We go to Manning's for Sunday lunch. We don't go often; we don't live any where near Clayton. That should tell you enough about why we go to Clayton and where it is we're going when we go. The food is never not good; the service is never not good, and on this unusually warm late November day we sat on the rooftop for the first time. Lovely. We'll be back. Don't know when. But we will. read more

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Stopped in for a meal with friends while in town. We were warmly greeted walking in and seated within the same moment. A large eatery with high ceilings and several seating areas. Our server came by and dropped off menus and took our drink requests. After giving the menu a go over and our drinks returning. We started with the Spinach Artichoke dip, served warm its a cheesy flavorful appetizer and the Fried Green Tomatoes, lightly fried golden brown with a bed of greens and a dipping sauce. I went for the Shrimp and Grits for my entree. A good choice, a nice serving of tender shrimp on top of creamy grits and a rich brown gravy. A tasty meal. 4 Stars All in all, a good choice for a meal. Friendly service and good food. 01204 read more

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Stopped in for dinner with my wife the other evening. Place wasn't crowded. Young girl at front door went to seat us at probably the worst table in the place because it was in the center of walkways to kitchen, bar, restrooms and main seating area. I asked if we could have a small table off to the side but she curtly responded that we have reservations. I didn't want to make a scene and ask for manager but I watched other seating as we ate. Those tables I preferred weren't taken. The food here is just okay and the ambience itself is definitely showing its age and is in desperate need of a big facelift. I probably won't be going back anytime soon. read more

Mannings is always consistent and really good. They always have a dinner special and soup. They have really great house made dressings. The chicken livers and egg rolls are good appetizers. We have never had a disappointing meal there. They have a good bar service, rooftop dining in season and really good bug salad's. read more

Came for dinner as a party of 3 around dinner time Saturday. My wife made a reservation with a specific seating area and they were happy to oblige. The house Margaritas are delicious and large. My MIL got a glass of Chardonnay. For entrees I got the Hanna's Chicken, my wife a full rack of ribs, and MIL the Pork Loin. We put them through the wringer switching and swapping out sides and our waitress smiled the entire time. As always, the food was awesome and we had a great time. Always a great experience at Mannings! read more

Manning's Restaurant - Dining Room and Bar - American Near Me - Clayton, North Carolina

Parking on the street was a little tight. Did not seea any other. Had a reservation for a Sunday night which was good as it was busy. Was seated after about 10 minutes on the second floor. Our server, Libby, was with us quickly offering water and a drink menu. Libby appeared to be working several tables efficiently. Libby circled around and took our drink and food order. Our order arrived in good time. We ordered Luigi's Linguini with Mahi and Shrimp and Grits. Both came out with good presentation. The Shrimp and Grits portion could have been a little larger but taste good where as the Linguini portion was nice and taste good. Would return to try different menu items. read more

Been here a handful of times. Mixed experience. Ribeye egg rolls and pimento cheese bruschetta are good. Shrimp and grits, pork tenderloin (with apples) are good. Burgers are okay. Baby back ribs okay (sauce has a beer taste). Sides are awfully bland. Restaurant is really loud. Took a long time to get mains. read more

Great tasty food. Good staff and reasonable prices. A go to place for us. Hate it when they make you say more.

Visited with my family of 6 for my birthday. Parking is nearby, but I could see it filling up fast on holidays. My wife had made reservations and we were seated promptly. The dining area is much larger than at first glance. We sat inside upstairs. The vibe is traditional old southern. The service was fine, nothing special, but did the job. The food looked good and portions were adequate. Unfortunately, I had a hair in my sour cream. They apologized and responded quickly, but offered no accommodations. I wasn't able to eat my birthday dinner after that. My 14oz Ribeye did not get eaten. My family thought highly of their meals though. I received a free dessert for my birthday which was a nice gesture. After tax and auto-gratuity the tab was over $230. Being that we just moved into the area, we would probably return again, but hopeful without hair in the food. read more

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Good low country seafood and other standard restaurant fare. Sit upstairs on the balcony if the weather is nice. Only downside is parking on main street in clayton read more

There seems to never be a dull moment nor a quiet table at Manning's.... Maybe it was the after effect the holidays, but based on previous visits, I think not! The never-ending hustle and bustle of incoming and outgoing patrons unfortunately gives this upscale restaurant more of Costco feel rather than that fine dining experience. With an overall environment that is chaotic as it is, the front of house staff constantly move with purpose and urgency despite some apparent overall disorder. There also seemed to be a culinary traffic jam in the kitchen, thankfully the front house staff attended to quality control of my entree, unfortunately the extended wait time to correct it left me to eat alone. At least the chicken and waffles didn't let me down. Several visits to Manning's with the same overall feel: A chaotic restaurant environment, a whirlwind of sights, sounds, and sensations, each vying for attention in a cacophony of activity. An unorganized restaurant kitchen where the chaos, inefficiency, and frustration only compounds on the pressure up front. If you're looking for something more intimate and quiet, there is far to much energy for that here. Cheers! read more

