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Manny's California Fresh Cafe
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
1612 Pacific AveStockton, CA 95204
(209) 463-6415
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
240 reviews for Manny's California Fresh Cafe
Review Highlights
"The fried chicken is delicious too."
(in 53 reviews)
"My hubs loves their artichokes and their avocado burger."
(in 29 reviews)
"...great hidden gem in Stockton at the end of the Miracle Mile."
(in 12 reviews)
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240 reviews in English
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Review from Grace L.
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
My bestie grew up in Stockton and just recently moved back. When I came out to visit her for lunch and matinee to celebrate my graduation, she spoke highly of this place through anecdotes. One of which was when she was a little girl, she would remember she and her dad would come here to pick up their whole chicken to go which is absolutely delicious. Chicken that my friend grew up on? I'm totally down.
Because my friend spoke highly of the chicken, I ordered the chicken breast sandwich with french fries and a strawberry shake. And I have to say, it was one of the best celebratory meals I have ever had. A little messy, but nevertheless, very very good. I had a bite of one of my friend's artichokes. Delish
So glad my friend took me here and shared with me a piece of her childhood. -
Review from Josh V.
New York, NY
2/7/2012
One of THE places to go in Stockton because it's always been affordable and delicious. My go to is the Manny burger, a good half pound of meat (two patties) cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles and their famous sauce. I also like to add bacon sometimes and you won't get that little skimpy bacon you could floss your teeth with like most other places, this is a super-thick applewood smoked bacon that Sir Mix A Lot would proudly stand behind. Fries are another favorite, freshly made and cut thick. I like to dip them in a side of Manny sauce.
On top of serving great food it's a cool place to eat although it seems a little dirty at times. They also have a lot of specialty soda's and amazing milkshakes. I think I've tried most everything on the menu and it's all good. If they made a turd sandwich I would order it without a thinking twice. -
Review from Nathan W.
Alameda, CA
2/5/2012
This place is a Stockton institution, but I wasn't all that impressed...
I had a State Fair burger and fries on a recent visit. The burger, although tasty, was a greasy mess. Their secret sauce, thousand island dressing that I had to pay extra for, really made the burger. The fries were more or less an afterthought...
The ordering set-up is a bit different. You order at the counter and are given a number. When your order is ready, you pick it up at the counter and pay then. Ketchup comes in packets, and the napkins are at the front counter as well. The locals sure love this place, though... -
Review from Minhchau D.
Stockton, CA
1/5/2012
Overall: Fresh, simple food. All my friends love this place, even those that are from out-of-town.
Favorites:
1. fried oysters (order as many as you want, or the complete meal)
2. stuffed croissants: melted jack cheese, mayo, avocados, tomatoes, onions, and sprouts--comes with a Vienna pickle
Worthy mentions:
1. chicken sandwich
2. avocado burger
3. fish and chips -
Review from John K.
Stockton, CA
12/16/2011
So this isn't exactly the Manny's I remember growing up! More on this later. First, a quick Manny's history.
There is the Manny's on the South side, which I remember having burgers, frosties, etc. It was more like a Snow White Drive In last time I checked.
Then we had Manny's on the Miracle Mile, Manny's on the corner of Pacific and Hammer Lane.
Now this is stretching it, but there was a Manny's near Waterloo and Cherokee, across from the liquor store going way back! Their specialty was the broasted chicken, with potatoes and garlic bread, all in a bucket with a piece of aluminum foil over the top. That wonderful smell coming out of the bucket, and the super heated steam coming up from the sides... OMG sorry, I had a moment :)!
For historical perspective, our family was rolling in a Bronze colored Buick Regal with crushed velvet seats, 8 track player, and white walled tires! Gotta love the 80's.
So if I have my numbers right, and I usually do, we had 4 Manny's in Stockton at one time. We also had Cooper's Donuts, but that is another story.
