The Manx

I ordered the fried egg sandwich. It was so gross, I almost wanted to throw up. I’m serious. When I merely touched it to pick it up my fingers were covered in mayonnaise. It was a mess and falling apart. But I soldiered on to try and eat it. It was so slimy and bland. On the third bite I gagged. This disgusting sandwich came with what was called hash browns. They were in reality the weirdest lumpy mashed potatoes. The taste was okay, but the texture was so overly creamy and the combination of overly mashed, almost liquified potatoes with the lumps. Needless to say, most of this was left on the plate. I gave it two stars because The Manx used to be good. Clearly it isn’t anymore.

Nice pub. They have their own brand of beer so it’s a bit more unique than your average pub. I didn’t order for but the people beside me seemed to be enjoying their dishes. Apparently there’s a speakeasy but I ended up just sitting in the main area. This place was popular but had a more diverse crowd in terms of age and occasion. Would recommend and would visit again!

When searching online for a place on Elgin for a decent, but not budget-​busting birthday lunch, I came across The Manx. With a pub atmosphere and more creative menu than its competitors, it seemed right up my alley.
After a slightly soggy walk down Elgin in the late October rain, my wife and I tucked into their small, basement entrance. The room isn’t huge, but you can probably seat around 60 at a mix of tables, high tops and the bar. It’s not nearly old enough to be an actual dive bar, but they’re going for that feel. I really liked the nook to the left of the bar; it has a couple small tables nestled in between the banquette along the wall and the wooden divider separating it and the bar, and the piece de resistance: a window to the bar so you could have your drinks served to you right from the bar. It’s all the convenience of sitting at the bar, but with more comfortable seating and better privacy.
Although it was mid-​afternoon on a rainy weekday, there were still several other people there, mostly of the commonly mentioned hipster-​ilk, and middle aged folk who wouldn’t look out of place teaching obscure fields in university arts departments. Despite my love of judging books by their covers, it was nice to have people around, as no one likes to be the only people at a restaurant.
Our friendly waiter saw to us quickly, grabbing our drink orders. It may have been my first full meal of the day, but being my birthday I had to snag a beer, and settled on The Manx 20 ale. There’s several appetizers and mains on the lunch menu — enough for a robust amount of selection, but not so much that it’s a slog to read through and makes you question the freshness of their food. We were pretty hungry, but were going to be having a relatively early dinner, so a light appetizer was in line and we went with the vegetarian spring rolls. For my entrée I chose the club sandwich, getting half salad and half fries on the side for only $ 0.75 more than just fries.
The spring rolls consisted of two bisected rolls on a bed of julienned veggies and a cup of sauce on the side for dipping. Filled with glass noodles and more julienned veggies, the filling was fairly bland and definitely required the sauce. Slightly sweet, with just a bit of heat and a light touch of cilantro, it was just what the rolls needed, and I appreciated that the cup was large enough that dipping wasn’t a difficult task. The wrappers on the rolls were fantastic — super flaky and not soggy on the inside at all.
When our mains arrived, my plate was a sight to behold — piled high with the sandwich, salad, and large potato wedges, the plate barely contained it all. As it was, I had to start off with the sandwich so that my salad would be more manageable afterward. With lightly buttered and toasted bread, moist roasted chicken breast and generous slices of peameal bacon, this club had it going on. The hefty potato wedges were all several inches long, and despite my wariness of wedges due to almost always being soggy, these were winners. Crisp until the last one, these slices of potatoey love were what all wedges should be. The side salad was piled high with mixed greens, and julienned carrots and beets. This all got a light touch of vinaigrette, making for a refreshing balance to the rest of my hearty plate.
With great service, quality food and large portions, The Manx will hopefully be around for years to come, so that it can earn its dive bar cred.

