Mannings Restaurant - Clayton, North Carolina

rob thomas

We recently had a family gathering at Manning's Restaurant in Clayton, NC, and it was my first time visiting. From the moment we arrived, the experience was delightful, and I am incredibly thankful for the excellent service provided by the wait staff. One of the most notable moments was when a member of the staff went above and beyond to assist my mother-in-law. She had some difficulty navigating the steps, and without hesitation, one of the waiters kindly escorted her, ensuring she got to her seat safely. That small act of kindness made a big impact on our experience, and we were all very grateful.

As for the food, it did not disappoint! The appetizers were absolutely on point, setting the tone for a fantastic meal. My brisket burger was cooked to perfection, juicy and flavorful, with just the right amount of tenderness. To top it all off, I ordered their lemonade, and it was one of the best I've had in a long time – refreshing and just the right amount of sweetness.

Manning's Restaurant is not just a place to eat but an experience. With great food and even better service, I highly recommend this spot for any occasion, whether it's a family gathering or just a casual night out. We will definitely be back!

Randy Parnell

Angela B was super friendly - the food was amazing with many layers of favors. The service was AAA they even gave me a to-go tea for the road.

I had the special with the crab cakes it was awesome. I like the spinach artichoke dip.

J W

A fantastic place in downtown Clayton. Sitting on the roof midday or in the evenings is a highlight. The gumbo is mildly spiced with shrimp, chicken, and sausage. The portobello mushrooms come with southern yellow grits. Not pictured but highly recommended are the ribeye steak eggrolls.

Wendy Perry

Never have I ever had anything but absolute delicious food (and service) here… and again today. My friend suggested 1/2 order of the Spinach Artichoke Dip (a plenty!) and Scallops appetizer (big, cooked perfectly and ab FAB!) and we added shaved ribeye egg rolls. Perfect trio for sharing and leftovers too (except the scallops). Those who already enjoy Mannings know what I’m talking about but if you’ve never been, put on your to do list!

Lyn Hunt

Normally I love Mannings and would give it 5 stars but our party of 8 celebrated my daughter's graduation/birthday there after graduation and I was a little disappointed. Had family in town to celebrate and wanted to impress them. First off the appetizers came out at different times with no plates. I had to ask the food runner for some. The food came out pretty staggered as well. We were almost done by the time I got up to find our waitress to ask when my dad's grouper sandwich would come out. She asked a runner to go check on it and he came out shortly after with my dad's lukewarm, extra crispy grouper sandwich and fries. I am pretty sure it sat under the heat lamp for a while. My oldest daughter ordered the pasta primavera and the toast that comes with it was burnt. How anyone could serve it is beyond me. Some nice words...my scallop and crab cake appetizers were great as were the egg rolls and crab dip. We sat rooftop which was nice. The restaurant was not as busy as I have seen it. But we normally go at night so maybe daytime standards don't compare to the night crew.

Terri Moore

Outstanding service and we took six tables! This is a vibrant atmosphere and it was my first time. I had heard about Manning's for many years. We were all upstairs where another dinner party was celebrating. The aesthetics of the upstairs area resulted in an elevated noise level. Perhaps some textures on the ceiling, art work on the walls, or some decorations/fake plants or something to absorb some of the sound. The ceilings are quite high which makes sound travel.
The food was outstanding! I started with one martini and it was wonderful. But I heard from others that they made a mean martini here. I wasn't disappointed. The menu had many items to choose. And I wanted to try most of them. Instead of getting a main course, I ordered two appetizers: Carolina Crab Cakes, which were absolutely fantastic. So much crab - couldn't even see any binder! Delicious! And on top of fried green tomatoes - what a perfect pairing with the remoulade! The second appetizer was the Crispy Ribeye Egg Rolls. Oh my goodness, they tasted so good. I had leftovers of both so packed them up for home and finished them off the next day. For dessert, I had the seasonal cheesecake which tonight was Banana/Strawberry Cheesecake - lip smacking good. I had to take 1/2 of that home also. It was covered in a chocolate swirl, surrounded by raspberries and blackberries, with whipped cream. Perfection!
So, it was a perfect evening. Plenty of room for us to move around from table to table seeing our friends. Laughter, fun, and friendship! Thank you for an amazing meal and an amazing time!

Sharon Humphrey

Took my family out for a celebration's dinner. The food was spectacular, especially the filet. Ashley was our waitress and served us well with a great personality. Be sure to order dessert. We had one of each & shared among the table. Divine.

Greg Beck

Went here for dinner. Sat on the roof top. Wife had the special on the dya. She loved it. I had the baby back ribs and they were good. The service was great. Very friendly and help full. I little on the pricey side, but we did buy drinks and stayed a while. Overall it 's a wonderful place in Clayton and will come back.