Flash forward to 2011...This Manny's is excellent, although much different from the broasted chicken days. I had the chicken sandwich and fries. The chicken was a real breast (hard to find if you're dating), crispy and golden brown, with a nice piece of lettuce and tomato. Juicy, and flavorful with just the right amount of salt. The fries had that nice thick hand cut feel. They were fresh, hot, and crunchy.
Now don't go here if you are in a hurry because the kitchen never seems to be in a rush, but the quality is consistent so I'll give them a free pass.
The menu is pretty diverse and they seem to have fish daily so I'll have to check that out soon. Give this place a chance if you've never been. Stockton is lucky to have a tasty joint like this. -
Review from Andrew F.
Stockton, CA
10/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Food is always fantastic. That is just about the only thing good. The owner is not a nice person if you ever happen to complain. They routinely screw up your order and usually make it your fault that they left something out of the bag. They are disorganized and the place is filthy. Other than that it is great. No really the food is fantastic. Fried chicken and chicken sandwich are amazing. The beans are great as is the cole slaw. The Monterrey Jack sandwich (tuna on a roll with sprouts, tomato, avocado) is out of this world.
All in all great food, terrible everything else. -
Review from Ellen R.
Stockton, CA
1/10/2012
The fried chicken meal is really good. Im not really a fan on their hamburgers. The menu has a variety of food so you cant go wrong. Moving to Stockton i found it interesting when you order your meal, you pay for it when you receive your food. We never had a problem with their customer service except for one time they took too long to cook our food. It was over 30 minutes. My husband was furious so we left. We still continue to eat there regardless how slow they were that day. Food is delicious.
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Review from Joe P.
Stockton, CA
9/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Not really much to say about Manny's that hasn't already been said before. It's a Stockton institution of good food. It's basically a hamburger stand with gourmet flair, but priced reasonably.
The burgers are great and huge (Five Guys and In N Out can suck it compared to them). The fries are chunky and salty and the '1000 Island' secret sauce is a must to have with them. The fried chicken is lick your fingers (and neighbors fingers) good. The milkshakes are thick enough to cause a brain clot when trying to suck up a straw, but damn tasty once you're out of the coma.
In summary, if you've never been here just swing by at lunch and smell the glorous smell once you open the door (just make sure a Miracle Mile vagrant didn't wander in front of you).You'll see why this place stays forever packed during the week!
Random Though: I think the people that work the grill/fryer deserve a medal or at least a "shout out" in a random rap song. It's a tiny kitchen and it seems hot as hell back there! Those folks work thru some serious heat to provide quality food! -
Review from Carol G.
San Jose, CA
10/30/2011
This is one of my favorite spots when I come to Stockton. I love getting the fresh artichoke and a side of beans while my friends enjoy the onion rings, fries, and all the other goodies! It's a local staple and I can't imagine the Miracle Mile without it.
That said, it looks like nothing has been done to the place since I was here a few years ago. The signage is a little hard to read because it stretches so long from where you order. And not all of the employees seemed so happy to have customers. But the food is delicious so I will keep stopping in when I come through town. -
Review from Melissa W.
Elk Grove, CA
10/27/2011
This place is so good. I have never had the chicken... I always gravitate toward the Veggie Sandwich.... YUM-O
The "Stuffed"Veggie Croissant Sandwich... it is sooooo stinkin good. Melted Jack cheese, Avo, Tomatoes Onions & Sprouts. I promise you won't miss not have any meat n this sandwich. -
Review from RandyCP U.
Palo Alto, CA
10/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Wow. I will come here every time I visit Stockton from now on.
Great burgers, FANTASTIC fried chicken.
We sat on the patio on a nice day with friends. What a great time for so little money. -
Review from Janet O.
9/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sometimes a place needs a second chance and this place has the potential to be a solid 4.
Food taste like a 3 1/2.
Good place for lunch. Nice rustic, clean environment.
The menu boasts comfort food from fried chicken to fish and chips to good ole hamburgers.
