OOO oooo OOO oooo OOOO That's the three beat- four beat song that I sing when I have a mouthful of Cafe Manhatten's cheesecake. Dear god, I don't know who makes it for them, but it makes me feel as if I were sitting in a New York deli, DAWLING. Simply FAB. read more

Fun and cute restaurant near Forsyth and Hanley that could easily get swallowed up on that crazy little intersection. Great place to grab lunch or have dinner with a few people. For some reason I think of this as a "place to have dinner with my parents" type of restaurant. I'm not sure if this says something about my parents, or the restaurant. Perhaps I'll update this once I figure it out : ) I haven't eaten here in a year or so, but the several times I have gone I remember the excellent pizza and good salads. The vibes are so chill though, that this place is just as good for the atmosphere as it is the food. read more

Famous Barr's lunch room... Woolworth & Kresge's lunch counters ... the circa 1930's ambiance of the Parkmoor... uncomplicated, unsophisticated diners of our past. Recollections wandered through my mind last evening as I entered Cafe Manhattan once again. This compact affable neighborhood diner was packed at the tail end of dinner but loosened up quickly. Food selections cover four pages & offer comforting familiar favorites as well as a few surprises. Their soups, burgers & sandwiches are "old fashion tasty" with just enough grease & cheese to add flavor & the need for extra napkins. A classic chrome counter spans the north wall with spinning stools & soda fountain character. Desserts are simple & timeless; folks visit simply to indulge. (Happily I detected muted slurps & "spoon-stirring-inside-glass sounds" from a nearby couple.) Vinyl booths edge along floor to ceiling windows across the front & line the south wall. Fun reproductions of 50's & 60's memorabilia dot the walls. Folks in all age ranges visit regularly. Servers are young & friendly. One little guy sporting a plastic fireman's helmet sent his full glass of water soaring over the edge of his table. Patrons splashed at the next table took it in good humor & the staff quickly & kindly cleaned up the puddles. The only person a bit out of sorts was a young man, older than the rest, who worked behind the counter. Cafe Manhattan is a pleasant, small, Clayton corner eatery serving agreeable & soul-reassuring food. It is the kind of place to stop off after a day in Forest Park or taking in a matinee with the family. Hint: If you enjoy your meals quiet arrive in between peak hours & stay as long as you want. read more

A couple of friends and I came here to grab a quick dinner. We ordered a bison burger, chicken tenders, and the Liberty Melt (veggie melt), all with fries. We all liked the fries. That was just about the only good thing we could say. My friend sent back her bison burger and asked that it be cooked rare, rather than well done. The next pattie emerged exactly the same. When she complained again, the server got huffy. The chicken tenders were similarly overcooked - most went uneaten - and the veggie melt was not particularly good in any of its qualities. Two of three entrees were deemed so overcooked as to be inedible, and the third was only meh, and the service was no better. There appeared to be no manager (even after asking to see one) nor anyone over the age of 24 working. read more

What happened? I live in Chicago now, but I always remembered Cafe Manhattan fondly. The last time I had been here, they were at their previous location and I remember being a fan. Tonight, though, the food was horrible. I got the "vegetarian" pizza and it was definitely sub-par. The crust seemed homemade, but it was way too mushy (especially with all of the veggies they put on it) and seemed a bit undercooked. While the food was bad, the service was pretty good. The waiter was very nice and accommodating. I don't know, something about this place isn't as great as it used to be. Maybe everything changed with the move....Either way, I can't see a reason to come back anytime soon. read more

1. Service was very pleasant 2. Burger/patty melt were better than usual diner burgers 3. Menu is more exciting than a classic diner 1. Smells kinda like an antique store 2. Prices aren't averagestt not unreasonable 3. It's odd to me that they offer wine by the bottle, but sure! read more

Milkshakes and pizza have been pretty solid when I've gotten them to go. Tried out the new breakfast however and wasn't overly impressed. It was decent food (got an egg special and a biscuit with gravy) but to me for breakfast food it was a little overpriced for the quality. read more

I've been a regular here for years. We live within walking distance, so it's on of our go-to's. Its a great little diner! The burgers are AMAZING--so juicy and delicious, definitely recommend. The milkshakes are also wonderful and a perfect complement to the burger. Parking can be a little difficult, but that's because people who go to the gym steal the spaces. If you're looking for a place to park, drive just past the restaurant, and right after the intersection--actually kind of in the middle of it--there will be two small stone pillars on your right, marking the entrance to a neighborhood. You can park in there and it's just a very, very short walk to cafe manhattan. The food is solid and very reasonably priced, the waitstaff is kind and the service is quick. I love this place, I hope you do too! read more

