered The Manifest). For those visiting on Thursday nights for Trivia, you will also see a little booth in the back where Remy is prepping for the night's event.
Our group settled on some of the portable tables in the back near the booth but since we did not have enough space, we grabbed one of the other tables across from us. An important note for anyone coming here for Trivia, DO NOT TOUCH THE FIRST SILVER TABLE ON THE RIGHT as this is specifically reserved for these two cute little old ladies who are regulars. We accidentally made that mistake and felt horrible when Remy had explained to us our faux pas, so I am helping you all out so you do not feel like terrible human beings like we did lol.
Once we fixed our mistake, we then decided it was time for some much needed food and refreshment. My friend Mary K. recommended their paninis, bacon wrapped dates, and their meatball sandwiches. I decided to get a Prosciutto Ham and Gouda Cheese Panini and since I was not interested in any of their drink selections on the menu, asked the nice man at the bar what his recommendation would be for an alcoholic drink that would still allow me to drive home without being pulled over. I wish I could remember what the drink he made entailed but I know it had orange bitters and it was seriously one of the best drinks I've had in my life. The panini too was perfectly grilled with the meat and cheese being of good quality. The only minor complaint was that it was a bit salty and I wished there were fries instead of Furikake Agave Chips but that's just a personal preference. I would still recommend people to try it and I would not mind visiting again to try more of the menu. Trivia Night with Remy was also a blast. I am usually a pretty awkward person in public but I actually had no problems interacting with the other participants. But I am not surprised considering The Manifest and Remy were wonderful hosts to all the participants who came out that night.
Overall, I would highly recommend The Manifest if you happen to be in the Chinatown/Downtown area. The Manifest offers a comfortable pau hana spot with friends and coworkers and is also very affordable! When I got my bill, I had to triple check to make sure the bartender entered in all of my items. Plus, similarly to some of the other bars in the area (like The Nighthawk--I'm sorry, I just love them so much T_T), it is just a really comfortable hangout spot. Even if you are not much of a drinker, they also have coffee and non-alcoholic options, which I have heard are just as amazing. read more