The Manning House

Beautiful place, but not as it once was when it was the Elks Club with more wonderful mature vegetation. The parking that replaced that landscape is confusing. So too are the directions to the events.
I have been to dozens of events at the Manning House so I thought I at least knew the parking drill. Surprise! In an event a few weeks ago, the gate I always used from the South was closed so I was left to wander. And wander I did, feeling like a aimless dork. I even thought, «maybe I should just go home.» When I saw other wanderers, I kept the faith and I eventually found my way.
The food is an equally unhappy story. I’ve eaten there many times (a couple dozen) and I found the food passable for event food, adequate in portion but it would never set the world on fire. Nor would the service; you can wait your entire meal and never get a re-​fill of water or tea. The last event a few days ago, one for the YMCA, was a total food disaster.
I immediately noticed the place setting didn’t have the usual items: only one salad dressing (just the creamy high fat, high calorie one that we could not identify) and no dessert. (I always liked seeing what we were going to have for dessert before we had our meal; no such thrill this time.) Before I arrived, I had heard the YMCA paid $ 40 per plate so I thought, «maybe it will be special this time.»
The wait staff began bringing dinner plate sized salads with three small pieces of sliced chicken. «Wow,» I thought, «they really dressed up the salads this time.» Then I waited for the main course, and waited and waited. The speakers even became to speak, but no main course. Then came the dessert: Surprise again! Then I knew for sure: our plate of greens with three small pieces of dry, tasteless chicken WAS our main course. So inadequate as a meal, that I went home to eat a real dinner. A $ 40 shakedown.

TLDR = Decent venue crummy food
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My wife and I came here for a formal event about 2 weeks ago and to be honest it is a nice venue but I was not very impressed.
So the place is set back in a cul de sac and is supposedly «The Historic Manning House» I don’t know if this is a classy way of saying old and outdated but if it is they nailed it on the head.
The parking is nearly impossible to find and not clearly labeled in any capacity. I drove around the cul de sac looking like a total buffoon for a good 5 laps.
The building has a nice exterior and adequate parking when you do find it. The gardens and grounds are well maintained and the ambiance of the place seems like it would be good for a banquet or formal affair.
The interior is old, dated, worn, and generally not something I would consider historic or elegant but more so old and unimpressive.
The table we were at was under a fan that I was certain was going to fly off its braces and decapitate someone final destination style. Fortunately no such event occurred and all survived the evening.
The food was a giant blah when your starter salad is the highlight of the evening that is a clue that the food was underwhelming.
So dinner consisted of a nice salad with an amazing ranch dressing that was shockingly tasty. I scarfed that down with eager delight and it was heavenly.
Next came the entrée mashed potatoes, asparagus, prime rib, and lemon chicken.
The potatoes were undercooked still crunchy and not fully mashed.
The asparagus over cooked and rubbery
The prime rib was tasty and had a nice gravy it was the best part of the entrée
The chicken was gross, I am not sure how you goof up lemon chicken but oh how they found a way.
Dessert was even more disappointing,
I see trays of cheesecake and excitement kicked in only to take a bite and taste what I can only describes as smuckers rasberry preserve smothered on a mundane uninteresting cheesecake.
If you are looking for a classy venue with good food look elsewhere this place is not the ticket.