"As soon as you walk in, you're hit by that musty smell reminiscent of a cheap hotel room—in this case, with a loud air conditioner cranking away while the humidity hangs in the air. We were seated right away next to a large group that hadn't made a reservation, and our server, clearly overwhelmed, greeted us brusquely while juggling what seemed like thirty other tables. Despite the speedy service, which was somewhat impressive, the rest of the experience overshadowed that aspect.
Let me put it this way: if you’re the kind of person who enjoys gathering a large group of friends for dinner without wanting to make a reservation, this might just be the place for you. If you like receiving a mountain of mediocre food delivered to your table on a three-tiered plastic cart, which strangely reminds me of how cleaning supplies are transported in that cheap hotel I mentioned, you might be intrigued. And if you want to dine somewhere that has inexplicably lasted for 40 years past its prime, then this could be your spot.
However, if this were the only Tex-Mex joint in town, I could overlook some of its flaws. But come on, this is Kansas City—we have some of the finest Tex-Mex around. The city is brimming with outstanding Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants, and there are so many better options that I can't even begin to name them all. Do yourself a favor and choose a more worthwhile restaurant than Manny’s.
Oh, and I almost forgot the cherry on top: that large group sitting near us? They asked for separate checks, and one person ended up dining and dashing. The server was frantically looking for the check. I can’t believe the owners allow such situations to happen. They could at least enforce a single check policy or add an auto-gratuity to protect their servers.
So do yourself a favor and find one of the many fantastic Tex-Mex spots in Kansas City. (And just a tip: Margaritas and Ponaks are not the answer.)"
