After having been to Manderes so many times I only just now realized I have not yet posted a review of this fine new restaurant, so here it is…
Manderes is a new pub/restaurant that recently opened this past December in what used to be the former fish and chips restaurant and prior to that the Dairy Queen and prior to that several other types of places including even once a gas station. They are located sort of across from the DMV at 402 E. Bidwell St in the small stand alone building, cross street is Rumsey Way.
They really did a great job of fixing this place up and making it unique, the design and decor are top notch and it looks great. This summer they plan to expand and add an outside patio area which will be great during the warm weather months.
Myself, Ronda and many friends have become frequent visitors to this great new place and have come to really enjoy going there. They serve the most outstanding selection of Belgian ales and finely crafted beers with a great selection of wines – the best I have ever seen in town, and the food it outstanding too. Manderes is owned by two great guys named Brent and Dave who you will find there on a daily basis.
They have a motto – “No crap on tap” and they really live up to it. They do not serve the cheaper beers such as Coors or Bud or the like, they only serve the good stuff. Here’s a list of what they have on tap – and they also carry around another 100 different types of beers in bottles.
Allagash White
Anderson Valley Boont Amber
Arrogant Bastard
Birra Moretti
Brother Thelonious
Chimay White
Dead Guy Ale
Franzizkoner
Full Sail Amber
Fullers ESB
Hop Rod Rye
Kill Ugly Radio
Kilt Lifter
Koningshoeven Quadrupel
Maredsous 8
Murphy’s Stout
Old Rasputin
Racer 5
Speakeasy Prohibition Ale
and this is just the on tap beers…. they have a very good collection of nice wines to choose from too.
We’ve been there for both lunches and dinners many times and the ambiance and friendly attitude here is one of the best in town. I’ve tried the crab, lobster and sweet corn chowder, the Angus burger, the Bulogi Hoagi, the Pastrami sandwich and more and each dish is very very good, including the amazing french fries and wasabi/cucumber dip that comes with ’em. (oh and you get a salad too with it all). Its a very good amount of high quality food for the price.
This past week they had a Belgian beer and tapas tasting event that was a ton of fun and we got to try some of the most incredible beers I’ve ever tasted in my life. Don’t expect to find cheap beers or bad food here – its a few bucks more then other beer joints but its extremely well worth it. This is a higher end, very classy beer/wine bar with exceptional food and I’m sure you’ll agree once you’ve tried it.
Stop by and say hi to Brent and Dave the owners sometime and give their beer and food a try, tell them you heard about them here. Another thing I really like about this place is that its smaller and not overly crowed, its nice and cozy and it feels good to hang out and enjoy being there. I give two thumbs up to this place and highly recommend you try them if you haven’t already.
Rating (out of 5): 5
Cost: $51, 2 people
Ambiance: 5
Service: 5
Food: 5
Manderes
402 East Bidwell St
Reviewed by Dave Burrell