I ordered the fish sandwich. Instead of getting it fried, I got it lightly battered and grilled. I had to order a side of fries.
The fish was fresh. Lacking in seasoning though. I had to squeeze lemon juice to give it a little pizazz. I'm sure it's a tastier sandwich if it was fried.
French fries on the other hand was not crispy enough.
I give this place a four for menu choices and ambiance. I will be back when I'm in the area again. -
Review from Robert Y.
Stockton, CA
6/3/2011
It's a shame I haven't noticed this place any earlier. the place is pretty hidden to sight every time I drive by miracle mile. Just went in yesterday and had the barbecue burger and the meat is tender and the sauce was good. Their fries are also one of the better ones out there.
The food is a little expensive but worth it. Would come back -
Review from RW A.
Stockton, CA
6/12/2011
Rude rude rude rude!! Short little man taking orders ruined our experience. Rude.
Food was okay, always is okay. However, the service is so awful this place is oncen and for all off my list.
If you want to be treated better, well...go anywhere else. -
Review from lou a.
Stockton, CA
11/9/2011
Ok it's been awhile since the last time I was there and the place is very OVER priced for the food you get.
A Manny burger is now a McDouble that's it and don't get me started on the establishment itself. Can you say FILTHY!
It's Flips 4 me!!!
I had to give this review a star to post should be a Negative Star -
Review from Eileen K.
Updated - 3/26/2011
OK, I had to come back and update my review because I went a second time and was NOT impressed.
The man behind the counter was REALLY rude. No hint of a smile, terrible attitude, and very unpleasant. I was confused as to how to order the oysters because he kept belting out his requests in a very mean manner and totally threw me off guard!
"How many?" he nearly growled.
"Oh, how many oysters?? I can choose?" "
"You could get 1, you could get 200. HOW MANY??"
"..."
Eventually I figured out that the standard # most ppl get is 5. So i got 5 oysters for about $8. And they were just OK. mostly fried batter. NOT worth the $8, and certainly not worth being treated like that.
The avocado burger this time around didnt leave quite an impression. It may have to do with the fact that 1) I waited for my friends to get their food so it cooled down a little. 2) I shared. But it didnt really have other flavors except the creaminess of the avocado and the chewiness of the bread, with the typical taste of a hamburger patty. They do practically put a whole avocado in there so that it oozes out...and i looove avocado. So perhaps if I had eaten it when right when it was out, i woulda liked it like i did before.
To their credit, my friend said they guy that helped her at the counter was REALLY nice, and my other friend really enjoyed their chicken sandwich. Maybe it was just an off-day for me.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/21/2010
I've always heard my friends talk about this place, and I finally got to go! So I already knew what… Read more »
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Review from Candyce C.
Chino, CA
9/11/2011
THE best friend chicken I have ever head - beats KFC any day!! I had a 2-piece chicken dinner with Portuguese beans, potatoes and garlic bread. I wish I had ordered a three-piece! The beans and potatoes were a little bland, but the chicken and bread made up for it. It's very affordable, somewhat fast, folks are nice who work there and the inside is cute and simple - would definitely go back!
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Review from Wes W.
Downers Grove, IL
6/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Though its appearance is better than some of the buildings around it, I still don't think I would have noticed it without help. But luckily, yelp users pointed me towards this nice little joint.
The main idea from my experience here is to try the fried chicken. It's quite good in terms of juiciness - something that is usually missing from most fried chicken these days. The batter is flaky and light. Perhaps we can pin the reason to the fact that everything seems to be made to order. I think I waited approximately 15 minutes for the order to be filled.
Overall, its not bad. The chicken may be the best thing there but it isn't mind-blowing. The environment was a bit shabby but hey, what can you expect. -
Review from Melyssa S.
Stockton, CA
9/12/2011
I always order the Chicken Sandwich, It's a Chicken Breast Sandwich like no other! It's JUICY & Full of Flavor! Not Your Average Boring & dry Chicken Breast! The Fries here are the best! I would recommend this place to anyone! It get super busy so call in your order if you're not eating there!