This is the best diner I have ever been to it had a really good vibe and the food was great. The people who served me were very nice and treated me very well read more

Cafe Manhattan - The kitchen - Pizza Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Solid burgers. A tasty milkshake. Surprisingly good white chicken chili. Surly busboy who was likely hungover on New Year's Day (at 5pm). I love the kitschy diner feel of Cafe Manhattan, but was majorly bummed that the Wurlitzer was out of order. An old-time diner without a working jukebox makes me sad. Sadder still was the vacant guy who "welcomed" us (not much of a welcome at all) and took our drink order. I was so nervous he was actually our server that I initially wanted to leave. Thankfully, he was just a totally lame busboy and our server was friendly and efficient (once he showed up). And then we got our cheeseburgers! Made to order, juicy and delicious, served with hand-cut fries. I'm a fan. Hand me a milkshake with the mixing tin? Yeah, I'm a fat, happy lady. Put a monkey doll in a car and hang it from the ceiling? Yeah, I've got a fat, happy 16-month-old. I'd definitely give this place another shot (NOT on New Year's Day) to see what else their menu has to offer, but if you're in the area and craving a classic 1950s American meal, the hamburger, fries and soda fountain are calling your name. read more

I came here with coworkers on our lunch break. The atmosphere is great and the space is clean. I enjoy the interior space, which is reminiscent of a 50's diner with vibrant red seats and the retro decor. For lunch, they offer various sandwiches on the menu which feels a little overwhelming to take in. I recommend the burgers and fries. My go-to burger is the Downtown burger which comes with Swiss and mushroom, along with fresh tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and pickles. Also the crinkle fries are definitely another force to be reckon with. It reminds me of the crinkle fries Moms will get at the grocery stores. Delicious. I haven't tried their pasta which might I want to try on my next visit. We saw another dining patron order the mastaccioli which looked awesome. Warning... It gets crowded during lunch hours since its looked in business-central Clayton/Brentwood area. read more

I enjoy these retro-style restaurants. This one is as good as any other around here. I had "The Classic" hamburger and it was excellent. The waitress was friendly, so no complaints there. read more

While I've enjoyed this establishment in the past, this time around it was very mediocre...well let me be honest they do make some good diner food BUT can't cook it correctly even on the 2nd go around. SImply..They offer to cook your burger any way you want but just make sure that you want it well done because tha'ts the only way your getting it. I ordered my burger medium rare and it came dry and chewy, I politely sent it back as they offered to make a new one, IT ALSO came well done, dry, and chewy. I gave up and ate my fries instead. I cannot recommend nor will I return here due to the fact I dont like well done burgers. However if you do, you will likely enjoy it! read more

This is kind of the perfect weekend night I don't feel like cooking but don't want anything fancy place. It's pretty decent diner fare, the staff are friendly and efficient even when it's quite busy, and there's just kind of a good neighborhood feel here. I've been several times at this point and enjoyed eating here every time. We tend to order their sandwiches. I think every one I've tried has had bacon on it and they make a solid crispy bacon. If you're in the mood for a milkshake they will totally make one that hits the spot too. read more

Cafe Manhattan is a fun place to come for a meal. They serve American food and pizza, and everything on the menu is good. They are usually busy, but the staff is nice and there is plenty of memorabilia to look at - not to mention all of the people watching. Just about every type of person comes in during the lunch hour - I haven't been for dinner - and this offers a ton of people watching opportunities! I'd have to say that their many sandwiches are the most popular entrees on the menu. Make sure you save room for dessert, whether that be a shake or a slice of cheesecake. Make sure you try them both at some point in your life because they are fantastic! read more

Do a lot of traveling and come to rely on ratings and reviews. The previous, professional sounding reviews lead you down the wrong path. It is quaint (old neighborhood shop). Wait staff is very friendly. This where it ends. No parking. Food is ok at best. Sandwich size is small (I had the daily lunch special). Vinyl seats need a serious cleaning. One final positive: clean bathroom. Usually a good sign they pay attention to some details. However, I won't be stopping by when I'm in the neighborhood again. read more

Cafe Manhattan is a cute, kitschy, 1950s-style diner with vinyl booths, formica counters, and retro Coca Cola memorabilia all over the walls. They have a full menu of all the classic sandwiches and salads you'd want, plus a pizza menu and a few extra things here and there you wouldn't expect. I just came here once, got a pizza, and loved it. It was a bit of a long wait for the pizza to come out so we got some awesome fries as an appetizer. The place is casual and great for kids or groups. Food and service cause no complaints. If you're not feeling to adventurous and just want a chill place with a cute retro feel, this is a good bet. read more