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Lunch at Mannings today with our granddaughter. The Rib Eye Egg Rolls are one of my favorites and are outstanding, coupled with Mannings Signature Salad with Grilled Chicken just can't be beat. The service was absolutely outstanding. Refill drinks came to the table before my glass was empty. The acoustics are a little to be desired especially when it gets a little crowded. But, everything else just outweighs that. If you don't want to pay a 3% credit card fee, bring cash. This is a great place to eat. read more

My salad was delicious and I really enjoyed the excellent service we received from our server. I was thankful to have a reservation, as it seemed people were really waiting a long time to get seated without one. read more

A must-try if you are in Clayton! One of my favorite places. I go at least once a month. Located in the heart of downtown Clayton on Main Street, this is a Clayton staple. There is plenty of street parking and parking lots all around so parking has never been an issue for me. There's a full bar and even rooftop seating. There's also private rooms if you would like to host an event. I've always had great service and every single item I've ordered has been delicious! I truly can't even pick a favorite dish because everything is so good. My dad is a very particular person when it comes to food and he LOVES Manning's. My parents recently moved here and my dad gets food from here problem twice a month AT LEAST! The drinks are also good! Highly recommend coming to Manning's for good a reasonably priced food and a great dining experience! read more

Busy and clearly a local favorite. We didn't have a reservation but got a table after a short wait. Steak dinners with potato and salad were solid for the price (not a steakhouse, but good). Service was friendly and quick despite the crowd. The rooftop is a popular feature, though we didn't dine there this time. read more

I read the reviews prior to going in. A lot of negativity. But everyone's experience and tastes are different. I sat at the bar and the bartender was very friendly, served a good drink! For a Sunday afternoon the ambiance was relaxed, not too loud. I didn't have my air pods with me so I had to listen to phone openly. I kept it as low as possible and I could hear it and no one complained. So that was good! I ordered the apps of scallops and the mushrooms. As you can see from the pictures, very generous portions for apps. The plating was nice, the food was hot, perfectly cooked and seasoned. So for my experience, I give this place a 5. I will definitely go again. If reviews are saying it's declining, I would love to experience even better than what I did because I thought it was delicious! read more

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Honestly, better than expected. Service was on top of it. He swiftly took care of our group of 7. I ordered the Pesto Primavera and enjoyed it. It was full of veggies, but I noticed it didn't have what was listed on the menu. Instead of carrots, it had red bellpepper plus zucchini. I think I liked it more with this veggie mix. The restaurant atmosphere is homey and somewhat divey bar feeling, and I think that's what surprised me to have pretty good food. Looks are deceiving. read more

Manning's Restaurant - Close up Pesto Primavera sprinkled with parmesan and parsley flecks - American Near Me - Clayton, North Carolina

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Just wanted to pop on and 'update' my review specifically to give a shout out to Angela. Angela was our server this afternoon and was fantastic! Very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. The food was great, as always. My husband had the drunken chicken sandwich, I had the chicken bacon avocado sandwich and we couldn't leave without a delicious apple tart. read more

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Unfortunately, Mannings has been going downhill over the past couple years. We come here often and have seen the decline. The crabcakes are a complete joke and I'm only giving it 3 stars because the grouper was actually good. That's where anything positive ended, because the ribs were basically beef jerky and my baked potato was severely undercooked.. The service was good until we got our entrées, and then they were nowhere to be found. We had to hunt someone down to pay our bill. At this point, I think we are done with Mannings and we will no longer buy their gift cards. read more

I decided to venture out for dinner. The restaurant was clean and decently lit. I ordered the fresh catch of the day. The entree was Cajun filet Red Snapper, shrimp, mash potatoes and zucchini and spinach. This entree was everything and all things deliciousness in every bite. I wanted to savor this taste, so I took my leftovers home. The service was great. I look forward to coming back again. read more

Manning's Restaurant - American Near Me - Clayton, North Carolina

Great southern food. Everything was absolutely delicious and staff were very nice and friendly. Enjoyed the salmon blt especially.