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Review from Maureen G.
Stockton, CA
Updated - 8/19/2011
I guess an old yelp dog can learn a few new tricks now and then. My son had one thing on his mind when he hit town and that was a BBQ beef sandwich at Manny's!
My new discovery? I never knew they had such a cool patio area on the Pacific Ave side of the restaurant! Apparently, it's been there for years! Who knew? There was a gentle breeze wafting through the beautiful rustic iron works that nestled you into a cocoon filled with two very mature shade trees. It was 90 degrees out, but in the shade I wasn't feelin' the heat!
My pic? The fried chicken of course! 2 pieces all white meat, a serving of what I like to call potato boats, corn on the cob and 2 pieces of toasty, buttery, garlicy, Genova roll.! Num-num-nummy!
The price for lunch; phenomenal. $5.50 and if you choose all white meat only a buck more! Where can you get a lunch for $5.50 that contains real food these days? At Manny's California Fresh; of course!Listed in: Local Yocal, Stocktonianna, Historic Stockton, Stkn's Mid-Town Magic
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/2/2010
I guess my favorite thing about Manny's; the fried chicken. Oh yeah and the greasy garlic bread and… Read more »
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Review from Ngaolia C.
Stockton, CA
12/27/2011
Their avocado burgers are TO DIE FOR!
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Review from Mary C.
Stockton, CA
Updated - 4/22/2011
Just went to Manny's today, and got the fish and chips. It was the best fish. The breading was light but crunchy and the fries were good. I love tartar sauce (I know it sounds strange) it is better than any I've ever had.
This was a delicious treat on good Friday! I WILL BE BACK.
I only hope they can keep up this great quality deliciousness.Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/17/2008
They have a great Carmel sandwich. I would get it every day if I could. It has avacados and… Read more »
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Review from Kevin L.
San Francisco, CA
10/2/2011
SIMPLY PUT-- the best chicken sandwich I've ever had IN MY LIFE. I would move to Stockton for this.
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Review from Christine G.
Stockton, CA
Updated - 6/2/2011
So I stuck to my promise to try out the avocado burger!
Emily T. and I took a short break from studying to grab a bite here. She got the chicken sandwich, and I, of course, got the avocado burger. It is, by far, the messiest burger I've ever eaten! We got our food to-go and forgot to grab napkins! Bad mistake.
The burger was alright. All around a good burger, but nothing spectacular, as I was expecting. I DID love the mass amount of avocado, but there wasn't any WOW factor. No punch, no kick. With every bite, more of the burger and avocado slid out the back, so I was left with a big mess of avocado at the end. Still yummy though :]
So I must retract a star. I don't really know if I'd go back unless someone else (Emily T.) really wants to go.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/26/2011
So I've been here twice, and the second visit redeemed Manny's for me. I've heard all about how… Read more »
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Review from Ashley H.
Stockton, CA
10/27/2011
Love this place been going since I was a kid and it's fantastic every time i go!
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Review from Micah R.
2/28/2011
Manny's has by far my favorite sandwich in all of Stockton. The Deli Croissant, they even have a vegetarian version, called the "stuffed Croissant. Yes, their fried chicken is the best around too, but I just can't help but order than sandwich every time I go there.
There is a reason it's been here for so long, and that it can be crowded pretty often. It's excellent.
It works like a deli counter, you order, and pay when you get it. Service is usually fast, but I'd never call it 'slow'.
Manny's is always a good option when considering lunch out in Stockton. -
Review from Bernard A.
Stockton, CA
8/16/2011
Here is another long time Stockton establishment that hasn't been the same. The food doesn't seem as good as it has been in the past. Oh yeah, what is up with the rude ass employees? Oh well...there are plenty of other places to go now. This isn't a "have to go" place in Stockton anymore.
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Review from Michael L.