Meh. I can't comment on the service since I have only gotten food to-go and it is open late which is a plus since I have to work late hours some times. - Pizza wasn't bad but it isn't stellar either. Solid. 3/4 stars. - Meatball sandwich which was supposed to have homemade meatballs but was kind of bland along with the sauce. 3 stars. - Caesar salad with chicken was not so good with way too much dressing, not very fresh romaine, and overcooked chicken that partially end up in the garbage can. 1/2 stars. Pizza and sandwiches seem okay but the salad was kind of gross which bummed me out since it would be a great place to pick up a salad if I get home too late to cook at 9 or 9:30 PM on a weeknight. read more

Love this place, I go there often. Food is good and a little cheaper then what you find in downtown Clayton. Nice atmosphere great staff. The food isn't anything fancy but that's not what I'm after. I want more comfort style food with a good portion at a fair price and this is the spot for it. Try it I really doubt you'll be disappointed. read more

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I've ordered from here a few more times since my original review and, sad to say, the quality of the roast beef sandwich has gone way down. To the point where I'm unlikely to order from here anymore. It's more fat than beef anymore. And the cheese garlic bread that used to be super awesome now has about half the cheese and has fallen to basic, standard quality. So sad. read more

White Chili, Seasoned Beef Sandwich, Large Coke, To Go. That's my order. Do I really need to write any more? Just read Jon L's review about the sandwich... I can't improve on that description. The white chili is really good, just a little spicy ( I could stand a little more, but its good as it is) read more

Not a huge pizza eater. Yummy provel pizza. Perfect size to share. The place is not overwhelming, super laid back and enjoyable. Fun place to pop in and have an old school diner type meal. read more

Exactly what I expected for a 50s style diner experience. Quaint, not a fancy restaurant feel, casual, and tasty food. Toasted ravioli was a great starter and I am a huge fan of the potato bacon cheddar soup! Definitely worth checking out. read more

Cafe Manhattan - 50s diner experience - Pizza Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Cute diner with good food and great service!

Started going years ago at the one in South County. They closed down and I try to make it to the Clayton one. The large House Salad is top 3 salads in St. Louis and has the best ranch in St. Louis. The Ranch is amazing! Neat/Different place! The Ranch! read more

It's exactly what it should be. Young, energetic friendly staff, a menu for any mood (pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads, fountain drinks, shakes, ice cream, oh my!). Had a Provel Pie. Delish. read more

The food here at lunchtime is pretty good. We have only done pick up for work so never eat in but if you call ahead they usually have the food waiting for you when you walk in. But call early because its gets pretty busy between 11:30-12. Burgers are okay, shakes are great, the salad that comes with the pasta is pretty tasty, and their veggie lasagna is awesome. Ordered the regular lasagna but when I got back to work I realized it was the veggie but ate it anyways and it was great. But I've had the regular and it was too runny not enough cheese. Great variety to their menu. But make sure to check your order before you leave. read more

Cafe Manhattan - The salad that comes with the pasta. - Pizza Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Love love LOVE this place! The atmosphere is so comfortable and authentic to the 50s era. The employees are friendly and it is evident that they have very loyal customers. Employees welcomed people by name and knew many people's orders by heart. I got the turkey club and house chips. The servings were large and the food was delicious! We split a chocolate milkshake for dessert and it was delicious. There are so many options, I can't wait to go back and try something else! read more

Cafe Manhattan has become our "go to" place when no one feels like cooking, especially since they are around the corner from us. Their menu offers a wide variety of dishes to satisfy any craving. Want a burger? They got it. Wish to keep it light with soup & salad? They got you. Want pasta & a glass of wine? They have that too! Not to mention pizza, sandwiches, shakes & floats too! We have ordered almost everything on their menu and have not been disappointed. Service is always friendly and fast. The restaurant has a 1950s diner feel. And there is a small parking lot on the side of the building as well, which is always a concern in Clayton. We highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a wide variety to appease a variety of tastes! read more

One of my favorite places in the area that's become a go to for a quick and easy lunch or dinner. It's nothing amazing as far as taste or menu items but I'd call it your typical sandwich or pizza shop. It does have a diner feel to it, but I don't consider it a diner since they don't serve breakfast items and they aren't open 24 hours. I normally order the Grilled Chicken sandwich with fries and it's pretty good. They have amazing malts and shakes so it's worth the trip if you just want a quick dessert. read more

