Manzana Rotisserie and Grill

Just had dinner at Manzana's and I have to say I wasn't impressed. Our waitress was sweet as can be and when there was a problem with one of our dishes a manager stopped by to let us know it wouldn't be included on the bill and to personally apologize so the service gets a high grade. The food however was just ok. I ordered the pecan encrusted salmon and the waitress told me was a staff favorite. I was expecting an exciting flavor and it was very average. Nothing was particularly bad but I wont make the trek across the lake to eat there again. more

Usually, I stay away from big, flashy businesses and just send my money to small, independent business owners but there are times when I just have to try 'em out. A few months ago when I was still working in Bellevue I caught a screening of The Devil Wears Prada at Lincoln Square Mall and had an early dinner at the Manzana Grill (open since december '05). I wasn't given a menu by the hostess because I asked to be seated in the bar. I picked up the menu and realized it was Happy Hour. The bartender went to my table and I could almost see her being friendly, almost friendly, but not quite. I ordered a Bud, water and a Coke. The Happy Hour menu is very appealing and actually very cheap as well. You know how some places have Happy Hour but the prices are ridiculous and the portions are so teeny-weany? Not at Manzana, everything was delicious and the portions are price-appropriate. I ordered crab cakes, potato cakes and the southwestern salad. The crab sakes were huge! They were the size of saucers and for very little money. I think it was dungeness crab cakes and it was very scrumptious and meaty and just delicious. Next up, the potato cakes. Another winner, it was about the size of a Hockey puck and chockfilled with mozarella cheese and corn kernels. Very yummy but after the first patty I had to stop, it got too heavy in my stomach. By far the best one of my Happy Hour apps was the southwestern salad.Quite unexpectedly too! The salad had the usua greens, black beans, corn kernels, multi-colored tortilla strips and cilantro-lime dressing. It was very light which was the perfect accompaniment to the heavy crab and potato cakes. I think my tab was less than $15 because of all the drinks I ordered but the food was so yummy I could not wait to go back! Oh and I did go back for my birthday brunch and i gotta say, they won me and my 2 friends over, hands down! I ordered the spinach, mushroom, mozarella omelette which was amazing but the best part is the sliced baby reds hashbrowns. I've never had baby reds hashbrowns before and it was so tasty. My friend enjoyed her Southwestern omelette which had chorizo sausages and a tomato-based sauce. Lovely happy hour, lovely brunch. You gotta try them out. more