Boston, MA
5/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
-be prepared to wait for a table
-be prepared to wait a while for your food
This time when i went to manny's i got the avocado burger. This tasted pretty good but it was a tiny bit dry. You could taste the quality in the beef patty they used though. My girlfriend got the barbecue sandwich. I thought it was a bit saucy and salty. Ive had better. One thing that really bugged me was the onion rings that i got for $3.50 It pretty much was 3 regular sized onion rings and 1 small onion ring. Kind of a small serving dont you think?? lol
There are many other things on the menu that i would come back and try though. I heard the chicken is pretty good here. Till next time! -
Review from Dannie D.
Stockton, CA
1/25/2011
WORLD'S WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE. period.
food is OK. -
Review from Sean W.
Hillsborough, CA
11/27/2010
I always feel stupid when I walk in, order, and try to pay right away. After that they know I'm not a local. The food is decent. The avocado burger is filled with avocados, but I don't know if thats a good thing or not. You can't really taste anything in the burger but the avocados, so the more the better? The avocados actually overpower the taste of the burger, if the burger had any flavor to begin with. The fried oysters are just the typical fried oysters. A little on the oily side.
-1 for bad service
-1 for locals only type of thing
-1 for bland food
+1 for giving me an extra free order of the fried oyster meal =D -
Review from Can C.
Stockton, CA
3/7/2011
Little place with a hole-in-the-wall feeling. It gets quite busy during lunch rush, but I haven't had to wait more than 10-15 minutes for my food, which isn't bad considering it's made to order. As far as prices, they're reasonable. I wish the sandwiches came with some sort of side (for sure 5 stars if they did!), but I'm usually satisfied after just the sandwich, so it's probably better for my waistline that I don't have any other items to nibble on.
I don't remember what I ordered the first time I came here, but I do recall that I wasn't overly impressed. I came again today with my old roommate, and she recommended I get the Breast of Chicken sandwich, so I did. It was delicious! The chicken is fried (and therefore delicious) and the bread was lightly toasted, and I'm pretty sure there was some butter too. The tomato tasted fresh, and I really enjoyed the sandwich.
The avocado burger is definitely what I'm going to order next time I come here. Sounds so yummy!
The service was mediocre. However, they seemed pretty stressed from the lunch rush, so I'll cut them some slack. :) -
Review from Alma R.
12/10/2010 1 photo
The Monterey Jack is drool central. Their fries are fresh and their ranch dressing can almost rival that of Eddie's Pizza's ranch. The lemonade is freshly squeezed and not too sweet.
And for some odd reason, I don't frequent this place enough. WHAT THE HELL IS MY PROBLEM?!
Anyway, customer service is efficient. You can usually tell if people are newbies if they take too long to order. You order first and pay when your number is called. Food comes out in a timely fashion depending on what you ordered. And the place is pretty clean for a joint that gets a lot of patrons.
Just an FYI, parking is limited.Listed in: Stockton Eats!, MmMmM, ang SARAP! Filipino…
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Review from Brande B.
East Bay, CA
Updated - 4/7/2011 5 Check-ins Here
As good as I remember it! I went her Saturday after visiting my family in Manteca. I begged my cousin to take me here on our way home since it was 15-20 minutes out of our way. She was nice and said yes so I bought her dinner. I had my usual the turkey deli croissant with no sprouts and lemonade, my cousin had the same except she wanted sprouts and no onions. Thankfully I was able to get us a booth since her son was asleep and enjoyed his nap while we enjoyed the food. The ride home she agreed it's the hidden gem of Stockton. I'm sure the next time she goes to the Valley with or without me she will be eating there. Manny's now has another fan!
Next time I'll remember to take a picture of my food, I forgot until it was all goneListed in: Crème de la Crème
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/21/2011
How I miss this place. I really wish they had another location somewhere in the Bay. I used to eat… Read more »
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Review from Stacey P.
1/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
With such great reviews in and outside of yelp, Manny's was on my to do list...