Been here many times. Great sandwiches, fries, and service. The spaghetti is a little heavy on the sauce, but not bad at all. Great prices too. read more

Wow. Amazing burgers. I had the one with bacon and cheddar medium rare and t tasted perfect. The flavor you get with good beef cooked right is to die for. Hey also sliced the onions and tomatoes thin and grilled the bread. Perfection. Vanilla malt was great too. May seem a little pricy but the rent in Clayton is high so it's expected, really not much more than anywhere else though. Great service. The gentlemen servic us was easy to talk to. Will be back for their homemad rav. read more

My first time here. I actually was expecting a deli as I'm sure there used to be a Manhattan Deli about a block from here. In stead it's more of a dinner with a 1950s motif. Think Back to The Future were Marty first sees Biff and his father. I had the 1/2 Turkey Club and bowl of soup. It was $8.95 but it was a lot of food. Could probably just been a cup of soup and I'd have been happy. I chose white bean chicken chili. Lots of chicken but it was just a tad too salty. The 1/2 turkey club was big and good. But it was not really a club sandwich. No middle slice of bread and the bread was not toasted. I will return. read more

I had a salad and the Scilian cannelloni...yum! Love the cheese on top of the whole thing!

What a fun place for lunch. Loved the 60's decor. Brought a group of 15 and the staff did excellent job of taking care of us. Got three orders of the toasted ravioli for my out of town guests to sample. Excellent. Food was prepared exactly as ordered and some in my group has special dietary needs which was not a problem. Would recommend to my friends. read more

This is a great diner not many people may know about. Its located right by Hanly and Wydown. They have some of the best burgers in town always cooked to perfection, good chili and even better hot wings. Something one may notice when here she walks into café Manhattan is all of the Coca-Cola and Elvis merchandise. Everywhere you look there are framed Elvis albums and "have a Coke on hand" signs. Their shakes are phenomenal and a must have. SERVICE: it's ok service but beware, orders may be wrong because sometimes the waiters try remember everything in their head. Just write it down! A great family restaurant the kids will love since 1989. read more

Cafe Manhattan - Inside view - Pizza Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This place is super close to my home so it's very convenient. The food is a biiiit on the pricey side for mediocre food. Burgers are not too great but pretty good. Pizzas are just like anyother you could find. If you can spare some time go find some other better quality and better prices places around Clayton; there are MANY. But the environment is very old school and the servers are always really nice. read more

I've been going to Cafe Manhattan since the age of 7, I am now 23. This place is a time capsule. I've always ordered the pizza salad combo which uses imos style crust and is really delicious. They have wonderful soft drinks and the decor and energy is wonderful. It has a really classic American 50s vibe. I highly recommend eating here if you want a wonderful atmosphere with good service and amazing food. read more

Great little diner with yummy food. I ordered the fish sandwich which came with a vine ripe in season tomato - fabulous flavor. Mike ordered the Rueben which was tasty as well. Definitely visiting again read more

I work a few blocks away from Cafe Manhattan and walk here frequently for lunch to clear my head. I'm usually here once a week or so. Best advice: Come for lunch, don't even think about coming for dinner. It's not the food, it's the staff. The lunch staff here is fantastic. I sit at the bar and Vaughn has my drink ready before I sit down. Even if she's not around, I've never had to wait for drinks or refills, and the food is usually delivered very quickly, depending on how busy the place is. I've tried to come here at night, and the difference is night and day. The night staff tends to congregate and ignore customers, won't look you in the eye, can't seem to speak up and be heard, and gives attitude rather than engages with customers. Example: One night I walked in about 40 minutes before closing time. The place was quiet with only a few customers left in the booths. On entering, a busboy looked at me and said "You have a takeout ready?" "No, not yet." Rather than explaining the kitchen was closing and the grill was off and he'd be happy to get a salad or the like, he proceeds to sigh loudly, roll his eyes and make it very clear I wasn't welcome. I obliged and didn't return for 3 weeks. I went back for lunch and, as expected, the lunch staff was fantastic. Go for lunch. Avoid for dinner. The food is good, but slightly pricey. The burgers are AMAZING, and since going back to their original french fries (after a misguided attempt at switching,) it's a filling and very satisfying meal. The veggie sandwich, roast beef, Cobb salad, all are first rate. The kitchen staff hasn't disappointed me yet. I don't do the pizzas as I usually eat alone, but I hear they're very good. Be aware that CM is close to a Clayton middle school, and there will usually be a huge influx of kids around 4 PM. (Same for the Starbucks across the street.) Not a reason not to go, but if you hate loud crowds, it's something of which to be aware. read more