Every time I come to Mannings, it's even better than the last! The food is amazing, the service is warm and welcoming and the place is just cozy and great to be in. We went to dinner early and the food was top notch. Vicky was our waitress and she was a gem!! So sweet, made sure our glasses were never empty. The staff were quick to get the finished plates off the table. Dinner came out quick, but we never felt rush. One of my favorite spots in Clayton. read more

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This is the second time that we made a reservation and something ridiculous happened. My parents were going to be in town from VA on Memorial Day weekend. I knew this ahead of time so I called on May 21 to make a reservation for Saturday May 23. A man answered the phone, took my reservation, confirmed we wanted to eat upstairs. He even called me back because he realized we hadn't confirmed how many people should be on the reservation! Saturday, May 23 comes and my parents beat us to Manning's. My mom calls me and says they don't have our reservation. I called the hostess stand who said they had no reservation under our name or phone number. This made absolutely no sense because I received the reservation confirmation text the day I called. Needless to say, we ate up the street at Vinson's. read more

This was a date night spot for us and the suggestion was a job well done; many kudos to the restaurant and our waitress, Angela. When you first walk in, you're greeted promptly by your hostess. They have a small bar area, so it can be a bit packed in that area depending on the night. It was a small space in my opinion, but it was welcoming. I prefer a smaller eatery, than large. Crab Cake Sandwich: Whenever I see crab cakes on the menu, I play the guessing game. To cut back on the cost, some places will use more bread crumbs and less crab. Ordering crab cakes is like the box of chocolates Forest Gump told us about; you never know what you're going to get. I gave Angela, our waitress, three options and asked what she suggested. Number one, the crab cake! The crab cake was full of crab and was seasoned very well, I was a happy camper. It is something I'd get over and over, but that's after I try some of the other things on their menu. How do you review a side salad? Well, I can say, I LOVED the fact they piled on the purple onions, I can't eat enough of those. For me, the Mojito fell flat and I don't think I'd get it again. Overall, I love this little place and can't wait to head back. read more

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I really wanted to enjoy my experience here, but unfortunately it fell short in several ways. Our server messed up our order, and to top it off, they had run out of short ribs. Not the end of the world, especially since they offered us filet mignon at the same price, which we appreciated. However, the food arrived cold, and the vegetables were extremely undercooked and honestly pretty awful. The whole atmosphere felt dysfunctional. At one point, the manager was loudly throwing chairs around to get a table set up. You could tell she was frustrated that someone else hadn't done their job, but watching that unfold while we were trying to eat definitely did not make for a pleasant experience--especially being seated right next to it. Overall, between the service issues, the cold food, and the chaotic vibe, this Birthday Celebration was extremely disappointing. read more

I have been coming here for three years. It was one of my favorite restaurants. Times have definitely changed. My recent experience has caused me to never visit here again. We were a party or 6. The server was informed of any allergies. The crucial allergy is Swiss chard. The server made it known she made the kitchen aware. Cross contamination could cause a severe allergic reaction. Our appetizers were delivered and Swiss chard was on the plate. We reminded them of the allergy. They brought it back into the kitchen and within five minutes returned again with the same food stating it was all made over again. Sadly there was still a piece of Swiss chard underneath the steak egg roll. We brought it to the attention of the staff. At this point we are very upset. I requested a manager. Gilbert was the acting manager st the time. He is a great guy and bartender. He was definitely trying to console us, apologized profusely, asked how he could make it right, and offered to have everything made again. Unfortunately at this point the kitchen and wait staff has lost my trust. The master time I digested food that was touched by the same glove as Swiss chard, I spent the evening in the emergency room. I asked who was listed as the Serv Safe stade that was in charge of the kitchen. The only certificate on the wall is Howard the manager. We'll, Howard was not in the building or working that day. A restaurant should not be operating without the serv safe person that is listed in the building. There is nobody to monitor the food safety. This situation could have caused me a serious medical incident. This restaurant should not still be operating. It is with great negligence to just remove an item that someone is allergic to from a plate and not change your gloves, change the plate, and remake the item. They are toying with peoples lives and they don't seem to care. I lost all respect for Howard and the way he is running his establishment. My life is very important to me and my loved ones. I expect proper protocol to be followed when I am out to eat. One star is too high of a rating. read more

Prompt and friendly service. Also very helpful and nice at the hostess station. Food was fresh with house made sauces. Delicious prime rib egg rolls. Best plate was the. Fried green tomatoes almost a tempura batter and so light. The sauce with it was amazing. read more

We went at about 4pm on a Saturday and were seated right away. The bar was a little busy but our table allowed for us to hear each other over the noise. Our server was prompt friendly and helpful. We ordered the Clayton Classic burger and the crab dip. The food was on point and arrived in good time. Every time we visit Mannings - they are consistent in food preparation and service. read more