I called in my order for Avocado Burger and Deli Croissant with turkey since it was during the lunch rush. The worker said the wait would be about 25 mins. I got there and the food was ready on time and there were still a few tables open left for seating :)
The Avocado Burger was good. I loved the fact that it was oozing with avocado in eat bite so it was messy. But I thought the meat patty itself was kinda dry and tasteless.
The Deli Croissant was good. I thought the sprouts was a nice change up but I just felt like something was missing.
Overall the food was decent but I really loved the cozy atmosphere!Listed in: 209 Digest
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Review from S M.
Stockton, CA
2/10/2011
Just finished the sandwich and fries the bf dropped off to me.
Turkey, bacon, lettuce, and cheese. . . my favorite. Even though it's the wrong kind of cheese (American instead of Swiss) absolutely the best sandwich I've had in a long while. Manny's is not to blame for the cheese dilemma. That was the fault of the bf I'm sure.
I think it's wrong to name another business in a review, but I'm about to break my own rule.
Kinder's has nothing on this place when it comes to sandwichs and fries. -
Review from Timm Q.
Stockton, CA
1/18/2011
Manny's is the best! I have never had a bad meal at Manny's. I have a few go to's, Chicken Sandwich with Swiss, BBQ Beef Sandwich, or Manny Burger with fries or onion rings. The fried chicken is delicious too!! Can't go wrong with any of them. My wife loves the Monterey Jack.
Only Con is the service can be a little poor at times. I understand they are busy but still. When you call ahead and order they always say 10-15 minutes no matter how busy they are. It is rarely ready in 10-15 minutes. If you are busy and it's not going to be ready for 30 minutes just let me know so I don't have to sit and wait, that defeats the purpose of calling ahead. -
Review from James M.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2011
3.5-4 stars
Overall, Mannys is a pretty good sandwich shop on miracle mile, but not really extraordinary. The chicken sandwich is my favorite there, but everything coming out off the grill looks pretty good. The service isn't amazing, but is excusable considering the food is tasty and affordable.
One con is that it is a small shop and it gets so busy! I recently found out that you can call ahead & order so do that.
Also, the food does get a little greasy sometimes, and I don't really eat there all too often. I suppose this is to expected anyways when eating fried foods, so I won't count that against them :P -
Review from Mike M.
Stockton, CA
9/28/2011
Good fried chicken and good breast of chicken sandwhich.
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Review from Jackie H.
Stockton, CA
10/4/2010
The avocado burger and fried oysters are a must! When it comes to their avocado burger, Manny's definitely doesn't skimp on the avocados. The avocado burger is packed with slices of yummy, buttery avocado. They have some tasty fried oysters too! However, their fries are a bit of a let down. Just decent. So I usually just buy the fried oysters individually instead of getting the basket that comes with fries. If you ask, they'll usually let you buy the fried oysters individually for about $1.00-$1.50 depending on the size. I usually just get a couple to go along with my burger.
Although this place has some good stuff to offer, I just don't seem to have cravings for this place. This place is overly hyped up. It just gets an "A-OK"- 3 stars!
FYI. Sometimes it can get a little busy during lunch and dinner. You can call in advanced to place your order so your food is ready when you get there. -
Review from Whitney B.
Birmingham, AL
This was my last stop before heading to LA.
Came with a couple friends.
I of course got the chicken sandwich..which was fabulous as always. The chicken is cooked perfectly with the right amount of breading. Soft and tender and juicy on the inside..slightly crunchy on the outside. The bread is amazing as well.
My friends both got a couple of deli sandwiches. Huge sandwiches, and pretty too. I wish I would have tasted one.
They need to serve honey mustard. I like that on my chicken.
If I heard correctly, I believe they stopped serving the rotisserie chicken though...Listed in: Get your beef on!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/31/2010
The best chicken sammiches hands down!
Can get a little crowded, especially during lunch hours.… Read more »
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