Real homey feel in this place right when you walk in. The service was great; they greeted us as soon as we walked in. It was a Sunday and the place was packed but then again it’s a really small place in the basement so easy to miss
We had the chicken and pulled pork wrap and they were both tasty. Would definitely come back

We went to this place (for brunch) on the recommendation of the person whose house we were staying. At first blush, it looked like some dive bar that had been overrun by a mob of hipsters. Which it actually kind of is but anyway… the menu also looked a bit «meh» and I was totally expecting a ho-​hum meal to come out of the kitchen.
I was happy to be proven wrong. The food was great and this is coming from someone who generally has a low opinion of breakfast food. My husband got the goat cheese something or another and I got a simple breakfast platter. The «hash browns» were actually more like mashed potatoes (and much better than hash browns I have to admit… and btw maybe that is a Canadian thing?) Service was good and we made it in before the rush as the queue snaked its way up the stairs as we left.

Five stars for the food based on the veggie burrito I ordered, which was huge, came with a salad, and featured sweet potato, but there’s not a lot of seating room and it’s pretty dark inside. Still, what everyone says about the Manx having fantastic brunch is true. Some of the items on the menu seem kind of pricey, but it seems like that’s true for brunch anywhere you go.

Delicious with a creative menu! We ate a lunch here. Delicious crab cakes with aioli mayonnaise and chicken salad. Both were not standard fare… much better. Our server was friendly.

Dive bar, great beer selection, good food… They have lots of vegan options but it wasn’t necessarily the best tofu bbq sandwich I’ve ever had, was definitely unique… Service wasn’t polite but they were prompt

Manx never disappoints. The food was amazing — I love their pork chop with bacon gravy! And the beer is always really great with lots of new options each season. I love it.

It’s good food, nothing great though. It took a while for it to come and there were dirty glasses and napkins. I’ve had better service before.

Amazing brunch! Went there for brunch with a few friends from out of town and not having been here before — I wasn’t expecting much (thought it would be standard pub grub)
Boy was I wrong– I got the eggs Benedict which was hearty and hit the spot. Everyone else got different brunch items and it all was equally delicious. There was nothing left on anyone’s plate. The price was right and the food was good and filling. The only qualm I would mention is having to wait for a table takes a while but well worth it if you want a hearty brunch (no diet food).

Early Friday night and the line was already out the door. I’m waiting in the entry between the outer and inner doors standing in slush. Should I stay or should I go now? A very welcoming bartender with small green colored menu greets me and offers to bring me a beer. Guess I’ll stay. Beyond the Pale Darkness — local brewery recommended. Turns out to be an excellent choice. Glad I stayed.
45 minutes to get a table but well worth the delay. Service continued while in line and the staff worked their tails off while the crowd was chill.
Hamburger and salad were far above average pub fare. Highly recommended if you enjoy good beer, food, and don’t have a time crunch.

I like The Manx, I do.
The food is good — no doubt about it.
They have a nice list of beers on-​tap — absolutely.
But that’s where the fascination ends for me. The atmosphere is not all that different from a decent pub, (although they have more board games). The menu is delicious, but they don’t serve traditional pub fair. Want a burger? Well, you better be craving a salmon burger or black bean burger. There isn’t a regular olé
burg on the menu.
On weekends, getting into The Manx (or any decent brunch place on Elgin), isn’t easy. Personally, I would go there if the line is small. I wouldn’t wait in line to get in, though.
It’s a good place to eat/​drink depending on your mood. I just don’t belong to the Manx religious order like many others.

There’s a problem. I live close too to The Manx.
Year after year, this place delivers awesome food. They have a great beer and whiskey menu, and the service is beyond personal. It’s like the Cheers of centretown.
I love this place, and don’t have much more to say than that. The only tragedy is that some weekly paper wrote about this place a few years ago, and it is now nearly impossible to get a seat during peak hours.
The menu is full of options for carnivores and veggies alike. The atmosphere is fantastic, whether you want to share some laughs with friends or drip tears into some scotch. It suits everything.
I love you, Manx and Manx people. Never change.
Ugh. Now I want a chick pea burger.