This restaurant was located in town in an area where there was free street parking in front of the restaurant when I arrived. There is a bar at this restaurant and a private room that can be used. We came here for a late lunch during the week & was able to be seated right away. When the hostess seated me she used the menu to get some crumbs of the table before seating me. When she walked away I noticed more crumbs on the table & booth seat. I asked my server to wipe the table off and she did and also stated that the hostess probably didn't see it without me even mentioning anything about the hostess. The server was pleasant & told us the daily specials. They offer a variety of foods such as burgers, seafood, salads, and desserts. I ended up ordering the crab cake appetizer and the spinach salad. The crab cakes were served with a fried green tomato, corn relish, & a remoulade. The salad had apples, goat cheese, bacon, pecans, cranberries and was served with a balsamic vinaigrette. Protein can be added to the salad for an additional charge. Both items were good. I really enjoyed the salad. read more

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The egg rolls are perfection, the salads, again, great, the bar was lively and had great cocktails, we came in at 5:45 on Friday night and were immediately seated, the server was great, it's a bit loud, but lively and enjoyable. The salmon is excellent, the special sea bass was extraordinary. I hate that I live 5 hours away!!! read more

Manning's Restaurant - Sea bass Florentine - American Near Me - Clayton, North Carolina

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Great Atmosphere, ambiance, service and the food was excellent! My 3rd visit to restaurant - I'll be back! Steve Tart, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL read more

Mannings is great!!! Lively fun atmosphere- always hopping!!! We look forward to our return!

Amazing experience and it was on my must try list. Clayton holds many memories for me and it was home for many years so this dining experience was shared with perfect person my bestie George. We just jumped in truck with no plans and landed at Mannings. Once seated upstairs I quickly had to get pictures of the gorgeous antique furniture and rooftop before the place got full. The menu is extensive and offers numerous delights for meat lovers or vegans. read more

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Absolutely love Manning's! My family came Here for a nice holiday time dinner and the ambience was great! Food was exceptional everyone had something different the chicken and waffles are to die for! The goat cheese spinach salad yum!! The brisket burger holy moly burger coma! You have to try this place if you're local to Clayton or looking to check out the cute downtown area. read more

Great service, great food! We came here Saturday evening after our grandnieces' recital, and this place was hopping. We had two reservations for our family of 25. The server was absolutely fantastic. She got all of our orders correct and was so very attentive. The food was delicious and tasty. This place knows how to serve small and extra large parties....and the ambiance is great. We had the crab dip and scallop appetizers, plus many various entrees. All were served timely and perfectly! read more

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Never had a bad experience and the food is amazing definitely do try! We don't go here too often because we're on a fixed income, and the prices are not bad, but just a little bit pricey for us on a regular basis. But this is our go to for special occasions which we dream of as often as we are craving this restaurant. read more

Have been to Manning's twice now. The first time was takeout and second was in person. They always seem to be busy so I would expect a little bit of a wait at dinner time. Our server Vicki was so friendly and proactive in getting us extra sauces and refills. I highly recommend the Ribeye Eggrolls and the Drunken chicken. The fries are also delicious and perfectly seasoned. read more

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Tried to use a gift card we were given to get a to go order, online ordering wouldn't accept it. Tried calling, on hold for over 10 minutes in a queue, only to get an answering machine. Called back, and after ANOTHER 8+ minutes, the person hung up on me when I was trying to give her my order. If it wasn't for the fact we are moving out of state later this week, I would have given up. Drove 15 minutes to the restaurant, walked in, no one waiting for a table(why was the wait on the phone so long?) Placed my order, now waiting to get it.. This isn't our first time patronizing this establishment, and while it's "ok", I certainly think they can do better... especially their phone service. Reservations are necessary for dine in, but I do NOT recommend trying to call for takeout. Extremely frustrating experience. read more

Very yummy! Definitely recommend the steak egg rolls. My picky husband even liked it. He got the ribs. I hit the drunken chicken kids hit crab cake and a burger. read more

I used to work at Mannings when I was 16 years old, This was my first job and I was very excited, Jennifer Manning was the worst boss I have ever had. I want every parent and young girl to know never to work in this business. I was being sexually harassed by one of the chefs and Jennifer told me the only reason he was fired was so my parents would not sue them, and if I was 18 at the time she would have done nothing. She often told other coworkers I was annoying and asked too many questions, even though I was only 16(I just turned 16 at the time). I am not the only young person she has done this too. I would come home every night crying to my parents, when I quit my mother sent her an email which Jennifer never responded. I have never met a woman more awful than Jennifer Manning in my entire life. read more