I adore the Manx, especially for brunch; it is always delicious, comforting, and satisfies even the most ravenous of eaters (read: large portions). The staff is generally pretty friendly and the food is really well priced for the amount you’re served. I’ve tried various items but my favourite is still the huevos rancheros which consists of fried eggs, served on lightly fried tortilla topped with salsa, refried beans, and guacamole. Most plates are served alongside their mashed potatoes. At first I was hesitant as I am a huge fan of homefries, but the potatoes are delicious. This place does get pretty packed for brunch, so you should factor in waiting in line into your plans. Also note that this restaurant is located in a basement so I usually reserve this restaurant for colder weather — very cozy on a cold winter day!

Stopped in here randomly one day and was pleasantly surprised to head into this little basement bar and find a packed buzzing atmosphere. We found couple seats at the bar and had a few beers while we waited for a table at a restaurant a few doors down. Beer was good (especially the apricot one i had)
Perfect little place to stop into on a chilly winter night. Not so much one for the summer though.
Food looked amazing so definitely plan on heading back here to try it out.

I’ve been here a number of times and keep bringing visitors to the city here. It’s terrific.
Food /​Drinks:
The breakfast (recommend the banana bread french toast) and dinner (recommend the lamb curry wrap) are phenominal. Somersby and some good beers on tap. The wedge fries are very good, don’t be put off by the dark color.
Wait times /​Service:
The restaurant is small and cozy, sort of half-​underground vs street level. Expect a little wait if you come around peak breakfast/​dinner times. Food sometimes takes a while. There is often only 1 or 2 people working so sometimes difficult to track down your waiter because they are working hard.
Prices:
Reasonable. And the food is so good you wouldn’t mind paying a bit extra.
Other thoughts:
Definite hipster feel and clientele. Weird art on the walls that may or may not be for sale. Would recommend spending your money on the food and not the art.
Waiting can be a bit awkward because there are seats right by the door; you’ll just be standing behind someone who is eating.
No televisions.

Friendly and accommodating service, delicious food and fun atmosphere!
An old neighbourhood haunt of mine, I absolutely love The Manx. It is located in the basement of a brick building on Elgin Street. From first glance, one might pass this place by, but I recommend checking it out. It truly is a gem.
When I think of pub food, I think nachos, beer, wings (which are all well and good) but when you go to this pub their food is far superior «pub» food that I wouldn’t even put it in the pub food category. They make fresh potato wedges as their fries, the black bean dip is highly addictive, their white bean dip is served with hot pita bread that is mouth watering, they always have fresh and unique menu options that is forever changing on their «specials» board and they also have a variety of beers on tap.
A great spot for a gathering of friends to meet up and grab a pint or have a seat at the one of the high tops on a date. This is the type of place that envelopes you, it’s beyond cozy and is always packed.

Came to have breakfast at lunch at The Manx by a friend’s recommendation. It is a crowded place that seems to always have a lineup but the food is quite good. If you are looking for a place to stretch your legs, this is not the spot for you. If you are looking to be crowded in a pub enjoying good food then look no further.

A cozy little basement restaurant-​pub with veggie options (you must try the tofu tacos)! Service is usually pretty good around here. A few times I have had to get out of my seat to flag someone down. It’s a small little spot and usually very packed, so it’s a great spot for drinks, but perhaps not a sit down dinner where you’d like some conversation. As well, on a number of nights there has been live music which makes it near impossible to have a conversation– it’s a small spot, and they use an amp.
The breakfast here is fantastic, and a great option if you’ve had a late night the evening before. It’s a great spot for dinner a drinks too, though dinner and breakfast can be a busy time to visit. Lunch, even a late lunch is probably more low-​key. If you’re a hipster, this is for sure your spot! And if you’re a vegetarian, you’ll be likely to enjoy it here as well.
The only downside to the Manx is the small space and loud noise, though I guess this is just preference. Overall, I would recommend The Manx, and I will be back again.